We know Bucs tickets have been a tough sell in recent years to the legions of Tampa Bay fans in our midst.

But, per the Tampa Bay Business Journal, it seems fans of other teams aren’t eager to watch Bucs football, either. [read more]

Bucs fans are wearing out their F5 buttons hoping for word about a new guard.

Joe knows Bucs fans are refreshing their browsers multiple times a day hoping that Tampa Bay picks up a guard, somehow, somewhere. They moan to themselves, “Oneil Cousins?” when their supervisor is not hovering over their shoulder.

It’s gotten to the point where innkeepers no longer want some fans to down pints in their establishments because they are tired of the non-stop grousing over a lack of guard. There seems to be, however, a similar malaise across the NFL. [read more]

Aaron Rodgers delivered quite a text to the Bucs’ offensive coordinator

Remember when Chucky, who was dubbed a quarterback genius and professed to love every QB who threw a football, had a chance to draft Aaron Rodgers but didn’t? Yeah, one wonders what could have been. (Cadillac Williams wasn’t a shabby pick, though)

However, if the Bucs return to their glory days under Lovie Smith, a big reason could be Rodgers, the Packers future Hall of Famer. For it was Rodgers who played matchmaker for Lovie and hooked him up with his old college coach, Jeff Tedford, explains Jim Corbett of USA Today. [read more]

Imagine detail-obsessed, micromanager Greg Schiano giving his defensive line the freedom to call its own pass rush style on third down. They could call games, straight rushes, whatever.

Ha! That wasn’t about to happen. Schiano was the same guy who was restricting hot meals for players. [read more]

Six years ago Joe fired up this website and never turned back.

Today, Joe turns six — six full years obsessing 24/7 about all things Bucs on these pages.

It all started with a laptop and a dream. About two years before JoeBucsFan.com was born, Joe hatched a plan to cover the Buccaneers in a way that would entertain and interest Joe, something edgy and fresh and unlike the stale traditional media. A defunct site called JoeNetsFan.com was the inspiration for the name and the spirit. But Joe decided to bring a different angle, the whole third-person “Joe” thing.

Joe pounded away for months on these pages writing passionately for almost nobody. Traffic grew while Joe endured endless personal attacks, the result of rattling the cages of Bucs fans, the Bucs organization, and Joe’s media brethren.

But Joe pressed on, confident that fans were buying into Joe’s unique brand of journalism that continues to be like no other.

Thankfully, Bucs fans kept coming. Yesterday, JoeBucsFan.com enjoyed 20,000+ actual visits and pages viewed were about 80,000, a rather typical day. Joe’s traffic continues to rise, and it’s reached the point where Joe now is the No. 1 destination for legions of Bucs fans.

The ride has been wild (Joe could write a book about the bizarre sh*t he’s experienced), and Joe appreciates all his readers. While Joe has wacky daily commenters, the typical reader around here only comes once a week or so, and Joe is thankful to all of you.

In the birthday spirit, Joe is seeking donations/gifts to help fund his obsession with the Bucs, unattainable women and beer. Joe would love to travel to more Bucs games this year. Thanks in advance for those who choose to give Joe a birthday gift. Your cash will help drive Joe to new heights, or new lows, depending on your perspective.

The Bucs play a total of six games a year against the hated Dixie Chicks, the Stinkin’ Panthers, and the bounty-loving Saints. For those who want to snoop on the Bucs’ hated rivals, Joe provides a regular glimpse at what’s happening around the NFC South. [read more]

Lovie Smith politely chided the Tampa Bay pen and mic club early this week for being overly critical of defensive lineman Da’Quan Bowers.

The former Tampa Bay second-round pick, now entering his fourth season, and third coaching staff and second administration, has rarely if ever lived up to his ceiling.

The past two seasons have been rough for Bowers. Not long after then-Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik let sack leader Michael Bennett walk away for no good reason, the starting left defensive job was gifted to Bowers. He rewarded the team by getting into a gun hassle in New York. [read more]

Where does one start to talk about Bucs training camp?

There has been Gerald McCoy being virtually unstoppable on the defensive line. Austin Seferian-Jenkins looking otherworldly. Atlerraun Verner doing his best to sell Bucs floppy hats. The soap opera of Da’Quan Bowers.

It has been an eventful past two weeks and Joe has been to so many practices, the days are running together for him. He has to keep checking what day it is for a semblance of normalcy. [read more]

Mark Barron wants his play to talk

Perhaps no Buccaneer outside of Mike Glennon Josh McCown has more to prove than Mark Barron.

The 2012 No. 7 overall pick has played nowhere near his draft status. [read more]

The candid Xs-and-Os guru of the Buccaneers Radio Network, former Bucs tight end Dave Moore, likes what he sees at training camp.

And much of Moore’s hope and happiness surrounds the man with the Buccaneers on his shoulders. [read more]

Remember Lovie Smith’s chosen three Buccaneers?

They’re the men who represent the only unrestricted free agents re-signed by Tampa Bay this offseason, out of 19 possible Schiano-Dominik free agents.

Lovie watched the film and wanted these guys back, and one has a huge opportunity tomorrow night in Jacksonville. [read more]

Josh McCown says training camp was going a little too Star Wars

 Finally, your beloved Buccaneers will face real competition in just 34 hours. Tampa Bay plays in Jacksonville to open the 2014 preseason.

Bucs players have been getting sick of clobbering each other in practice. Running backs are tired of the nasty wood Mason Foster has been delivering during the limited time he’s been unleashed. But the desire to play a real opponent is more than physical. [read more]

Injured in the 2013 preseason opener after a standout training camp, 24-year-old speedster wide receiver Chris Owusu is ready for another clean start to the season to prove himself.

This year he’ll be trotting onto the field Friday in Jacksonville clinging to an honor bestowed upon him by Lovie Smith. [read more]

Too early to fret about the offensive line, Lovie said.

Bucs fans are unnerved by their offensive line. Joe doesn’t remember a day gone by in recent weeks that a Bucs fan hasn’t left a comment on this here corner of the Interwebs about Tampa Bay making some transaction for a guard.

(And, no, the Bucs are not going to get that piece of human debris Richie Incognito. What on Earth makes some Bucs fans think that Lovie would even remotely consider bringing that roided-up dirtbag into his locker room? Remember, this is a coach that got rid of a starter for having a Serta Perfect Sleeper as a lawn ornament.) [read more]

The Bucs play a total of six games a year against the hated Dixie Chicks, the Stinkin’ Panthers, and the bounty-loving Saints. For those who want to snoop on the Bucs’ hated rivals, Joe provides a regular glimpse at what’s happening around the NFC South. [read more]

Bucs TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins is a monster.

Joe has been Twittering this virtually daily: tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins is a freaking monster. Joe’s not the only person smitten by ASJ. It seems so too is Bucs coach Lovie Smith.

Lovie doesn’t like to talk much about rookies because, well, they are rookies and haven’t proven much on the NFL level. Just look where he has rookies on his depth chart. [read more]

RT Demar Dotson said Friday’s preseason game will offer a good read of the offensive line’s progress

Tampa Bay fans are geeked about the new blood on the Bucs. They are almost clothing-optional-establishment excited over the exploits of Austin Seferian-Jenkins. They are giddy over Lovie.

Want to make Bucs fans fall into a fetal position really quick? Mention the name “Oneil Cousins” and watch a happy grown man suddenly turn despondent. [read more]

Lovie Smith weighs in on the standard for returners

The positions where Lovie Smith says he doesn’t have a “starting rotation” yet are punt returner and kick returner.

Every other position? Well, Lovie at least has one starter — for now. [read more]

Joe’s written countless times how Bucs’ big money left tackle Anthony Collins has never started half a season.

Yes, he had successful seasons Cincinnati, but they were as a fill-in starter. But Collins still commanded serious offseason cash from the Bucs. [read more]

The sweat was pouring off Joe and your beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers at today’s afternoon practice, the last one before Friday night’s preseason opener in Jacksonville.

Of course, Joe’s got your highlights and lowlights: [read more]

Bucs DE Michael Johnson can’t wait to lay the wood to some quarterback that is not his teammate.

Joe has been asked several times about how Michael Johnson is practicing with his new team, the Bucs. The mega-high priced free agent, the projected coup of Lovie Smith’s offseason shopping spree, is at practice every day, but to Bucs fans chagrin, there is not much else to report.

One reason Johnson hasn’t stood out is because the reason he was brought to the Bucs, he cannot do in training camp or practice. That is take quarterbacks to the ground. [read more]