Tight end Alex Smith suffered through the Buccaneers' late-season collapse in 2008. Tampa Bay was 9-3 and in clear command of its playoff destiny. However, the Bucs lost their final four games and the Eagles slipped into the playoffs after demolishing the Dallas Cowboys.
After the season ended, head coach Jon Gruden was fired. Smith was on board with the selection of new head coach Raheem Morris, who was the fourth-youngest head coach hired in the NFL's modern era (32 years, 4 months at the time of hire).
"Great guy. Real fiery guy. Real energetic," Smith said. "It rubs off on your players when you have a guy that's so passionate. Just the energy he brought, I was excited at the time when he was named coach. We ended up going different ways, but I think he'll be able to turn that club around sooner or later."
A third-round pick of the Bucs in 2005, Smith didn't figure into the team's long-term plans. The Bucs acquired talented tight end Kellen Winslow from the Browns and subsequently sent Smith to the Patriots. Smith was released by the Patriots at the end of training camp and signed a one-year deal with the Eagles. A good blocker to complement Brent Celek, Smith has played in the Eagles' first three games but has no catches.
He would love for that to change this Sunday.
"Definitely. Everybody is talking about that stuff with (Brett) Favre and the Packers, but anytime you get a chance to go up against your old team you want to stick it to them," Smith said. "I have a lot of friends on that team so it's going to be trash talking and a lot of fun. I'm excited about it."
Smith can provide the Eagles with a blueprint to attack Bucs quarterback Josh Johnson. In his first career start last week against the Redskins, Johnson was 13-of-22 for 106 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The 6-3, 205-pound Johnson also had 41 rushing yards on five carries.
"I just think he's a very versatile quarterback," Smith said. "He can hurt you with his feet as well as his arm. I think he's been very underestimated ever since coming out of college. I definitely think his versatility is something we have to pay attention to."
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 2:24 p.m., October 6
