Bucs Hunting For A New Radio Sideline Reporter
August 3rd, 2026
“Gene, tell them I’m perfect for this gig.”
Longtime Buccaneers Radio Network sideline guy TJ Rives stepped down from his position, Joe was told.
The Bucs began advertising for his replacement over the weekend.
Rives had interest in replacing Gene Deckerhoff, the legendary Buccaneers radio voice. Deckerhoff retired after last season. The Bucs hired Tony Castricone, the former University of Washingon football and basketball announcer.
Was Rives bitter about not getting that gig? Joe doesn’t know. But Rives’ longtime Twitter/X account, @BucSidelineGuy, has been deactivated.
In January of 2010, Joe called out Rives for what Joe deemed to be a gutless interview of then-Bucs head coach Raheem Morris. Rives didn’t like that. Understandably so.
That written, Joe never had any beef with Rives and actually worked alongside him at a non-Bucs sports event last year. He was very cordial. Rives did a solid job in his radio role and has a lot of fans among the Bucs faithful.
Joe would love to see the Bucs put an ex-player in that job. Or lifelong Bucs fan and Tampa native Bobby Fenton, host of The Free Stretch podcast, would do a hell of a job.
August 3rd, 2026 at 11:53 am
Perfect gig for a joe
August 3rd, 2026 at 11:55 am
I nominate Fez Whatley
August 3rd, 2026 at 11:58 am
of course TJ was pissed, been with the Bucs a long time and got stepped over.
August 3rd, 2026 at 12:02 pm
Imagine Sapp taking that role! I’d tune in for sure.
August 3rd, 2026 at 12:03 pm
I was just going to say, that it must’ve gotten too ‘emotional’ for him. That’s tough. But, CBS has their Romo replacement right there in front of their face. GRUDEN. He would be 10X better than Romo. Just sooooo much better, it’s not even close.
August 3rd, 2026 at 12:11 pm
Gruden! I need Chucky patrolling the sidelines!
August 3rd, 2026 at 12:15 pm
Glad we didn’t choose the guy to replace Gene who will just quit the team if he doesn’t get what he wants. We know what he wanted and the Bucs didn’t go that direction. Good riddance if you don’t wanna be here anymore
TJ did do a good job while he was here though for the Bucs and that is still meaningful and to be respected and appreciated!
August 3rd, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Give chuchy any amount of money he wants to call our games
August 3rd, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Met Rives after the Bucs/Jets game last year at The Press Box(sports bar for the out of towners), super nice guy. Best wishes to him
August 3rd, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Fine I’ll do it
August 3rd, 2026 at 1:11 pm
Warren Sapp Radio Sideline Reporter?? Sounds awesome!!!
August 3rd, 2026 at 1:34 pm
Yeah Fenton would be great for that job
August 3rd, 2026 at 1:42 pm
TJ should have gotten the job. He had the talent, he earned it, and he paid his dues. That happens to so many people and it isn’t right. I’m sure Tony Cacciatore doesn’t know spit about Bucs history.
August 3rd, 2026 at 2:05 pm
I saw the Job ad on Linkedin. I should have applied but I would be watching the game and get fired.
August 3rd, 2026 at 2:16 pm
please not SAPP. He was a Prick while he played here to all the fans he would meet out socially spontaneously. Let the Karma do its work. No Thanx
August 3rd, 2026 at 3:25 pm
I second the nomination for Fez Whatley Nature Boooii
August 3rd, 2026 at 3:43 pm
D-Rome Says:
Tony Cacciatore
.
.
LOL
August 3rd, 2026 at 3:50 pm
I think Fez passed a few years ago.
August 3rd, 2026 at 4:16 pm
Rives didn’t deactivate his account. Just moved it to @ItsTJRives
August 3rd, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Fez did pass. RIP. Legendary personality.
August 3rd, 2026 at 4:44 pm
Has anyone heard Tony Castricone? He is amazing. How would anyone of you want to replace Gene Deckerhoff? No way. Haters, gonna hate.
August 3rd, 2026 at 7:20 pm
I vote for a rotational ex-Buc. One week have Sapp, next week Gruden, then Simon Rice, and Keyshawn and McCoy (everyone is awesome) and Jameis. That would be super awesome
August 3rd, 2026 at 7:38 pm
TJ probably deserved the gig TBH. He’s a long time Buc employee. I wonder if the Glazers cheaped out again?
-David
August 3rd, 2026 at 8:41 pm
Aquib Talib
August 3rd, 2026 at 9:38 pm
TJ was boring, monotone voice. Glad to see him go.
August 3rd, 2026 at 10:04 pm
Sure he is bitter, hell I’m bitter they didn’t promote him, the Buc owners stabbed him in the back. I’M starting to think that’s how they do business. The. Sideline guy will probably be from Kansas or Washington. No way they hire local talent or someone with knowledge or ties to the team. Wish they would just sell the team, put the money into their prescious kick ball team. What did you expect out of a ownership group that didn’t FIRE a HC that let his teamQUIT it on him the threw anybody under the bus to keep from admitting the truth. Plus he didn’t HIRE A NEW DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR even though HIS Defense was the worst last season and THEY QUIT!!!!!!!
August 3rd, 2026 at 10:05 pm
Sure he is bitter, hell I’m bitter they didn’t promote him, the Buc owners stabbed him in the back. I’M starting to think that’s how they do business. The. Sideline guy will probably be from Kansas or Washington. No way they hire local talent or someone with knowledge or ties to the team. Wish they would just sell the team, put the money into their prescious kick ball team. What did you expect out of a ownership group that didn’t FIRE a HC that let his teamQUIT it on him the threw anybody under the bus to keep from admitting the truth. Plus he didn’t HIRE A NEW DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR even though HIS Defense was the worst last season and THEY QUIT!!!!!!! TJ Reves
August 3rd, 2026 at 10:12 pm
T J Reves should have been 1st choice for VOICE OF THE BUCs. That’s the way of things at 1Buc Palace , be a loyal worker & get stabbed in the back. TJ REVES SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE JOB !!!!
August 3rd, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Sapp or Gruden would be GREAT…. GO BUCS!!!!
August 3rd, 2026 at 10:43 pm
Chuckie would be awesome but he is more likely to be a replacement for Romo as CBS gets out from under his huge contract. Rives probably does feel bitter, dude got passed over even though he has been associated with Buc Ball since the 90s. His situation is like Jim Schwartz at the Browns, perhaps feeling disrespected which is a term now commonly associated with the Bucs but only Rives can tell us what TJ really is thinking. Go Bucs.
August 4th, 2026 at 7:25 am
I only knew him through his radio personality and that began decades ago on local sports talk radio, there was something irritating about his personality that just didn’t work for him. I have deliberately avoided listening to him since, on a human level I feel for him as he dedicated so much time of his life and identity to the Bucs, but I will not miss him and look forward to the new voices of the Bucs.
August 4th, 2026 at 8:13 am
Dollars to donuts the new sideline reporter with be a DEI hire