DE Greg Spires made things difficult for Miami QB Gus Frerotte in October
If the Buccaneers.com Photo of the Year competition is like an NFL playoff race, then we just hit mid-December. The postseason field is filling up and time is running out for the remaining competitors.
Six of the spots for our final vote have already been secured, but four remain wide open. That will change soon as you help us determine the best two images from Group Four of our competition.
**Click here** to launch the slideshow for this week's images.
Who's already in? Well, we won't be revealing the 10 finalists until the whole group is determined, but we did admit during our vote for Group Two that the brilliant shot of Mike Alstott's diving touchdown against the Redskins in November had made it through to the final vote by an overwhelming margin. Click here to see that shot and all the photos from Group One.
We also gave some strong hints regarding the winners from Group Two. Last week, you learned that you had collectively selected one capture of a key occurrence on the field during the 2005 season, as well as a shot of a quiet moment from the locker room. Having set a precedent we'll provide another hint of the winners from Group Three: On one, you honored another moment Buccaneer fans will remember for a long time, and on the other you seemed to agree with our own assessment here at Buccaneers.com.
And who's going to join those first six finalists? Well, the team's defensive linemen have a good shot at finding representation in the finals, as Simeon Rice, Greg Spires and Dewayne White are all featured in this group. So is their defensive mentor, Monte Kiffin, in a rare sideline capture that is the product of the team photographers' all-points access.
Have you put Ronde Barber or Joey Galloway into the finals yet? We're not telling, but you'll have another chance in this set, as both of those players – two men who would each be a fine choice as team MVP in 2005 – are represented. Barber, of course, is shown creating a turnover. Galloway, of course, is shown scoring a touchdown. That's what they did in 2005.
The non-action photos in this contest have gone over well so far, as fans have been delighted to see emotional images from the locker room, the tunnel and the sideline. Look for more in this group, including Kiffin's shot and one of tackle Anthony Davis drawing some last-minute motivation before a game.
Did you get a thrill in 2005 from seeing some young offensive stars emerge for the Buccaneers, who have seemingly been riding their otherworldly defense for years? Well, you'll like this set of shots then, as there is one each for running back Cadillac Williams, quarterback Chris Simms and tight end Alex Smith.
Of course, you don't have to read about what is in this week's group. Once again, **Click here** to launch the slideshow.
Once you've studied those 10 images, you can vote for your favorite in the fan poll to the right. As usual, the top two vote-getters will be placed into the finals; there is just one more week of preliminary voting after this one. After the five photo groups have been put to a vote and the 10 finalists have been determined, your votes will also decide the Buccaneers.com 2005 Photo of the Year.
Once again, it's your choice. As the Photo of the Year competition moves along, we find ourselves closer to identifying the best shot of the season. Please help us make that choice.
