There were two things that became
crystal clear when the NFL announced the
newest franchise would be awarded to
Houston instead of Los Angeles.

First, Jay Leno would have a field day
with the decision and secondly, the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers could finally say goodbye
to the league's toughest division - the
NFC's Central.

Although realignment decisions won't
become official until league administrators
have the opportunity to thoroughly study
the issue, it is a no-brainer.

Tampa Bay has been beat up enough.
Having to face Green Bay, Minnesota,
Detroit, and Chicago twice each season
hasn't been fun for the Bucs and the
chance to move into another division
should be viewed as pennies from Heaven.

In the 22 years the Buccaneers have
been in the league, divisional titles have
been few and far between, so this most
recent decision by the league should give
the franchise a much needed break.

Send them packing. Place Tampa Bay
in the Eastern Division where they belong
and send either Arizona or Dallas west.

Maybe the realignment can also help the
league deal with such geographical
imbalances as having Atlanta in the
Western Division.

The league will benefit. The Tampa
Bay Buccaneers will benefit. Maybe they'll
even have a chance to win a few more
games - maybe even a divisional title.

With the expansion decision, the league
should be set for years to come. Expand
any more and the NFL will find itself in
the same position Major League Baseball -
too many teams and a watered down talent
pool.

There comes a point when teams,
especially those in smaller markets, cannot
compete. Although football's revenue
sharing scheme gives the league a step-up
over their counterparts, baseball and
basketball, the saturation point has been
reached. Hopefully, commissioner
Tagliabue understands.

To stretch the talent any farther will
endanger many of the teams, alienate fans,
and produce a downslide in overall team
play.

So, the key is not to listen to the
collective moaning coming from the west
coast. There are enough teams out there. If
state of California were to be awarded
another professional football team,
residents wouldn't have to worry about the
San Andreas Fault. The sheer weight of
another offensive line in the vicinity would
send them sliding ocean side.

The selection of Houston will help
many breathe easier, especially the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers. Now, maybe the team will
be able to compete. Maybe the team can
win a divisional title? Maybe the team can
get into the playoffs? Maybe the team can
garner some self-respect? Maybe the team
can win a Super Bowl. Well, maybe the
Pope will travel to the moon...

Realignment isn't going to solve all of
the team's problems, especially when it
comes to talent.

Yes, the other NFC Central Division
teams have enjoyed having Tampa Bay
around to feast upon. In recent years that's
been because of one person - Trent Dilfer.
Even with him behind center, a new divi-
sional setup will not help. Regardless of
the division the team finds itself in, Tampa
Bay will never give themselves a chance to
win with Dilfer, aside from a Pop Warner
championship.

The NFL wised up by ignoring the obnoxiousness of the west coast and award ing their newest franchise to Houston. Maybe that bold decision will help the rest of the league - especially the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.