Cops believe Eric Baylor, brother of Bucs WR Mike Williams, “intentionally” knifed Williams.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has released its report on what happened in Mike Williams’ own home Sunday afternoon when his brother, Eric Baylor, knifed Williams in the thigh, which required hospitalization to treat the wound. (more…)

The way the new Bucs regime has gutted the roster and relegated some starters to new roles reminds Joe of the hazmat teams that sanitized MRSA from the Bucs’ locker room last year.

It’s been an intense scrubbing of the handiwork of former Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik and Commander Greg Schiano. (more…)

Jason Licht said Bucs fans shouldn’t have to suffer much longer.

Bucs fans have suffered going on 12 years since the Bucs’ last playoff win. That’s just incredible in this day and age. Bucs fans are impatient, understandably so.

And Bucs general manager Jason Licht understands this.

He doesn’t blame fans whatsoever. That’s part of the reason why the Bucs jumped into the free agent pool two weeks ago with the same speed and enthusiasm Joe would display if Rachel Watson, replete with a minimal string bikini, invited Joe for a midnight swim. (more…)

Reasoned, religious, sensible, non-reactionary Lovie Smith has no plans to fire Mike Williams for being the victim of a stabbing on Sunday.

Imagine that.

Tampa Tribune Bucs beat writer Roy Cummings shared, via Twitter, word from the Bucs head coach at the NFL Owners meetings in Orlando. (more…)

The spreadsheet geeks and number crunchers at ESPN have communicated with Bucs beat writer Pat Yasinskas, and it seems Lovie Smith has work to do in order to reach his stated goal of spending all available nickels. (more…)

Would Donte Moncrief of Ole Miss be a good third-day draft pick?

Yes, many Bucs fans are all worked up about the Bucs drafting a wide receiver. And this was before Mike Williams’ brother (allegedly) decided to go all Ginsu and knife Williams in the thigh Sunday.

The majority of those same fans are fixated on the shiniest lure in the pond, and that is Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins. (more…)

Mike Williams’ brother, Eric Baylor, has been ordered by a judge to stay away from Williams.

The judge handling the case of Eric Baylor, the brother of Bucs wide receiver Mike Williams, may have done the Bucs the biggest favor since former Bucs rock star general manager cut Myron Lewis.

Baylor, who is alleged to have gone all Ginsu and knifed Williams Sunday, turned himself into authorities last night and had to stand in front of a judge this morning for a bail hearing. (more…)

Bucs special teams chief Kevin O’Dea has no room for loafers

Lovie Smith is steadfast in his expectations: every single one of his defensive players will pursue the football all-out hard on every snap, and his special teams will be a relentless band of brothers.

The offense? Well, that’s a mystery. But we’ll soon find out.

(more…)

The chronic condition known as Johnny Football fear seems to be contagious in NFL circles.

NFL.com reporter/feature writer Albert Breer dove deep into the risks of overvaluing a quarterback in the NFL Draft in his most recent work, and it’s noteworthy that two of his sources give identical takes on the young man who could revolutionize Buccaneer football. (more…)

Two things jumped out at Joe after a modicum of research on new Bucs center Evan Dietrich-Smith.

The first thing that crossed Joe’s mind was when Bucs general manager Jason Licht was hired, he emphasized “value” in acquiring free agents.

Also, when speaking last week on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Dietrich-Smith mentioned Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was upset he left the team. (more…)

Mugshot of Eric Baylor, Mike Williams’ brother.

The brother of Bucs wide receiver Mike Williams and the same man accused of knifing Williams Sunday afternoon has turned himself in.

Eric Baylor, who has been a fugitive from the law since the incident happened, walked into the Orient Road jail in Tampa and surrendered, documents Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. (more…)

Mike Williams only needed a few stitches after being knifed Sunday.

Well, the Williams Camp has spoken. And, no, it’s not Bucs wide receiver Mike Williams. It’s his agent.

Hadley Engelhard, who represents Williams, downplayed the severity of Williams getting knifed by his brother, who by the way remains a fugitive and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Though, obviously, it is the offseason, Engelhard told Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune that if Williams’ brother decided to plunge a blade into Williams’ thigh in the same manner during the season, Williams could still play a football game come Sunday. (more…)

The NFL has a fancy system that essentially rewards players for playing above and beyond their draft status and salaries.

The 2013 winners were announced today at the NFL Owners meetings in Orlando. (more…)

A good chunk of Mike Williams’ guaranteed cash doesn’t kick in for a year

Last year, former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik signed Mike Williams to a four-year pact worth some $40 million. A good chunk of the cash is guaranteed.

Williams, after signing the contract, tore a hamstring so badly it required surgery. He was placed on injured reserved list and since, Williams’ behavior has been, well, interesting. He’s making news for all sorts of petty reasons, including a mattress in his front yard and having the gall to get knifed in his own house. (more…)

Authorities don’t believe Mike Williams’ account of what happened in his home when he was knifed yesterday.

Last night when Bucs receiver Mike Williams was knifed by his brother (allegedly) in the left thigh and was briefly hospitalized for treatment, Williams told Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputies he and his brother were involved in horseplay.

The cops believe that is horses(p)it. (more…)

Now Joe’s not going to be an idiot and want to nail Bucs receiver Mike Williams to a tree because he was stabbed in his own home yesterday by his brother, allegedly, who remains on the run from the law.

Williams is a victim. He was home — not fighting over some chick in a bar at 3 a.m.

No, Joe is not disturbed by this. Why should he be? But there is something raising Joe’s antennae; it appears Williams is trying to hide from the Bucs for some odd reason. (more…)

Is the trade of Jeremy Zuttah a sign that Carl Nicks is healthy, or is that just blind hope?

Joe’s a big Bobby Knight guy. Joe just loves him. Joe remembers those incredible Indiana basketball teams with suffocating defenses.

(An annoying thing about basketball is all the mindless timeouts in the final minute of a game. What is a wonderful game comes screeching to a halt with a timeout every 10 seconds at best.) (more…)

Joe’s confident the Buccaneers’ offensive line will look better on paper in the coming months. Breathe easy. More help should be on the way.

Right now, however, the offensive line doesn’t look strong and deep. Here’s a breakdown: Caution, side effects may include nervous stomach and hives. (more…)

A reporter reveals a possible steak scenario

Mike Williams is a victim, “but” …

That was the drum beat this morning from Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud on WDAE-AM 620. Stroud talked to Lovie Smith last night. (more…)

It’s the kind of attention the Bucs absolutely don’t want. News crews outside One Buc Palace this morning reporting live on the stabbing of Mike Williams and his allegedly rogue brother, who is on the run from police. (more…)

Bears coach Marc Trestman is happy Bucs starting quarterback Josh McCown got a promotion

Bucs starting quarterback Josh McCown will have a lot of eyes on him when training camp begins. A journeyman QB who will be 35 in July, McCown’s only real success in the NFL came last year in relief of bratty Jay Cutler.

Whether McCown can bring that success to Tampa Bay is another matter. Lovie Smith is gambling a lot on it.

Another guy smiling on McCown happens to be Bears coach Marc Trestman, as he told Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. He’s glad McCown is not returning to Chicago. (more…)

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Mike Williams’ brother.

[UPDATE 12:58 a.m.: The warrant issued for Mike Williams’ brother, Eric Baylor, is for aggravated battery, a second-degree felony in the Sunshine State, per Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times].

[UPDATE; 12:04 a.m. Per Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times, Williams was stabbed in the left thigh. His brother is still on the loose. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office asks if anyone knows the whereabouts of Williams’ brother, Eric Baylor, 23, should call 1-800-873-8477. Legitimate tips may receive a reward.]

[UPDATE: 12:02 a.m. Chris Fischer of WTSP-TV Channel 10 reports Williams was stabbed with a kitchen knife.]

In the wake of the news that Bucs wide receiver Mike Williams was stabbed in the thigh which required a trip to the hospital, authorities have now issued a warrant for Williams’ brother, so Twitters Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. (more…)

[UPDATE: 11:45 p.m. Tammie Fields of WTSP-TV Channel 10 reported that it was witnesses that told police Williams was “roughhousing” with his brother when he was stabbed.]

[UPDATE: 11:18 p.m. WTVT-TV Channel 13 is reporting Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office expects to issue a warrant for the arrest of Mike Williams’ brother, who authorities believed stabbed Williams today. Currently, the alleged assailant remains on the run from police.]

Yes, Bucs wide receiver Mike Williams was stabbed this afternoon in the thigh. In his home. That much we know.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, which noted they are receiving conflicting reports of what happened, claims Williams may have engaged in “roughhousing” when the incident occurred.

That’s the word from Caitlin Johnston of the Tampa Bay Times. (more…)