[1] Perkins's harsh style was in stark contrast to the laid-back approach of his predecessor Leeman Bennett, of whom it was said that his "idea of team discipline was everyone wearing the same color uniform on game day".
The Buccaneers had a 3–2 record when regular play resumed, and nearly beat a Chicago Bears team only one season removed from its Super Bowl victory.
In return, the Buccaneers received defensive lineman Randy Edwards and a 1989 6th-round draft pick that was used to select linebacker Derrick Little.
Expectations had been that owner Hugh Culverhouse would hire popular ex-Tampa Bay Bandits coach Steve Spurrier,[10] but Perkins was the only candidate interviewed.
[15] No reason was given, but some observers, most outspokenly Boston Globe columnist Will McDonough, felt that the Buccaneers' office was staffed heavily with people whose main experience was in college football, and that the team suffered from a lack of NFL knowledge.
[17] Perkins had previously been hired as head coach of the New York Giants on the basis of his experience working with a losing franchise (the New England Patriots) that needed turning around.
[22] Perkins forced the Buccaneers to suffer in the broiling Florida sun by switching the home bench at Tampa Stadium from the west sideline to the east, opposite the press box.
This was done to mimic Alabama, which occupied the sideline opposite the press box since Bear Bryant began coaching at his alma mater, and continued it when Perkins succeeded his mentor (also, the Giants, the team Perkins coached from 1979-82, have always occupied the sideline opposite the press box since moving to New Jersey in 1976).
[23] Dan Sileo was signed as a free agent after the NCAA ruled that he had used up his college eligibility, but the league voided the agreement and declared that he must enter a draft.
Looking to avoid a repeat of the previous year's disastrous selection of Bo Jackson, the Buccaneers signed Testaverde 16 days before the draft began.
Owner Hugh Culverhouse wanted to take one last shot at building the Buccaneers into a successful franchise, and made sure that money would not be an issue in signing Testaverde.
[25] But DeBerg was eventually displaced for the fourth time, having played for the San Francisco 49ers when Joe Montana was drafted, the Denver Broncos when John Elway was traded for, and the Buccaneers when Steve Young was signed.
[28][29] When the Indianapolis Colts failed to sign linebacker Cornelius Bennett, the second player selected in the draft (directly after Testaverde), they attempted to trade him to Tampa Bay.
[30] Perkins also attempted to persuade Bo Jackson, their first-overall pick from the 1986 NFL draft who had refused to sign with the Buccaneers, to change his mind and join the team.
[31] Coach Perkins would make a move in the supplemental draft by taking All-American defensive tackle Dan Sileo out of the University of Miami (FL) with a 3rd round pick, after the NCAA ruled he had used up his eligibility.
[38] Three replacement Buccaneers, Brian Gant, Steve Holloway, and Paul Tripoli, remained with the team once regular play resumed.
[43] Perkins, who had played with Joe Namath in college and Johnny Unitas in the pros, and drafted Phil Simms with the Giants, said that DeBerg had one of the best games of any quarterback with whom he had been associated.
Vinny Testaverde made his NFL debut after Steve DeBerg left the game in the fourth quarter with a sprained medial collateral ligament.
According to owner Hugh Culverhouse, it would not be feasible to make up the cancelled games, with the TV networks already having their schedules set for the open weekend following the season.
Attendance was also likely influenced by a baseball game taking place the same day, in which the Detroit Tigers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays to win the A.L.
Tampa Bay took a 17–10 lead in the third quarter, after Kevin Walker's 30-yard interception return and Arthur Wells's end-zone fumble recovery.
On the Bears' next possession, Ron Holmes's hit on Mike Tomczak forced a fumble that was recovered in the end zone by Winston Moss to give the Buccaneers a 20–0 lead.
[66] at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri With the Cardinals down by 25 points in the fourth quarter, quarterback Neil Lomax threw for three touchdowns in a come-from-behind win.
Irritation over DeBerg's celebrations after his three touchdown passes provided inspiration to some of the Cardinals, who commented, "He's going to lose his job to Vinny Testaverde in a couple of weeks anyway."
As an example, he noted that many players turned to see how much time was left on the clock after Cardinals linebacker Niko Noga returned a James Wilder Sr. fumble for a touchdown.
[71] Offensive tackle Rob Taylor suffered a strained medial collateral ligament, and center Randy Grimes was also out for the fourth quarter with a hyperextended knee.
"We should have gotten a lot more hurt", Perkins said,[72] and accused his players of allowing positive press coverage to inflate their egos and cloud their judgments.
[73] at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota The Rob Taylor injury from the previous week became a factor as Steve DeBerg was sacked four times, two resulting in fumbles.
"[71] Both fumbles were caused by Chris Doleman and recovered by Keith Millard, and both led to scores, including Tommy Kramer's first touchdown pass since the previous Dec. 14.
After a Donald Igwebuike field goal early in the second half, the Buccaneers attempted an onside kick, but failed to gain possession.