NFL: At 4-4, time for Bucs to make a move

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers find themselves at 4-4 after Sunday's ugly 17-14 loss to the New Orleans Saints -- the same record the Oakland Raiders had in 2002 before regrouping and making it to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Bucs.

But recent history involving teams coming off Super Bowl victories indicates that the Bucs could be in for more disappointment.

The New England Patriots didn't even make the playoffs last year after knocking off the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl. The Baltimore Ravens, 2000 champions, bowed out in the second round of the following year's playoffs.

"In modern-day football, your roster is not going to be the same as it was a year ago. It's hard to keep the same nucleus of players year in and year out," said Bucs head coach Jon Gruden on Monday at his day-after-game press conference. "But when you talk about injury, you've got to avoid those things, whether you're the Super Bowl reigning champion or a team wanting to become one.

"We've had our share of adversity this year through injury, and it's affected us, I think, in the outcome of some of these games. But, we've got eight games to go. The story can't be written yet, man."

Tampa Bay has had as much luck avoiding the injury bug this season as a pair of lovebugs have avoiding the front end or windshield of your car.

Sunday's game wasn't any different, as Gruden saw strong safety Jermaine Phillips fracture his right forearm in the fourth quarter. Phillips, who was in the starting lineup only because five-time Pro Bowler John Lynch still hadn't fully recovered from a recurring shoulder stinger, will be out 4-6 weeks.

Outside linebacker Ryan Nece sprained his right ankle and is listed as questionable for this week's pivotal game at Carolina. Right tackle Cornell Green, who started because of an injury to Roman Oben that forced Kenyatta Walker to move to left tackle, sprained his left ankle and also is questionable.

"It's tough having to shuffle your corners around and your safeties," Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said after having to insert newly acquired David Gibson into the game late for Phillips. "I mean Gibby, he just gets off the bus and he's in there in the most critical time of the year. He got a kick out of it, I was like, 'What's your name?' And the next thing I know he's out there in a two-minute situation and he's playing."

New Orleans set out to exploit the inconsistent Buccaneer offense by dropping as many as seven men back into coverage and daring Tampa Bay quarterback Brad Johnson to find an open receiver other than Keyshawn Johnson. The Saints defensive line still managed to put pressure on Johnson to the tune of four sacks -- one less than he had been sacked in the first seven games.

Johnson still managed to complete 27 of 46 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns, but most of that yardage and both scores came in desperation time.

With an even tougher and more aggressive Panthers defense waiting this Sunday, the Bucs are hoping their trend of not losing back-to-back games in the Gruden era continues.

"Hopefully, next week we bounce back in Carolina," said Keyshawn Johnson, who managed a smile after catching 10 passes for 124 yards. "It's going to be a tough football game, they're coming off a loss as well as us. We go on the road and we've done well on the road (3-1). So maybe we need to take our act on the road."

Just as long as an ambulance is nearby.