On multiple occasions, new Bucs general manager Jason Licht publicly has said he’s been struck by the intensity and passion of the Buccaneers fan base since he was hired.

Considering Licht’s career has taken him to New England and Philly, that’s rather noteworthy. (more…)

Joe’s got plenty of readers who sit around and drink beer and talk about or think about how their wife or girlfriend or kids are holding them back from professional success.

Sometimes it’s real; sometimes it’s imagined.

It seems Bucs starting quarterback Josh McCown has plenty in common with these average Joes. (more…)

Demar Dotson is one of the few offensive linemen Bucs GM Jason Licht referred to as a starter.

So far, the new regime of Bucs general manager Jason Licht and coach Lovie Smith have done some kind of job in reworking the roster. With the addition of wide receiver Louis Murphy, that makes 13 new Bucs into the fold.

Prior to the free agency dinner bell ringing, L&L all but promised a shakeup. Whenever they spoke about a player from the 2013 season, if his name wasn’t Gerald McCoy, Lavonte David or Darrelle Revis, they qualified their comments with “but we were 4-12.”

Nowhere has the shakeup been more visible than on the offensive line. Only one full-time starter from last year remains, right tackle Demar Dotson. (more…)

Unsigned free agent RB Brian Leonard proved a very reliable pass target in 2013

When Joe appeared with his good friend “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620, for the weekly JoeBucsFan Hour yesterday, one caller was happy former Bucs offensive lineman Jeremy Zuttah was traded because said caller wanted a complete and total purge of Rutgers Men.

Rutgers Men equaled Schiano Men in this caller’s eyes, and said caller wants to completely and totally turn the page from the Greg Schiano Era. (more…)

Lovie had high praise for his new LB

Thinking of trying out for the Bucs at linebacker? Lovie Smith has spelled out the attributes you need.

In response to Joe questioning him about newly acquired Dane Fletcher yesterday, Lovie laid out his linebacker blueprint and hinted that Fletcher could challenge Mason Foster. (more…)

Updated 10:18 a.m. – NFL Network and the NFL world are thoroughly dialed in to the Pro Day of Johnny Football, 11:30 a.m. today at Texas A&M.

Hell, even a former leader of the free world and a head of state are attending. But don’t expect Joe to care. (more…)

The Cowboys may have a “personal vendetta” against new Bucs veteran cornerback Mike Jenkins, but Lovie Smith has no such issues.

Joe asked Lovie about what Jenkins has to offer yesterday at the NFL Owners Meetings in Orlando, and Lovie explained his enthusiasm for the basics in Jenkins’ game. (more…)

Building trust.

Last season was a complete mess for the Bucs. If it wasn’t the MRSA, it was the soap opera with sleepy, leaky Rip Van Freeman. Then there was Dashon Goldson’s ongoing, expensive tackling issues, not to mention the 0-8 start.

It was a nightmare.

Even though new Bucs coach Lovie Smith has come in with sweeping roster changes, and a reputation of being a stand-up guy, Lovie may still have an uphill battle with the players he has inherited. (more…)

Enjoy the audio below from today’s busy “JoeBucsFan Hour” with the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620.

Joe dives into all kinds of stuff from Lovie Smith out of today’s NFL Owners meetings, the Mike Williams furor, an Asian cathouse, and much more.

With a new app being developed for some NFL teams, including the Bucs, you can order a Bucs cheerleader like Tricia Cusmano to your seat on game day.

Joe isn’t too sure what to think of this, but he sure as hell likes it!

Imagine the thrill of being at a steamy Buccaneers game on a September Sunday and a scantily-clad Bucs cheerleader prances by. “Damn, just how can I con persuade one of these lovely ladies to hang with me?” you are thinking.

Well, the Bucs are going to provide a way you can do just that. With a special app some NFL teams are looking to debut, you can order — yes, order! — a Bucs cheerleader to your seat. (more…)

Some very interesting timing at One Buc Palace these days. Yesterday, Bucs general manager Jason Licht, in a pre-recorded interview from the NFL Owners Meetings in Orlando, told SiriusXM NFL Radio’s Alex Marvez that the starting quarterback gig for the regular season is very much still in competition. (more…)

The Bucs added veteran talent — a Lovie Smith trademark — to their receiving corps today.

After a visit earlier this month, Louis Murphy is now a Buccaneer. The former Florida Gator spent three seasons in Oakland before catching 25 passes with Carolina in 2012, and six with the Giants last year. (more…)

While dining on breakfast fare this morning with Lovie Smith, a reporter asked Lovie whether Mike Williams would basically get a “clean slate” along with the rest of the Buccaneers that will (should) be there when the team reports back to One Buc Palace on April 7.

“Clean slate?” Well, Lovie won’t go that far. (more…)

The Buccaneers’ new head coach has said he spent lots of time during his year-long vacation last year listening to sports radio and soaking up all things that football fans enjoy.

However, Lovie made it clear today that he disconnects himself from inhaling media when he’s a head coach, unless it’s an attack on his players, coaches or organization. And, a solid six weeks from the NFL Draft, Lovie says he’s had enough of the draft gurus. (more…)

William Gholston was a name on the lips of Lovie Smith this morning

So who’ s going to play left defensive end?

Lovie Smith was asked today at the NFL Owners meetings whether it was a battle between Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers? (more…)

Jason Licht explained his gambling ways in projecting part-time players as full-time starters.

Joe has pointed out the Bucs currently have a projected starting left tackle who has never started half a season, let alone a full season. And a possible starting right guard, Oneil Cousins, in the same boat.

In short, this makes Joe nervous. Then again, Joe’s not much of a gambling guy. It seems, however, Bucs general manager Jason Licht likes to wager on players. (more…)

Well, Joe tried. But Lovie Smith wouldn’t go there.

No, Lovie has no plans to talk before opening day about what will make Jeff Tedford’s new offense tick. Lovie explained and gave his reasoning today at the NFL Owners meetings in Orlando. (more…)

Spoken like the hardcore defensive head coach that he is, Lovie Smith’s eyes lit up this morning when he talked about second-year Bucs running back/Olympic sprinter Jeff Demps.

Lovie sat up in his chair at the NFL Owners meetings talking about the fits Demps could cause defenses. (more…)

The Bucs’ head coach talked about Blake Bortles, too.

Joe just finished breakfast with Lovie Smith at the NFL Owners Meetings in Orlando. (Poor Lovie, he was talking so much that he didn’t touch his Danish and fresh fruit.)

Lovie said he was heading directly from Orlando to watch Johnny Football’s Pro Day in Texas. Joe asked Lovie about what he takes away from watching a Pro Day, any Pro Day, and Lovie had plenty to say about Johnny specifically. (more…)

Bucs GM Jason Licht threw cold water on the notion Josh McCown is locked in as Bucs starting QB

It caught the football world by storm two weeks ago when the Bucs signed free agent quarterback Josh McCown and Bucs coach Lovie Smith pronounced McCown as his starter.

Better tap those brakes, however. Last night, appearing on “Late Hits” with co-hosts Alex Marvez and Bill Polian, heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Bucs general manager Jason Licht big time downplayed Lovie’s declaration. (more…)

Alleged witnesses set the scene of the knifing of Mike Williams Sunday. Williams’ brother and alleged attacker, Eric Baylor, is now free on bond.

In a story you will certainly want to click on and read, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times spoke with alleged witnesses at the scene of the crime at Bucs wide receiver Mike Williams’ house, when his brother, Eric Baylor, allegedly knifed Williams.

Auman paints a picture of a serene, lazy Sunday afternoon. Williams had hired a maid and a carpet cleaner to work for him in the exclusive Avila neighborhood, while “at least six” others, including Baylor, lounged inside watching the Kentucky-Wichita State game. (more…)

Joe’s already documented the woefully thin Bucs’ offensive line corps. Thankfully, it’s only March, but the lack of depth and starting experience is still somewhat alarming.

An interesting nugget to come from the mouth of versatile former Bucs guard/center Jeremy Zuttah today makes Joe wonder what the Bucs have planned. (more…)

Bucs general manager Jason Licht already has an idea who will be starting in the Bucs secondary.

Last week when Bucs general manager Jason Licht inked toasty cornerback Mike Jenkins to a lavish one-year, $1.5 million deal, it seemed more of a safety-valve move than anything. Licht had suggested Jenkins would offer competition for talented second-year corner Johnthan Banks.

Joe thought the notion that Jenkins would supplant Banks to be a stretch. Banks showed a lot of promise last year and got better as the season grew. Jenkins was all but run out of Dallas, and the Raiders, who had loads of cap space, waved Jenkins goodbye as he walked out the door. (more…)