Doug Williams Hugh Culverhouse

culverhouse s treatment of quarterback doug williams caused resentment not on team, in entire bay area community. williams led buccaneers playoffs in 3 of 5 years team, , considered single important player. however, paid $120,000 year, ranked 42nd among nfl quarterbacks, less teams third-string quarterbacks made, , lower salary of terdell middleton, running had 2 total carries in 2 years in tampa bay. after 1982 season, williams asked $600,000 contract pay him among league s top quarterbacks. culverhouse refused budge initial offer of $400,000, said make williams 1 of 5 highest-paid quarterbacks in league. williams agent disputed this, saying culverhouse s offer substantially less several other quarterbacks made. negotiations @ standstill, buccaneers traded following season s first-round draft pick cincinnati bengals in exchange jack thompson, backup quarterback had been unable unseat ken anderson, insurance policy should williams prove impossible sign, or have trouble recovering offseason knee surgery. williams interpreted sign team did not want him, , instead signed contract oklahoma outlaws of united states football league.

his hard line williams created perception culverhouse more concerned profits putting winning team on field. aroused suspicions culverhouse s main concern buccaneers salary structure, , related frequency team traded away first-round draft choices. williams comments have been treated differently had been white resonated bay area african american community, saw buccaneers ensuing on-field woes retribution, boycotted buccaneer games thousands, , commented culverhouse throws parties cost more williams asking for. buccaneers missed williams confidence , ability make big plays @ key times, , lost first 9 games in 1983, when had been expected contend playoffs. finished 2–14, first of 14 consecutive losing seasons—the longest since merger between nfl , all-america football conference in 1950—and not have winning season in culverhouse s lifetime. lose 10 or more games in 13 of years, including 12 in row 1983 1994—an nfl record. timing of situation coincided ascendance of tampa bay bandits, led usfl in attendance wide-open, crowd-pleasing offense led local hero steve spurrier, while buccaneers losing games conservative offense fans found boring. attendance having dropped sharply, culverhouse further alienated fans berating them, accusing them of apathy.

attendance , television availability

the long losing streak further penalized fans, nfl blackout policy prevented poorly attended buccaneer home games being shown on local television. no buccaneer home games televised on local stations several years following november 29, 1982, including game on january 1, 1983 sold out, not in time lift blackout. in total, buccaneers had streak of 32 consecutive blackouts before november 9, 1986 game against then-reigning super bowl champion chicago bears sold out in time allow local television. @ 1 point, cbs television network, had rights nfc television broadcasts, correctly anticipated poor seasons of southern (buccaneers, falcons, , saints) teams, , reorganized viewing markets in such way buccaneers games not broadcast anywhere in state of florida. culverhouse went far dictate miami dolphins games blacked out, when buccaneer games sellouts. further inflamed fans in 1989 proposing move of team s games orlando, due poor attendance. several local radio stations responded billboards saying hugh gotta go! , , picture of screw next culverhouse s name. tampa chamber of commerce countered billboard thanking culverhouse bringing super bowl xxv tampa.

profitability

although enjoyment factored culverhouse s purchase of buccaneers, first , foremost business decision expected profitable. admitted being known frugality, due moves such wearing outdated clothing, , having 1 buc place walls painted white avoid having spend money on projection screens. not problem franchise, though budget airplane culverhouse chartered team crashed after first game; original coach john mckay reported in 1978 culverhouse had never blocked deals, involving great amount of money. later, however, team let go or traded away many of players highly paid and/or demanded more money, including dave pear, doug williams, ricky reynolds, reggie cobb, mark carrier, , jeris white. first-round draft choices traded players not considered of equal value, when team traded often-injured defensive end wally chambers without requiring first pass physical examination. frustration on being beaten players had pleaded culverhouse sign contributed resignation of mckay. fired well-regarded personnel director ken herock, when herock demanded paid in line value around league.

despite losing , poor attendance, buccaneers 1 of nfl s profitable teams of culverhouse s ownership. in 1989, chicago bears had higher profits 5–11 buccaneers, profited $6.3 million league s second-lowest payroll, while super bowl champion san francisco 49ers lost $16.2 million. team attributed low salaries players youth, stating coaches had made decision use younger players, drew lower salaries veterans. contributed perception culverhouse not committed fielding quality team, although rookie contracts gave vinny testaverde , paul gruber high upset other team owners, while made ray perkins 1 of 5 highest-paid nfl head coaches. offered bill parcells $6.5 million coach team, offered draft pick bo jackson five-year, $7 million contract @ time highest in nfl history rookie, paid keith mccants nfl-record $2.5 million signing bonus, , paid steve young $6 million in salary, plus $1 million buyout of usfl contract.