When the Chiefs arrived to start the 2014 season this spring, Kansas City boss Andy Reid blessed new Bucs guard Rishaw Johnson as the man who would get first crack at starting right guard.

That’s what happens after you play well as a starter in the 2013 finale, and perform in a playoff game. [read more]

Bucs DL Da’Quan Bowers talks about his job status.

Wednesday, Bucs coach Lovie Smith discussed the status of oft-injured defensive lineman Da’Quan Bowers. Lovie did not mince words: Bowers needs to get out of the cold tub and onto the practice field or he could be unemployed, soon.

Lovie noted when bubble players miss reps, others take advantage. In short, Bowers had better his hurt groin healthy enough to get on the practice field and play through the pain. [read more]

Michael Johnson explains one of his technical adjustments that needs work

Big money free agent Michael Johnson is adjusting to his new role in a new defense.

Yes, it seems odd that an athletic defensive end like Johnson is finding it challenging to start wide at the line of scrimmage and get up the field, but that’s what’s happening. [read more]

“Our rush? On the defensive line? What rush?” — Adrian Clayborn, when asked to “rank” last year’s pass rush. [read more]

Bucs coach Lovie Smith, days after publicly scolding Bucs TE Tim Wright, today lauded the second-year NFLer.

The ups and downs and twists and turns of Bucs preseason, the inaugural season of the Lovie Smith regime, took another hard left turn in the straightaway today. In a slightly surprising move during his post-practice presser, Lovie sang the song of satisfaction when discussing Bucs tight end Tim Wright.

Mind you, this is the same Tim Wright who found himself in Lovie’s doghouse when Lovie called out Wright for suddenly displaying inconsistent hands and not being the most crisp blocker. [read more]

Bucs coach Lovie Smith wants to beat the Bills Saturday, but it is not his priority.

Joe delivered the ugly words yesterday about how the Bucs are on the verge of repeating a franchise watermark set by the notorious sourpuss Ray Perkins, one of three Bucs coaches who personified losing and helped lead the Bucs into a 13-year period of frustration, desperation and despair.

That would be losing the first three preseason games of a year. That feat was made in 1988, when Perkins (mis)guided the Bucs and the team finished 5-11. [read more]

The Bucs traded for Chiefs guard Rishaw Johnson today.

Hold on to your seats ladies and gentlemen. Joe has stunning trade news that will knock your socks off. Ready? OK, here goes.

The Bucs traded a safety for a guard. Yes, a trade in the NFL involving real players with a real beating pulse, per Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. [read more]

Bucs defensive end Adrian Clayborn has been fined by the NFL $5,500 for wearing an untucked jersey during a preseason game this summer. Clayborn Twittered out a vague detail about this yesterday. [read more]

Jonathan Casillas explains

The ramped up crackdown on NFL defenders is a clear attempt to drive more offense and keep the league marketing its quarterbacks via inflated stats, as well as a move to prevent head injury lawsuits.

Flags have been flying left and right this preseason, especially in NFL defensive backfields where hands-on equals a quick yellow flag. [read more]

Lovie Smith, Jason Licht, Bucs scouts and Bucs fans are on high alert for any offensive linemen that can help Tampa Bay. Yes, that holds true for any position, but keeping it real, the Bucs have a serious need up front. [read more]

Before the NFL Draft, countless Tampa Bay fans were afflicted with the Sammy Watkins Fetish, a syndrome that drove otherwise reasonable people into insisting the Bucs trade up from their No. 7 pick and give up a ransom to land Watkins.

The lunacy was stunning when considering the draft was deep in quality receivers. [read more]

Potentially trading for 49ers G Alex Boone isn’t as simple as picking up the phone.

Some Bucs fans, with the ghastly memory of the offensive line playing the part of matadors against Jacksonville all too fresh in their minds, are still rubbing their rabbit’s foot (feet?) hoping upon hope the Bucs grab someone outside One Buc Palace to upgrade the front line.

Of course, when Ian Rapoport of NFL.com recently dropped a report that Tampa Bay is interested in disgruntled 49ers guard Alex Boone, for a handful of hours, these same Bucs fans were giddy thinking the cavalry was coming. [read more]

Bobby Rainey and the Bucs’ O-line controlled Buffalo’s nasty defensive line in December

Yes, the Buffalo Bills have a nasty good defensive line and a strong front-7.

Defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, when he’s not street racing and driving around with drugs, is very much in Gerald McCoy’s league. The third overall pick in the 2011 draft is dominant and is coming off his first Pro Bowl. [read more]

After Saturday’s game in Buffalo, the Bucs will have to shave the roster to 75 by 4 p.m. Tuesday. So Joe can understand how bubble players may be having sleepless nights in the coming days.

Guys who may have flashed in practice might want to show up in the second half Saturday. Unless something unexpected happens, Bucs coach Lovie Smith’s already has a good idea of his top-75. [read more]

A different type of Patton may be marching through NFL kick and punt teams this fall.

When someone mentions the name “Patton,” Joe, being the history geek, immediately thinks of iconic World War II commander George Patton and his famous march through France, which became military lore for speed and efficiency.

Local Gators fans peppering Joe with Bucs questions have a different sort of Patton in mind. That would be receiver/returner Solomon Patton. [read more]

The Bucs are preparing for their big Saturday “dress rehearsal,” as Lovie Smith calls it, when Tampa Bay will take on the Buffalo Bills and blade-in-the-thigh, mattress-in-the-yard Mike Williams in western New York.

New Tampa Bay left tackle Anthony Collins is getting ready, too, but he’s also staying busy with more pressing matters. [read more]

As always, Joe had fun tonight talking all things Bucs with the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620.

All kinds of Bucs topics were on the table, including plenty of talk about currently invisible Michael Johnson, magical Gerald McCoy, the Jeff Tedford offense, among others. [read more]

Raheem Morris used to call Adrian Clayborn “Boydog,” as in half man half canine.

That wasn’t just wacky Raheem talk, the Bucs’ current head coach shared more animal talk for his left defensive end this afternoon. [read more]

Bucs C Evan Dietrich-Smith hopes the current starting five on the offensive line remains intact. Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.

Joe can still hear shrieks from Bucs fans after watching the offensive line get tossed around like tackling dummies in the preseason loss to the Jags. It was an eye-opening scene, in a nightmarish sort of way.

Joe could and did understand the outrage. Not even Roger Staubach would have been able to operate an offense behind what was alleged to have been blocking that night. Poor Bucs quarterback Josh McCown was running for dear life on each play. [read more]

Gerald McCoy doesn’t want to talk about pressures

Bucs fans have been told that big money defensive end Michael Johnson racking up just 3 1/2 sacks last season doesn’t represent his true performance or ability.

Johnson merely had some bad football luck, was asked to do different things, and he still got pressure and was a sound pass rusher with massive talent. [read more]

The Bucs are on the verge of a Ray Perkins watermark.

Joe will be the first to tell anyone that preseason is largely pap. Garbage. Glorified practice — at regular season prices, no less!

Joe watches Bucs preseason games because it is his job. That is the only preseason football Joe will watch. [read more]