TAMPA, Fla. -- When the NFL schedule was released during the offseason, with the exception of receiver Keyshawn Johnson, fans and media in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area were more excited about the Dallas game than the players.
At the time, players on the defending Super Bowl champions yawned, and who could blame them? The Cowboys were coming off three consecutive 5-11 seasons and didn't appear to be anything special. But the fans and media saw today's confrontation at Raymond James Stadium as a revenge game -- Bill Parcells vs. the Bucs, the team he wooed but left at the altar two times in 10 years.
During the stretch drive and playoffs in 2001, the Glazer family, who own the Buccaneers,pursued Parcells vigorously while Tony Dungy was still coaching. Parcells backed out and denied he was considering the job. The Glazers recovered by hiring Jon Gruden, who led them to a Super Bowl victory last season.
When Parcells was hired by the Cowboys in February, the Bucs went to the NFL to try to get compensation. At the time, they showed a contract Parcells had signed with them. The league refused Tampa Bay's request.
Imagine back in April how Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp would have reacted if he had been asked if he thought the Cowboys would enter this game with a better record than the Bucs. It would have been an indignant, insulting response.
But guess what? Parcells isn't coming to town unarmed. He's coming into the game owning first place in the NFC East, a five-game winning streak and a 5-1 record that's two games better than the Bucs. Of course, the Cowboys have beaten teams that are a combined 9-21, but a victory today would validate them as a legitimate Super Bowl contender and not just a fast starter taking advantage of a soft schedule.
The Bucs are a team in turmoil. Until last week, they had lost twice by three points. Then they were blown out 24-7 at San Francisco. They surrendered 458 yards, including 212 rushing. It was the second time in three games they've allowed more than 400 yards.
Last season, the Bucs led the NFL in defense, allowing 252.8 yards a game. Now they're 11th with 304.5, including 112.5 rushing.
The Bucs are trying to overcome controversy and injuries. Johnson, who played for Parcells when he coached the Jets, spoke out last week and demanded to get the ball more after having one catch for four yards at San Francisco.
"It's not about me," Johnson said. "I feel if I'm not contributing, we're going to lose the game. That's just my mentality. I don't care about being selfish. I don't think when you have a player that considers himself playing on a high level at all times, you consider (him) selfish when he does everything you ask. Everything."
Before Johnson spoke out, his agent, Jerome Stanley, was critical of Gruden for not getting the ball to his client more.
"There's going to be criticism when you lose," Gruden said. "Sometimes, criticism comes from maybe angles you don't like or don't expect, but criticism's going to come your way. You've got to be man enough to address it and then move on. Obviously, we've got to do a better job getting him the football."
Gruden doesn't seem concerned about selfishness.
"We all have some degree of selfishness and pride, and our feelings are hurt when things don't go well," he said. "But we've got to lean on each other. That's all we have. We may not love each other all the time, but you've got to work hard to get through it."
www.chron.com
At the time, players on the defending Super Bowl champions yawned, and who could blame them? The Cowboys were coming off three consecutive 5-11 seasons and didn't appear to be anything special. But the fans and media saw today's confrontation at Raymond James Stadium as a revenge game -- Bill Parcells vs. the Bucs, the team he wooed but left at the altar two times in 10 years.
During the stretch drive and playoffs in 2001, the Glazer family, who own the Buccaneers,pursued Parcells vigorously while Tony Dungy was still coaching. Parcells backed out and denied he was considering the job. The Glazers recovered by hiring Jon Gruden, who led them to a Super Bowl victory last season.
When Parcells was hired by the Cowboys in February, the Bucs went to the NFL to try to get compensation. At the time, they showed a contract Parcells had signed with them. The league refused Tampa Bay's request.
Imagine back in April how Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp would have reacted if he had been asked if he thought the Cowboys would enter this game with a better record than the Bucs. It would have been an indignant, insulting response.
But guess what? Parcells isn't coming to town unarmed. He's coming into the game owning first place in the NFC East, a five-game winning streak and a 5-1 record that's two games better than the Bucs. Of course, the Cowboys have beaten teams that are a combined 9-21, but a victory today would validate them as a legitimate Super Bowl contender and not just a fast starter taking advantage of a soft schedule.
The Bucs are a team in turmoil. Until last week, they had lost twice by three points. Then they were blown out 24-7 at San Francisco. They surrendered 458 yards, including 212 rushing. It was the second time in three games they've allowed more than 400 yards.
Last season, the Bucs led the NFL in defense, allowing 252.8 yards a game. Now they're 11th with 304.5, including 112.5 rushing.
The Bucs are trying to overcome controversy and injuries. Johnson, who played for Parcells when he coached the Jets, spoke out last week and demanded to get the ball more after having one catch for four yards at San Francisco.
"It's not about me," Johnson said. "I feel if I'm not contributing, we're going to lose the game. That's just my mentality. I don't care about being selfish. I don't think when you have a player that considers himself playing on a high level at all times, you consider (him) selfish when he does everything you ask. Everything."
Before Johnson spoke out, his agent, Jerome Stanley, was critical of Gruden for not getting the ball to his client more.
"There's going to be criticism when you lose," Gruden said. "Sometimes, criticism comes from maybe angles you don't like or don't expect, but criticism's going to come your way. You've got to be man enough to address it and then move on. Obviously, we've got to do a better job getting him the football."
Gruden doesn't seem concerned about selfishness.
"We all have some degree of selfishness and pride, and our feelings are hurt when things don't go well," he said. "But we've got to lean on each other. That's all we have. We may not love each other all the time, but you've got to work hard to get through it."
www.chron.com
