2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
| 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Jon Gruden |
| Owner | Malcolm Glazer |
| Home field | Raymond James Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 5–11 |
| Division place | 4th NFC South |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | CB Ronde Barber, LB Derrick Brooks |
| AP All-Pros | CB Ronde Barber, LB Derrick Brooks |
| Team MVP | WR Michael Clayton |
The 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 29th season in the National Football League.
This season began with the team trying to improve on their 7–9 record in 2003, but they fell even further to a 5-11 record and missed the playoffs. Brian Griese set a number of franchise records for passing. Michael Clayton set a rookie record for receiving.
The Bucs acquired Hall of Fame wide receiver Tim Brown, who was well known for his tenure with the Raiders. After spending his only season in Tampa Bay, Brown decided to hang it up after 17 seasons.
Before the 2004 training camp, personnel issues and the salary cap became primary concerns. Gruden successfully lobbied the Glazers to hire his former general manager from Oakland, Bruce Allen. After Allen's arrival in the Buccaneers' front office, the team announced that it would not re-sign two of their notable defensive players (John Lynch and Warren Sapp). Both of their contracts were expiring, and younger players would fill their positions. Lynch was released after medical exams indicated ongoing injury problems. Many Buccaneers fans were stunned by the move, as Lynch was a very popular player whose aggressive, intelligent play earned him several Pro Bowl appearances. He was also well regarded for his philanthropic work in the Tampa-area. Lynch was quickly signed by the Denver Broncos, where he had consecutive injury-free Pro Bowl seasons. Sapp signed with the Oakland Raiders, where he played in a limited role in 2004, and sat out much of the 2005 season with injuries but returned to form in 2006. Since wide receiver Keenan McCardell refused to play until he was given a better contract or traded, he was sent to the San Diego Chargers for draft compensation.
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