Joe hates to get all conspiratorial, but Joe’s a bit fascinated by the predicament of Vincent Jackson.

At 31 years old, Jackson has a non-guaranteed base salary of about $10 million dollars for next season. But now he’s expected to groom, mold and mentor 20-year-old rookie Mike Evans, who could soon replace him. [read more]

In addition to ongoing charity work Joe referenced yesterday, Gerald McCoy spends his offseason improving what he calls his greatest asset.

Offensive linemen know it well. [read more]

Martin says he learned two years ago that injuries are about “when,” not “if.”

Now’s the time of year when NFL rookies gather to learn all about saying no to weed, using a limo while drunk and craving Taco Bell, and how to avoid flushing away all their riches and ending up as a used boat salesman at 30 years old.

The NFL calls it the “Rookie Symposium.” It’s the event where Aqib Talib got into a fist fight in 2008. [read more]

If Bucs rookie Mike Evans can have an impact, it would help the Bucs get out of the NFC South basement, which has been their home alarming number of times in recent years.

Oh, Joe longs for the days of the old Bucs, when a playoff appearance was all but assured year in and year out. Getting to the playoffs was not a goal, but getting to the Super Bowl very much was.

Lately, just making the playoffs feels like a miracle while landing in the NFC South cellar feels routine. It’s been a brutal 12-year run. [read more]

The nerds over at Pro Football Focus believe Bucs CB Leonard Johnson will win the battle for nickel back.

It is the NFL siesta season. Therefore, the nerds over at Pro Football Focus are pumping out all sorts of thought-provoking content to get NFL fans over the hump until training camp opens in 32 days.

The latest is Pro Football Focus’ Buccaneers depth chart with interesting nuggets for pondering put together by Gordon McGuinness. [read more]

Bucs manbeast defensive tackle Gerald McCoy doesn’t want to talk about his looming new contract, even if Jason Licht is.

McCoy is all about team, though that’s just one aspect of his life. [read more]

Because of limited practice time this spring, it might be a stretch to expect Bucs TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins to start opening week.

When the Bucs drafted Austin Seferian-Jenkins in the second round last month, it was a bit of a surprise in that the tight end position for the Bucs was already stocked. Tampa Bay already had gone out and signed Brandon Myers and still had talented Tim Wright on the roster.

So suddenly, the Bucs went from being OK at the position to deep. For ESPN blogger Pat Yasinskas, the battle to start should be a good one.  [read more]

Joe enjoys keeping track of select former Buccaneers, especially standout Tampa Bay players.

After 108 consecutive starts for the Bucs, and very rarely sitting out a practice, Donald Penn is one of those guys. [read more]

For those who missed it over the weekend, Joe brought word that Sean Payton served up genuine praise of the 2013 Bucs offense while answering a question about new Saints fullback Erik Lorig fitting in with the New Orleans offense. [read more]

History shows Lovie fares well when his teams don’t throw the ball

Joe isn’t much of a numbers guy outside of the commonly used stats. Joe is suspicious of the stat-heavy crowd because even Joe learned in high school that one can twist numbers any way in order to push an agenda. [read more]

Some are surprised at how Lovie Smith and Jason Licht have gutted the 2013 Bucs roster. Joe isn’t.

Joe is a history guy and, in particular, loves football history.

 A favorite story Joe heard from Bobby Bowden was about how the Florida State legend attended Vince Lombardi and Paul Brown training camps to try to learn from the masters and to experience what those coaches were like behind the scenes. [read more]

A bunch of important Tampa Bay sports types (not including Joe) had their annual gathering last week to apparently high five each other, dine well and pound scotch on the rocks, and give each other awards while dressed in fancy suits and sneakers.

This year, the “Sneaker Soiree,” as it’s known, also featured a roundtable chat with new Bucs general manager Jason Licht, plus Lightning head coach Jon Cooper and Rays skipper Joe Maddon. [read more]

Joe knows Bucs fans were outraged last year when Lavonte David was snubbed for a Pro Bowl by his peers (had the votes only come from coaches and fans, David would have been eating pineapple).

Some Bucs fans also are irked that David is not higher on the NFL Network’s Top 100 Players list. [read more]

Recent comments by Saints head coach Sean Payton run counter to Lovie Smith and Jason Licht’s approach to the rebuilding the Buccaneers’ offense.

Payton delivered an innocent yet stunning take that not only will make the Mike Glennon Mob rejoice but will further arouse those Bucs fans who wonder why and how Mike James and Bobby Rainey outperformed Doug Martin last year. [read more]

Don’t mess around. Experience excellence at Brandon Auto Mall. Joe can personally attest that the Ed Morse value and experience is second to none.

With the possible exception of quarterback, no position on the Buccaneers is more suspect than the offensive line. [read more]

Bucs CB Alterraun Verner says the Bucs defense under Lovie Smith can be summed up in one word.

Of course, many Bucs fans are clamoring to know what the offense will look like. The Bucs have kept the shroud covering the offense tightly zipped. But, what about the defense?

Bucs cornerback Alterraun Verner, by way of the “Custodian of Canton,” eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune, explained the defense is all about turnovers. [read more]

Joe’s done some digging

A fixture for nine seasons on Lovie Smith’s Bears teams, versatile defensive lineman Israel Idonije is now on the free market, released by Chicago this week.

So will Lovie talk to his 33-year-old friend and possibly invite him to Bucs training camp? Joe’s done some digging. [read more]

Excuses and explanations don’t fly

Lovie Smith takes pride in saying his coaches are elite teachers before anything else. Screamers, disciplinarians and intimidators don’t impress the head coach.

But that’s not to say there isn’t an old school, whip-cracking mindset around One Buc Palace. [read more]

Yes, when the highlight of your season is changed uniforms, you had a bad season.

There was this thing in Tampa the other night called “Sneaker Soiree” that Joe isn’t quite sure what it is all about. On face value, it seems its only purpose is for folks involved in local sports to backslap each other over a scotch on the rocks.

What Joe does like about the event is that his good friends at WDAE-AM 620 broadcast this black tie/sneakers-required affair, which always includes a live interview with some Bucs big shot. [read more]

After Lovie Smith traded a second round pick to the Buccaneers for the late Gaines Adams in 2009, and that experiment failed on the field, Lovie broke the Bears’ bank to bring future Hall of Famer Julius Peppers to Chicago.

Peppers earned his money, notching 30.5 sacks and making three Pro Bowl in three years under Lovie. [read more]

Father Dungy talks about regime change

You know it’s bad when man of peace Father Dungy is strongly implying One Buc Palace was a miserable work environment last season.

Father Dungy joined Pro Football Talk on NBC Sports Network last night and shared a few words on what’s changed in Tampa. [read more]