Archive for the ‘Recent Posts’ Category

Darrelle Revis Says He’s The Boy Wonder

Friday, June 21st, 2013

In the mythical Buccaneers world of Batman, it’s clear to Joe that Greg Schiano is Commisioner Gordon, Bill Sheridan is Chief O’Hara, Dashon Goldson is Batman, Darrelle Revis is Robin, and Rachel Watson is Catwoman.

The roles weren’t all clear to Joe until yesterday, when Revis himself declared he’s the Boy Wonder. At his football camp in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Revis told his hometown newspaper that Dashon Goldson and he are the NFL’s Dynamic Duo.

“He is the best safety in the league, as of today. And I’m saying that boldly,” Revis said, a wide smile on his face. “No knock on Troy (Polamalu) and all of those guys, but he’s the best, and he’s only in his eighth year, which is awesome. He’s Batman. I’m Robin.”

Joe loves the big talk from Revis. It’s fun, and his teammates and fans are listening. Joe hopes Revis is chatty with media during the season. He was known for that in New York, and hopefully he’ll step forward as a voice of the team in Tampa.

Joe can’t wait to see the real tough-guy swagger Goldson and Revis bring to the Bucs defense. It’s been missing since the glory days of the franchise, and Joe suspects a lot of fans have forgotten what a fearsome secondary and veteran, All-Pro talent look like back there and the impact they deliver.

As for the rest of the Batman characters, well, Joe thought he might cast rockstar general manager Mark Dominik as Bruce Wayne, but Joe didn’t want to get the serial Dominik bashers all worked up on the first day of summer.

Da’Quan Bowers No. 25

Thursday, June 20th, 2013

No, Da’Quan Bowers didn’t cough up $50,000 to wear No. 25. Besides, that’s an illegal number for an NFL defensive — and a cruel reminder of helmet-wielding, cabbie-slugging, pill-popping, granny-hassling Aqib Talib.

Rather, Pat Yasinskas of ESPN is counting down what he believes to be the top-25 players in the NFC South, and Bowers began the countdown at No. 25.

Why he’s No. 25 in 2013: I’m going out on a limb here and projecting big things from Bowers because that’s exactly what the Buccaneers are doing. They let last year’s sack leader, Michael Bennett, leave via free agency because they believe Bowers is ready to blossom into a force as a pass-rusher. The Bucs went slowly with Bowers as a rookie as he recovered from knee issues and had to follow a similar course last season. But Bowers was a guy that was viewed as an elite pass rusher coming out of college. If he can stay healthy, Bowers should be able to prove the Bucs right and come up with double-digit sacks.

The key phrase there is, “if he is healthy.” Bowers has yet to play a full season in the NFL because of injuries.

Joe knows Bowers has large goals. This year, he has gone on record saying if he doesn’t record sacks in the double-digits, he will be disappointed.

Yes, there’s a lot of pressure on Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman. Joe thinks there is an equal amount of pressure on Bowers because the Bucs must generate real heat on opposing quarterbacks if this teams wants to dance in the NFL postseason gala.

Roadtrip! Bucs Will Head To Foxborough Early

Thursday, June 20th, 2013

The Bucs will hold two joint practices with the Patriots. Hopefully, no Buccaneers will get under the skin of Aaron Hernandez.

No big surprise here. But the Bucs made it official today that they’ll be practicing with the New England Patriots twice before their preseason game against the Pats in Foxboro on Friday, August 16.

Last August, New England did the same thing in Tampa, as tight buddies Greg Schiano and Bill Belicheat compared tight ships.

The Buccaneers will arrive in time for a pair of joint practices on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 13 and 14. While the game will obviously be played inside the stadium, the preceding practices will actually be held on the fields located behind the stadium.  Each team will conduct its usual day-before-the-game activities separately on Thursday before facing off on Friday night, with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET.

Oh, Joe can only imagine the trash talk that will be fired at Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams by Aqib Talib.

What’s bizarre about all this is that the Bucs head back to New England during Week 3 of the regular season. That’s an awful lot of together time for the two teams, and it surely could lead to some on-field tension in September, especially if Akeem Spence forgets to practice against New England at three-quarter speed.

What Do Cadillac, Winslow and Goldson Share?

Thursday, June 20th, 2013

When one thinks of Buccaneers of recent years who are in love with the game of football, Kellen Winslow does not come to mind. The guy loathed blocking, pouted when a teammate scored a touchdown, and didn’t want his “toes on the line.”

But per Josh Freeman, Winslow was a standout for his pure love of the game.

Today, Freeman talked about how he has gotten to know new Bucs All-Pro safety Dashon Goldson and has been blown away by how deeply Goldson loves football. Freeman said Cadillac Williams and Winslow were past Buccaneers whose football might rival Goldson’s, so Freeman explained on the Ron and Ian show on WDAE-AM 620 this morning.

“Talking to [Goldson] about football, it kind of takes you back to, really, little league, just the love of the game, the love of going out and go hitting people,” Freeman said. “He’s an old school guy, but he brings it, man, like every day in practice. Every day and night.”

Joe’s most pleased to hear this from Freeman because Joe knows the young Bucs cornerbacks are surely experiencing the same vibe from Goldson, and more. That can only help rookie Johnthan Banks and friends develop great work habits.

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Thursday, June 20th, 2013

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Freeman Issues A Noble Endorsement

Thursday, June 20th, 2013

Bucs tight end Danny Noble first opened Joe’s eyes when he played with the first team last preseason and caught two balls against the Dolphins. It was a ‘where-did-this-guy-come-from’ moment.

Noble, then an undrafted rookie out of Toledo, was not considered high on the depth chart, and he went on to make the final roster out of training camp before getting hurt midway through last season. (Here’s a 2012 interview Joe did with Noble, known as “Shwag” among his teammates.)

But now it seems Noble is opening eyes again under the media radar at One Buc Palace.

Speaking today on the Ron and Ian show on WDAE-AM 620, Josh Freeman spewed all kinds of love for Noble and believes he could be an impact tight end.

“We got a kid Danny Noble, who’s a young up and comer. He’s a guy who last year played with a little bit of injury. I think if he gets through camp obviously injury-free, gets through preseason, the kid has some special sort of talent,” Freeman said. “Not the fastest, but upper echelon speedwise, doesn’t have the best hands, but upper echelon as far as hands go. Like the kid makes some great catches. Once you get the ball in his hands, though … the kid’s got a little something to him.

“You know, he’s a guy that, you know, if we get through camp and if things go as you kind of see them going, then I feel like that guy definitely gets some quality time out there. And not just quality time but quality plays. He knows how to get open. He knows how to make plays.”

The Bucs’ tight end competition, of course, is wide open. Who knows, maybe Noble is the best pass catcher of the bunch? And it has to carry a little weight if Freeman is so high on Noble.

Seven Dead Teammates Inspire Revis

Thursday, June 20th, 2013

When Darrelle Revis goes home to the once-thriving steel town of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh media comes out in full force.

The Revis Island Foundation kicked off its summer football camp yesterday, and Revis was on the field working with kids at his old high school and delivering inspiring messages of hard work, along with his mother. WTAE-TV out of Pittsburgh reported that Revis drew inspiration for helping kids, in part, by experiencing the misfortune of his high school teammates.

When Darrelle Revis’ Aliquippa High School football team won a state championship, he scored five touchdowns. Seven of his teammates from that squad are already dead, and it’s from that perspective that he runs his foundation and his football camp

Revis talked a lot to the youth about the importance of hard work in all fields of life. Some of that is captured in the CBS video below.

Arrested?

Thursday, June 20th, 2013

Arrested?

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Sapp Blasts Strahan; Lauds Rice

Thursday, June 20th, 2013

Until recent years, Joe thought the four Hall of Fame worthy Bucs defenders who played in the glory years were Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and — not Ronde Barber, but — Simeon Rice.

Now Joe knew even back then that Rice getting in the Pro Football Hall of Fame was a long shot, but Joe thought that much of Rice’s playing ability.

It seems Sapp did, too.

In a colorful rant against his nemesis Michael Strahan (yet again), Sapp went after Strahan, basically claiming he is not Hall of Fame worthy and it should be Rice, not Strahan, who should be getttinh serious consideration for induction into Canton, reports eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune.

“Nobody ever talks about Simeon,” said Sapp, who played three seasons with Rice in Tampa and saw the right defensive end average 14 sacks between 2001-03. “Simeon was a better rusher than Michael Strahan any day of the week and twice on Sunday.”

Sapp also said Strahan’s 15-year career with the New York Giants didn’t take off until he was moved from right end to the left side.

“(Rice) didn’t rush the worst lineman,” said Sapp, who beat out Strahan for a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013. “You know the right tackle is the worst of the five [offensive linemen. Strahan played right end his first four years. When they were putting the label on him as a bust, they put ‘B-U-S . OK, let’s transition him on the other side and see if he can play in his fourth year.’ They put him at right end and he couldn’t do it, so they moved him to the weak guy. One-on-one with the (Eagles right tackle) Jon Runyans for eight quarters every year. Sim won’t ever have his name brought up (for the Hall of Fame), and that’s a shame. He’s one of the best pass rushers I’ve ever encountered in my life.”

Joe thinks Sapp is onto something. Rice and Sapp made for an absolutely lethal duo rushing from the right side. To this day, Joe thought Rice should have been the MVP of the Bucs’ Super Bowl, though Joe understands why it was awarded to the good Dexter Jackson (Dwight Smith could have won that award, as well).

Why did Joe change his mind from Rice to Barber as the four possible Hall of Fame candidates from the Bucs? Because in recent years, Barber set records that will be very difficult for a cornerback to beat, establishing himself as one of the game’s elite.

The 2012 Confusion, The 2013 Difference

Thursday, June 20th, 2013

Veteran Ch. 10 sportscaster Dave Wirth sat down with Josh Freeman after opening day of his football camp yesterday for an exclusive chat seen in this video. Freeman does perhaps his best job to date detailing why there was confusion on the field at times last season and why he can’t imagine that stuff happening in 2013.

Freeman is brimming with confidence, acknowledges it’s a big year for him personally — “you can’t deny that,” Freeman said — and says he loves the pieces around him and Mike Sullivan.

“Right now physically, you know, mentally, as far as knowing the game, I’m the best I’ve ever been,” Freeman said. “I definitely think it’s going to be exciting.”

The Jackson-Williams Bond

Thursday, June 20th, 2013

vincent jackson

When Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik landed the big fish of wide receiver free agents last offseason, Vincent Jackson, the transaction wasn’t just to have him haul in bombs from Josh Freeman.

No, Dominik wanted Jackson to be a leader, to take young receivers under his wing and show them all of the off-field work it takes to be a solid player.

Not only did Jackson jump at the chance to do just that, fellow wide receiver Mike Williams was more than open-minded and the two quickly developed a bond.

Per the Sports SportsXChange, the way the two grew together is why Williams is on the cusp of stardom himself.

“I see the changes in Mike over the last year,” Bucs coach Greg Schiano said. “Mike is becoming such a more seasoned pro. Mike always had the passion for the game, way back from when I knew him when he was at Syracuse. I mean, this kid loves to play football. But all the little things about being a pro, I think Vincent (Jackson) has brought that into the room and certainly for Mike and for all those guys.”

Joe has a hunch; the same thing is happening on the defensive side of the ball. Dominik also signed safety Dashon Goldson and traded for star corner Darrelle Revis to mentor the younger corners.

And both have jumped into that pool both enthusiastically and with both feet. Joe believes they’ll rub off on the young corners the way Jackson did on Williams.

$30 Seats Still Available For Home Opener

Wednesday, June 19th, 2013

Joe’s not being a wiseass with the headline. Single game ticket sales opened for the Bucs today, exclusively for the home opener against the hated Saints, and a healthy supply of $30 seats remain available as of 5 p.m.

Ten years ago nobody would have believed such a phenomenon was possible in the football-crazed Tampa Bay area.

Yes, Joe knows well that fan habits have changed across the country. Gorging on food and beer on the couch with a laptop, i-Phone and a massive hi-def TV are now somehow more impressive than a great tailgate, live football, and viewing hundreds of scantily clad Bucs-loving hotties in and around the stadium on Dale Mabry Highway.

Joe is simply posting this now as a public service to Bucs fans who may not realize they can still score a cheap ticket to a great football game and scene. It should be pretty darn electric when (if?) Darrelle Revis breaks up his first pass for the home fans. You can browse available seats at Ticketmaster.com.

“My Mom Had To Break Her Back”

Wednesday, June 19th, 2013

It’s summer camp season for the handful of Buccaneers that host their own camps for kids.

Donald Penn really did it right this past weekend back in his California hometown. Penn’s camp was free for the youngsters, and he had his share of NFL friends coaching and support including Eric Dickerson.

Penn speaks near the opening of this camp video and talks about how “my mom had to break her back” to send him to football camps and how blessed he feels to be able to give back.

Williams Believes Freeman Ready To Soar

Wednesday, June 19th, 2013

Joe will never forget a moment last season in the Bucs locker room. It was during the time when Josh Freeman was in the deep recesses of his slump that essentially killed the Bucs’ drive for a playoff berth. Wide receiver Mike Williams, usually an easy-going if not soft-spoken kind of guy, went on a passionate (for him) defense of his quarterback.

Williams stated that he and the rest of the Bucs’ wide receivers had to be on the same page as Freeman and Freeman’s miscues were as much the fault of the receivers, maybe more so.

Williams again came to his quarterback’s defense during mandatory minicamp and told eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune that Freeman is ready to take the next step into elite status.

“We know this offense,’’ says Mike Williams, who fell only four yards short of joining Vincent Jackson to give the Bucs a pair of 1,000-yard receivers. “We know when to break off routes and what zone to read. It’s a knowing instead of reacting to something. Josh Freeman’s got this offense down pat. The big problem last year was we couldn’t get on the same page, knowing when to break our routes off.’‘

This also reinforces what Bucs offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan told Joe last week, that Freeman is far, far advanced in Sullivan’s offense from where he was a year ago.

With an improved secondary, and Freeman, Jackson, Williams and Doug Martin not only having a year of Sullivan’s methods under their belts but also a season playing together, the state of the Bucs offense is very encouraging.

Savor The Best Tampa Bay Limo

Wednesday, June 19th, 2013

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Paradise offers limo service across the Tampa Bay area, but also throughout the United States and in various parts of the world.

One call to Paradise takes care of ALL your airport transfers for your next trip. Or you can even use Paradise to take relatives to and from the airport in, say, Chicago, so you’re sure they’re safe and sound.

But first things first. Score that amazing Tampa Bay limo experience this weekend. It’s always worth it.

Bucs Reel In Veteran Adams For CB Depth

Wednesday, June 19th, 2013

Joe’s celebrating the Bucs scoring a veteran cornerback this morning in Michael Adams, who spent the past six seasons with the Cardinals.

Yes, Joe’s being a bit sarcastic, but the thought of Myron Lewis or Anthony Gaitor scoring a roster spot makes Joe queasy. Joe wanted another veteran around in case Darrelle Revis isn’t ready and Eric Wright continues to be a letdown corner versus a shutdown corner.

Adams spent the past six seasons with the Cardinals and was a their nickel cornerback for a chunk of that time. He’s also considered a special teams stud, something that probably moves him up the depth chart quickly. Here’s a nugget from the Cardinals website in 2012.

He remains the No. 1 nickel cornerback, even with a ton of quality corners in camp, and his special teams work cannot be overlooked.

The special teams is the tangible part of Adams’ game noted by coach Ken Whisenhunt, who kept a rookie Adams on the practice squad in Whisenhunt’s first year as Arizona’s coach. But it isn’t the first.

“The thing that stands out is his fight,” Whisenhunt said. “He’s a very competitive guy, whether it is in practice or in the games. He has made a significant contribution for us special-teams wise. One of the things we say before camp every year is there will be players here because of their special teams. He’s a good gunner, he works hard on punt return.

“Every aspect you put him in, he plays big.”

Adams is listed at 5-8, but Joe’s seen stories in which he admits he’s shorter. Obviously, the guy’s got to have a lot of intangibles and toughness to survive six years in the NFL at that size.

Greg Schiano craves competition. He just got a little more.

NFL Insiders: SAM Linebacker Important

Wednesday, June 19th, 2013
Nick Barnett, who led the Bills in tackles last season, was floated on SiriusXM NFL Radio as a potential candidate to play SAM linebacker for the Bucs.

Nick Barnett, who led the Bills in tackles last season, was floated on SiriusXM NFL Radio as a potential candidate to play SAM linebacker for the Bucs.

Earlier this week, Joe unexpectedly made waves on Twitter when he noted how crazy this notion is that SAM linebacker is unimportant in the Bucs defense. Joe was even blasted by a Belgium-based blogger for, in this person’s mind, typing heresy.

The notion that any defensive player is “unimportant” rankles Joe to his very core. It is so nuts, Joe can barely write a coherent response.

Now Joe knows the calculator crowd will state a SAM linebacker maybe plays half the time in many cases. True. So does that mean you roll out some slug to play? Of course not! That guy will get exposed each and every play he steps on the field.

Pat Kirwan and Tim Ryan, co-hosts of “Movin’ the Chains,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, discussed the Bucs on Monday and they are of the mind that the troika of Adam Hayward/Dekoda Watson/Jonathan Casillas is not starting caliber and Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik needs to go shopping this summer for both a solid SAM linebacker and a pass rusher.

Tim Ryan: To me with the Bucs, the question marks are about defense. They are about the linebackers and they are about that pass rush.

Pat Kirwan: Well, I don’t think these things are not solvable. I respect they will go to camp and try to work things out with the guys they have. But they have the cap space to go out and grab a couple of guys. To me [on the defensive line] it’s about John Abraham. Right now if they signed Abraham, we would be singing a different song. Just one guy who can rush the passer on third down. If you also want to tell me they also bring in a linebacker like Des Bishop if he passes the physical, then great.

They are not that far away from being in the thick of things. They need a pass rusher. They need a guy to replace Adam Hayward. I don’t want to hear Dekoda Watson’s name. They shored up the secondary. I think things there look pretty good. [Johnthan] Banks beats out Eric Wright, fine. If he doesn’t, I get it. There are guys right now on the street that aren’t so expensive they can’t find them. Maybe they are waiting to see how they look?

Just sign the two veterans, right now! Finish off the project you started.

Later, Kirwan even dropped the name of Nick Barnett, Buffalo’s 2012 leading tackler who the Bills let loose this spring, as a strong option for the Bucs at linebacker.

Joe knows this will tee off some. When the Bucs had an uncoached Quincy Black, an overwhelmed rookie in Mason Foster, and over-hyped Geno Hayes, they may have been the worst linebacker unit in football and Hayward couldn’t break the lineup. To Joe that says it all about Hayward’s ability. Joe has nothing against Hayward, other than going MMA on his position coach, Bryan Cox, on the sidelines last year. Joe’s a coaches’ kinda guy, and you simply don’t pull a stunt like that under any circumstances if you want to keep order on a team.

It was wrong then and it is wrong today.

And can we stop with this patently absurd notion that a SAM linebacker is unimportant? If this position was so unimportant and trivial, why not just play with 10 men and save a potential injury?

Both of those suggestions are equally moronic.

When 90 percent of the Tampa Bay area was trying to run Black out of town (Joe was in this group as well, but Joe’s eyes were opened when Black actually got coached up by Cox), Joe never once heard of people shrugging their shoulders and saying, “Eh, don’t worry about Black, he plays an unimportant position.”

The Bucs And The Playoffs

Wednesday, June 19th, 2013

The Bucs are counting on big things and many sacks from Da’Quan Bowers

Joe knows Bucs fans have an edge about them this time of the year as the 2013 training camp dates are soon to be released. It is not a bad edge, but an edge of excitement for what lies ahead.

With two strong receivers, a solid offensive line, a Pro Bowl running back and a newly beefed up secondary, many Bucs fans have playoff thoughts dancing in their heads.

But Darren Sharper of the NFL Network thinks Bucs fans should, as Deion Sanders would say, slow their roll. Sharper doesn’t believe the Bucs will be playing in the postseason, so he explained during the “32 for 32” segment Monday. Co-analyst LaDainian Tomlinson agreed.

Andrew Siciliano: Do the Bucs make the postseason?

Darren Sharper: I don’t see that happening, either. This is a team in a division that is probably the toughest division in the NFL. They have to face the Saints, they have to face the Falcons, they have to face the Carolina Panthers who is going to be a tough team. I think that there just isn’t enough there now. There are a lot of pieces in place, it will be interesting to see how they gel but I don’t see them making it to the playoffs.

LaDainian Tomlinson: They are still a little ways away but they are getting close. They are not there yet. The area of need I am still looking for them to improve is pass rush. Andrew, you have to have a pass rusher in this league to compete. I would have loved to see them have gone out and got an Osi Umenyiora. That would have been a great fit on this defense. They did not and they have a lot of guys who are unproven. So in the end of the season, that hurts them.

Sharper: I could never cover anybody when we didn’t have a pass rush, Andrew. Never. How are you going to cover somebody when you don’t have anybody getting to the quarterback?

Joe thinks the Bucs will make a push to the playoffs this winter, but making the playoffs is a different matter. Yes, Joe strongly believes the Bucs are better off this year, but the NFC is as top-heavy as Joe has seen it since Bill Walsh, Joe Gibbs, Bill Parcells and Mike Ditka prowled the sidelines.

There will be damned good teams watching the playoffs on TV.

Now people think that Josh Freeman has a lot of pressure on him, and in many ways, he does. Well, how about Da’Quan Bowers? Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik is putting a whole lot of eggs into Bowers’ basket hoping that Bowers not just stays healthy, but can rack up double-digit sacks.

We will know by Christmas if the gamble pays off.

“It Seems To Be Mental With Him”

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

NFL Network studied the Bucs last night during its daily series “32 in 32,” in which every NFL team is examined while the network kills time before NFL training camps open up late next month.

Analysts LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sharper and host Andrew Siciliano dove into the subject of Josh Freeman. Tomlinson and Sharper had very different conclusions as to whether this season is Freeman’s last in Tampa Bay.

Andrew Siciliano: Josh Freeman, some people think he might be a weakness. We do know this: He is in the last year of his contract. Is this his last year, LT, with the Bucs?

LaDainian Tomlinson: I say no. People need to realize and remember that Josh Freeman left early. He left after his junior year at [Kansas] State. He’s still a young player. So he has a lot of football to play. He will continue to throw. I know he has had his ups and downs but here is the thing: At the end of the day, can you find a better quarterback than Josh Freeman. That’s what we are looking at in our league. You only have about five quarterbacks that play at an elite level. The rest of the guys are up and down so be patient. Patience is a virtue with Josh Freeman. I think he will eventually become the guy that can become the leader.

Darren Sharper: I am going to go out on a limb and say he will not be back. This is his last year, partly because of that roller coaster he takes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on. I played against Josh a couple of times and to me, it’s not physical, it seems to be mental with him because he is out there and will go through these streaks that he plays bad and he will not be able to get out of those bad streaks. That, combined with he is not tied to Coach [Greg] Schiano, I think they will try to go out and find Schiano’s guy.

Joe thinks both analysts make salient points. Just what quarterback is available via trade or free agency who will be better than Freeman? That’s why Joe’s pretty sure, barring a horrific 2011-like season, Freeman will return to the Bucs in 2014. It is just a matter of whether he will be franchised or not.

But Sharper has solid takes. As Joe has constantly written, Schiano has no lineage to Freeman; he inherited him. If the Bucs cannot turn Freeman around, you think Schiano will lobby Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik to re-sign Freeman and go down in flames with Freeman? Joe doubts it.

Now Sharper is not the first person to suggest Freeman’s issues are between his ears.

No less an authority than former Bucs signalcaller Shaun King, one of but three Bucs quarterbacks  to lead the Bucs to an NFC Championship game, claimed last season that Freeman, who King very much likes, needed a shrink.

Again, Joe is convinced there is no quarterback controversy. Freeman is your Bucs quarterback. How long that will be depends on Freeman himself.

No controversy at all.

Revis Coughed Up $50,000 For No. 24

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

When Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik traded for star cornerback Darrelle Revis, by far the dominant question among Bucs fans wasn’t whether Revis would be ready for a Week 1 showdown with his former team, the Jets, in New Jersey. Strangely, there was a more popular question, “What number would he wear?”

The answer took awhile, but at virtually the same moment Joe was told by suits at One Buc Palace that Revis’ number hadn’t been decided, Dominik released the information on SiriusXM NFL Radio.

Welp!

Now according to Business Insider beat writer Cork Gaines, who is also the conscience on RaysIndex.com, Revis had to cough up $50,000 to get No. 24 from Bucs safety Mark Barron.

It is unclear if this is a record payment for a uniform number. In 1993, Rickey Henderson paid a new Blue Jays teammate $25,000, also for the no. 24. That is about $40,000 now with inflation.

Maybe the best story ever for uniform number bartering also came in 1993 when Mitch Williams “paid” two cases of beer for John Kruk’s no. 28. Williams only wore the number for one season before switching to no. 99.

To be fair, Cork learned this information from the diligent work of Brinke Guthrie, via the highly reliable UniWatch.com, which is infatuated with anything dealing with uniforms.

If anyone wonders why Revis had to buy the jersey number, it is an unwritten rule in professional sports that if a new teammate wants a jersey already assigned, then he must pay said player a ransom to release the number. The rule is pretty strictly enforced by the rank and file.

Joe hopes Barron put the cash to good use helping the local Tampa Bay economy.

Should The Bucs Pounce On Devin Hester?

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

dominikJoe’s read the buzz out of Chicago that the Bears may cut Devin Hester.

Joe’s also acutely aware that the New Schiano Order couldn’t find a returner last season, doesn’t have an established returner now, and it’s got a wide open competition near the bottom of its wide receiver depth chart. The Bucs also have a pile of available cash to pay Hester, whose contract called for $2 million this season.

Hester wasn’t his lethal-returner self last season, and he’s 30 years old. But the guy is healthy and surely is far better than what the Bucs have to offer now. He also would represent great depth as a No. 4 or No. 5 receiver.

For Joe, the Bears making it public that Hester doesn’t have a roster spot locked up is code for Chicago seeking trade offers.

Rockstar general manager Mark Dominik has a lot of recent history dealing with the Bears (Gaines Adams, Brian Price, Gabe Carimi). Perhaps a move for Hester is just the kind of low-risk, high-reward gamble that could improve the Buccaneers.