Ronde Barber already has written children’s books, and Joe can’t wait until Barber gets around to penning a look at the four Tampa Bay head coaches he served under.

That’s going to be chock full of gems. [read more]

Joe knows it really irritates many Bucs fans that stud linebacker Lavonte David got snubbed for the Pro Bowl last year. Joe doesn’t give a damn about the Pro Bowl at all, but still, it was an embarrassing omission.

It was such a slap in the face, it seems as if national NFL types have sort of used David’s slight as a crusade to not let this happen again. [read more]

Carolina has bigger guard issues than the Bucs

Many Bucs fans struck themselves with hammers the moment running back Charles Sims was drafted in the third round back in May. These fans wondered how the Bucs could do such thing when they had pressing needs at guard and a strong stable of running backs.

The Panthers, however, went guard in the third round and snagged LSU beast Trai Turner and dropped him into their starting lineup. [read more]

The Bucs’ Super Bowl champ weighs in

New Bucs nose tackle Clinton McDonald, the man with the Barry White pipes and a shiny new Super Bowl ring, doesn’t like to compare anything about his time with the champion Seahawks and his new team.

He doesn’t like to go there. But Joe got McDonald to dip his toe into those waters in the happy postgame locker room in Buffalo. [read more]

If the Bucs had a pass rush, then they could persuade Stinking Panthers QB Cam Newton from doing his Superman schtick.

Only a few days ago the Bucs learned the projected starting opposing quarterbacks to start the 2014 season were less than 100 percent. First, Sam Bradford is out for the season, again, with a blown knee. Then there was Cam Newton.

The franchise quarterback of the Stinking Panthers suffered a hairline fracture of a rib. This is one of the most painful injuries a guy can have and, for a quarterback, it’s even worse. Every time he throws, unless Newton is shot up, he will know it. [read more]

Film don’t lie. Go back and watch film of Carolina-Tampa Bay games last year and you’ll see Gerald McCoy getting triple-teamed — when he’s not getting double-teamed.

Joe asked McCoy about whether he expects the same treatment on Sunday, and McCoy had a lot to say. [read more]

Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford isn’t working at the office yet, and the artist might not be available for the home opener on Sunday.

That would be a significant problem explains one former Buccaneer. [read more]

That’s right. Your Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave journeyman Josh McCown the fattest contract he’s ever seen to rifle balls downfield and go toe-to-toe with Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Cam Newton.

Well, that might be a stretch, but a stat pumped out this week BSPN seems to back up the premise. [read more]

One of the many impressive new Buccaneers is rookie tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Yes, Joe is impressed with he can do on a football field, but more so, Joe is overly impressed by ASJ the person.

Joe will never forget when after a practice in training camp, Joe remarked that ASJ sure seemed like he had a good practice, ASJ looked Joe straight in the eye as if Joe spit on him and said, bluntly, “I didn’t come here just to be good.” [read more]

Is Oneil Cousins the winner?

If you came here to learn who will start at right guard for the Bucs on Sunday, you’re out of luck.

The actual starting right guard likely knows his status, but he will live incognito, if you will. [read more]

Joe realizes many Bucs fans hear the name Luke Kuechly and bang their head against the nearest wall because in 2011 the Bucs drafted Mark Barron but could have had Kuechly, who landed in the middle of Carolina’s dominant defense.

The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year is everything he was hyped up to be. [read more]

The votes are in — and nobody is claiming the outcome is rigged.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced their 2014 team captains are JoshMcCown, Vincent Jackson, Gerald McCoy, Lavonte David and Michael Koenen. Each player voted, and Lovie Smith got one vote.

No surprises here.

The Bucs’ new fullback says he’s the team “pit bull.” (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Lovie Smith is one of the prominent coaches who has talked about the dying position of fullback in the NFL. However, the Bucs put a fullback on their roster, one who has worked quite a bit with the first-team offense.

All that fullback “dinosaur” talk made its way to Jorvorskie Lane, so he explained to Joe today. [read more]

Someone must help out stud Gerald McCoy.

Joe doesn’t know what to think of the Bucs pass rush, aside from stud Gerald McCoy. One would think having a guy like GMC double- and triple-teamed would open up someone.

Simple math: an offense can only have so many players on the field. If most of the blockers are focused on GMC, then that should allow other pass rushers single coverage, or simply unblocked, right? [read more]

Updated: 3:31 p.m. – Tampa Bay’s new-to-the-NFL offensive coordinator wasn’t on the practice field today, at least not during the 30-minute window open to media at One Buc Palace. [read more]

Bucs cornerback Alterraun Verner talks about his healing hammy

Pro Bowl cornerback Alterraun Verner said today he’s eager to see how his recovered/recovering hamstring feels after a complete football game, “full live action” on opening day.

That sounded ominous, but Verner balanced that with good news. [read more]

Gerald McCoy walked into the locker room this afternoon as loose as Joe is after a few beers during the first quarter of a football game.

McCoy was balancing a 16 ounce water bottle on his head and joked that he needs good balance to chase down Cam Newton. [read more]

The fun folks at BSPN are at it again with their spread sheets and brilliant analysis in ESPN The Magazine.

Joe actually gets and reads this publication sometimes (for some reason it arrives at Joe’s house free). It’s amazing the data these people pump out. Joe was amazed months ago by a detailed look at why Blake Bortles would be a successful NFL quarterback because of his hometown zip code. [read more]