NEW YORK (AP) - Comments on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by the AP Pro32 panel (ranking in parentheses):
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (22)
Chris Berman (ESPN, 21) - A nice finish to what once was a season filled with hope.
Clifton Brown (Sporting News, 23) - Greg Schiano will likely cut ties with more players that don't buy in.
Cris Collinsworth (NBC Sports, 21)
Rich Gannon (CBS Sports/SiriusXM NFL Radio, 23) - It's a shame they ruined a decent season by running out of gas at the end.
Bob Glauber (Newsday, 20) - Legitimate questions persist about Josh Freeman, but at least there was improvement until another late-season skid.
Rick Gosselin (Dallas Morning News, 21) - When the Bucs won their only Super Bowl in 2002, they led the NFL in pass defense, allowing only 1,554 yards. Ten years later, they now have the worst pass defense in the NFL, allowing 4,758 yards.
Clark Judge (CBSSports.com, 18) - It's hard to figure out these guys. Just when they seem like they're a playoff contender, they flop. And just when you want to send Greg Schiano back to college they bury Atlanta.
Ira Kaufman (Tampa Tribune, 19) - Josh Freeman's development is the key for the Bucs to take the next step.
Pat Kirwan (SiriusXM NFL Radio/CBSSports.com, 22) - Greg Schiano got his team to play hard in the final game after a 5 game losing streak which tells me is tough guy style can work in the NFL. Josh Freeman needs to be consistent because he can be close to an elite QB someday.
John Lynch (Fox Sports, 20) - Greg Schiano changed the culture in Tampa and they made great strides in 2012. They return some front line starters like OGs Carl Nicks, Davin Joseph along with DE Adrian Clayborn. The key is QB Josh Freeman, who Schiano wants to but can't totally trust as the franchise as of yet and a pass rush and some corners that can improve the defense.
Alex Marvez (Foxsports.com, 21) - The top offseason priority for Tampa Bay will be fixing a pass defense that narrowly avoided surrendering the most yards in NFL history.
Dan Pompei (Chicago Tribune, 22) - Josh Freeman petered out at the end of the season, and left Greg Schiano lukewarm on the QB's future with the team.
Online:
http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL
