There is a famous NFL Films clip that shows Deion Sanders screaming “My house!” in his first trip back to the Georgia Dome after he left the Dixie Chicks as a free agent and signed with the 49ers. The 49ers had blitzed the Dixie Chicks 42-3 highlighted by Deion’s 93-yard pick-six that evoked the screams.
That clip buzzed through Joe’s head when he read this piece on Lovie Smith by Yahoo! Sports NFL scribe Anwar Richardson, who documented how Bucs coach Lovie Smith is molding the Bucs into his vision of an NFL squad. [read more]
With an assist to Jeff Tedford’s former “Cal” players Joe chatted with at Super Bowl Media Day, Joe shared the little known fact that Tedford headed to New England to study with Bill Belicheat and Josh McDaniels a couple of years ago.
The Bucs’ offensive coordinator, Joe learned, took away a burning desire to incorporate multiple dangerous tight ends into his offense, like the Patriots were doing with Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski. [read more]
Up close and in person, Bucs defensive end Michael Johnson is an impressive guy. He’s tall, he’s lanky, he comes across as a sharp businessman. He’s intelligent. Everything outwardly screams “Buccaneer Man.”
Of course, this means nothing until he gets on the field. He’s been drafted as the Bucs’ primary pass rusher and with folks at One Bucs Palace daring to whisper “Simeon Rice” in his presence. To date, the Georgia Tech product, now entering his sixth season in the NFL, has only recorded one double-digit sack season. [read more]
Joe can’t think of too many 2014 quarterbacks he’d rather have more than Josh McCown when it comes to a veteran in place that is both ready to start and ready to mentor.
McCown might be the perfect guy to help guide Johnny Football or Teddy Bridgewater, or any other quarterback the Bucs would be lucky to draft with the No. 7 overall pick. [read more]
Updated 4:38 p.m.: The Bucs continued their shopping spree this afternoon by signing former Packers center Evan Dietrich-Smith. The Bucs had wooed Dietrich-Smith at One Buc Palace earlier this week.
The signing of Dietrich-Smith evokes a couple of questions:
One, what is the status of Jeremy Zuttah?
Joe finds Zuttah to be valuable, only because he is flexible. He can play center or guard. He was a right tackle in college. At left guard for the Bucs, Zuttah was just so-so. He exceled at right guard for Davin Joseph in 2008. One could argue there was no drop off at all. Of course, Zuttah can play center, too.
Bucs GM Jason Licht was in a hiring mood while appearing on “Schein on Sports” heard exclusively on SiriusXM Radio.
This afternoon, subscribers to SiriusXM Radio were treated to a lively interview of Bucs general manager Jason Licht conducted by popular sports radio personality Adam Schein, host of “Schein on Sports” via Mad Dog Radio. How fun was the interview? At one point, in individually breaking down the Bucs’ new free agent class, Licht was so impressed with Schein’s homework that he asked Schein when his contract with SiriusXM expires so he could hire him.
Of course, Schein asked pointed, reasoned questions about the new Buccaneers, which Joe will detail over the next couple of days. But Schein also asked Licht about the draft and what positions the Bucs may be targeting. [read more]
Of note in today’s BSPN Radio interview of starting quarterback Josh McCown is him referencing how Vincent Jackson was part of his interview process and helped him decide the Bucs were a fit for him. [read more]
Joe’s maintained numerous times that while Lovie Smith is enjoying a glorious honeymoon period now and has a big contract, the reality is Lovie faces the demand of every NFL head coach in these crazy-fun times of impatient fans and owners: win now.
Bucs icon and Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks took to the WDAE-AM 620 airwaves this morning and talked about the pieces in place for Lovie. [read more]
It’s official. For just this week alone, Joe will bust the 1 million mark for pages viewed on this here website. The final tally will be about 1.3 million. Yes, that’s a new record for a week.
Joe appreciates all his readers, especially those that don’t complain and attack Joe in the comments section, and on Twitter, and in Joe’s email box, and the guy Joe ran into last week who told him he was a radio blowhard.
Joe is taking pause to thank all who have helped Joe be one of the top three most visited NFL-team-specific sites in the country, not including those owned by the NFL. Major sports media executives have asked Joe what’s the secret here and, frankly, Joe has no answer. Joe continues to write about what interests Joe and cover the Bucs with the same passion he attacks freshly poured ice cold draft beers.
When Joe drinks those beers tonight, Joe will be thinking of all of you. Joe is re-energized to continue delivering all things Bucs 24/7.
Former Panthers WR Steve Smith reportedly has the Bucs on his wish list.
Bucs fans are clamoring for a wide receiver. Joe can’t tell you how many Twitter messages he has received the past day or two asking about Emmanuel Sanders.
Yes, Joe knows full well the Bucs have a starting quarterback, no matter what gibberish the Josh McCown Deniers try to peddle. The cold hard fact is McCown turns 35 soon. Realistically, Joe sees McCown as a likely starter for two years, four years tops. Very, very, very few quarterbacks short of George Blanda win the NFL fight with Mother Nature.
Though Bucs general manager Jason Licht squirmed and bristled when anyone referred to or suggested McCown is a “bridge” to a new quarterback, Licht was frank when saying if there is a quarterback in the draft he thinks can help the Bucs or can be “the” guy, then Licht is going to draft him. [read more]
The Bucs’ desperately need a No. 3 receiver, a No. 4 would be nice, too.
Steelers free agent Emmanuel Sanders, a speedy young man who caught 67 balls last season, was being wooed and courted by the Bucs in Tampa but now NFL Network is reporting he’s spending Friday with the Chiefs.
Joe has a bad feeling Sanders won’t leave Kansas City. They’re desperate for receiver help, and they were desperate before Dexter McCluster bolted for Tennessee.
Lovie Smith and Jason Licht must keep searching as the free agent receivers herd is thinning, especially for slot receivers. Joe’s wondering if the Bucs were in attendance in Wyoming when a potential slot guy ran a sub-4.3, 40-yard dash at his Pro Day.
Yes, the Bucs re-signed guard Jamon Meredith, who played great starting on the right side for departed Davin Joseph in 2012, but Meredith wasn’t special when he started the half of 2013 for the human armoire, left guard Carl Nicks.
Versatile Jeremy Zuttah remains on the roster, but it’s worth noting that so far the Bucs haven’t moved to replace Nicks. [read more]
It was kind of cool for Joe to meet the Bucs’ first wave of new players Wednesday. Each one was at ease mingling and chatting and joking around with the Bucs’ pen and mic club. All seemed like really cool guys, especially Michael Johnson.
(Funny aside: Joe was listening to Bucs general manager Jason Licht when Joe turned to web mistress Dory LeBlanc of WDAE-AM 620 asking if she noticed where Johnson may be. Joe had no idea Johnson, all 6-7 of him, was behind Joe and overheard him. “Man!” Johnson busted out laughing, “how can you miss me?” Johnson then spoke with Joe for what seemed like 20 minutes and likely would have spent the entire afternoon with him if not for prior team-related appointments.) [read more]
Joe sat down for his weekly chat with the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620. There was plenty of very spirited debate, especially when it came down to the Bucs’ goals in the NFL Draft. Enjoy!
Some cloaks of secrecy for the 2014 Bucs are being unveiled. In short, the Bucs roster is getting a complete and total makeover.
The offense, however, is shrouded in mystery. Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford has never coached a snap in the NFL, never had a whistle in his mouth for one NFL practice; his only professional experience came in the CFL and that was over 20 years ago. [read more]
Joe can’t think of too many 2014 quarterbacks he’d rather have more than Josh McCown when it comes to a veteran in place that is both ready to start and ready to mentor.
