September 7th, 2015

The Bucs’ new QB will be in a similar position next Monday
For those who missed it, Tampa Bay has a new quarterback. Yes, a third quarterback, a guy plucked off waivers who will be on the 53-man roster for at least a few weeks, per NFL rules.
His name is Ryan Griffin. [read more]
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September 7th, 2015

Phil Simms offers powerful words for Bucs and Titans coaching staffs
Joe’s already called opening day against the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 13 in Tampa a “must-win.”
It’s not a must-win for the standings. Duh. But it is necessary for the psyche of a fan base that hasn’t seen a home victory since 2013, and compares Jameis Winston to Marcus Mariota. [read more]
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September 7th, 2015

Will No. 34 overall pick, rookie left tackle Donovan Smith, practice today?
Busy day, Bucs fans.
It’s game week!
The Bucs are back on the practice field and Joe will have all kinds of stuff as the day progresses. Stick with Joe throughout the day.
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September 7th, 2015
Joe sees that mighty Sports Illustrated and TheMMQB.com chief Peter King is calling this morning for a massive Falcons revival and first-year coach Dan Quinn to be named NFL Coach of the Year.
Joe can’t help but think of how that could reflect on Lovie Smith.
[read more]
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September 6th, 2015
The funny analyst on World Series of Poker broadcasts makes his real money as a sports columnist.
Joe’s talking about Norman Chad, who is very hard to top when it comes to quick wit and regular-guy humor. [read more]
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September 6th, 2015

After right tackle Demar Doston wrenched his knee during the first preseason game 22 days ago, he was hopeful to be ready to play by October 1. [read more]
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September 6th, 2015
After the virgin center experience of Garrett Gilkey last year, Joe has learned to embrace the little things, such as claiming a backup center today that has real NFL experience. [read more]
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September 6th, 2015
Last year, Joe deemed fifth-round picks of offensive linemen Kadeem Edwards and Kevin Pamphile the “Milk Cartons” because they were missing in action. Joe can’t remember one single block either made. [read more]
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September 6th, 2015

New Bucs QB Ryan Griffin.
Uh, oh…
Seems the drama torch at One Buc Palace has been lit. The Bucs released the list of players AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht selected off waivers. Among them is a new Bucs quarterback! [read more]
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September 6th, 2015

How will Lovie Smith counter and attack the Titans starting a rookie right tackle?
In seven days, Tennessee will start a rookie third-round pick at right tackle.
What are you made of, Lovie Smith, Bucs’ defensive shot caller? [read more]
Posted in Recent Posts | 23 Comments »
September 6th, 2015

Did the Bucs make the best choices for Jameis Winston?
Joe does not underestimate the value of coaching and the value of experience.
It’s one reason Joe scratched his head when the Bucs hired a first-time NFL quarterbacks coach for Jameis Winston, America’s Quarterback, and didn’t have a savvy veteran QB in training camp to help drive Jameis. [read more]
Posted in Recent Posts | 25 Comments »
September 5th, 2015
How does a second-year player who started 16 games last year at right guard get cut from a team that has only one guard on the roster with any NFL regular-season experience at the position? [read more]
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September 5th, 2015

Here’s the breakdown, position by position: [read more]
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September 5th, 2015

Lovie seems OK with the offensive line.
Nothing rankled Bucs fans this offseason quite like the offensive line. Despite AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht drafting two offensive linemen in the second round and signing a former first-round pick of an offensive tackle, fans remain irritated, as if they showed up at a bar sober and heard the awful cry, “Last call!” [read more]
Posted in Recent Posts | 36 Comments »
September 5th, 2015

However …
Tampa Bay Times beat writer Rick Stroud is Twittering that the Bucs have waved good-bye to 2015 sixth-round pick Kaelin Clay. [read more]
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September 5th, 2015
Word flowing around Twitter this morning is that the Raiders will cut former Vikings and Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder today. [read more]
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September 5th, 2015

Lovie preparing for what he refers to as the second draft this weekend.
It was common for Bucs fans to pace so much at night that they wore a path in their bedroom rug fretting over the edge rush.
There really wasn’t much to fret about because there wasn’t much of a rush to even get worked up over. [read more]
Posted in Recent Posts | 30 Comments »
September 5th, 2015

Tim Jennings speaks out
So let’s get this straight, the Bears cut good citizen cornerback (sans the bad driving) Tim Jennings, a 2012 and 2013 Pro Bowler with $4.4 million of guaranteed money on his contract.
When does that happen to a healthy NFL player? [read more]
Posted in Recent Posts | 19 Comments »
September 5th, 2015
This was a different kind of radio appearance for Joe.
Todd Wright, filling in on WDAE-AM 620, brought Joe on the air for a cerebral, big-picture kind of chat. [read more]
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September 5th, 2015

It’s not about that. … More nonsense is flowing.
There is some credibility, Joe believes, to the notion that rookie quarterbacks learn best from the sidelines.
It is no coincidence Aaron Rodgers had years to acclimate to the NFL while watching Brett Farve work his magic. When Rodgers did assume signal-calling duties for the Packers, made about as smooth of a transition as you will ever see. [read more]
Posted in Recent Posts | 23 Comments »
September 4th, 2015

No “Afro Thunder” running routes for the Bucs this season
Per the Twittering of Bucs beat writer Greg Auman, rookie fifth-round wide receiver Kenny Bell will wait until next year to make his mark on the NFL. [read more]
Posted in Recent Posts | 67 Comments »
September 4th, 2015

Jason Licht needs to find the next Ted Larsen in a hurry
Before Garrett Gilkey suffered a significant injury last night, Joe wrote a story about how general manager Jason Licht must jump all over guards that hit waivers on Saturday.
But now things have reached crisis mode. [read more]
Posted in Recent Posts | 43 Comments »