Various reports on the Interwebs are reporting Bucs wide receiver Mike Williams has been shifted off to Buffalo for the dreaded sixth round pick this morning.

The move reunites Williams with his old college coach, Bills head master Doug Marrone. [read more]

Joe hates to play pretend, unless the land of make believe includes Rachel Watson. No, you won’t catch Joe reading fiction or fantasy.

So in that spirit, Joe’s not going to pretend he spent time the past two football seasons watching Titans football and Alterraun Verner. [read more]

Last week at the NFL owners meetings in Orlando, Bucs coach Lovie Smith held court for reporters and talked about middle linebacker Mason Foster blitzing more.

At a recent fan outing with select season ticket holders, Joe caught up with Foster to discuss his new defensive responsibilities under his new coaching staff. Joe will bring you excerpts through the weekend. But here is what Foster had to say about him going after the quarterback. [read more]

Man of change: Bucs tight end (?) Steve Maneri.

One of the great stories on the Bucs roster lies with the guy former Bucs tight end Anthony Becht says is “tough as nails” and will “punch you in the mouth.”

Joe had to dig a little deeper, and Joe’s glad he did. [read more]

New Bucs WR Louis Murphy gave Joe few clues

Bucs coach Lovie Smith recently said he is going to keep a shroud over offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford’s offense until the regular season begins. Joe understands that, but when fans are just about mocked out in early April with the draft still five (too) long weeks away, the grumbling for more information is becoming a drumbeat. [read more]

Here’s something for you to chew on along with your lunch today: Think how far off the NFL cliff former Bucs franchise quarterback sleepy, leaky Rip Van Freeman has fallen. A season removed from throwing for 4,065 yards, Rip Van Freeman cannot find a job. [read more]

One thing Lovie Smith made clear last week was that any New Schiano Order Buccaneer still on the roster is someone his new regime believes has qualities that could help the team.

Entering his third Bucs season, Chris Owusu remains in the mix after turning 24 years old in January. [read more]

“You embarrassed me, son.”

Every year NFL Network goes through a wise and telling exercise. One day at a time, they talk to a beat reporter of each NFL team — in draft order — and get that insider’s pick on who his/her team will draft based on the selections made prior to his/her turn.

It’s a mock draft with credibility and insight. [read more]

Jason McIntyre, founder and editor-in-chief of TheBigLead.com, offers his take on the Bucs’ first-round pick.

Yes, the Bucs return to work Monday and will hit the practice field next week. That should break up the painfully long wait for the draft coming in May. Yes, Joe is anxious, too.

Now don’t buy for a moment the NFL had a scheduling snafu with the Radio City Music Hall, which pushed the draft back into May. That’s a bunch of bunk. The NFL is holding the draft in May because it is TV sweeps month, one of four including November, February and July. [read more]

Joe must admit he has come around to the Bucs’ new uniforms. They’ve got sizzle in person, and they just might be a made-for-TV sensation. [read more]

Mike Florio believes there is clear evidence of what the Bucs think of backup quarterback Mike Glennon

Somewhere in a near-empty bar in the Tampa Bay area, as closing time inches closer, a member of the Mike Glennon Mob sits in the corner and softly mutters to himself. “Yes, I’m pleased with the way the Bucs have reshuffled their roster.”

But there is one roster move that gnaws at this MGM member. It’s that Mike Glennon was benched in favor of journeyman free agent quarterback Josh McCown. [read more]

It was a lively session this evening as Joe sat down with the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620. Joe hit on a wide range of Bucs and NFL topics. Enjoy!

Ross Tucker explains why Donald Penn struggled in 2013.

Bucs fans ragged about the offensive line last season almost as much as the putrid amount of sacks the defensive line racked up. It got so bad, bartenders in the area threw patrons out of their establishments for using what they deemed a profanity, “Ted Larsen.”

So Bucs fans got their wish when Bucs general manager Jason Licht and coach Lovie Smith gutted the offensive line. With the exception of Demar Dotson, no regular starter on the offensive line returns from last season. [read more]

Why is Bucs icon Derrick Brooks talking about an elephant?

Joe assures you it has nothing to do with the obsession of former Bucs captain Davin Joseph. Brooks is talking quarterbacks. [read more]

Lovie and Pat Kirwan discuss

Now Joe knows the vast majority of his readers would in no way be able to take a year’s vacation after being jettisoned from a job. Mortgages, car payments, rent, NFL Sunday Ticket fees, bar tabs, they all keep us working and unable to blow off a year of work, short of winning the lottery or robbing a bank. [read more]

Will Jason Licht heed the words of his former teammate, Kurt Warner?

Regardless of who actually has final say on the Buccaneers’ draft picks, it’s clear general manager Jason Licht will have at least a very loud voice in the process. And given that fact, it’s interesting to note that much of Licht’s 19-year NFL career was spent around four historic giants of the quarterback position.

Is Licht really a guy who’s going to be ok going to battle with unproven Josh McCown and/or Mike Glennon? [read more]

A Sabby clone?

Joe’s research into potential new Bucs safety Major Wright reveals a guy who had a brutal season last year after Lovie Smith departed Chicago.

Former Bears Super Bowl champ center Tom Thayer analyzes all things Bears for the team’s official website, and he was no fan of 2013 safety starters Wright and Chris Conte, who both took other public beatings, too. [read more]

When Doug Martin Twittered he was cleared officially Monday to begin practicing, one week before the Bucs hold their first OTA of the Lovie Smith era, Joe quickly remembered Martin’s 2013 season, a snapshot of the Bucs horror movie that the year turned out to be

First, there was the leaky, sleepy Rip Van Freeman saga, soon after, a MRSA outbreak. Then All-Pro guard Carl Nicks got the MRSA and was out for the year. It just got worse, and quickly, like an out of control snowball rolling downhill. [read more]