Kansas City Chiefs has not sold out and will be blacked out

The hometown NFL team that struggled last year on the field faces a rebuilding year on the sports bar circuit, too.

"We have a couple dozen regulars who will be disappointed, but they'll just watch another game," said Vicki Doble, owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers  Co. in Tampa. "Last year I noticed more talking than watching during Bucs games. Some stopped paying attention after so many losses."

Kirk Dreyfus, bar manager at Chammps Americana sports bar in Tampa, said he's seen more people coming in to watch other teams because of the Bucs' crummy record in recent years.

"In my four years here, the Bucs have had only one winning season," he said.

Last year, the Bucs avoided local broadcast blackouts, which occur when NFL teams don't sell out their home games. It seems as though that won't be the case this fall. For instance, Saturday's preseason home opener against the Kansas City Chiefs has not sold out and will be blacked out within 75 miles of Raymond James Stadium. The 10-county blackout includes pay-per-view service including Bucs games broadcast on NFL Sunday Ticket, which is aired in dozens of local sports bars.

"It's ridiculous they're blacking out games, but I don't think it will hurt us much," said Jeff Barrett, manager at Gator's in Treasure Island, which last fall drew 500 to big Florida college games but about 100 for Sunday Bucs games. "People here are especially fair-weather fans who revert to an old favorite NFL team when the Bucs are losing."

Barrett and several sports bar managers would prefer more Bucs wins because local fans who whooped it up during the Bucs glory days tend to spend more.

In playoff years, sports bars were often packed. But since the team's recent extended swoon, more transplanted locals hit the bars to follow their previous home teams with winning records like the Steelers, Saints, Patriots, Colts and Cowboys.

Dave Mangione, a partner in Hattricks, a downtown Tampa sports bar often jammed with 100 Bucs fans on Sundays, agreed that fans will find other teams to follow on TV.

"People are still going to watch their football," he said.

With the Bucs in the NFL's second-worst market for joblessness behind Detroit, the team said its ticket sales plight is as much about local economics as wins and losses. Two of last year's playoff teams, San Diego and Cincinnati, imposed blackouts last week.

Restaurants equipped with NFL Sunday Ticket say their Sunday business is better during the NFL season than the offseason. But the service provides them 14 other NFL games to show when the local team is blacked out.

They have been impressed by Huggins' speed and big-play ability. He made an impact Saturday against Miami by gaining 55 yards on eight carries, including a 35-yarder during the third quarter.

Cadillac Williams is expected to start, but the plan is for Huggins, in his second season after going undrafted out of Hofstra, to enter by at least the second quarter.

"You want to see how good is Kareem Huggins," coach Raheem Morris said. "How good would he be behind the (starting offensive) line? What would he look like if he has an opportunity? You just want to get a look at some people under the fire. And he's one of those guys you want to try to get out there a little bit earlier to see if he can do it."

To that end, during Wednesday's practice at One Buc Place, Huggins got snaps with the first-team offense while it was paired against the scout-team defense.

LEWIS to DEBUT: CB Myron Lewis, a third-round pick in April, was not on the field for the preseason opener because of a strained hamstring but is expected to suit up Saturday.

Lewis has missed valuable time in training camp. That has helped E.J. Biggers take the lead in the battle at nickel back, which also includes Elbert Mack. Lewis has been doing his best off the field to keep pace.

"It's always frustrating when you're standing back watching," Lewis said. "I've been out here getting a lot of mental reps, and I'm in the film room getting more. And I've been able to take it from the classroom to the field."

Of his first game, Lewis said he is beginning to feel the anticipation.

"I'm real anxious," he said.

Lewis looked like a guy who was serious about making an impact during Wednesday's practice. Among his highlights was an interception of a pass Mack tipped. Lewis corralled the ball and went the other way for what would have been a touchdown.

"I came off my break clean," he said. "Then it was off to the races."

Said Morris: "Myron's hungry. He watched (Saturday's) game. It's his turn this week."