Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Great Summer Illusion

It's summertime in Tampa. Temperatures are soaring, the humidity is rising, and the Buccaneers are in the midst of their second round of OTAs. (That's fancy for running around in shorts and jerseys.)

It's summertime in Tampa and the great illusion of every summer is upon us.

Michael Clayton looks GREAT!

He's in fabulous shape. He's lean and mean, strong, fast, big, and imposing. He's worth every bit of that overblown contract.

Yes, it's summertime in Tampa. Michael Clayton time.

Forget the 16 catches he did manage last season. Clayton looks great. He says he feels great and is ready to help lead this team from the depths of NFL misery.

Yes, it's summertime in Tampa. No pads, no games, no tackling.

Michael Clayton time, time for an illusion worthy of a David Copperfield show. It's the Michael Clayton show.

Sadly, it's not the only illusion on this football team.

Earnest Graham, the forgotten man last season, is not an illusion but may be delusional. I had to read it not once, not twice, but three times: "I'll put this group up against any group in the league."

That was Graham, a member of the 25th ranked rushing unit in the league last season, talking to Tom Balog of the Sarasota Herald Tribune about the Bucs corps of backs.

Where's John McEnroe when you need him?

If ever a statement was worthy of the trademark McEnroe scream, "You CANNOT be serious!" is one.

Earnest, you CANNOT be serious!

Yet he was.

It's summertime in Tampa and this group of running backs is awesome; just ask Graham.

Heck, Derrick Ward, he of the non-existent production last season, missed the last round of OTAs and isn't here this week either, something about a dental problem.  

Note to Ward: floss daily.

In the midst of this early-summer-night's dream came a revelation from Tampa Tribune beat writer Roy Cummings: Second-year defensive end Kyle Moore was falling asleep in team and position meetings last year.

Please tell us that's not the case.

It was and that begs the question: Why did the Bucs' fearless leader, Raheem Morris, allow such shenanigans?

Yes, it's summer in Tampa.

No pads and hitting yet. That comes in under 60 days.

Until then, cherish the illusion.