The new regime appreciates the old regime

By now, most Bucs fans have realized their beloved Buccaneers are about $30 million under the 2015 salary cap, and the free agency dinner bell rings in eight days.

The Bucs can play the game, if they desire. (more…)

Important people on Team Mariota think he can play Day 1

It’s official, Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter has been talking about Marcus Mariota to his old colleague and friend Mark Helfrich, the Oregon head coach.

It’s got draft gurus chatting about whether Mariota would be targeted — and ready — to play for Tampa Bay on Day 1. (more…)

Seems the Bucs are trying to unload LT Anthony Collins on an unsuspecting team.

Yes, the free agency dinner bell rings next week. Seriously, eight days away. Already, rumors are flying everywhere about this player and that. More on that later.

One guy the Bucs threw a lot of Team Glazer cash in a free agent spending spree last year was left tackle Anthony Collins. What to make of that move? Well, Collins was a healthy scratch down the stretch in the Chase for Jameis. (more…)

Just thinking of that sieve passed off as an offensive line last year makes Joe shudder. Joe has seen more solid bricks of Swiss cheese in a deli than what the Bucs trotted out as a front line.

No, Joe isn’t buying that barbecue pitmaster Logan Mankins was the second-coming John Hannah. His left-his-heart-in-New-England-inspired play didn’t sit well with Joe. (more…)

Who wants to play Let’s Make A Trade?

One might think Bucs general manager Jason Licht would raise his hand, considering he made a pile of trades last season — in a league that doesn’t see many trades. (more…)

No wonder people run around Denver smoking legal marijuana. They’re celebrating the Broncos’ outstanding 2011 NFL Draft.

The Bucs’ 2011 draft? Well, Joe thinks it’s a solid bet Luke Stocker will be re-signed for 2015, but that’s about it. (more…)

For many Bucs fans, the ghost of Bo Jackson lives.

While the story is a lot more complicated, the Bucs chose Bo Jackson first overall in the 1986 draft and he stiffed the Bucs, choosing instead to play baseball for the Kansas City Royals organization.

When Joe asked possible Bucs No. 1 pick Jameis Winston at the NFL Scouting Combine in frozen Indianapolis if his baseball career was over, Winston didn’t say, “No.” (more…)

The data crowd checks in

Hopefully, one thing the braintrust of the Bucs can solve is depth. The roster has no depth. Hell, there’s barely enough for a starting-22. (more…)

Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud was busy Twittering today that barbecue-yearning guard Logan Mankins and Vincent Jackson will return to the Buccaneers in 2015.

Joe would caution that things change quickly in the NFL (see Darrelle Revis in March 2014). (more…)

So when the Bucs bring in Jameis Winston, it is all set up for him to be successful. He’s got Vincent Jackson to throw to. He has Mike Evans to throw to, which makes Joe just drool.

But what about a third receiver? (more…)

Team Mariota picks up a big name

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 ever to wear No. 5 in the state of Florida. (more…)

If Tampa Bay wants a talented, experienced 4-3 middle linebacker, a guy who is a huge personality and an even bigger leadership presence, then the Bucs will be quick to sniff Jon Beason, if/when he becomes a salary cap cut of the Giants next week. (more…)

We all know former Bucs great Warren Sapp used to bellow from the mountain top that his fellow Hall of Fame member Michael Strahan was overrated and may not be worthy of his bust in Canton.

(By the way, Sapp has been really quiet since he last appeared on the NFL Network, hasn’t he?) (more…)

So who’s going to play middle linebacker for the Buccaneers?

Likely soon-to-be free agent Mason Foster is not that ideal cover guy Lovie Smith needs. (more…)

So the Browns have signed aging, journeyman backup quarterback Josh McCown to a three-year deal, in part, for leadership skills.

Never mind that his leadership skills are why the Bucs are in position to draft his successor, Jameis Winston, with the first pick overall. (more…)

CBS Sports reported this week that the Buccaneers were trying to cut Vincent Jackson’s pay.

This morning, Mike Florio has published a firm statement claiming that’s silly talk and the Bucs love Jackson. (more…)

You want names?

You want to know exactly who NFL coaches and general managers prefer when it comes to Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston?

Joe’s got names. (more…)

When ill-suited Marcus Arroyo was only days into his gig as de facto-offensive coordinator, after Jeff Tedford became sick last year, Bucs fans were hoping above hope Arroyo would get hired away by anyone — IBM, Apple, Bank of America, Sears, Burger King. (more…)

Tears of joy today for Josh McCown

It’s a match made in Texas.

Tears will be flowing tonight.

Former Bucs non-savior quarterback Josh McCown has signed with Cleveland — a three-year deal — and will join rehabbing Johnny Football and the seven-win Browns. (more…)