ATLANTA (AP) — Michael Turner and the Falcons didn’t want to settle for just making the playoffs. They wanted momentum and the best seed possible

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Raheem Morris is ready to start the offseason and help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers turn things around. Whether he will get that chance remains to be seen. Dropping their season finale 45-24 to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, the Bucs closed the year with 10 straight losses _ the franchise’s worst in-season stretch since the 1977 team lost its first 12 games

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By Stephen F. Holder , Times Staff Writer Tampa Bay Times In Print: Saturday, December 31, 2011 TAMPA — As Tony Gonzalez walked off the field Monday night at the Louisiana Superdome, a certain rising young star stopped him to ask what everyone wants to know.

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By Rick Stroud , Times Staff Writer Tampa Bay Times In Print: Friday, December 30, 2011 TAMPA — Raheem Morris has no problem taking all of the responsibility for the Bucs’ 4-11 record and nine-game losing streak. But heading into Sunday’s regular-season finale at Atlanta, the third-year coach said he already is thinking about how to fix things for next season. “I’ll be the first person, when this thing is done on Monday, when we come in here, raise my hand and say, ‘You guys can absolutely put this season on me,’ ” Morris said.

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By Stephen F. Holder , Times Staff Writer Tampa Bay Times In Print: Friday, December 30, 2011 TAMPA — The losses have piled up, and the streak continues. Yet the Buccaneers coaching staff believes there is reason to smile when the subject of the future is broached

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By Rick Stroud , Times Staff Writer Tampa Bay Times In Print: Thursday, December 29, 2011 TAMPA — Ronde Barber did more than just show up every day for work, but the record he may be remembered most for is how many times he punched in and out of the office.

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By Gary Shelton , Times Sports Columnist Tampa Bay Times In Print: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 At this level of quicksand, the Bucs could use stability. They could use steadfast. In some ways, they could use the right kind of stubborn.

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TAMPA — Coach Raheem Morris sees a bright future for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and believes he should be a part of it.

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CHARLOTTE – The good news for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is that the season is almost over. The bad news is they’ll have to see Cam Newton twice a year for a while

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By Rick Stroud , Times Staff Writer Tampa Bay Times In Print: Monday, December 26, 2011 TAMPA — Quarterback Josh Freeman has only so much influence over the direction of games, but at least he has been given more control of the Bucs’ offense. In Saturday’s 48-16 loss at Carolina, Freeman was finally allowed to push the pace of the offense, operating primarily from the shotgun and spreading the field with three and four receivers. After LeGarrette Blount fumbled a handoff on the first offensive snap, the Bucs drove 80 yards in 15 plays on their next possession, ending in a 4-yard Freeman touchdown pass to Arrelious Benn.

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For the second time this month, Newton handed the Buccaneers an embarrassing defeat, throwing for three touchdowns and rushing for another in the Carolina Panthers’ 48-16 victory Saturday. The staggering Bucs have lost nine straight games, perhaps putting coach Raheem Morris’ job in jeopardy. “As a player, you try not to think of that,” defensive tackle Frank Okam said.

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By Rick Stroud , Times Staff Writer Tampa Bay Times In Print: Sunday, December 25, 2011 CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made sure nearly everyone got an official NFL football for Christmas. LeGarrette Blount gave one to Carolina linebacker James Anderson, fumbling a handoff on the Bucs’ first offensive play Saturday

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By T.J. Doyle – Newsdesk contributor The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-10) travel to Charlotte on Sunday to face the Carolina Panthers (5-9), looking to snap their longest losing streak in 24 years. Follow , and Like SB Nation Tampa Bay on Facebook

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By Rick Stroud and Stephen F. Holder , Times Staff Writers Tampa Bay Times In Print: Friday, December 23, 2011 TAMPA — Ronde Barber’ s greatest play, a 92-yard interception return for a touchdown to clinch the 2002 NFC Championship Game in Philadelphia, came despite playing with the worst injury of his career. Five weeks earlier, Barber tore the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in a game at Detroit

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