In these unsettled times of devastating Bucs losses, constant change and growing pains, Joe thought it would be wise to bring back THE OPTIMIST.

THE OPTIMIST is Nick Houllis, a Bucs fan and an accomplished writer whose steadfast allegiance to the Buccaneers goes back to the 1970s. Houllis is the founder, creator and guru of BucStop.com, a place Joe goes to get lost in time via Houllis’ stunning video collection.

THE OPTIMIST will shine that positive light in your eyes. Some will love it. Some won’t. … Of course, THE OPTIMIST’s opinions are his alone and are not influenced by Joe. [read more]

Much like the Vikings’ Everson Griffen, the Browns have their own dangerous, late-blooming pass rusher, former Super Bowl hero Paul Kruger.

Kruger, a 3-4 rush linebacker, ripped off three sacks against the Raiders on Sunday (none against Donald Penn). [read more]

Lovie Smith was given the business this morning by Tampa Bay Times writers Rick Stroud and Tom Jones for what they believe were contradictions in the head coach’s comments yesterday. [read more]

Bucs icon Derrick Brooks knows his beloved Bucs are at a critical point in their season.

Things could go in either direction. [read more]

Mike Evans seemed to imply the “Dunkaneers” offense left with former offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford.

Remember how we heard all about the “Dunkaneers?” You know, the new brand of offensive football with the Jeff Tedford-led Bucs offense?

You remember, don’t you? Where quarterback Josh McCown heaves the ball deep and lets the taller than tall Tampa Bay receivers (Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans and Austin Seferian-Jenkins) just go up and get it; sky over cornerbacks for those long passes? [read more]

Pretty telling stuff was revealed when the St. Louis media dove into their end of the Mark Barron trade to the Rams.

The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety, along with Rams head coach Jeff Fisher, had plenty to say. [read more]

When Team Glazer hired Lovie Smith in January, ending a months-long courtship, one concession Lovie must have had from Team Glazer was an allowance and freedom to spend big time on free agents.

While we are not quite at the halfway point of the 2014 season — the Cleveland game this Sunday will be game No. 8 — thus far the Bucs’ new free agents haven’t exactly been lottery winners. Let’s take a quick look: [read more]

With Tampa Bay having the worst record in the NFC and the NFL’s 32nd-ranked defense (yards allowed and points allowed), Joe’s already devoting attention to the NFL Draft.

And that brings Joe to the young coveted quarterback prize as the Bucs try to build a Super Bowl contender. Welcome to another edition of Jameis Watch. [read more]

Lovie Smith sends mixed messages about former safety Mark Barron.

Yesterday, Bucs general manager Jason Licht found a sap suitor to take safety Mark Barron and his contract off the Bucs’ hands.

Today, Bucs coach Lovie Smith raved about Barron as a player, but then sent mixed messages when he stated the trade was made to improve the team today, not down the road. [read more]

(Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

If you can stomach watching the Bucs-Viking game again, you’ll see splash plays by starting left defensive end Will Gholston.

Yes, Gholston has been starting since Week 2 and has been way too quiet, but he is heating up. [read more]

Michael Johnson has a new issue

It’s not just an ankle issue any longer for struggling defensive end Michael Johnson.

Lovie Smith revealed that Johnson has a new ailment and was limited in practice today. [read more]

Fumbles like this cannot happen against Cleveland as the Browns have turned turnovers into points lately against garbage teams.

Usually, the Browns are in the basement of the NFL, a laughing stock for years. A punching bag.

This year under first-year coach Mike Pettine, the Browns are winning and bring a 4-3 record into Sunday’s game when the Bucs travel to cold Cleveland. [read more]

Brian Hoyer and the Browns’ offense have been stifled since center Alex Mack went down with an injury two weeks ago.

Two weeks ago in a loss to the Jags, Cleveland’s much improved offensive line finally sprung a bad, bad leak. Alex Mack, a stud center, was lost to injury the prior week and it showed.

The Jaguars mauled the Browns up front, all but wiping out the Browns run game. The reason, of course, was no Mack. [read more]

The downward spiral of Doug Martin continued today at One Buc Palace. [read more]

Luke Stocker is a survivor. The Bucs’ 2011 fourth-round pick has battled through loads of injuries and three head coaches to emerge looking like a versatile NFL tight end.

At One Buc Palace, he was lauded today for his newest role. [read more]

Fans should be confident in their head coach, especially when he’s an established winner halfway through Year 1 of a five-year contract.

But that’s not the case across the Tampa Bay area. Joe’s got exclusive polling data to compare. [read more]

Bucs fans might want to chill their enthusiasm for the Sunday return of rookie running back Charles Sims.

Sims officially started practicing last week and he’s expected to return the Bucs’ 53-man roster in a matter of hours off the injured reserve/designated for return list. But the latest update from Sims isn’t all sunshine. [read more]

What Buccaneers do you view as intense, fight-to-the-death competitors on nearly every snap?

Does this team look like it plays hard? Harder than most NFL teams? [read more]

A former Bears personnel man suggests Lovie Smith has issues coaching safeties

Joe still is of the mind that the Bucs defense played well Sunday. No, that game-tying, Vikings drive ending the fourth quarter stunk, but when you hold a team to 13 points in regulation, you should win.

The defense was solid despite the terrible play of former safety Mark Barron, who played so badly Bucs coach and overlord of football operations Lovie Smith gave general manager Jason Licht the green light to shop him. [read more]

It’s not all doom and gloom with your beloved Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay rookie kicker Patrick Murray can ball. The kid’s got a leg. He’s 3-for-3 this season from 50+ yards. [read more]

Anthony Collins will do something he’s never done before on Sunday

Bucs fans have high standards at left tackle.

They got used to a monstrous ironman at the position, a big man who didn’t miss a start from 2007 through 2013, a guy who was once voted by his peers as a “Top-100” player in the NFL, a guy who is having a strong bounce-back season in Oakland. [read more]