Jameis picking the brains of Bears coaches sold them on America’s Quarterback.

Months ago, when America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, was still working the wrinkles out of his Bucs practice jersey during rookie minicamp, Joe brought word that Jameis had a sitdown with cornerback Stephon Morris, who was a Bucs tryout player formerly with the Belicheats. [read more]

The Buccaneers’ rookie running back lighting it up in 2013, Mike James, largely has been an invisible man in Tampa ever since. [read more]

You want to smile out there tomorrow in the sweltering winter sun surrounded by tens of thousands of Bears fans? [read more]

Teddy Bridgewater torched the Bears for four touchdowns last weekend. A noted national voice and former team executive believes Chicago has mailed in its season.

So how bad are the Bears? [read more]

You asked for it, you got it. It’s the TV map for tomorrow’s game between the Bears and the Bucs, a 1 p.m. kickoff at the Den of Depression. [read more]

America’s Quarterback has Peyton Manning-like numbers.

Joe remembers back at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine, when rumors and chatter ran rampant among the hundreds of reporters, radio types and TV talking heads all cocooned in Lucas Oil Stadium in sub-Arctic Indianapolis.

Word was America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, was acing all of his tests and interviews with flying colors. [read more]

Atop Bears injury report.

The toasty Bucs secondary, not exactly comparable to the 1981 49ers, got a bit of a break on Christmas when NFL teams released their final injury reports of the week. [read more]

Mike Glennon is the sixth-best quarterback in the NFC South, just behind former Pro Bowler and renowned Bucs killer Derek Anderson.

But take a look at the mess of QBs expected to start in Week 16: [read more]

Lifesaver?

You know it is a big game — even if both the Bears and the Bucs are out of the playoffs — when a beat reporter who covers the visiting team spends the preceding week in Tampa writing advance stories. [read more]

Few football fans don’t like watching a roadgrading offensive lineman who freight trains would-be tacklers. [read more]

A star ex-linebacker weighs in. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

You think Lavonte David got screwed again by no Pro Bowl selection for the fourth consecutive year?

Well, a former outside linebacker who might have been screwed out of pineapple eight times has weighed in. [read more]

What does Lovie want?

Who is the real Santa Claus at One Buc Palace when it comes to the NFL Draft?

Who’s placing gifts under the Tampa Bay tree in late April? [read more]

America’s Quarterback and a Christmas story.

Yes, Joe knows Christmas, at the heart of the matter, is about kids. Christmas may mean more to those in grade school and younger than any other group in society. [read more]

Joe hopes everyone has a wonderful Christmas and even though there is no football on — no NFL, no college bowl games (just who is the genius who dropped the ball here?) — Joe hopes you have happier Bucs outcomes on your DVR. [read more]

Offensive Coordinator Dirk Koetter is a busy man chasing history

Barring a catastrophic offensive meltdown in the final two games, Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter will find his way into the history books in January. [read more]

Jameis vs. the blitz.

Joe’s not much of a stat guy. Regular readers know that. Oh, stats can be good, sure. They can be eye-opening and enlightening when used within reason. [read more]

Quarterbacks are awfully comfortable facing the Buccaneers. In fact, opposing gunslingers are completely more than 69 percent of their passes.

And that’s what makes the following comment from a Bucs coach so stunning. [read more]

Rookie left tackle Donovan Smith

Measuring 6-6, 338 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine this year, Donovan Smith was considered by many to be an excellent guard prospect, a guy lacking too much athleticism and technique to be a valuable starting left tackle like he was at Penn State. [read more]

Doug Martin and Luke Stocker talk blocking

Remember when benched right tackle Demar Dotson recently said Doug Martin made a lot of “chicken salad out of nothing” back in 2012? That’s when Martin ran his way to rookie stardom and a Pro Bowl — 1,454 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. [read more]

Trying to understand the hate.

Joe doesn’t understand a lot of things. For example, drinking warm beer.

Joe also neither understands the purpose of algebra nor the popularity of Bruce Springsteen. [read more]

Just odd things about the Bucs and injuries. Joe’s not trying to out anyone here, but it bears mentioning. Just odd. [read more]

“I’ve got your back, coach!”

Yes, long before the season began, Joe believed six wins would lock Lovie Smith in for a return to the Bucs’ sidelines in 2016.

My goodness, tripling your number of wins (at least) from the previous season is a heck of an accomplishment, especially when starting a rookie quarterback. [read more]

Logan Mankins

It’s fair to ask 33-year-old Logan Mankins, with 11 NFL seasons under his belt, about how much longer he wants to keep playing.

So today, Joe asked Mankins whether he’s pondering when his career will end. [read more]