Lots of mysteries surround the 2014 Buccaneers.

By design, the entire offense is a secret. Tampa Bay’s targets in the NFL Draft are complete unknowns. And how a mattress on grass, a living-room stripper pole, a kitchen fire and a sibling stabbing a thigh cost the Bucs their good No. 2 receiver is a question mark, too.

It’s also unclear how Lovie Smith has changed after a year out of football. (more…)

Trying to find information about the new Jeff Tedford offense with the Bucs is a tougher riddle to solve than Rachel Watson’s cell phone number. Bucs coach Lovie Smith has thrown a shroud of secrecy on the offense that he recently bragged no one will find out about until the regular season begins. (more…)

Yes, we could all chuckle at Mike Holmgren giving advice on drafting a quarterback, but his message is what’s important and the common mindset it reveals. General managers and head coaches — and more importantly owners — know the great value of having a face-of-the-franchise quarterback.

Sadly, the Bucs don’t have one – like 14 other NFC teams do. (more…)

Gerald McCoy right now is the unquestioned leader on the Bucs. Lavonte David, about the only player who could call GMC an equal on the field, defers to GMC. It’s not really surprising that GMC also has taken to be an on-field coach of sorts. (more…)

Start your day with the Morning Cup of Joe from HootersCalendar.com. And don’t forget to visit HootersCalendar.com for the 2014 calendar, amazing videos, pictures and cool gifts. It’s Joe’s second favorite website.

Bucs news forthcoming.

Top 10 a-holes you find at a baseball game. [TheAthleteLife]

Is Joe the only guy who thinks Paulina Gretzky isn’t quite as attractive as Ashley Glass? [TheBigLead]

Groping a waitress and threatening to shoot a cop. Sounds like the makings of a full evening. [Palm Beach Post]

The contest to pick the Rams’ schedule for $100,000? You have a much better shot at winning the Florida Lottery and getting struck by lightning. [Business Insider]

How to become an infamous NFL scout. [Deadspin]

The ugly starting pitching rotation for the Rays. [RaysIndex]

“Man, I just don’t get it. Lovie’s stifling these guys’ verbal creativity. We never would have won a Super Bowl if I couldn’t have called Simeon and Keyshawn mother %#@$^&’s every day. You think I could have had Chris Simms take us to the playoffs without ripping him a new assho*e every other %$^&’n minute? It’s unnatural, man.”

After a regime of Buccaneers cursing out the head coach and not being punished (see Talib vs. Raheem), followed by a regime that had rules for room temperature but not naughty language, change at One Buc Palace is significant on the potty-mouth front. (more…)

It sure seems like Lovie Smith is putting a lot of pressure on free agent signee Michael Johnson to help revive a too-long dormant pass rush.

Johnson welcomes the responsibility but, he admits, part of the reason he chose to play for the Bucs was the prowess of defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. (more…)

Gerald McCoy explained that what’s new this season will look very old

Don’t think the Bucs are going to run the Glory Days, Tampa-2 defense as their core defense?

Well, Lovie Smith hasn’t changed much, says Gerald McCoy. It’s been all Tampa-2 study all the time at One Buc Palace this past week. (more…)

Joe has gone on record stating second-year defensive lineman Will Gholston could be a break out player for the Bucs this season. Judging by his rookie year, all signs point to Gholston being on every NFL offensive lineman’s radar. (more…)

Of course, Joe had to ask Josh McCown today at Bucs headquarters whether he spent time with the former college quarterbacks that visited One Buc Palace in recent days.

McCown talked about his brushes with Johnny Football, Teddy Bridgewater and Jimmy Garappolo, and he went on to explain his approach if the Bucs drafted a quarterback on Day 1 of the NFL Draft in 23 short days. (more…)

New Bucs DE Michael Johnson spent much of Tuesday morning studying Simeon Rice.

Doctors throughout the Tampa Bay area were flooded with calls on Mondays last fall from patients who needed to re-up their blood pressure meds because the Bucs were so impotent at getting to opposing quarterbacks.

It was appalling for Joe as well, as he had to numb himself on Sunday nights with copious amounts of adult beverages to wash away the memories. (more…)

Talented second-year running back Mike James stood before media today at One Buc Palace and was all smiles. His broken — and repaired – ankle is feeling great.

Looking rocked up and chiseled — James said he’s 232 pounds – he talked about his future and the loss of the offensive line behind which he was so successful last season. (more…)

Joe talked about leadership with McCown at One Buc Palace today

Starting quarterback Josh McCown talked about his approach to the new Bucs season this afternoon at One Buc Palace.

And Joe liked how McCown explained that his lauded leadership ability doesn’t mean he’s forcing anything or making speeches just because all eyes are on him as the starter out of the gate. (more…)

Johnny Football impresses Glennon

Sean Glennon, Mike Glennon’s brother, was cut by the Vikings in 2009 after a solid quarterback career at Virginia Tech, where he was once the MVP of the ACC Championship game. 

Nowadays, Glennon, 28, checks in as a football analyst on Delaware sports radio, 1290 AM. And it’s no surprise that he watches plenty of film and likes to break down quarterbacks. (more…)