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Josh Freeman is sacked on the Bucs’ first series on offense Thursday against the Crows to open the 2013 preseason.

Like it or not, good or bad, Bucs franchise quarterback Josh Freeman is the story of offseason, preseason and he will be during the regular season.

Many of Freeman’s harshest critics, led by the notorious Mike Glennon Mob, rail about Freeman’s inconsistencies. Many of Freeman’s biggest supporters point to his measurables and his fantasy football numbers last year.

Well, tonight in his only two series against the Baltimore Crows, Freeman gave both groups ammunition.

In Freeman’s first series, an awful throw from shotgun to Kevin Ogletree fell short. On the next play, Freeman was sacked by Chris Canty.

In his second and final series of the evening, Freeman was extremely sharp. Spreading the ball to four different receivers on four straight attempts, his prettiest throw was a deep pass down the left sideline to Vincent Jackson. Freeman put the ball exactly where Jackson had a chance to make a play and Crows cornerback Jimmy Smith, who had good coverage on the play, had no prayer of getting to the ball.

Even though the zebras determined Jackson had bobbled the ball and didn’t have control, it was a beautiful pass from Freeman.

So what did Bucs fans learn of Freeman in his first preseason game of 2013? That he’s still Josh Freeman, a Six Flags-type of quarterback.

Asked this week on WDAE-AM 620 to name a guy shining in training camp, Greg Schiano named wide receiver Chris Owusu.

Owusu, who rarely played last season, had been a clear standout to all who watched practice, including Joe.

But things change fast in the NFL.

Tonight against the Ravens, Owusu fumbled a punt deep in Bucs territory. The Ravens recovered. Greg Schiano gave Owusu a pep talk and then later Owusu lined up as a kick returner. He proceeded to juggle that kickoff.

Later, Owusu dropped an easy first-down pass from Mike Glennon. There was no defender in the mix.

Ask Schiano what his No. 1 priority is, and the head coach will say “ball security.”

Owusu has now thrown a whole lot of doubt into the organization’s decision-makers. It’s not like he’s got a big resume to fall back on. He’s got one career catch.

Owusu also failed to catch a ball that hit him in the chest, though pass interference was called on the play. And he later couldn’t shake coverage from Ravens third-string cornerback Asa Jackson. Owusu finished the night with two catches for 48 yards, including a 41-yard bomb from Glennon at the final whistle of the first half.

And if things weren’t bad enough for Owusu, he left the game with an ankle injury.

Preseason games are about individuals, not team play.

That written, the Bucs were sloppy as a unit tonight in the opener against the Ravens. Special teams were very ugly. The first-team offense had its out-of-sync moments, and there was no pass rush to speak of from the defensive line.

In the backfield, Brian Leonard looked very stout and versatile at No. 2 running back. Peyton Hillis looked like a wrecking ball before he left with a knee injury, albeit in the second half against future bouncers, grave diggers and grad students. Mike James’ pass blocking was off, but the kid runs strong and falls forward.

Given the drops by Chris Owusu and Tiquan Underwood, Joe thinks it’s fair to say that Kevin Ogletree cemented his current role as No. 3 receiver. He finished with five catches for 65 yards.

There were no franchise QB stats on the display for the hometown faithful who braved the rain. Josh Freeman was 4-for-7 for 34 yards. His two drives netted a field goal. Mike Glennon was up and down, finishing 11-for-23 for 169 yards and one interception.

Stick with Joe through the night and into the wee hours for so much more on this game.

The final play of the first quarter was the first of quarterback Mike Glennon’s career. Glennon scrambled under pressure and fired a strike to Tom Crabtree, who scampered 61 yards.

It was all smiles on the Bucs sidelines among the Bucs’ quarterbacks. Glennon and Josh Freeman fist-bumped.

Glennon came back after the second-quarter whistle and hit Chris Owusu on an intermediate route.

But it got tougher quickly, rookie running back Mike James got blown up in pass blocking and Glennon’s arm was hit. The refs ruled it a fumble but it was overturned — incomplete pass. Soon after, Glennon very slightly underthrew Owusu at the seven yard line.

Field goal, Buccaneers, a 77-yard scoring drive in eight plays.

The rookie looked calm and cool. He looked like an NFL quarterback. Joe will give him that.

OK, so there’s actually an inactive list for the Bucs in tonight’s game and Michael Smith’s name is no where to be found on said list. Ah, the preseason.

No Darrelle Revis, no Davin Joseph, no Carl Nicks, among others.

For Bucs fans who may be (ahem) watching the game through illegal means or listening to the game on WDAE-AM 620, feel free to discuss the game here.

As always you are welcome to e-mail links of illegally streamed video of the game amongst yourselves. But you may not post the links or Joe will have to bounce you for good.

Enjoy the game.

He was hurt, horrible and blessed with three years of NFL paychecks. But Myron Lewis will no longer torture Bucs fans.

Nine Lives Myron was waived this afternoon. Finally! Joe was starting to wonder what sort of lurid photos of Bucs hierarchy Lewis had in his possession.

Lewis managed to survive three seasons. Amazing, considering he did nothing but play well in the SEC, which made him a Bucs’ third-round pick in the 2010 draft, the deepest draft of the modern era.

Gerald McCoy is a Pro Bowler and a franchise cornerstone from Lewis’ draft class, but now Lewis joins second-round picks Brian Price and Arrelious Benn, and sixth-rounder Brent Bowden, as former Bucs from that draft. Mike Williams (fourth round), Cody Grimm, Dekoda Watson and Erik Lorig (seventh-rounders) also remain.

Preseason Week 1

Crows at Bucs

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

TV: Blacked out locally. Game will be broadcast via tape-delay on WFLA-TV Channel 8 at 7:30 p.m. Friday, and Saturday at 10 a.m. on NFL Network.

Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM 103.5, and WDAE-AM 620); SiriusXM Channel 136.

Weather: Per AccuWeather.com, not too bad at all. After expected afternoon thunderstorms, game-time temperatures should be pleasant, about 84 under partly cloudy skies. The temperature will drop every so gradually to 82 by game’s end with thunderstorms expected near the end of the game.

Odds: Per FootballLocks.com, Bucs -3.

Outlook: Hope you enjoy hungry players battling to make a roster spot. Greg Schiano all but stated that starters expected to start Week 1 at the Jets will play sparingly, if at all. Don’t expect to see Darrelle Revis or Carl Nicks and maybe not Davin Joseph.

Expect to see a lot of Mike Glennon, Chris Owusu, Johnthan Banks, Mike James and Rashaan Melvin. The Bucs don’t want to risk an injury to a starter, understandably. But players they believe are fighting for a starting job or have a prayer of making the roster are expected to log quite a bit of time.

Among the players Joe’s keeping an eye out for are Steven Means, Gabe Carimi, William Gholston, Derek Hagan and Jonthan Casillas and whoever the Bucs trot out at punt and kick returner.  That’s the fun part of this game, not so much the starters.

Meteorologist Bobby Deskins, of Joe’s good friends at WTSP-TV, Channel 10, has an exclusive, updated weather forecast for tailgaters and fans planning to attend tonight’s Crows-Ravens game in this WTSP-TV video.

The great Xs-and-Os video linked here from NFL Network shows Gerald McCoy having a detailed conversation with former longtime Giants center Shaun O’Hara.

McCoy touches on recurring themes: he didn’t have any veteran to guide him during his rookie season, he’s a hand-on leader, and Greg Schiano’s training camp 2013 is a lot easier than last year’s edition.

McCoy also gets down on the field to show O’Hara how he coaches the “young noseguards.”

Joe actually was present when this video was shot at One Buc Palace, and what was most interesting is how after the camera was turned off, O’Hara and McCoy got into a deep technique conversation and moved back onto the field. O’Hara and McCoy got down in their stances again and worked on moves. Keep in mind this was all after McCoy went through a full practice, signed autographs, and did the video shoot, in the broiling sun.

Then, when McCoy was finished with O’Hara, a teenage fan was harassing him about signing a jersey. The kid reminded McCoy that he had promised the autograph yesterday. McCoy responded by saying, “I came back out there and was looking all over for you.” McCoy was being honest.

The man is one dedicated Buccaneer Man.

Veteran Ch. 10 News sportscaster Dave Wirth is back with his JoeBucsFan game previews, this time with a look at tonight’s Ravens-Bucs preseason opener.

Among other topics, Wirth talks about how Greg Schiano’s preseason “wound” from 2012 may not be healed. Enjoy below.

Another rollercoaster season from Josh Freeman will be good enough to get him a fat contract somewhere, says senior CBS writer Jason La Canfora.

Cool cat and a friend of Joe’s, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, appeared on the “Ron and Ian” show yesterday on WDAE-AM 620 to talk NFL and the Bucs. After spending time talking about the mess that is the Philadelphia Beagles, La Canfora turned to the Bucs.

La Canfora loves how Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik upgraded the in the past two years and he believes the Bucs and Dominik would be foolish to let Bucs franchise quarterback Josh Freeman walk after the season, even if he goes all Six Flags again.

“The quarterback situation will be touchy,” LaCanfora said. “It’s clear that Schiano is not ready to commit to Freeman as his guy long-term. I can tell you this, though, if Josh Freeman has another Josh Freeman year where he’s okay for four weeks, he’s a world-beater for six weeks, he’s brutal for you know five weeks, there will be somebody out there that will pay him good money to be their quarterback.”

To hear the entire interview with La Canfora, click the arrow below. Audio courtesy of Joe’s good friends at WDAE-AM 620.

Joe has a hunch that outside linebacker Lavonte David is going to blow up this year. Last year, as a rookie, he not only called defensive plays for the Bucs, but led the NFL’s top run defense in tackles. Again, as a rookie.

Now with a year of experience, David should be as fearsome as ever.

“Oh, it’s a lot different,” David told reporters Tuesday after practice. “I have one year under my belt for this defense and I’m learning more about it. I’m learning not only my position, but other guys’ positions around me, so that’s helping me a lot, too. I took that approach coming into this year so I’m sticking with it.

“I mean I feel like I’m still a young guy learning, but if somebody needs guidance, if somebody needs help, I’m there for them. That’s what a teammate [does].”

David, a perfectionist, was troubled by goof ups he believes he had last season, and he sweated all offseason trying to make sure he doesn’t repeat the same mistakes.

“Yeah, just not getting calls to everybody and not being all locked in, you know, worrying about what everybody else is doing instead of doing my job and I end up messing something up,” David said. “So that’s one thing I wanted to focus on coming into this offseason, getting the calls out quicker [and] making sure everybody [is] understanding them and not just knowing their job, but knowing my job as well.”

David could be the next Derrick Brooks or perhaps better, as much as that sounds like heresy. David is a special, special player and man, what a steal by Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik in the second round.

To hear more of David, click the arrow below. Audio courtesy of WDAE-AM 620.

As is the new Wednesday tradition at 5 p.m., Joe sits down for the “JoeBucsFan Hour” with the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, Steve Duemig, live on WDAE-AM 620.

Joe dove into all things Bucs, as well as JoeBucsFan.com history on Joe’s fifth birthday. Enjoy.

Joe often hears the comparisons of Bucs franchise quarterback Josh Freeman and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Crows.

Flacco’s former teammate Qadry Ismail, a color analyst for the Crows, appeared on the “Ron and Ian” show to discuss the quarterbacks’ similarities and differences this morning on WDAE-AM 620.

“Obviously, Josh Freeman is a tremendous talent,” Ismail said. “But the consistency he has to display this year is going to be paramount, if he desires to have that Joe Flacco like year… if that’s going to be a good thing for him as far his motivation, great.”

Joe just doesn’t see the analogies of Freeman and Flacco at all. In fact, Joe thinks they are polar opposites. Flacco may be the most clutch quarterback in the NFL. He has a playoff record of 9-4, including a Super Bowl ring, and he’s led the Crows to the playoffs every year he’s been in the NFL. That’s damned good. Freeman has yet to lead the Bucs to the postseason.

To hear Ismail’s full interview, click the arrow below. Audio courtesy of Joe’s good friends at WDAE-AM 620.

Chad Ochocinco and Geno Hayes never made good on public pledges to reimburse Mason Foster for the fine he got for this crushing (and ridiculously illegal) hit on Chad Ochocinco

Two years ago, then-rookie Mason Foster had only earned a few nickels in the NFL when he was smacked with a $20,000 fine by Roger Goodell after an August hit on Chad Ochocinco during his preseason debut in Tampa.

The fallout from the hit didn’t mess up his head, Foster told Joe yesterday. However, it was a wake-up call, something new Bucs rookies can learn a lesson from before tomorrow’s preseason opener.

“I didn’t realize how big it was until later on. And then you realize when you’re fined a bunch of money,” Foster said. “But it really didn’t affect me at the time. You learn things. Welcome to the NFL. You gotta play smarter. All the way around you can learn from stuff like that. I thought, ‘Oh, it’s my second game. I’m a rookie. They’re not really going to fine me that much money. I haven’t even gotten that kind of money yet.’ They don’t care. You learn that quick.

“I still play football the only way I know how to play, that’s fast and hard. At the same time you don’t want to get anyone hurt, but you can’t change the way you play. It’s a fine line.”

At he time, Ochocinco went public saying he would reimburse Foster personally because he disagreed with the fine. Geno Hayes also told Joe that he and other Bucs would help Foster pay the fine as a show of support. But that financial assistance never made its way to Foster.

“No. Nobody helped me out with that,” Foster told Joe yesterday.

Joe replied to Foster, “that wasn’t cool.” And Foster replied, “Exactly.”

A tackling machine in college and the leading NFL rookie tackler in 2011, Foster said New Schiano Order tackling teachings have helped him improve and potentially avoid fines.

“I’ve definitely learned a lot about tackling since Coach Schiano came in here, pressing the hip, you know, taking better angles and what tackles to use in different in situations, ” Foster said. “So it’s made me a better tackler. And we work on it every day.”

Pat Welter of TBO.com and Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune discuss how Thursday’s preseason opener against the Baltimore Crows is really important for quarterback Mike Glennon in this TBO.com video.

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

Today, Joe turns five — five full years obsessing 24/7 about all things Bucs on these here 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 about 20,000 actual visits, a rather typical day. Joe’s traffic continues to rise, up about 30 percent from last August, 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 obsessions with the Bucs, and babes 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.

In a high-cholesterol moment that surely sent the Bucs’ team nutritionist into convulsions, Dashon Goldson used his fat wallet to further establish himself as a leader of the Buccaneers. Goldson surprised teammates with a pizza party at One Buc Palace last week.

“One day [Goldson] asked me what type of pizza I liked,” rookie Akeem Spence said yesterday. “I told him. Then I think after our meetings, the next thing I knew, hell, like there were 40 or 50 boxes in the lounge. I was like, ‘Man, that’s crazy. I wish I could do that, but I can’t.’

“Dashon, man, he’s a good guy; he likes to do things for people. Coach kind of laid back on us in practice that day, and [Goldson] thought it was a good idea. Some team camaraderie stuff.”

Was the pizza any good, Akeem? Domino’s?

“No. It was Pizza Hut. It was fine.”

Ahmad Black said that while the pizza was “just a small bone” Goldson threw, “we have to make that up to him both on and off the field.”

Greg Schiano has praised Goldson and Darrelle Revis for their focus on leadership, which Joe has seen extend to helping young player in the secondary after practice.

Goldson, obviously, is taking things a step further to build fast bonds.

Veteran wideout Derek Hagan’s got a career in broadcasting ahead of him if he wants it. Joe had his first chance to chat with Hagan yesterday.

Battling for a gig in Bucs training camp, Hagan is eager to prove his value tomorrow night in the preseason opener. Hagan acknowledged he’s here because Mike Sullivan wanted him.

“Sully, he was my receivers coach when I played for the Giants for a few years and, you know, we had a good relationship and I know the offense,” Hagan said. “Once Steve Smith retired [in Bucs spring camp] it gave me an opportunity to come in and fight for a job.

“It’s pretty much the same offense [we ran in New York].”

Yes, Hagan appears to be on the outside looking in among the wide receivers corps, but his known special teams prowess shouldn’t be overlooked.

“I’m able to come in and move the chains on third down, or if they need me on punt, kickoff, kickoff return, anything. I’m just there to do it.  I just look at myself as being complete receiver because most receivers don’t want to play on special teams, and I’m actually one of the few who wants to do it,” Hagan said.

Free-agent pickup Kevin Ogletree has gotten the majority of the reps at No. 3 receiver in training camp. Chris Owusu is unproven but very impressive in practice, and Tiquan Underwood has been battling hamstring issues. Hagan, with 129 career catches and a history with Sullivan, does have a chance, and there’s always a shot the Bucs keep six receivers.

Remember, rockstar general manager Mark Dominik kept seven receivers to open the 2010 season — Mike Williams, Arrelious Benn, Sammie Stroughter, Preston Parker, Micheal Spurlock, Maurice Stovall and Reggie Brown.

A major concern for the 2013 Bucs is the tender toe of Bucs stud left guard Carl Nicks. The roadgrader had a shortened 2012 due to an ugly, gross-looking turf toe injury that required surgery.

After being spotted with a “heavily bandaged” toe when he reported for training camp, Nicks has had limited practice time, though he logged quite a few plays Monday.

Initially, the Bucs waved off concern saying the bandage was “precautionary.” Schiano had a more cautionary tone Monday, saying this could be a season-long issue, noting Nicks was in “discomfort” on the field.

“Well, guys, when you have certain surgeries, sometimes it never goes back,” Schiano said. “Just like us, right? I mean something’s fixed, it’s fixed, but it may never feel as good as new. They tell you it’s going to, but in this case I think Carl’s going to always play with some discomfort but that’s life being in the NFL.”

Asked to clarify his comments Tuesday after Nicks did not practice as much during 11-on-11 drills, Schiano insisted Nicks didn’t take a step back.

“No, not a setback,” Schiano said. “He went really pretty hard yesterday. I think we all would have been shocked if he wasn’t sore. That’s the first time he’s done that since November, October, whatever it was. You anticipate when you go that much that it’s going to be sore the next day, but the good thing is he gets to condition all during that rehabbing condition. That’s one of those things we need to do. We need to get in better cardiovascular shape when you’re coming off something like that. Now, there’s no substitute for playing football, don’t get me wrong, but I think a good mix for him is going to be perfect.”

Now Joe has no clue if Nicks will have another toe-shortened season again, or if his play will be hampered by this nasty toe. But this is an issue that bears monitoring. Nicks is a key element of what could become the best offensive line in the NFL.

All of Schiano’s remarks yesterday can be heard by clicking the button below, audio courtesy of Joe’s good friends at WDAE-AM 620.

What happens when you put Tampa Bay sports radio icon Steve Duemig and Joe in the same studio to talk all things Bucs for an hour?

Find out at 5 p.m. on WDAE-AM 620. The new, Wednesday “JoeBucsFan Hour” rolls on this evening. You don’t want to miss this.