The Bucs and Jameis will be judged on two standards

Your calendar already is circled for Sept. 13 at 4:25 p.m.

That’s opening day of the Jameis Winston era at the steamy Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway — maybe. [read more]

Donovan Smith

Good morning! The sun is shining brightly across Tampa Bay. No surprise. The Bucs have a real franchise quarterback prospect in town.

But dark clouds will roll in quickly if the Bucs don’t fix their offensive line — tonight. [read more]

Bucs GM Jason Licht fought off going all Dick Vermeil last night.

Jason Licht was one happy camper last night. It’s not often you scout a college football player jumps out at you and you think, “Man, would I ever love to draft that guy.”

Then more than a year later, you do.

That was what the general manager Jason Licht did last night drafting Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston to lead the Bucs out of too many years of despair. [read more]

Hear from Team Glazer

It is the phone call for which every college football player lays awake at night.

It is either the general manager of an NFL team or a head coach calling during the draft to let him know his dream has been accomplished. [read more]

At Joe’s buzzing draft party at Pete & Shorty’s last night, one great Bucs fan arrived there after being at the Raymond James Stadium bash.

And he shared a very interesting nugget. [read more]

New Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston took moments out of his busy, busy night to talk to the Tampa Bay pen and mic club about this historic day for the Buccaneers franchise. [read more]

Newly drafted Bucs QB Jameis Winston could not contain his glee when discussing throwing to Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson.

Joe doesn’t begin to suggest he knows Jameis Winston. Joe has met the guy twice, but not in a private setting.

Hell, Joe doesn’t even know if Winston is aware JoeBucsFan.com exists. [read more]

Well Bucs fans, tonight could be historic. The Bucs may finally get their franchise quarterback.

Hold up! Tonight is not just about the first pick. Tampa Bay very well could trade back up into the first round.

Stay tuned. Have fun. Damn, it seemed like this night would never come. Bang it here with all of your comments and concerns as the first round unfolds.

Bucs general manager Jason Licht and coach Lovie Smith watch NFL Network as Bucs history is being made with the selection of quarterback Jameis Winston tonight, from the War Room at One Buc Palace. Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Shortly after making Bucs history Thursday night, when he pulled the lever on Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston as the franchise signal-caller, general manager Jason Licht met with the local fourth estate and strongly hinted that Winston was his target for months. [read more]

His words were not heeded.

No person pushed Bucs coach Lovie Smith to draft Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota more than Father Dungy.

With his track record of quarterbacks, Joe has no idea how Dungy all of a sudden became a modern day Bill Walsh when it came to the game’s most important position. [read more]

Euphoria is sweeping the streets, from downtown Dunedin, to New Port Richey, and even in the blueberry fields of Plant City. Jameis Winston is a Buccaneer!

Now it’s time to keep him out of a body bag. [read more]

A Bucs icon who knows Jameis Winston and family well put a bold Winston prediction out there in November, long before Tampa Bay locked up the No. 1 overall pick.

That guy hasn’t wavered one bit. [read more]

Check your damn pulse if you’re not jacked up by the thought of Jameis Winston throwing balls to 1000-yard receiver Mike Evans.

Both are 21 years old! [read more]

Joe’s been saying this for months, and nothing has changed: Team Glazer is the entity that would make the Buccaneers’ No. 1 overall pick tonight, and it chose Jameis Winston. [read more]

Jameis Winston will wear No. 3 for the Bucs.

The Bucs just announced Jameis Winston will wear No. 3. The Bucs new franchise quarterback, America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston.

Godsend! [read more]

Finally!

Joe is wiping a tear of joy from his cheek.

Finally. Rejoice Bucs fans, finally the Bucs have a franchise quarterback.

Tonight, Team Glazer, Jason Licht and Lovie Smith did the right thing, the smart thing, the only thing. They selected the best quarterback in the draft, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston. [read more]

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo

Behold, Joe’s notebook is now empty from interviews with national NFL media folks in recent weeks. This time, it’s one of Joe’s favorites, the one and only Chris “Mad Dog” Russo of SiriusXM fame. Russo, never afraid to share an opinion, is not riding on the Lovie Smith bandwagon but thinks the Bucs coach has a safe job, despite what may happen this season, despite what happened last year. [read more]

Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said today he does not expect the Bucs to select QB Marcus Mariota.

It seems college coaches know more than their NFL counterparts these days.

Last night, Florida State assistant Tim Brewster Twittered he was coming to Tampa tonight to celebrate Jameis Winston’s selection by the Bucs. [read more]

Bud Light girls, amazing giveaways, former Bucs DE Steve White, killer food, great indoor & outdoor setup. It’s Joe’s big draft party!

Celebrate Tampa Bay’s date with destiny!

Father Dungy might be soon-to-be NFL quarterback Marcus Mariota’s biggest fan.

Heck, Joe talked 1-on-1 with Dungy about this topic during Super Bowl week. [read more]