Geez, where does one start? There are so many highlights of John Lynch’s Bucs days that it’s hard for Joe to trim them down to a favorite.

Imagine how Lynch must feel?

When Lynch spoke Friday after being announced as the next member of the Buccaneers Ring of Honor, he was asked about his favorite moments with Tampa Bay.

“I thought about that on the plane ride here,” Lynch said. “I think there are a few things that stand out. Obviously winning the championship. I’ve only won one world championship, and I would imagine that, from talking to people, however you do it, it’s sweet, but, again, knowing where we came from, I think made it even more sweet. “I got to do it in front of my family out in San Diego, so that was great. But in addition to that, I think the first time I was named captain. I remember Tony calling me in his room and Monte and Herm were all in there and they told me the news. That just – you talk about humbling; that your teammates would choose you as the guy. “And then I think, you know, Bryan [Glazer] talked a little bit about the great things our foundation was able to get done in the community, and we’ve carried that forward to Denver, but we still give scholarships here. That’s something that – there was such a special feeling that I don’t know if it exists anywhere else or has existed anywhere else, between the community and that team. Because it felt like we grew up together and there was a sense of pride. It was really, really something special, something to behold. “But I think there were a bunch of guys on that team who did a lot of great things in the community, so there was just an unbelievable feeling amongst the players, the entire organization. Those are the things I’m most proud of.”

Two memories jump out at Joe, and they weren’t even football plays.

In the 1999 playoff game in Tampa against Washington, the Bucs’ offense was totally impotent — a postseason hallmark of Father Dungy — trailing 13-0 late in the third quarter. Lynch then picked off a Brad Johnson pass, ran in front of Bucs offensive coaches and spiked the ball hard as if to say, “Will you SOBs get off your arses and do something?”

Sure enough, the Bucs scored on their next drive and would later win 14-13.

Joe’s second Lynch memory? After Derrick Brooks scored his game-clinching pick-six in the Super Bowl, the Bucs’ flagbearers ran on the field to celebrate. Lynch grabbed one of the flags away from the flagbearer and started whipping the flag around in celebration.

Lynch knew; the Bucs were finally Super Bowl champs.