Nobody thrives in the draft like Packers GM Ted Thompson, but even he nailed two expensive free agency signings last year.

As Joe wrote earlier this week, Jason Licht sounds like a guy ready to dive into the deep end of the free agency pool on March 10. That wasn’t the first time Licht talked about a Year 2 shopping outing with Team Glazer’s checkbook.

While Tampa Tribune voice Woody Cummings thinks otherwise, a former Buccaneer believes Lovie Smith and Licht have no choice. (more…)

A national NFL voice offers his two cents on Dirk Koetter.

The past few months have been such an awful trainwreck for the Bucs; Joe doesn’t know where to begin. The end of the season was probably a late Christmas present.

About the only thing that has gone right for the team, aside from the season coming to an end and winning the Chase for Jameis, was the hire of Dirk Koetter as offensive coordinator. (more…)

Some regular readers of JoeBucsFan.com are troubled by a black box that sometimes appears on their screen when viewing stories and comments here. Take a deep breath. It’s supposed to be there. (Gasp!)

For most people, the box fills in immediately with a cute video ad from Rich Eisen of NFL Network. It’s not seen on every page, and it’s a Super Bowl campaign that won’t last long. Isn’t it wonderful that businesses see the value in helping Joe cover the Bucs 24/7 and avoid eating dog food?

Of course, readers are welcome to click the X and not watch the whole video. Yes, Joe realizes that’s a big chore.

Word seeping out of One Buc Palace suggests Lovie Smith has had his fill of big-name hunting in free agency.

Last March, Bucs fans were absolutely giddy when Lovie Smith broke out Team Glazer’s checkbook and went drunken sailor in an attempt to restock the team’s roster.

Anthony Collins, Alterraun Verner, Michael Johnson, Clinton McDonald, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Brandon Myers and Josh McCown all quickly came in weighted down with Team Glazer cash ready to march the Bucs back to both respectability and the playoffs. (more…)

Crab-legs-stealing, BB-gun-shooting, obscenity-hollering, Heisman-Trophy-winning, former national champion Jameis Winston, the pride of Florida State University, continues to look like a much better quarterback prospect than Mike Glennon and Josh McCown.

It’s Joe’s daily nugget on the Jameis Watch, celebrating the best quarterback to wear No. 5 ever in the state of Florida. (more…)

Start your day with the Morning Cup of Joe from HootersCalendar.com. And don’t forget to visit HootersCalendar.com for the 2015 calendar, amazing videos, pictures and cool gifts. It’s Joe’s second favorite website.

Bucs news forthcoming.

Bills owner admits Rex Ryan was not the top choice but won the job by the force of his personality. Uh, oh. [NFL]

Brian Urlacher did not like former Bears general manager Phil Emery. [BSPN]

Michael Jordan’s worst nightmare, Dan Dakich, wins more fans in the Hawkeye State by calling an Iowa player “gutless” and demanding his suspension. [TheBigLead]

Lustful Olivia Munn had no idea who Aaron Rodgers was when she met Aaron Rodgers. [FoxSports]

So the Rays are aiming for 83 wins, huh? [RaysIndex]

New Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter

Former Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford told Joe he thought Lovie Smith and friends were concerned about his health in 2015 and beyond, so they wouldn’t commit to bringing him back, despite being healthy and ready to coach in November. (more…)

Brand new head coaches often are busy establishing their programs and doing extensive scouting of their new team’s existing roster.

They’re way to busy to scout college talent. It’s a different story for Lovie Smith. (more…)

Former Bucs QB Josh Freeman is trying to revive his dormant career.

One of the biggest mysteries in the Tampa Bay area this side of the secretive Bucs cheerleader selection process is what has happened to former franchise quarterback, leaky, sleepy Josh Freeman.

Rumors surfaced in 2014, claiming Freeman was working out with Chucky to refine his quarterback skills. Apparently, Freeman has moved on. (more…)

Crab-legs-stealing, BB-gun-shooting, obscenity-hollering, Heisman-Trophy-winning, former national champion Jameis Winston, the pride of Florida State University, continues to look like a much better quarterback prospect than Mike Glennon and Josh McCown.

It’s Joe’s daily nugget on the Jameis Watch, celebrating the best quarterback to wear No. 5 ever in the state of Florida. (more…)

NBC Sports Network analyst and SiriusXM NFL Radio’s Ross Tucker is no fan of Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston.

The debate is all the rage and will unlikely die until after April’s NFL draft, and likely carry on for years to come. For Joe, it’s fun.

Yesterday, good guy Ross Tucker of SiriusXM NFL Radio and NBC Sports did a cannonball off the top diving board into the deep end of the pool of who the Bucs should draft with the No. 1 pick, Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota. (more…)

Seattle guard James Carpenter

Bucs general manager Jason Licht didn’t hide from his rough 2014 dive into free agency. But Licht also was very clear on who he thought was his big score of the year.

That has Joe wondering whether the Bucs’ brass will head back to where they were most successful in free agency. (more…)

Hard to imagine Bucs OT Anthony Collins “falling” because he has just about hit rock bottom.

Joe gets a chuckle out of the mockers who breathlessly claim a player is “rising” or “falling” because of one game or two. NFL general managers do, too.

Players don’t skyrocket or plummet based on one game or even one interview. It is all a piece of a big, big puzzle. (more…)

If Eagles strongman Chip Kelly has no use for Nick Foles, why should the Bucs?

With apologies up front, Joe doesn’t get it. Joe just doesn’t understand how too many (and one is too many, frankly) Bucs fans are pitching a tent over the (planted?) Philly media story that Chip Kelly is willing to trade half of his team to move up in the first round to snatch his former pupil, Marcus Mariota.

This ought to scare the hell out of Bucs fans. (more…)

Bucs GM Jason Licht details why the Bucs are not coaching in the Senior Bowl.

One benefit (?) of a team finishing with the worst record in the NFL is that said coaching staff gets to coach a team in the Senior Bowl, and allegedly get inside information on prospective draftees unavailable to other teams.

So when the Bucs declined to coach the Senior Bowl, many Bucs fans got agitated thinking the Bucs passed up a rare opportunity to get an edge in the draft. (more…)