Gives Mike Smith a shoutout.

Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith made it clear recently he’s not trying to throw tricks at the offense just to be a wise guy and show off. [read more]

Remember to visit the new BalzerFootball.com. It’s a little brother site of JoeBucsFan.com manned by esteemed Pro Football Hall of Fame selector and voter Howard Balzer, a veteran of all forms of media and a regular voice heard on SiriusXM NFL Radio.

Balzer is a true expert on all things NFL, one of the very best in the business. Today, Balzer dives into the RGIII/Josh McCown marriage, and more.

Hey, Danny Vitale! Yeah, you! You’re no longer in the Big Ten. [read more]

Rob “Bad Santa” Ryan was relentless

Tampa Bay’s go-to tight end, Harvard man Cameron Brate, was released by the Bucs in September of last year and landed on the New Orleans roster before the Bucs-Saints game in Week 2.

Today, Joe finally got to ask Brate if — and how — the Saints grilled him when he arrived. [read more]

Where else would the Custodian of Canton have been this weekend, when Father Dungy, Eddie DeBartolo and six others were immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Today, eye-RAH takes you inside the historic event. [read more]

Hails Jameis’ accuracy.

Not long ago, a self-proclaimed Paul Brown from the Emerald Isle wrote a hit piece on America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, suggesting Jameis is slightly more accurate than a broken watch. [read more]

Bucs coach Dirk Koetter seems half-amused and half-peeved by questions about fights in practice. [read more]

Dirk Koetter is taking no chances with the health of his Buccaneers. [read more]

Right personality at the right time

Remember when new Bucs defensive end Robert Ayers drew the adjective of “nasty” from his defensive coordinator?

Remember when Demar Dotson was considering belting Ayers? [read more]

Yes, Charles Sims hurt himself and had his ankle/lower right leg wrapped up at practice today at Tropicana Field.

No, Dirk Koetter said he’s not concerned. Ankles, thought, have a way of swelling and lingering. Fingers are crossed across the Tampa Bay area.

Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith doesn’t believe in mind games. [read more]

Joe talks to Mike Smith about a great challenge

Barring injuries and ineptitude, the Bucs have very healthy challenges (problems?) along their defensive line.

Joe talked to defensive coordinator Mike Smith about them Saturday. [read more]

[UPDATE: 11:10 a.m.:] The Bucs left One Buc palace and headed to Tropicana Field for practice today in search of drier safer conditions.

But fake grass over cement isn’t always so friendly. [read more]

Jameis says he was unprepared

Man, Joe has learned so much about the demise of the Lovie Smith regime in the past couple of weeks.

Lavonte David and America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, really helped Joe get a deeper understanding. [read more]

America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, likes to say he lives by the motto “real recognize real.” [read more]

Ali Marpet’s development also a factor in hiring Dirk Koetter.

The common belief in NFL circles is that Bucs coach Dirk Koetter was hired because of the way he developed America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston. [read more]

Backup nickel?

If the season started right now — no, Joe’s not going by a depth chart released the first week of August — Joe would surmise that Alterraun Verner and Brent Grimes are your starting corners. [read more]

Talking defensive starters.

Yes, Bucs fans got all giddy over the weekend with the release of the first depth chart for the 2016 season. [read more]