Barber Outlasts Classmates

With the signing of Ronde Barber, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Class of 1997 appears to have reached "Sole Survivor" status.  And what a class it has been.

Of the ten players selected in 1997, eight went on to have solid NFL careers of five or more seasons:

• 3rd Rounder Ronde Barber - 14 Seasons (all with Tampa Bay)
• 6th Rounder Al Harris - 13 Seasons (7 with Green Bay, 5 with Philadelphia, 1 with Miami)
• 1st Rounder Warrick Dunn - 12 Seasons (6 with Tampa Bay, 6 with Atlanta)
• 4th Rounder Alshermond Singleton - 10 Seasons (6 with Tampa Bay, 4 with Dallas)
• 2nd Rounder Jerry Wunsch - 9 Seasons (5 with Tampa Bay, 4 with Seattle)
• 3rd Rounder Frank Middleton - 8 Seasons (4 with Tampa Bay, 4 with Oakland)
• 5th Rounder Patrick Hape - 8 Seasons (4 with Tampa Bay, 4 with Denver)
• 1st Rounder Reidel Anthony - 5 Seasons (all with Tampa Bay)

Nigea Carter and Anthony DeGrate, also drafted by Tampa Bay in 1997, failed to make the team.

Is there a more impressive group of draft picks?  Currently, only the 1987 Draft Class is the only draft class in the history of Buccaneer football which has played more games in a Tampa Bay Buccaneer uniform.  Yet only Barber and Singleton won SuperBowl rings with the Buccaneers.

Al Harris, one of the all time "one that got away" stories in Buccaneer Draft history, may have just completed his carrer this past season.  After being cut by the Green Bay Packers, Harris landed with Miami last season.  However, as of today, he is not shown on the Dolphins offseason roster.  Imagine the decade the Harris and Barber tandem would have posted if Harris had remained a Buccaneer.

With the impending retirement of Harris, Ronde Barber has now established yet another milestone in his carrer.  As the Last Man Playing for one of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers all-time draft classes, Barber continues to highlight one of the most amazing careers in Tampa Bay history.

Draft Class Rankings: Buccaneer Games Played

When thinking about how to rank the Buccaneer Drafts, one of the first measures which came to mind was how each contributed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Not just by being drafted nor by making the roster; the player can only have an impact on the franchise by being on the field on game day.

To that end, I have constructed the following graph of the total number of games played as a Buccaneer for all players in the specified draft class:

Clearly, the 1987 Draft Class and the 1997 Draft Class made big contributions to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on game days and are far and away the two most significant draft classes by this measure (raw data will be posted in the near future when I'm done playing with it).  A clear cut winner cannot be established yet as 1997 Draftee Ronde Barber has not completed his career.

On the flip side, the 1989 Draft Class and the 2002 Draft Class have to be considered (as entire classes) to be major underperformers.  It's too early to make the call on the 2008 - 2010 drafts as many of those players are still on the roster.

The two "low point" marks on the graph appear to (in general) divide the classes as well as the fortunes of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into three significant parts.  The pre-1988 era was one of inconsistency and mixed results on the field.  The 1990-2001 era which ended with a SuperBowl shows a generally larger per-class contribution, and the post 2002 era which we are in now.

We'll be keeping our eyes on these trends and look for others as we continue to break down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft fortunes!

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1991 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School

1 (7) Charles McRae, T, Tennessee

3 (66) Lawrence Dawsey, WR, Florida State

3 (80) Robert Wilson, FB, Texas A&M

4 (93) Tony Covington, SS, Virginia

5 (120) Terry Bagsby, --, East Texas Baptist

5 (136) Tim Ryan, G, Notre Dame

6 (147) Rhett Hall, DE, California

7 (174) Calvin Tiggle, LB, Georgia Tech

8 (207) Marty Carter, FS, Middle Tennessee State

9 (233) Treamelle Taylor, --, Nevada-Reno

10 (260) Pat O'Hara, QB, USC

10 (265) Hyland Hickson, --, Michigan State

11 (287) Mike Sunvold, --, Minnesota

12 (314) Al Chamblee, LB, Virginia Tech

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1987 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School

1 (1) Vinny Testaverde, QB, Miami (Fla.)

2 (36) Ricky Reynolds, DB, Washington State

2 (50) Winston Moss, LB, Miami (Fla.)

2 (51) Don Smith, RB, Mississippi State

3 (57) Mark Carrier, WR, Nicholls State

4 (84) Don Graham, LB, Penn State

4 (87) Ron Hall, TE, Hawaii

4 (106) Bruce Hill, WR, Arizona State

5 (135) Henry Rolling, LB, Nevada-Reno

5 (137) Tony Mayes, DB, Kentucky

6 (143) Steve Bartalo, RB, Colorado State

7 (169) Curt Jarvis, NT, Alabama

7 (190) Harry Swayne, T, Rutgers

8 (197) Stan Mataele, NT, Arizona

9 (224) Joe Armentrout, --, Wisconsin

9 (246) Greg Davis, K, The Citadel

10 (252) Mike Simmonds, G, Indiana State

11 (280) Reggie Taylor, --, Cincinnati

12 (308) Scott Cooper, DE, Nebraska-Kearney

12 (313) Mike Shula, QB, Alabama

Supplemental (0) Dan Sileo, NT, Miami (Fla.)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1994 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School

1 (6) Trent Dilfer, QB, Fresno State

2 (34) Errict Rhett, RB, Florida

3 (69) Harold Bishop, TE, Louisiana State

5 (136) Pete Pierson, T, Washington

6 (165) Bernard Carter, LB, East Carolina

7 (200) Jim Pyne, C, Virginia Tech

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1990 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School

1 (4) Keith McCants, DE, Alabama

2 (30) Reggie Cobb, RB, Tennessee

4 (87) Jesse Anderson, TE, Mississippi State

4 (108) Tony Mayberry, C, Wake Forest

5 (114) Ian Beckles, G, Indiana

6 (141) Derrick Douglas, RB, Louisiana Tech

7 (171) Donnie Gardner, DE, Kentucky

9 (224) Terry Cook, --, Fresno State

10 (254) Mike Busch, --, Iowa State

11 (281) Terry Anthony, WR, Florida State

12 (307) Todd Hammel, --, Stephen F. Austin St.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1993 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School

1 (6) Eric Curry, DE, Alabama

2 (34) Demetrius DuBose, OLB, Notre Dame

3 (60) Lamar Thomas, WR, Miami (Fla.)

3 (82) John Lynch, DB, Stanford

4 (91) Rudy Harris, RB, Clemson

4 (104) Horace Copeland, WR, Miami (Fla.)

6 (145) Chidi Ahanotu, DT, California

7 (176) Tyree Davis, WR, Central Arkansas

8 (220) Darrick Branch, --, Hawaii

8 (224) Daron Alcorn, --, Akron

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1995 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School

1 (12) Warren Sapp, DT, Miami (Fla.)

1 (28) Derrick Brooks, OLB, Florida State

2 (43) Melvin Johnson, SAF, Kentucky

4 (105) Jerry Wilson, DB, Southern University

5 (143) Clifton Abraham, CB, Florida State

6 (179) Wardell Rouse, LB, Clemson

7 (215) Steve Ingram, T, Maryland

7 (227) Jeff Rodgers, --, Texas A&M - Kingsville

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1988 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School

1 (4) Paul Gruber, T, Wisconsin

2 (53) Lars Tate, RB, Georgia

4 (83) Robert Goff, DE, Auburn

4 (86) John Bruhin, G, Tennessee

4 (107) Monte Robbins, --, Michigan

5 (113) William Howard, RB, Tennessee

6 (163) Shawn Lee, NT, North Alabama

7 (167) Kerry Goode, RB, Alabama

8 (198) Anthony Simpson, --, East Carolina

9 (225) Reuben Davis, DE, North Carolina

11 (279) Frank Pillow, WR, Tennessee State

12 (310) Victor Jones, LB, Virginia Tech

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1985 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School

1 (8) Ron Holmes, DE, Washington

3 (64) Ervin Randle, LB, Baylor

4 (92) Mike Heaven, --, Illinois

7 (176) Mike Prior, DB, Illinois State

8 (204) Phil Freeman, WR, Arizona

9 (232) Steve Calabria, --, Colgate

10 (260) Donald Igwebuike, K, Clemson

11 (288) Punkin Williams, --, Memphis

12 (316) Jim Rockford, DB, Oklahoma

12 (330) James Melka, LB, Wisconsin

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1981 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School

1 (7) Hugh Green, LB, Pittsburgh

2 (34) James Wilder, RB, Missouri

4 (89) John Holt, DB, West Texas A&M

8 (199) Denver Johnson, --, Tulsa

9 (228) Mike Ford, QB, Southern Methodist

10 (254) Ken McCune, --, Texas

11 (283) Johnny Ray Smith, DB, Lamar

12 (310) Brad White, NT, Tennessee

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1989 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School

1 (6) Broderick Thomas, LB, Nebraska

2 (33) Danny Peebles, WR, North Carolina State

4 (90) Anthony Florence, CB, Bethune-Cookman

5 (117) Jamie Lawson, RB, Nicholls State

6 (146) Chris Mohr, P, Alabama

6 (154) Derrick Little, --, South Carolina

8 (200) Carl Bax, G, Missouri

9 (230) Patrick Egu, RB, Nevada-Reno

10 (257) Ty Granger, --, Clemson

11 (284) Rod Mounts, --, Texas A&M - Kingsville

11 (290) Willie Griffin, DE, Nebraska

11 (302) Herb Duncan, --, Northern Arizona

12 (329) Terry Young, --, Georgia Southern

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1983 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School

2 (45) Randy Grimes, C, Baylor

3 (72) Jeremiah Castille, DB, Alabama

4 (99) Kelly Thomas, T, USC

5 (131) Tony Chickillo, NT, Miami (Fla.)

6 (148) Gene Branton, WR, Texas Southern

6 (158) Ken Kaplan, T, New Hampshire

7 (185) Weldon Ledbetter, --, Oklahoma

8 (212) John Samuelson, --, Azusa Pacific

9 (238) Hasson Arbubakrr, DE, Texas Tech

10 (270) Darius Durham, WR, San Diego

11 (297) Mark Witte, TE, North Texas

12 (324) John Higginbotham, --, Northeastern State (Okla.)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1982 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School

1 (17) Sean Farrell, G, Penn State

2 (32) Booker Reese, DE, Bethune-Cookman

3 (74) Jerry Bell, TE, Arizona State

3 (83) John Cannon, DE, William & Mary

4 (103) Dave Barrett, RB, Houston

5 (128) Jeff Davis, LB, Clemson

6 (158) Andre Tyler, WR, Stanford

7 (185) Tom Morris, DB, Michigan State

8 (212) Kelvin Atkins, LB, Illinois

9 (242) Bob Lane, --, Louisiana-Monroe

12 (325) Michael Morton, RB, Nevada-Las Vegas

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1996 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School

1 (12) Regan Upshaw, DE, California

1 (22) Marcus Jones, DT, North Carolina

2 (35) Mike Alstott, FB, Purdue

3 (71) Donnie Abraham, CB, East Tennessee State

4 (96) Jason Odom, T, Florida

4 (104) Eric Austin, DB, Jackson State

5 (140) Jason Maniecki, DT, Wisconsin

6 (180) Nilo Silvan, WR, Tennessee

7 (221) Reggie Rusk, DB, Kentucky

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1980 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School

1 (22) Ray Snell, G, Wisconsin

2 (49) Kevin House, WR, Southern Illinois

3 (76) Scot Brantley, LB, Florida

4 (102) Larry Flowers, DB, Texas Tech

7 (186) Jim Leonard, C, Santa Clara

8 (213) Derrick Goddard, --, Drake

9 (240) Gerald Carter, WR, Texas A&M

10 (267) Andy Hawkins, LB, Texas A&M - Kingsville

10 (275) Brett Davis, --, Nevada-Las Vegas

11 (299) Terry Jones, --, Central Oklahoma

12 (326) Gene Coleman, --, Miami (Fla.)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1998 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School

2 (34) Jacquez Green, WR, Florida

2 (45) Brian Kelly, DB, USC

3 (84) Jamie Duncan, MLB, Vanderbilt

4 (104) Todd Washington, C, Virginia Tech

6 (175) James Cannida, DT, Nevada-Reno

6 (184) Shevin Smith, DB, Florida State

7 (212) Chance McCarty, --, Texas Christian

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1999 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School
1 (15) Anthony McFarland, DT, Louisiana State
2 (50) Shaun King, QB, Tulane
3 (80) Martin Gramatica, K, Kansas State
4 (113) Dexter Jackson, DB, Florida State
5 (150) John McLaughlin, LB, California
6 (195) Lamarr Glenn, --, Florida State
7 (226) Robert Hunt, G, Virginia
7 (233) Autry Denson, RB, Notre Dame
7 (240) Darnell McDonald, WR, Kansas State

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1979 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School

2 (33) Greg Roberts, G, Oklahoma

2 (34) Gordon Jones, WR, Pittsburgh

3 (60) Jerry Eckwood, RB, Arkansas

3 (78) Reggie Lewis, DE, North Texas

3 (80) Rick Berns, RB, Nebraska

5 (133) Chuck Fusina, QB, Penn State

8 (217) Gene Sanders, T, Texas A&M

9 (225) Henry Vereen, --, Nevada-Las Vegas

11 (281) Bob Rippentrop, --, Fresno State

12 (307) David Logan, NT, Pittsburgh

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1978 NFL Draft Class

Round (Overall) Player, Position, School

1 (17) Doug Williams, QB, Grambling State

2 (30) Johnny Davis, RB, Alabama

2 (44) Brett Moritz, G, Nebraska

6 (162) Elijah Marshall, --, North Carolina State

8 (196) John McGriff, --, Miami (Fla.)

9 (223) Willie Taylor, WR, Pittsburgh

10 (252) Aaron Brown, LB, Ohio State

12 (308) Kevin McLee, --, Georgia