Chucky fingered Marcus Mariota as his  rookie of the year.

Joe’s already called opening day against the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 13 in Tampa a “must-win.”

It’s not a must-win for the standings. Duh. But it is necessary for the psyche of a fanbase that hasn’t seen a home victory since 2013, and compares Jameis Winston to Marcus Mariota. (more…)

Saturday night, Bucs fans were doing two things: Puking all over their living room rugs or trying to beat the crowd to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

In what was believed to be the dress rehearsal for the regular season, the team looked in need of a collective chug of Kaopectate. (more…)

It used to be all about No. 5 in Tampa.

Josh Freeman was the guy. He was the 22-year-old, do-it-all quarterback who lit up the NFL with 25 touchdowns and just six interceptions for a winning Bucs team in 2010. (more…)

GMC, Lovie and the Bucs’ future.

Joe understands with the current state of the Bucs, stud defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is a lightning rod for both fans and talking heads who sit behind microphones, alike.

(more…)

What is the floor for the Bucs this season?.

Joe has written time and again this year’s Bucs are a six-win team. The Bucs were 2-14 for a reason.

This team needs players, and starting three rookies on offense, including two on the front line and another at quarterback, which may pay off big time in the future, very easily could cause speed bumps in the early going. (more…)

Perhaps the clash between Marcus Mariota and America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, will draw a beer-soaked sellout to the stadium on Dale Mabry Highway in 11 short afternoons.

Regardless, this Bucs-Titans ticket is getting a lot hotter. (more…)

Free agent cornerback Tim Jennings doesn’t seem overly excited to sign with Bucs if he needs to snooze.

So yesterday, free agent and former Lovie cornerback with the Bears, Tim Jennings, paid a visit to One Buc Palace to see if he and the Bucs would be a good fit. (more…)

Test run at defensive end.

Joe isn’t sure what has Bucs fans freaked out more: The prospect of America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller, Jameis Winston, being maimed or the continued years-long struggle to find someone, anyone, to get consistent heat on an opposing quarterback.

If Bucs fans can see the problem in a drunken daze on 70-inch HDTV, trust Joe, so too can Bucs officials, including defensive shot-caller Lovie Smith. (more…)

Joe’s been around town quite a bit the past few days and the collective Bucs-fan freakout is astounding. From poker tables to barber shops, it’s everywhere. (more…)

Don’t call Joe a woman, but Joe did watch the new “Red” video on Bucccaneers.com.

“Red” is this new thing the Bucs do that’s supposedly geared to female Bucs fans. (more…)

On Aug. 15, the debut of Jameis Winston, America’s Quarterback, was quite an event across the Tampa Bay area on WFLA-TV, Ch. 8.

TV-ratings numbers were extremely strong, but the euphoria has not sustained. (more…)

Gerald McCoy responds

Three-time Pro Bowler or not, Gerald McCoy can’t find love from former Bucs guard Ian Beckles (1990-1996).

Beckles got on his WDAE-AM 620 pulpit Monday and hammered McCoy with an Xs and Os argument. (more…)

Lovie slams brakes on quick return.

It seemed like a few weeks ago that Kenny Bell not only was a mortal leadpipe lock to make the final-53, he may have been the No. 3 receiver.

Now, on Sept. 2, there is doubt if Bell even makes the final-53. (more…)

A massive turnaround for Lovie’s defense this fall?

Even though the Bucs got pounced on by the Brownies last weekend, it’s easy to forget the Bucs had five 3-and-outs on defense. Not too shabby.

Last year, the defense started horribly. It did improve, but to be honest, it had nowhere to go but up. (more…)

If NFL offensive lines are really as bad as some believe, then Lovie should be able to develop a pass rush, no?

Yes, yesterday, Joe brought word from various sources that the Bucs may not be nearly as bad on the offensive line as some believe after watching the jailbreak that was the Cleveland pass rush Saturday.

For example, spreadsheeters of Pro Football Focus contend the Bucs are no worse than sixth-worst during this preseason along the offensive line, without factoring the Bucs started two rookies (who will only improve) and camp meat (who won’t start in the regular season). (more…)

Steve Duemig

Joe climbed into the cage with the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, Steve Duemig, this evening on WDAE-AM 620.

The “JoeBucsFan Hour” was in full swing. (more…)

Bucs C Evan Smith can breathe a sigh of relief over the stat geeks’ data.

Bucs fans are so unnerved by the play of the offensive line against the Brownies last week, they actually have been visiting Hemlock Society sites.

As bad as the offensive line looked — think about it, only two full practices to prepare with two rookies on the line — perhaps Bucs fans can find solace in other fanbases’ freakout. (more…)

Lovie Smith today revealed that last year’s kicker, standout rookie Patrick Murray, has a knee injury. (more…)

Bucs DE Jacquies Smith hopes to play in the regular season opener.

The closest thing the Bucs have to an edge rusher was acquired last year when Tampa Bay went dumpster diving and maybe found a jewel by pulling Jacquies Smith off the street after he was released by the Bills.

Smith racked up 6.5 sacks last year — by Bucs standards for defensive ends, that’s Reggie White territory. (more…)