On Sunday, 84,000 and shillings showed up in London to watch the Bucs lose early to the Patriots.
So before anyone dismisses the league's ongoing relationship-building in Britain, keep that fact in mind.
"Flashbulbs were going off before kickoff for 10 minutes, which you don't see in the United States," said Pats quarterback Tom Brady, dubbed by one London paper as the real golden balls. "It was a privilege to come over here. It will probably never happen again, so we'll retire 1-0 internationally."
Maybe he'll retire 1-0 internationally, but the Patriots will be back. Along with every other team, eventually.
Amid widespread reports that the NFL will play two London games in 2009 and four by 2012, Peter King of NBC reported Sunday night that the league wants to send the same team over multiple years in order to build up a fan following for that franchise.
The Pats would be an ideal choice, but owner Bob Kraft would surely never give up a home game for it.
Though the Patriots could keep returning as the "road" team, the more likely outcome will be for a team that could be the franchise to move to London to begin playing there regularly.
And folks in London are likely praying that it won't be the Buccaneers.
Sunday's game was as ugly as expected, another one in which the point spread should have been much higher. For the Pats, visions of 2007 are returning, thanks to a combined outcome of 94-7 in their two games, albeit against winless teams. The challenge after the bye will come against the more competitive squads -- and they'll get more than a few of them in November and December.
For the Bucs, the Josh Johnson experiment possibly has ended, now that coach Raheem Morris got permission to use Josh Freeman. It likely won't make things much better, and a return match against the Panthers could be Tampa's best chance of avoiding an 0-16 season of their own.
Fittingly, they'll don the uniforms of the 1976 Bucs in their next game, at home on November 8 against the Packers.
The one sure thing is that 84,000 people won't be in attendance.
Are we talking about the same uniforms that were coincidentally used by the team that just three years prior went WINLESS as well? hmmm.....
It's a novelty. It is the only NFL game in the entire country. Of course it sold a lot of tickets. They're not going to attend 10 games a year in those numbers. It's not happening.
The Bucs moving to London would work out well for Malcom Glazer. He could centralize his operations. lol
You are right, the Pats would be an ideal team to return but I think the league wants a team that they might "Send over there" sometime int he future like Jax or Tampa.
As a STH I would raise hell if I lost a home game. I pay enough already on a per game basis especially when you consider those stinkin preseason games we have to buy but cant sell.
I do have a contract but Id have to read through it throughly to see if it actually indicates a specific number of home games.
Florio - please explain why certain teams (ie Patriots and Cowboys) are allowed to just say "we won't lose a home game" but others are forced to go along for the ride. Just another example of preferential treatment for the big market teams.
GoBears84, what are you talking about?? The Bucs went winless in 76 and they haven't worn the Creamcicle uni's since 97...and the Lions went winless last year...
So, I am not sure what you mean by "just three years prior went WINLESS"..
3 Florida franchises-hello London Jaguars.
2 NY franchises-the London Jets?
what about the Toronto Bills?
@KoolHerc:
The Glazers volunteered to do this...they weren't forced.
Like they would sell out a real home game anyway.
I wouldn't expect teams like the Steelers, Cowboys, Pats, Eagles, etc. to give up the home game due to their current success and following.
C'mon man, think a little bit...
If the Bucs played in London, the attendance for the season wouldn't reach 84,000.
i don't understand why any owner would be averse to becoming "the team" that plays there every year. you build a fanbase over there, you'll probably come close to doubling your merchandise sales while still getting a portion of ticket & concessions from Wembley. You lose the income from your home stadium for one week, but the added benefits & longterm merchandising you'll get out of the UK would be better, i would think.
i feel bad for the Brits here, though... they deserve better than to have to watch the Bucs.
"Kool Herc:please explain why certain teams (ie Patriots and Cowboys) are allowed to just say "we won't lose a home game" but others are forced to go along for the ride. Just another example of preferential treatment for the big market teams."
What a dumb question. Because the Pats and Cowboys SELL OUT their home games. It's not preferential treatment, it's about making more money. You don't take away home sellouts, you take away home games with a fan base that doesn't show up and try to sell out a "home" game where people will buy tickets. Preferential treatment? No. Intelligent treatment.