Now this made Joe’s day. Joe is at One Buc Palace and already Bucs veterans dropped the word “excited” about having Jameis Winston on board, especially wide receiver Mike Evans (more on that later).

It is already known that Winston, because of his cult of personality and big-game arm, endears himself to other players. They want to play for him.

Case in point Kenny Bell, the Bucs’ fifth-round pick who struck a friendship with Winston at the NFL Scouting Combine. (more…)

A very confident, relaxed Mike Evans took to the One Buc Palace podium this afternoon and had plenty to say. (more…)

Yes, it is that time of the year.

In the days after the draft, everyone has an opinion on what the Bucs did with their freshmen class. FOX Sports is no different. (more…)

The number was staggering

Doug Martin is free to fly the coup after this season.

 Yesterday morning, it was reported by Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune that the Bucs declined the fifth-year option Martin’s contract. (more…)

A big Marcus Mariota backer and a former Super Bowl winning coach isn’t sure the Bucs hit the jackpot with Jameis Winston, but he believes young Jameis won NFL’s version of a winning scratch-off ticket. (more…)

Bucs fans were treated to superior pass blocking from running backs when Earnest Graham and Cadillac Williams were performing third-down duties for Jeff Garcia and Josh Freeman.

Since their demise, life hasn’t been as good, though D.J. Ware was ok in 2012. (more…)

Joe would have been very satisfied if the Bucs drafted four offensive linemen last week.

That’s how bad the O-line play was last year, and that’s how critical it is to protect Jameis Winston. (more…)

Jason Licht Opens Up

You’ve heard it; Joe’s heard it: That Jameis Winston, on a greaseboard, is some sort of rare football savant.

It was the talk of NFL scouts at Shrine Game practices, and Joe heard much more at the NFL Scouting Combine. Word also trickled out that Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter was so blown away by Winston’s football retention that Winston is Koetter’s new standard for football IQ. (more…)

Bucs GM Jason Licht refuses to do cartwheels, no matter how much he likes his recent draft.

Yesterday, when appearing on “The Blitz,” co-hosted by Bruce Murray and Rich Gannon heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Bucs general manager Jason Licht was peppered with all sorts of questions about the draft. (more…)

Usually, an undrafted quarterback or two heads to rookie minicamp with an NFL team.

They’re typically guys right out of college with recognizable names, but they’re rarely more than future Arena league stars or CFL meat. (more…)

How pumped up is Joe?

Joe already is counting the hours until the start of Bucs rookie minicamp. (more…)

Dirk Koetter has completed his film review of the Muscle Hamster. (more…)

Yes, Bucs general manager Jason Licht has long been on the Jameis Winston bandwagon. For good reason.

The way the guy played in college was legendary — the way he rallied his Seminoles from what seemed to be sure losses (yes, some graves Winston dug himself) week after week after week, including the 2013 national championship game. (more…)

Jason Licht said his dad’s influence was felt in the Bucs’ draft room for fifth-round pick Kenny Bell. So Joe just had to pick up the phone and call dad.

At heart, Joe’s an old school journalist, so how could Joe not pick up the phone and call Ron Licht, the now famous father of Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht. (more…)

The Buccaneers’ seventh-round draft pick, Joey Iosefa, will compete to be the Bucs fullback, general manager Jason Licht said on Saturday.

But did the Bucs get a potential steal because of Iosefa’s past? (more…)

When Jameis Winston throws out the first pitch at a Rays game soon, that might be the last time he throws a baseball for 20 years. (more…)

New Bucs guard Ali Marpet, a second-round pick out of Division III Hobart, is a tremendous underdog story. The guy’s the highest ever draft pick out of the lowest ranks of college football, where scholarships don’t exist.

Marpet also represents Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht putting a hefty set of balls on the table. (more…)