Joe and other media types who saw Gerald McCoy practice all through the spring surely would say he was in fine shape. Perhaps the best shape of his career.

But a lot has changed in the six weeks since Tampa Bay left minicamp in June. (more…)

Logan Mankins (r) reported in A-list shape in April. Evan (Dietrich) Smith (l) was quite a bit softer.

Not only are the Bucs confident in Logan Mankins reviving his borderline Hall of Fame career, one that derailed last year with the absence of a barbecue venue, a key Bucs official has called him the “father of the locker room.” (more…)

A national publication puts Evans in rare air

Both you and Joe know Mike Evans, “Godzilla,” is a lethal talent. In what appears to be a lukewarm Bucs draft last year, Evans makes it a home run. (more…)

A Bucs starter talks about new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter

Back at the 2014 Pro Bowl, Joe learned from Matt Forte that Lovie Smith is a very hands off guy when it comes to the offense.

Joe doubts that was the case last year, but Lovie is hands off now, says Evan (Dietrich) Smith. (more…)

Disruptions may not be so disruptive.

No, Joe is not a statgeek. Joe watches games. When it comes to comes to baseball, Joe is convinced many numberscrunchers don’t even watch, they just load their Excel spreadsheets. (more…)

Nervous Bucs fans sit around chugging vodka and wondering if Tampa Bay will lock up superstar linebacker Lavonte David so he doesn’t become an unrestricted free agent in March.

Yesterday’s six-year, $101 million contract signed by Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston, with $52.5 million guaranteed, didn’t help their nerves. (more…)

Ronde Barber has studied more quarterbacks than most cornerbacks in NFL history, and Barber spent a huge chunk of the spring, including significant time on the sidelines of Bucs practices, studying Jameis Winston. (more…)

No excuses. None.

Dammit, your beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers must show significant improvement this season or heads need to roll. (more…)

Joe sincerely hopes the following quiets the resurgent Mike Glennon Mob. (more…)

The Buccaneers’ soft-spoken, intense leader, Lavonte David, has no problem calling it straight when it comes to how Tampa Bay had a hole at the leadership position. (more…)

Call Joe a football lunatic, but Joe is dialed in to all things Tennessee Titans, the Buccaneers’ opening day opponent.

Like it or not, that game in Tampa is absolutely a must-win. (more…)

Details emerge from One Buc Palace

OK, Joe is going to share a neat little story with a cool twist. But you have to follow along. It gets better as you read.

Now there has been a lot of talk that barbecue pitmaster, Bucs left guard Logan Mankins, is rejuvenated. Yeah, yeah, yeah, after the way he and his offensive line mates played, Joe is more than a little dubious about Mankins – or any other holdover from last year’s debacle of a line – and a rekindled love for the game. (more…)

Joe brought word of a report claiming the Bucs will not be featured on Hard Knocks, the show produced by NFL Films and HBO to give fans a reality-show look at coaches and players inside training camp.

The subject was so lively yesterday, Joe will flush out a couple of important things brushed over. (more…)

Fired from NFL Network after a $600 threesome landed him in jail, Bucs icon Warren Sapp now has a more soiled criminal record. (more…)

Jameis Winston and Buccaneers rookies paid a visit to Jameis A. Haley veterans hospital in Tampa. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers.)

This is the first time I realized how sports really keep them up, keep them happy. — Jameis Winston (more…)

Yes, Jon Gruden, the heralded Chucky, seems to “love” about 97 percent of players in the NFL. That’s his BSPN shtick. He luvvvvs that guy (insert name).

But if you can wade through all the gushing, sometimes you’ll find telling kernels. (more…)

Jameis Winston’s counterclaim against the woman accusing him of sexual assault is anything but typical. (more…)

Bucs center Evan Smith sure didn’t seem happy fielding questions about America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston.

Formerly Evan Dietrich-Smith (he just goes by “Smith” these days, saying “Dietrich” was a “pain in my [arse]”) sure doesn’t seem to like rookies. Or at least talk about rookies. (more…)

Jameis fires back

In what should surprise no one, Jameis Winston has filed a civil counter claim against the woman accusing him of sexual assault, offering precision detail on what he claims are a series of lies and fabrications. (more…)

One reason the Bucs were so enamored with Jameis Winston was his leadership strength.

Yeah, “leader” is almost as overused in sports as the recent fad of “mentor.”

But there are some that inspire their teammates and Winston is one of those. (more…)