2006 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
| 2006 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Jon Gruden |
| Owner | Malcolm Glazer |
| Home field | Raymond James Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 4–12 |
| Division place | 4th NFC South |
| Playoff finish | did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers |
3
|
| AP All-Pros | CB Ronde Barber (2nd team) |
| Team MVP | WR Joey Galloway |
The 2006 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 31st season in the National Football League
The team has failed to improve on their 11–5 record in 2005 and tumbling to a 4-12 record, and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2004. The next season in 2007, however, saw the Buccaneers taking a 9–7 record, but it also would be the last time the Bucs made the playoffs, whereas from 2008 to present, have failed to make the NFL playoffs.
After winning the division in 2005, the Buccaneers suffered through an abysmal 2006 season. The season was plagued by injuries, with starters such as G Dan Buenning, WR Michael Clayton, RB Carnell Williams, DE Simeon Rice, CB Brian Kelly, and QB Chris Simms all being placed on injured reserve at some point in the season. The season also saw a lot of rookies starting for the Bucs, such as QB Bruce Gradkowski, T Jeremy Trueblood, and G Davin Joseph. The league schedule was also unfriendly to the Bucs, scheduling them for 3 games (two of them away games) within 11 days of each other.
There was more to the lost season than just injuries, as most of the players put on injured reserve had been done so after the team's 0–3 start, and offensive shutouts in the first two games in which no touchdowns were scored by the Buccaneers. The departure of several key defensive coaches and assistants didn't bode well with players, who complained to some in the media of not being able to hear coaches in team meetings.
Inconsistent and unorganized are how some players referred to one of the newcomers, who most players had a hard time making the transition from longtime favorites Rod Marinelli and others. Some believe the problems in 2006 were rooted in recent years mistakes, lack of salary cap room to bring in high impact free agents, lack of top 50 draft picks over the last 5 or 6 years due to trades, and maybe even a failure to properly assess talent resulting in a lack of contribution from second day draft picks in recent history.
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