The Bucs Are Suing The Saints

The Bucs are set to face the Saints on October 1 and December 31 on the gridiron this year, but they’ll be battling in a different arena before then. The NFC South rivals are expected to square off in court first, as the Bucs are suing the Saints for trademark infringement, according to trademark attorney Josh Gerben.

Gerben posted this thread on Twitter on May 19, alleging that Tampa Bay is taking legal action to block the New Orleans franchise for using the word “krewe.”

The Bucs Have Used The Term “Krewe” For Decades

Former Bucs DE Lee Roy Selmon – Photo courtesy of the Buccaneers

The Bucs franchise has used the term “krewe” for decades, even having a “Krewe Of Honor” mural at the old Tampa Stadium beginning in 1991 before having the Bucs Ring of Honor at the newer Raymond James Stadium, which opened in 1998. The four inaugural members of Tampa Bay’s Krewe Of Honor at Tampa Stadium were former head coach John McKay, former defensive end Lee Roy Selmon, former running back Ricky Bell and former quarterback Doug Williams.

McKay, Selmon, a Hall of Famer, and Williams have their names on the walls of Raymond James Stadium as members of the Bucs Ring of Honor. Bell was not included in the Bucs Ring of Honor.

Yet Tampa Bay could run into some problems in trademark court, as the term “krewe” is believed to have originated in the city of New Orleans back in the mid-1800s during Mardi Gras celebrations in Carnival season.

According to Wikipedia, here is the definition for the term “krewe:” A krewe is, simply, a club or organization that exists to celebrate Carnival. But while a krewe has royalty, the positions of king and queen are merely ceremonial. The identities of the queen and her maids are usually public, while the identities of kings are often secret—Rex being a notable exception.

Bucs LB Lavonte David and Saints QB Andy Dalton – Photo by: USA Today

This term for the New Orleans clubs that organize the Mardi Gras festivities was coined by The Mystick Krewe of Comus, the group that put on the first parade in the city with themed floats — the model for future parades — in 1857.

There is even a sunglass company called Krewe that has a website called Krewe.com that is based out of New Orleans.

So it will be interesting to see how the trademark ruling goes in this battle between the Bucs and the Saints. If Tampa Bay prevails it will be a third straight win for the franchise against New Orleans dating back to last year when the Bucs swept the Saints on the field during the 2022 campaign to win back-to-back NFC South division titles.