Earlier start time doesn't help the Bucs

No one wanted to see the Chargers and Bucs play at 8:15 p.m. Sunday. Big game sure, but we shouldn’t have to wait all day to start a game between one team that is 9-5 (the Bucs) and another that is 6-8 (the Chargers).

Thank goodness for the NFL’s flex scheduling.

Now the Bucs and Chargers kick off at 1 p.m.

And that is actually bad news for the Bucs.

Why?

Good question.

Here’s why.

The Chargers need a win and a loss by the Broncos to set up a winner-take-all game next week for the division title.

The Broncos play at 4 p.m. If they win, the Chargers are out regardless of what the Chargers do against the Bucs.

So, if kickoff were still 8:15 p.m., the Chargers would already now their fate. If the Broncos win, it wouldn’t matter what the Chargers do. Think mail it it.

But now that it is at 1 p.m. start, the Chargers are still playing for a playoff spot. They have something to play for, which means they should give the Bucs a better game than if they were already eliminated.

Not that it should change the way the Bucs approach the game. They need a win to enhance their playoff chances.

But it will change the way the Chargers approach things, and that could mean a tougher afternoon for the Bucs.

Bucs Bryant makes a point

Do your homework, Antonio Bryant said more than once Wednesday when asked about his big season. What he’s doing this year is nothing new to the Bucs receiver, who is heading toward a career year in receptions, yards and touchdowns.

Bryant not only is miffed that reporters, especially those on ESPN, keep referring to the “baggage” he brings to a team, but he is also steamed that nine receivers were picked ahead of him in the 2002 draft.

And Bryant is well aware of what those guys are doing these days. Compare them to Bryant’s season and the answer is not much.

Here is a breakdown of the first 10 receivers drafted in 2002:

Donte Stallworth, 13th pick, 14 catches, 141 yards, 1 TD.

Ashley Lelie, 19th pick, 11 catches, 197 yards, 2 TDs.

Javon Walker, 20th pick, 15 catches, 196 yards, 1 TD.

Jabar Gaffney, 33rd pick, 33 catches, 378 yards, 2TDs.

Josh Reed, 36th pick, 41 catches, 454 yards, 1TD.

Tim Carter, 46th pick, not playing.

Andre Davis, 47th pick, 10 catches, 155 yards, 0 TDs.

Reche Caldwell, 48th pick, not playing.

Antwaan Randle El, 62nd pick, 48 catches, 557 yards, 3TDs.

Antonio Bryant, 63rd pick, 936 yards, 5 TDs.

Smith: NFC special teams player of the month

Bucs returner Clifton Smith was named the NFC’s special teams player of the month for November.

Smith had 11 punt returns for 199 yards (18.1 avg.) and one touchdown. He also registered 16 kickoff returns for 498 yards (31.1 avg.) and one touchdown. Smith’s punt return average of 18.1 yards this season ranks first in the NFL and his 31.1 yard kickoff return average ranks second in the NFL. He is also the only player in the NFL to have a kickoff return for a touchdown and a punt return for a touchdown this season.

Smith was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 9 as he became the second player in team history to return a kickoff for a touchdown with a 97-yard touchdown return at Kansas City (Nov. 2). He finished the game with two punt returns for 27 yards and six kickoff returns for 232 yards and a touchdown. His 97-yard kickoff return was also the longest kickoff return in team history and the 259 total return yards (232 kickoff return yards and 27 punt return yards) set a franchise record for the most return yards in a single game.

Smith had four punt returns for 90 yards, including a touchdown, and five kickoff returns for 142 yards, including a long of 49 yards at Detroit (Nov. 23). With his 70-yard punt return for a touchdown, Smith became the first Buccaneer since 2004 to record a punt return for a touchdown and he became the first player in franchise history to return both a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown.

Smith had five punt returns for 82 yards (16.4 avg.), including a long of 42 yards, and three kickoff returns for 76 yards vs. New Orleans (Nov. 30).

Smith’s honor marks the seventh time in team history that a Buccaneer has been named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month. Kicker Matt Bryant (December 2007), Punter Josh Bidwell (November 2005), Kicker Martin Gramatica (November 1999, October 2000 and December 2002), and returner Karl Williams (December 1996) have previously been honored.

Gruden: Kiffin rumors not a distraction

The reports that Monte Kiffin is heading to the University of Tennessee to join his son, Lane, on the Volunteers coaching staff will not present a distraction to the first-place Bucs, said Bucs coach Jon Gruden on Monday morning.

"A lot of our coaches are sought after every year, and Monte's sought after every year,'' Gruden said during his Monday morning press conference."He should be. I'm not worried about any distractions. We've got a great opportunity ahead of us, and we want to take advantage of it.''

Lane Kiffin is scheduled to be named the Vols coach at a 2 p.m. press conference today. ESPN is reporting Lane will bring his dad with him as the defensive coordinator.

Monte called those rumors “speculation” after Sunday’s win against the Saints, and ESPN has been known to be wrong.

Kiffin is in the first year of a multi-year contract, and the Bucs have never been in the habit of letting coaches out of their contracts to pursue other jobs.

If the rumors are true and Kiffin were to leave, Gruden said he expects Kiffin to finish the season with the Bucs, who are 9-3 and tied for first place in the NFC South with Carolina.