Tampa Bay footballer, familiarly

The answer to this crossword question is “BUC,” which is a familiar nickname for a football player from the Tampa Bay area. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional football team based in Tampa, Florida, and their players are often referred to as “Bucs.” This nickname is derived from the team’s name, which is a reference to the pirates who once roamed the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. So, if you see the word “BUC” in a crossword puzzle, you can be sure that it refers to a football player from Tampa Bay.