Rain and heat make steam.

When the Bucs announced their training camp practices open to the public, the thing that jumped was the times. All practices were to be held in the oven that is the late-afternoon.

The heat, the humidity, the lightning! What was Lovie thinking? Well, per multimedia maven Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com, Bucs coach Lovie Smith was thinking quite a bit. The timing of the practices was anything but an accident. [read more]

It seems Jeff Fisher took a swipe at Greg Schiano

It seems the fallout from the era of former Bucs commander Greg Schiano continues. This time, it is coming from roasting St. Louis.

The Rams are completing their final practices before the team’s summer siesta this week and Rams coach Jeff Fisher was queried about his new guard Davin Joseph, formerly captain of the Bucs. [read more]

A national NFL writer claims he “knows” the Bucs are sniffing around for a veteran pass rusher. Is recently released Jason Babin that guy?

Joe knows priority No. 1 for Bucs coach Lovie Smith this offseason was to somehow find out how the hell to get pressure on quarterbacks.

It was simply insulting for Bucs fans to watch the likes of Adrian Clayborn guard Darren Sproles in pass coverage while Drew Brees — and other QBs — had so much time they could enjoy a cup of coffee and finish reading the Wall Street Journal before getting any heat from the Bucs’ front seven. [read more]

Yes, the Mike Glennon Mob believes their guy could be the opening day starter. Prominent analysts agree.

But it seems every last person working at One Buc Palace not only raves about starting quarterback Josh McCown’s leadership, but puts it on a Hall of Fame plane. [read more]

New offense? New offensive coordinator? New and suspect offensive line?

No problem, says Tampa Tribune Bucs beat writer Roy Cummings. [read more]

When the Rams and Buccaneers meet in Week 2, Derrick Brooks Day at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, it could be a critical clash for an eventual playoff tiebreaker in the NFC.

That’s not Joe’s opinion, but the thoughts of Father Dungy. [read more]

Bucs defensive linemen weren’t allowed to touch — and certainly not hit — anyone during spring practices, but Bucs general manager Jason Licht didn’t hesitate to name the D-line as his standout bunch of the recently concluded OTA and minicamp sessions.

It’s the season of reading between the lines, so Joe finds this quite significant. [read more]

September was a bad month to use the word “rigged” in the Bucs locker room, around the time Greg Schiano was accused of manipulating the Buccaneers’ captaincy vote so Josh Freeman would not win it.

But cornerback Darrelle Revis still used that word. [read more]

Creative genius?

So you think you can put a finger on the mysterious Jeff Tedford offense? Think again.

The Buccaneers general manager admits Tedford even has him doing doubletakes in multiple areas. [read more]

As the “Custodian of Canton,” eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune, said last month on SiriusXM NFL Radio, prior to a handful of games last season with the Bears, Bucs scheduled starting quarterback Josh McCown was the “epitome of a journeyman.” Of course, that may have changed since.

In many NFL circles, referring to a quarterback as a “journeyman” is akin to saying he cannot hack it in the NFL; that he cannot stick with one team. [read more]

The Bucs added another body to their wide receiving corps, and he just so happens to have spent the last four seasons playing for Carolina, the Bucs’ opening day opponent.

Per the Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay has inked David Gettis. [read more]

Finally, former Adderall-popping, suspension-serving, change-of-pace-loving Bucs cornerback Eric Wright has done the football world a favor.

The man who once boasted of his upcoming spa and shopping weekend while his Bucs teammates clung to playoff hopes retired yesterday as a healthy 28-year-old cornerback on the Super Bowl contending 49ers. [read more]

Jeff Demps is a fan favorite, even though the guy hasn’t produced a lick wearing an NFL uniform. For this reason alone, Joe is puzzled by Demps’ popularity.

Oh, sure. Joe knows Demps is a local guy from Winter Haven, so that has something to do with it. And, yes, Joe knows he starred for the Gators. That might have a whole lot more to do with it. [read more]

Bucs QB Josh McCown seemed to play well when facing a heavy pass rush.

Before Joe had played high school football, he learned something about the game that is a tried and true football axiom.

Joe grew up in the Midwest watching Jim Hart, who was, at best, erratic as a young quarterback. Suddenly, when Don Coryell took over the Cardinals, Hart became one of the better QBs in the league. Joe’s old man said the transformation was not difficult to decipher: “Simple. It’s hard to complete a pass when you are flat on your back.” [read more]

Today, arguably the greatest leader of the Super Bowl era, former Steelers head coach Chuck Noll, was laid to rest in Pittsburgh. The man won four Super Bowls. More than Bill Walsh, Bill Belicheat, Don Shula, Bill Parcells, Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry.

While Noll never worked a day for the Buccaneers, his fingerprints are all over Tampa Bay. [read more]

There were a few times Joe nearly had a seizure last season, and this September moment was one of them, when Greg Schiano proclaimed he would need more than two years to load up his roster properly.

That kind of thought process is a foreign language to Bucs general manager Jason Licht. [read more]

See where Lovie Smith checks in among NFL coach rankings.

On paper, Team Glazer seems to have gotten their man after it was determined last November that a change to a winning atmosphere from fear and MRSA and missing team photos, was desired, and eventually Lovie Smith was landed.

After all, how many coaches who have guided teams to the Super Bowl are walking the cold streets of leafy suburban Chicago looking for work? Team Glazer pounced and now Lovie is the new leader of the Bucs. [read more]

One NFL.com draft analyst is not much of a fan of Bucs third round pick RB Charles Sims.

A number of Bucs fans are probably still shaking their heads over the drafting of Charles Sims in the third round last month. Yes, Joe knows Bucs coach Lovie Smith stated right away he was looking for a pass-catching running back.

But not just a few Bucs fans were wondering, “What about Doug Martin?” Joe understands both sides of the coin. Lovie wants diversity and Martin’s fans fear he is being phased out. That’s not exactly true. [read more]

Often punished Bucs safety Dashon “Hawk” Goldson goes deep in this “Vice Sports” video that explores his views on entrepreneurialism, illegal hits, 1960s football, cognac-soaked-cigars, man-cave chatter and more.

Among other things, Hawk feels disrespected by an NFL icon. [read more]

As Jeff Tedford barks play calls into Josh McCown’s headset this fall, will he be covering his mouth with a tablet computer instead of a giant laminated play sheet?

Apparently so. [read more]

“Damnit Josh, you’re like my wife. She’s all over the place. Sometimes I think you want to be Rob Johnson. Now pay attention. And buy a friggin’ alarm clock, will ya?'”

Jimminy Christmas! This is just too delicious.

Apparently in a last-ditch effort to save his nosediving career, former Bucs quarterback, leaky, sleepy Josh Freeman, will work out for a week with Chucky to try to stem his NFL days from completely circling the drain.

Freeman, who totally melted down last offseason, was benched by former Bucs commander Greg Schiano after three starts with the Bucs in 2013. Afterwards, he pitched such a hissy fit, the Bucs had to throw him off the team he became such a menace.

Freeman then went to the Vikings and in one start looked about as miserable as a quarterback could. He finished the season in Minnesota and then latched on to the Giants in the offseason. His days with Tom Coughlin’s marine-like practices lasted only a handful of weeks. [read more]

Cue the Mike Glennon Mob!

Champagne for everyone. Break out the “19 & 9” bumper stickers.

Tampa Tribune Bucs beat writer Roy Cummings, speaking last week on the Press Box show on Bright House Sports Network, emphatically declared that No. 8 could be No. 1 by opening day. [read more]