According to NFL.com, Sterling Moore, the Cowboys’ part-time nickel cornerback last year, finished the season with 12 passes defensed.

In Tampa, starters Johnthan Banks and Alterraun Verner combined for 19. (more…)

Joe was torn about the Greg Hardy sweepstakes.

Joe thoroughly understood why folks didn’t want Hardy and his legal problems infesting the Bucs locker room. But on the other hand, it’s rare to have a team without a proven double-digit sack artist, like the Bucs have been for a decade. (more…)

Boston College center on Bucs’ radar.

Joe has been adamant that the Bucs should draft nothing but offensive linemen after they select Jameis Winston, followed their choice of an edge rusher.

Between the two milk cartons O-linemen the Bucs drafted last year, and whoever they draft this year, one would suspect a decent lineman or two would shake out from that group. (more…)

A prominent voice on the Buccaneers beat says Tampa Bay has a personality issue with one of this year’s elite quarterback prospects. (more…)

Yes, many Bucs fans were angered  when the Bucs pulled out of the Greg Hardy sweepstakes yesterday, watching the proven double-digit sackmeister run off to Dallas without even slapping skin in Tampa.

Joe understands why the Bucs, eventually, passed. Most fans didn’t. (more…)

Now that the rage and hopelessness over the loss of Greg Hardy to the Cowboys has subsided a bit, it’s time for a dose of reality.

The contract Hardy signed with Dallas would have been worthless to Tampa Bay. (more…)

Yes, Bucs fans were angry their team passed on sackmeister defensive end Greg Hardy yesterday. The vast majority  wanted Hardy, though there were some unnerved by Hardy’s legal hassles. (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.

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…)

A man who understands the barbecue pain of Buccaneers left guard Logan Mankins is his former teammate, Patriots free agent right guard Dan Connolly.

Connolly, who took over spatula duties for the Super Bowl champs, has caught the interest of the Buccaneers. (more…)

Dante Fowler with the No. 1 overall pick?

Joe has long maintained Bucs coach Lovie Smith is thoroughly unpredictable when it comes to personnel.

Just look at last year, for example: It feels like yesterday when Lovie dismissed Joe’s question about whether Lovie had reservations because Jeff Tedford had no NFL experience. (more…)

The Buccaneers’ glass is half full. The team is “on the verge,” says Lovie Smith. There is no need to panic.

Tampa Bay officials rest comfortably knowing the team lost eight games last year by six points or less. (more…)

Could the antics of oily Drew Rosenhaus have chased the Bucs away from Greg Hardy?

Updated 4:04 p.m. Joe asked a Bucs source last week whether Greg Hardy was too toxic to pursue, given his dicey legal problems in recent months.

Joe was told, “There is interest.” How much interest, Joe didn’t know. (more…)

Mike Mayock may have solved the puzzle of why the Bucs pulled out of the Greg Hardy sweepstakes.

It is clear now, barring something totally unforeseen, free agent defensive end Greg Hardy will not wear a Buccaneers uniform unless he is at a costume party.

Many outlets are reporting the Bucs have bowed out of the Hardy running.So for the 11th straight season (unless the Bucs draft a defensive end), Tampa Bay will keep looking for a guy who can get double-digit sacks from the edge.

(more…)

A new report says the Buccaneers’ dance with elite pass rusher has ended without a kiss. (more…)

You can read Gerald McCoy’s enthusiastic and cryptic Tweet here.

Joe’s assuming it is connected to the Buccaneers’ courting of bad boy defensive end Greg Hardy. Or, knowing McCoy, it could be the upcoming release of a new comic book. Joe would wager on the former.

Demar Dotson is an almost average starting right tackle. At left tackle, he’s a project, almost a fantasy because he’ll turn 30 years old this year.

So that leaves the Bucs with developmental second-year man Kevin Pamphile at left tackle, and a whole lot of fingers crossed. (more…)

Joe’s not trying to pour warm beer on the chances of manbeast defensive end Greg Hardy wearing Tampa Bay colors this season, but Bucs fans need a dose of reality amidst the euphoria of their fantasy chase for sacks. (more…)