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]

Trivia time! Which Bucs running back has more 100-yard rushing days through the past 30 Buccaneers games, little used Mike James, or 2012 first-round pick Doug Martin? [read more]

Here’s a riddle: What is something that three huge Bucs names don’t want to see, and will be given away at Joe’s draft party tonight?

It just wouldn’t be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with comedy and drama entering the NFL Draft.

And this year’s edition is served up by two Bucs icons and a guy too many Bucs fans consider to be the devil. [read more]

NFL Network’s Steve Wyche.

Joe is emptying a notebook of recent Bucs-focused interviews with national NFL media types. Below, NFL insider and NFL Network talking head Steve Wyche discusses with Joe how Lovie Smith will turn the Bucs around this fall. [read more]

Last night, still under a deadline buzz after covering a thrilling Game 7 win by the Tampa Bay Lightning, the “Custodian of Canton,” eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune, decided to do a little trolling over the Jameis Winston deniers. [read more]

Can Lovie clean the house?

Rampant MRSA bacteria sank the Bucs and Greg Schiano. But a new antibiotic-resistant disease infected Lovie Smith and friends.

It’s known in medical journals as “Josh McCown,” says one former Buccaneer. [read more]