Curtaingate
September 29th, 2026
In the category of something only media would care about is Curtaingate at The Licht House.
It reminds Joe of when some in local media were crying because the Bucs didn’t schedule a season-ending news conference with Jameis Winston after his 2015 rookie year that concluded with a trip to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
Some local media types wailed in horror. ‘Oh, the Bucs didn’t make Jameis available after the season. Oh, that’s BS.’
Meanwhile, nothing stopped the same local media from either contacting Jamies directly or through his representatives (you know, cultivating sources) or interviewing Jameis at the Pro Bowl. Joe did the latter, and Jameis was very accommodating in Hawaii.
Back to the present, the Bucs decided to erect a curtain this season to keep players hidden in the space spanning from the stadium tunnel where players leave the field to where they enter an area that leads to their locker room. Maybe it was a 35-yard space. Then, after Week 1, the curtain was relocated, along with media, to strategically block media from seeing players in that space; the area where Mike Evans famously screamed “3rd-and-28” and had a mini-meltdown after December’s crushing loss to the Falcons.
This has some in the media barking on the subject. Just one X example is below.
Joe laughs at this kind of stuff.
Media is free to request a photographer or videographer on the field, folks that can catch all kinds of postgame happenings. Also, media outlets are free to buy a ticket and position someone near the stadium tunnel to study what is going on, or to secure amateur fan video shot as players leave the field. (Colorful stuff has circulated after recent Bucs games, and it was used by NBC.)
The NFL literally tweaks media rules every year, at nearly every event. Heck, it wasn’t long ago media was allowed on the field late in the fourth quarter. And that ended and fans didn’t suffer.
Blocking the view of players’ short walk to the locker room is insignificant, though it will mean local media will lose the often viral social media video, which is a great way to irk some media types.
September 29th, 2026 at 11:30 am
I’d be embarrassed by 3rd and 28 too!
September 29th, 2026 at 11:31 am
Joe, the gloating smugness is below you. I’d be pissed too. Why make it harder and less convenient? Sounds like retribution to me.
?? Actually seems smart. Players can be vulnerable once in a while in that 20-second walk. The team’s job is to protect the team. –Joe
September 29th, 2026 at 11:34 am
Bucs are humiliated and they don’t want the media to see the players frustration every home game! What an embarrassment this organization is now! Again, frustration can be seen various ways. –Joe
September 29th, 2026 at 11:37 am
It’s just WHY they did it… to prevent being embarrassed by “3rd and 28” exclamations.
That’s putting their own image and ego as an organization above the fans.
September 29th, 2026 at 11:37 am
^ I agree with Crack3rk, there’s no justifiable reason to do this *other* than “This was an embarrassing moment for our franchise last year, we don’t want that to happen again!” Joe – you’re in the media wheelhouse of this gig, why would you ever defend that sort of executive level meddling or cast aspersions on those who object? Lol.
LOL. Joe can think of many reasons to limit this kind of video. Injury information is one angle. Joe secured this video last year https://www.joebucsfan.com/2025/08/jalen-mcmillan-in-a-neck-brace/ and heard McMillan in the tunnel detail the injury to Mike Evans a few minutes prior to when this video was shot, for example. –Joe
September 29th, 2026 at 11:42 am
I get Joe has to do damage control to maintain his relationship with the Bucs but this is getting ridiculous.
That’s funny. There’s “damage?” Yeah, Joe really runs a rah-rah site and is a Bucs cheerleader. LOL. Joe is just writing about what Joe finds interesting. –Joe
September 29th, 2026 at 11:46 am
they should be trying to hide that mess of a team!!!!
dont worry, win and things will change lol
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 29th, 2026 at 11:47 am
its still 3rd and 28 for our Bucs. More like a 5 or 6 game win season. With the 3rd pick in the 2027 NFL draft, The Tampa Bay Bucs select…… How about a new head coach and GM for starters. CLEAN HOUSE!
September 29th, 2026 at 11:55 am
This teams so exciting we have nothing to talk about other than the media and their qualms with the organizations media rules lol #ABucsLifeIsBack
Seriously, does anyone see this team winning before the bye? Obviously Daniels is the unknown at this point. Other than possibly the Packers & Falcons it looks pretty bleak
September 29th, 2026 at 11:55 am
Nothing quite like “the real thing” Joe…
With in those “20 seconds” is the “truth of the truth”! Because we all know there is a pretty LARGE gap between “unbridled passion truth” and “scripted truth” now isn’t there. One tells the Real story while the other touches on watered down (at best) quasi reality…
Surely you Demand the to know WHAT’S at the HEART of the matter as a true journalist…. Right??
Buying it elsewhere…. “Maybe”, couldn’t possibly be what a Very Good journalist would “settle for” … Right???
September 29th, 2026 at 11:58 am
Those free buffets must be fantastic at the stadium. More fluff for the Glazers.
1-7 in their last 8 games. Circle the wagons!!!!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
September 29th, 2026 at 12:05 pm
It you must know, here is what the “other Joe” thinks (not the one who typed this article):
The Bucs decided to jazz up player introductions, taking a page from college football where introductions are a big production (you can see this at The Licht House on the jumbotro. Networks likely don’t show this).
The Bucs built a tunnel of sorts with a black-draped hallway (the concourse under the stadium is otherwise way too big for a “tunnel.”). This “tunnel” is lit up with red lights to give it a spooky, Halloween-like effect.
So since the Bucs build this tunnel for each game, someone with the Bucs had a bright idea “Hey, let’s just keep this up until after the game so the evil media cannot see the Bucs leave the field and they won’t see potential fights or guys getting cussed out or helmets thrown or have a player screaming “Third and 28!” Joe knows at least in Dallas you’re not allowed to shoot video w/an iPhone of players entering the locker room (Joe was personally shut down by a Cowboys suit from shooting video) and Lord knows Jerry Jones’ outfit doesn’t lack the ability to get his team buzz as a result.
The truly funny thing about all of this is that it was presented to the local pen and mic club as a safety measure so we don’t get run over by a golf cart. LOL Joe’s been doing this since 2008 and has never heard of anyone getting touched by one of these carts — none have been seen yet this season, BTW. 🙂
Joe’s major issue with this is that the luxury suite media is herded into until the players get into the locker room doesn’t have cold beer — THAT is an outrage!
September 29th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
Rick asks some good questions, Jenna, not so much!
September 29th, 2026 at 12:09 pm
Bucs don’t want to let any of their top secrets out…lol!!
September 29th, 2026 at 12:10 pm
Ok…
Here’s the DEAL Joe… We KNOW that you KNOW, pretty much EXACTLY WHAT happened to start this shooting rockets (Buccaneers Huge Success Story to the utter Crash abd Burn of this franchise’s, Who’s, Why’s, What’s, And When’s) No need state what you know Joe knows when you have no idea the extent of what Joe knows beyond what’s typed on these pages. –Joe
Why not go for it? Why not write THAT “Tell All Book”? Could you imagine the MONEY You’ll Bank verses the monthly rev the business is pulling in? Not a competition there.
H3!!, if you do it right,… You might Actually bring the value of your company (that you stated you’re interested in selling) 10 x Fold, And have a Multi Million dollar book on your hands! Joe writing, “don’t freak out if you hear word of Joe exploring selling the website” is not Joe stating an interest in selling. Nearly every business in the world is interested in selling. –Joe
SO MANY QUESTIONS left unanswered and left “unrested”! You could back up for YEARS and Tell All!
Fortune Favors the Brave Joe….
September 29th, 2026 at 12:12 pm
LOL. Joe can think of many reasons to limit this kind of video. Injury information is one angle. Joe secured this video last year and heard McMillan in the tunnel detail the injury to Mike Evans a few minutes prior to when this video was shot, for example. –Joe
So what? It was the truth, not like its the nuclear codes, this franchise might be better off being a little more transparent. The shady/covert ways aren’t working.
September 29th, 2026 at 12:13 pm
If the Bucs were 2-1 or 3-0, would you bet there would be no curtain? I would say yes. Curtain seems to be protecting players from exposure when upset or hurt or both. I guess that’s “safety.” Win and you want to show players happy. Just win.
September 29th, 2026 at 12:19 pm
I think it’s just a “clever” Glazer build up for their next Team Slogan:
Siege the Curtain
September 29th, 2026 at 12:24 pm
Rick Stroud maybe, he was good at one time, a long time ago!? But, HE SUCKS NOW. And, I know why HE’s P-O’ed… It’s because HE IS LAZYYYYYYY. All of his “takes” when I hear him on there with T-Krass are just EMPTY with really not much of anything actually SAID, at ALL. I mean, I can’t tell you HOW BAD it truly is. I can’t even believe he’s so celebrated. He just needs to hang-it up and RETIRE. Because, all he’s doing is just mailing-it in anyway. And, HE really ‘thinks’ HE’s sooooo good, too LoL… It’s really EMBARRASSING. Seems like he has one of those false “egos” of himself. And, with Jenna Laine… Her ‘questions’ are STILL horrible. Most of them are just STUPID meaningless, generic BS. I mean, you’d THINK after all these MANY YEARS, she’d at least be better… But, she’s NOT. A literal monkey could do every single bit as good as her. Seriously, there is no reason for her to even be there. WHY is she!? Again, just pointless. She brings NO real value, whatsoever. Just my thoughts. LoL.
September 29th, 2026 at 12:27 pm
THE bucs are trash, now way you have a hall of fame and ap vote
September 29th, 2026 at 12:31 pm
I’m with you joe who cares some babies just love to cry.
September 29th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
You don’t get to ascribe motives and nonsense to Joe’s operation; that is not tolerated here. That’s what social media is for. As Joe has stated many times, this is an opinion-driven website with reporting as well. Always will be and it would be just fine with or without the support of the organization. If the Bucs wish to strike Joe down with a mighty hand and remove Joe from covering the team on-site, so be it. Rest assured, that would only bolster the popularity of this site.–Joe
September 29th, 2026 at 12:35 pm
sinking ship fire the cannons players need to go to Mons Venus smoke some %@&# snort some C*&#@(( drink some Henny go old school that should fire them up
September 29th, 2026 at 12:41 pm
One things FOR SURE!
I’d lay a hundred dollar bill down without thinking twice (for a paler back) to read the Tell All..
Absolutely!
Happy to be your Very First customer.. (Please sign it to “My Loyal Reader ” Obvious One”
September 29th, 2026 at 12:41 pm
@ Joe Says: “Joe is just writing about what Joe finds interesting.” –Joe
YES. This is exactly how I took it LoL. I just assumed that this was some “Inside Workplace” type of deal here, where… Well, you know. You did include their little ‘tweets’ tho Hahahah. Neither one of them should still have those jobs. I’m all for the “behind the scenes” stuff, and all the little scrapes. 💯
September 29th, 2026 at 12:43 pm
All right. Just a suggestion… 🙂
September 29th, 2026 at 12:44 pm
….. I thought I hit the “wink wink” emoj…
September 29th, 2026 at 12:50 pm
Joe Says: “The truly funny thing about all of this is that it was presented to the local pen and mic club as a safety measure so we don’t get run over by a golf cart. LOL Joe’s been doing this since 2008 and has never heard of anyone getting touched by one of these carts — none have been seen yet this season, BTW.”
Anytime they try selling something as “we’re doing it for YOU… It’s really going to be a lot better, and work-out even better for YOU.” Hahahahahahhhh Buuuullshhhh… Yeah, right. I really believe that. LoL.
September 29th, 2026 at 12:59 pm
@ Obvious One – I seriously doubt that there are all that many people out there, just ‘chomping at the bit’ for some friggin “Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tell-All,” to the tune of a “MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR” advance on a BOOK. Step into REALITY. Seriously, WHO’s going to give a DAMN ENOUGH to buy that!? Especially, outside of Tampa Bay!?
September 29th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
From a wider perspective, this seems about right for the current state of this organization: seemingly embarrassed by ME13’s (righteous) “3rd and 28” meltdown, the solution provided is to limit press access to that kind of outburst rather than build a defense that doesn’t allow it in the first place.
Sports + Entertainment + Media + Business
September 29th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
actually wait a minute – I am gonna give JBF some major props here – when Ira asked Bowles an uncomfortable question after the Vikings debacle I cheered – right on, Ira – Bowles glared at Ira (I think, because he was off-camera) with a murderous look and grumbled a response – loved it – as far as the shielding of players I have no real opinion – what I would love to see is an unshielded Jason Licht have to walk alone in atonement from the field to the tunnel after every game – he is such a weasel though he’ll probably get a police escort soon or he’ll hide out in the owners box
September 29th, 2026 at 1:05 pm
Wow a lot of young people reading this article. No one remind Joe of his anointed nickname for Jameis born in JBF.
America’s Quarterback Jameis Winston. 😂
I guest it’s obvious now. It’s plane old Jameis Winston.
September 29th, 2026 at 1:21 pm
@ Obvious One Says: “I’d lay a hundred dollar bill down without thinking twice (for a paler back) to read the Tell All..”
Uhhh, WHY!? There is absolutely nothing there, that could possibly be THAT interesting. I mean, seriously… Are you like, 14!? Or, is it just from living inside of a Bucs Fantasyland!? Or, never having been around ‘professional’ athletes, or around a team, or locker room before!? Seriously, cause I don’t get-it!? What could possibly BE THERE, for you to feel-like, YOU HAVE TO KNOW!? When honestly, I could not imagine ANYONE caring!? I mean, are you looking for “National Enquirer” stuff, like what they do OFF the field, in clubs, their personal lives, or with who they’re dating, or which ones have got the best drugs, and which strip-clubs they prefer!? I mean, most of these guys are in THEIR 20’s, and just NOT all that very interesting, at ALL. You want to hear about the “fist-fight” that wasn’t reported, or what really happened inside the War room on draft day, or X’s and O’s or something!? Cause, I’m tellin’ ya… NOBODY is buying that book, or would EVEN CARE. Hell, if they did… Then, you’d have literally EVERY single NFL Beat-Writer, and Sideline Reporter in the COUNTRY writing one of these. Most people feel that they already receive enough information about these guys as it already is… MORE than enough. They don’t any more. Definitely NOT about the friggin Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
September 29th, 2026 at 1:53 pm
This reads like a poodle barking at the other pooches in the dog playground.
September 29th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
I’ll repost. Unsure of why my posts are being moderated all of a sudden. Weird.
But this is a sad move by a sad franchise. I get that the locker room is off limits but anything out side of that is fair game.
It’s just another sad move. We need a refresh from ownership on down to GM down to the coach. Refresh.
September 29th, 2026 at 2:11 pm
Typical shady move by shady “ownership.”
September 29th, 2026 at 2:13 pm
Yes Joe there is damage. Things are worse than it’s ever been since Brady stepped in. Bucs media knows players are frustrated and are trying to limit exposure to that. Comments on this site are being moderated left and right. Bucs are in danger of going a whole year without winning a game. To say there is no damage is pure denial.