A fan surprises Jason Licht

Usually, Joe is a cranky cuss in the morning, especially if he had a couple of cold ones the night before, and certainly before his morning ration of caffeine has kicked in. That’s why Joe’s most emotional rants often happen first thing in the morning.

Today, there’s no room for being petty, at least not to start off this fine Friday. Joe stumbled across the following accidentally and was taken aback. Never heard of such a thing before. [read more]

It seemed like an uneventful day out at One Buc Palace for Day 6 of Bucs training camp 2014. But Vincent Jackson continued an incline in improvement, really setting himself apart. Tommy Streeter continued to consistently catch balls. Robert Herron continued to struggle finding the handle on passes.

For the second day in a row, linebacker Danny Lansanah is blasting Bucs offensive players. The Jeff Tedford offense is beginning to look fun. [read more]

It was Vincent Jackson raving earlier this week about how Josh McCown is an extraordinary athlete, surprising his teammates at 35 years old. (You can read about that here.)

So today Joe figured he’d asked McCown if he still felt like the same guy who cranked out a 4.57-second 40-yard dash and a 38.5-inch vertical leap at the NFL Scouting Combine back in 2002. [read more]

Of course, Joe knew who wide receiver Tommmy Streeter was. He was a massive target with wheels who scared the life out of shorter defensive backs in the ACC because of his size and speed.

The 6-5, 215 receiver is a huge target and potentially a future member of the “Dunkaneers.” During this spring’s OTAs and minicamp, Streeter was a total non-factor. [read more]

Bucs coach Lovie Smith broke his months-long silence on RB Mike James today.

Even a guy walking around with a white cane can see the Bucs have a loaded backfield. Doug Martin, Charles Sims, Bobby Rainey, Jeff Demps.

Oh, yeah. And Mike James. Maybe you remember him?

The same guy who ran for 158 yards against eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle last season? [read more]

A two-way player?

Man, the Bucs have a crowded backfield. First, there is the Muscle Hamster himself, Doug Martin, plus Charles Sims, Bobby Rainey and Mike James. Pretty good stable of backs.

Then there is Jorvorskie Lane, a Texas A&M guy. He’s one of those birds who is nearly on the endangered species list. A fullback. [read more]

Pro Bowl cornerback Alterraun Verner was in a floppy hat and sneakers for the third consecutive practice

Cornerback Mike Jenkins officially joined the wounded Tampa Bay secondary this afternoon. He walked gingerly off the field yesterday with a hint of a limp, and Lovie Smith said he’s got a leg injury.

That meant all kinds of action this afternoon for Danny Gorrer, and questions about what this means for Pro Bowl CB Alterraun Verner adjusting to a defense and a press-coverage style new to him. The Bucs’ first preseason game is in eight days. [read more]

Lovie disagrees with some Bowers criticism

Those hoping disappointing fourth-year defensive end Da’Quan Bowers has a new team in five weeks, might want to chill out.

Lovie Smith went out of his way this afternoon to not only defend Bowers but praise his versatility. [read more]

Training camp marches on at One Buc Palace, as your favorite Tampa Bay team was back in pads today after about a 20-hour break.

Of course, Joe was all over it. Here are the highlights and lowlights, including a little skirmish between two big-name Bucs: [read more]

Top pick Mike Evans enjoying the sun as wide receiver drills begin

Bucs training camp practice (Day 6 in pads) kicked off earlier this afternoon. and Joe is fired up for another day in the swelter, pounding the One Buc Palace grass to bring you all kinds of news, notes and nuggets from your favorite Tampa Bay team.

Make sure you follow Joe on Twitter, @JoeBucsFan, and Instagram for info and for a heads up to all the stories and notes Joe will post here at JoeBucsFan.com through the afternoon evening.

A popular NFL scout and analyst weighs in

Despite all the uplifting, positive items coming out of Bucs training camp, it has done little to douse the anxiety of fans surrounding guard play.

Since Carl Nicks couldn’t play any longer on that ugly toe of his — which was not in any way a shock or surprise to the Bucs — the thought of Oniel Cousins starting at guard has Bucs fans drinking heavily these days. [read more]

Joe confesses he dry heaved a little this morning after hearing longtime BSPN NFL insider John Clayton, “The Professor,” talk about how the NFL is informing teams of the latest “emphasis” of game officials.

Don’t think it’s a quarterback-driven league? Don’t think you need a stud quarterback to thrive and reach the promised land? Well, the NFL seems to disagree. [read more]

Yes, it is only the first week of training camp, Joe gets that. And in March, Bucs coach Lovie Smith hinted no one would see the complete Bucs offense until the regular season, and maybe not until late September or October.

From what Joe has seen, this is going to be a fun offense. It’s difficult for Joe to comprehend a Bucs offense could make people stay in their seats/in their La-Z-Boys rather than going for a beer/going to the bathroom to take care of delayed smelly business. [read more]

Lovie Smith chimes in on his wounded Pro Bowler

The wounded in the Bucs’ cornerbacks crew are piling up.

It’s nothing serious, but it’s still there, for a new defense that needs to jell. Something that won’t be so easy, warns Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp. [read more]

Money and a Pro Bowl in a player’s past can’t buy “nasty.”

That was the message from a Glory Days Buccaneer who likes what’s brewing on Tampa Bay’s offensive line.

Years of underachievement from the Tampa Bay offensive line has made many Bucs fans chronically ill. [read more]

Who has Vincent Jackson impressed during training camp 2014?

There are all sorts of directions one could go to determine, after five days of training camp practices, which Tampa Bay has been most impressive this summer. All kinds of different way to look at it.

Joe has been impressed with wide receiver Tommy Streeter. The tall and quick pass-catcher from “The U” was totally off Joe’s radar, and thus far, he has made plays day after day. Consistently making plays. [read more]

Tim Wright has had a solid training camp. But this is one play he would like to forget. After catching a dumpoff pass, he turned upfield and was blasted by LB Danny Lansanah, one of two big time hits yesterday, like battering rams going at it.

My, how things change in a year. It really is amazing.

Last year the Bucs had limited depth at so many positions. It seemed the only two places the Bucs had any depth at all was running back and defensive line, which, frankly (with the exception of All-Stud Gerald McCoy), was stocked with players playing way below their expectations.

That has changed under the administration of Jason Licht and Lovie Smith. Depth is of no concerns at several positions. [read more]

After four seasons playing linebacker in New England, newcomer Dane Fletcher has experienced excellent coaching, winning and an elite organization.

They liked him up there, too, where Fletcher was a special teams star and even had playcalling duties for Bill Belicheat in certain games. [read more]

It’s easy to forget Page was the NFL’s 13th-ranked punt returner last year, despite being one year removed from ACL surgery.

Lovie Smith nearly always talks like he’s on a honeymoon. His Bucs life is good. All his ingredients are coming together to hopefully make a beautiful, winning cake.

However, there have been rare moments when Lovie expressed dissatisfaction, and one was a May moment that got lost in the shuffle. [read more]

Bucs CB Leonard Johnson hopes his physical nature lands him a starting gig.

Yes, the Bucs have broken out the pads in training camp. Started on Sunday. It was what Bucs fans were waiting for.

Wednesday, the first day back for the Bucs from a day off, it seems the players weren’t interesting in keeping their teammates healthy. The hitting finally showed up.

But Bucs coach Lovie Smith doesn’t want guys getting hammered so much in training camp. [read more]

For Joe, there were two things that jumped out about yesterday’s fifth practice of Bucs training camp 2014, and no, neither was the October -like weather that took over One Buc Palace halfway through evening.

There was hitting and fighting. Leonard Johnson nearly knocked Skye Dawson to Bradenton he clobbered him so hard along the right sideline just before the goal line. I mean Dawson went flying backward and the crack of the pads could have been heard from Jesuit High School. [read more]

It was a cool day (literally) at Bucs training camp, Day 5 today at One Buc Palace. Towards the end of practice as the sun began to set, the humidity dropped and there was a cool breeze. It felt more like October than July.

The practice was cool too, and not because of the temperatures. In fact, it got heated with a couple of fights. But there were also some sick catches made by receivers and there was some hittin’ going on. Guys were laying the wood on ballcarriers. [read more]