The Buccaneers yesterday announced that they "won't take the field this season in their popular throwback orange jerseys" despite being scheduled to do so for the Sept. 29 game against the Cardinals, "citing an NFL safety requirement mandating the same helmets be used in all games," according to Greg Auman of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Bucs COO Brian Ford said, "While we regret that our players won't be able to don the 'Bucco Bruce' helmet and traditional orange, red and white uniforms, there simply was no acceptable way to meet the requirements of the new policy while staying true to the spirit of our throwback theme." The Bucs have had "throwback games in each of the past four seasons, and the tradition has been popular with fans, bringing the team's early years together with its pewter-and-red present." The first three throwback games "coincided with the team's 'Ring of Honor' ceremony, but that was a separate game last season and will be again this year" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 9/18). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio wrote, "The policy surely will affect other teams with throwback uniforms based on a helmet of a different color." The Patriots "shift from silver to white for the old uniforms with Pat Patriot preparing to snap the ball." The Falcons "go from black to red." The Redskins in '12 "swapped out burgundy for a brown helmet with a simulated leather finish." The Bears and Bills this past Sunday "wore throwback uniforms, but with the same helmets." For the Bears, the "'C' logos were removed," while for the Bills the current team logo was "replaced with the stationary buffalo" from the '60s (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 9/17). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Michael David Smith wrote some teams reportedly "aren’t yet sure whether to go ahead with plans to wear throwback uniforms." The Cowboys "planned to wear their throwbacks with white helmets on Thanksgiving, and it’s not yet known whether they will blend throwback jerseys with regular helmets, or just scrap the throwback uniforms entirely" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 9/17).
