This Week It’s the Critics’ Turn To Get Benched

Last week, critics of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wanted quarterback Trent Dilfer benched, offensive coordinator Mike Shula fired and low-key Coach Tony Dungy to get angry.

“That’s the nature of the game,” Dungy said. “If you’re real demonstrative and you win, then you’re a motivator. If you’re real demonstrative and lose, you’re too uptight, the players are all upset.

“If you’re laid back and you win, you’re a players’ coach. If you’re laid back and lose, you’re not disciplined enough. The bottom line is you gotta win. If you win, what you’re doing is right. If you lose, what you’re doing is wrong.”

Dungy is doing something right now. His Buccaneers upset previously unbeaten Minnesota, 27-24, on Sunday.

*

Trivia time: Who holds the NFL record for most consecutive games scoring a touchdown?

*

Career option: From former Chicago Blackhawk Dennis Hull: “My old man always wanted me to be a garbage man. He thought they only worked on Thursdays.”

*

We just watch: Miami Dolphin cornerback Terrell Buckely, vastly overestimating the number of cornerback/sportswriters: “Half you guys have never played corner.”

Or safety, or linebacker, or . . .

*

Famous people: Blackie Sherrod in the Dallas Morning News: “When baseball immortal Ted Williams was recalled as a Marine fighter pilot for Korea duty, his squadron commander at the time was a major named John Glenn, whom you may have noticed in the news lately.”

*

Simple pleasures: Steve Rosenbloom in the Chicago Tribune: “The Chicago Bears value DT Jim Flanagan so much they gave him a $4-million signing bonus to go with his new contract.

“He didn’t exactly go on a wild spending spree with all the loot, however. ‘I really didn’t go out and buy anything,’ he said. ‘I already had a dog. I had my computers. I went out and had a couple of beers with my friends.’

“What more does a man need?”

*

FYI: Washington quarterback Brock Huard attempted 62 passes against USC on Saturday, tying a Pacific 10 record for a conference game. Oregon State’s Eric Wilhelm threw 62 passes against USC in 1988.

*

Looking back: On this day in 1996, Nevada made the biggest comeback in NCAA football history, overcoming a 35-point deficit in the third quarter and rallying to beat Weber State, 55-49.

*

Trivia answer: Lenny Moore of the Baltimore Colts, 18, 1963 to 1965.

*

And finally: The ball that went through the legs of Boston Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner, allowing the Mets to score the winning run in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, was bought at auction by actor Charlie Sheen for $1 million.

Said Buckner: “If I knew it was worth that much after I missed it, I would have run after it.”