The official word is bad. Rob Gronkowski’s battered ribs may not be ready for real football on Sunday night when the Bucs face the Belicheats.

“Doubtful” is how Gronk is listed on the Friday injury report that popped just after 4 p.m.

As Joe wrote earlier, Giovani Bernard (knee) and Jamel Dean (knee) are out. Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder) officially is “questionable.”

Damn, with Scotty Miller and Sean Murphy-Bunting on injured reserve, the Bucs’ mighty roster is awfully busted up for Week 4.

Ex-teammate talks.

Interesting look back here at how the Patriots fooled Peyton Manning in 2014, as he was leading one of the great offenses in NFL history. (more…)

Tom Brady friend and former coach talks Tampa Bay play.

Bill Belicheat’s iconic offensive line coach for 20 years, Dante Scarnecchia, was talking all things Tom Brady and Bill Belicheat this week.

Man, Joe’s really been enjoying all the football legends being interviewed this week as part of the Brady-Belicheat hype. (more…)

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Talkin’ JPP.

As Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians stated in his opening remarks of his final press conference before the Bucs travel to New England for Sunday’s game, the only injured players officiallhy out for Sunday’s game are Jamel Dean and Giovani Bernard. (more…)

Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians.

It seems Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians is getting fed up with the Tom Brady-Bill Belicheat hype, too. (more…)

Out Sunday.

It’s that bad for the Bucs. (more…)

Joe still remembers firing up this site 13 years ago with a fat handful of daily newspapers covering the Bucs like a glove, as well as multiple sports radio stations, national outlets and a popular local, year-round Bucs magazine.

Now there’s no daily newspaper in Tampa, local sports radio is a shell of its once proud self, magazines are dead and Joe just popped 2 million+ pages viewed right here for the month of September.

Joe wants to thank Bucs fans for their patronage and continued love — even the haters.

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Todd shines a fantasy spotlight on all the Week 4 NFL action.” The Todd Wright Fantasy Football Podcast is presented by Hooters. Click above to listen or download, or access at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean and more platforms!

Always mentally prepared.

Joe has already been over being bored stiff of the Tom Brady-Bill Belicheat hype before last Sunday’s game with the Rams. (more…)

Godsend.

If Tom Brady played as badly last season (or this season) as he did when he first took over as Patriots’ starting quarterback 20 years ago, people would be screaming for the Bucs to go get Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, back in the building. (more…)

Name change.

When Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett broke Warren Sapp’s record by recording 19.5 sacks in his first season with the Bucs in 2019, a lot of fans began glossing the outside linebacker as “Sack Barrett.” (more…)

“I can help, Todd.”

This is not pretty. (more…)

Bucs legend Warren Sapp

Some fans get annoyed when Joe refers to the Patriots’ head coach as Bill Belicheat. (more…)

Small chance to play.

It seems unlikely that new Bucs corner Richard Sherman will play Sunday in New England.

Joe isn’t fully sure if this is just a little gamesmanship by Todd Bowles. But the Bucs defensive coordinator yesterday didn’t shut the door on Sherman suiting up. (more…)

Talk about a coach sending a message. (more…)

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Bobby Fenton is all over it.  Always thought-provoking and a strong listen, The Free Stretch Podcast runs year-round right here. Follow Bobby Fenton on Twitter, @bobbygameday. The Free Stretch is presented by Bill Currie Ford. Remember Bill Currie Ford’s nationwide lifetime warranty on new and used vehicles!!

Listen or download above. Or listen and/or subscribe free at Podbean, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

PRESENTED BY BILL CURRIE FORD

For 4+ years, The Free Stretch has been right here at JoeBucsFan.com after being heard on several radio stations dating back to 2006. Bobby also hosted a national show on Sporting News Radio. (more…)