Bucs bound? Center Alex Mack reacts from the Pro Bowl.

Hmm, Browns Pro Bowl center Alex Mack played for Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford at the University of California. And Mack’s offensive line coach George Warhop, the only one he’s played under in the NFL, is now the guy coaching the same position for the Bucs.

That’s a combination that needed to be explored in the Pro Bowl locker room yesterday. [read more]

Gerald McCoy tells JoeBucsFan.com what’s next for him and what he needs to work on after yesterday’s Pro Bowl fun

Joe was busy drinking warming, soothing beverages in frigid New Jersey, the site of Super Bowl media festivities during yesterday’s Pro Bowl.

Forgive Joe for not watching much Hawaii action. However, Joe did have his Hawaii A-team at the game finishing up its great week of work, and they got to ask Gerald McCoy a few postgame questions. [read more]

Your new Miami Dolphins GM.

Well now. The Miami Dolphins made a big splash today when they hired a Buccaneer Man who was the right-hand man of a guy who got fired. Bucs director of player personnel Dennis Hickey is the new general manager of the Miami Dolphins.

Oddly enough, Hickey took a job that a few others passed on, including new Bucs general manager Jason Licht. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald has all the details. [read more]

It’s the Belicheat way

When Team Glazer tabbed Jason Licht as the new Bucs general manager, it was safe to assume there would be — or at least could be — a revolving door of suits and scouts at One Buc Palace, between the old guard who worked for former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik and possible/probable new hires by Licht.

(If reports are to be believed, Bucs director of player personnel Dennis Hickey is in the mix for the general manager’s gig in Miami.) [read more]

In a way, it’s a shame HBO couldn’t have forced itself on the Bucs for its “Hard Knocks” annual series of hanging out inside an NFL team’s training camp for rarely seen behind-the-scenes information.

With Chucky and Bruce Almighty running things, Nancy Pelosi had a better chance of joining the John Birch Society than those two had of letting NFL Films crews have access to everything. The chance to have Warren Sapp, John Lynch, Keyshawn Johnson, Booger McFarland and Chucky mic’ed up would have made for priceless television. [read more]

“Don’t ever forget, Tampa.”

It’s been 11 years to the day since the Bucs hoisted the Lombardi Trophy with their first and only Super Bowl victory in hand.

What a glorious day it was. Aside from re-watching the entire game, the best way to re-live it is watching America’s Game: 2002 Buccaneers, from the folks at NFL Films. Here’s a summary video from NFL.com.

Enjoy!

Scroll down if you missed Joe’s first round of Pro Bowl coverage from Hawaii.

This fresh video is another great look at pineapple-eating NFL fun, including a 1-on-1 interview of Darrelle Revis. And Joe’s got more coming late Sunday and/or Monday morning. Enjoy!

JoeBucsFan.com at the Pro Bowl, Day 2 from Video 21 Productions on Vimeo.

The new Bucs GM weighs in on No. 8

Just like Lovie Smith, new Bucs general manager Jason Licht is non-committal about who his starting quarterback will be in 2014.

ProFootballTalk.com guru Mike Florio phrased the inevitable QB question to Licht this week with a little bit of a twist, and Licht’s response will soothe both Mike Glennon Mob members and those who prefer a starter with more talent. [read more]

About once every Olympic year, Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer grants the local pen and mic club unplanned time to discuss the Bucs. Thursday afternoon was one of those days.

One of the reasons Glazer wore a smile on his face was that he and his family had real competition from the Dolphins in vying for the services of new Bucs general manager Jason Licht. [read more]

The great news was delivered yesterday in Hawaii.

It’s the declaration Bucs fans have been waiting for. [read more]

Bucs fans want to know. They want to know who was responsible for leaky Rip Van Freeman’s meltdown (still a great mystery), who didn’t want Michael Bennett (Greg Schiano), who didn’t want Wallace Gilberry (Schiano); who gave what orders at what time.

Bucs fans demand coaches and front office suits be transparent. Sadly, the Bucs, much like Team Glazer, do not work in the public eye and trying to pin down who exactly wields the power with what decision at what time at the new One Buc Palace (mostly Lovie Smith) is something the Bucs will never fully admit, despite fans desires. [read more]

Joe’s enjoyed a welcome break today from all the chatter about general manager stuff and draft decisions that are 100+ days away.

Joe’s got his Hawaiian A-team at the Pro Bowl getting all kinds of interviews. You’ve read highlights throughout the day, but now here’s the video. And there’s much more to come through the weekend. Enjoy.

JoeBucsFan.com at the Pro Bowl from Video 21 Productions on Vimeo.

Joe got a scouting report on Donald Penn at the Pro Bowl

Loyal JoeBucsFan.com readers know Joe isn’t in the camp of Bucs fans that wants to dump Donald Penn.

At worst, Penn is an average starting left tackle. His paycheck reads like that of an average starter at his position, and he’s extraordinarily durable and he’s a leader. Yet this is a guy some Bucs fans want to run out of town? [read more]

A “quarterback-crazy” frenzy early in the first round of the NFL Draft could be a darn good thing for the Bucs.

Tampa Bay might end up with a shiny new right tackle, explains one noted NFL Draft guru. [read more]

From Pro Bowl practice in Hawaii, Gerald McCoy opens up to JoeBucsFan.com about his first chat with Lovie Smith

Guess who’s going surfing on the Pacific Ocean today? It’s Bucs Pro Bowl defensive tackle manbeast Gerald McCoy.

Let’s hope the sharks aren’t looking for a 300-pound meal.

Yesterday at Pro Bowl practice at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, McCoy took some time for JoeBucsFan.com to talk all things Lovie Smith, pass rushing and more. [read more]

Joe had his Hawaiian team all over Pro Bowl practices this week talking Bucs and more with various players (video tonight and tomorrow).

Bears running back Matt Forte weighed in on his former head coach, Lovie Smith. [read more]

The Panthers’ sackmaster is salivating

You want beastly young Panthers free agent defensive end Greg Hardy playing alongside Gerald McCoy and terrorizing left tackles?

Well, the outspoken Hardy would love to accommodate, so he told JoeBucsFan.com in Hawaii. [read more]

It’s a happy marriage over at One Buc Palace. Lovie Smith and new Bucs general manager Jason Licht are bonded. And it happened quickly, much like Joe’s love affair with Newcastle (the beer, not the soccer team).

Bucs beat man Tom Krasniqi was among the media types talking to Lovie about the union following Licht’s introduction to media this afternoon. Lovie made it sound like love at first sight.

“Everything we discussed, we were on the same page,” Smith told reporters after the press conference. (You can read Krasniqi’s full report on his Bucs blog at 620wdae.com.)

Now the skeptic in Joe wonders, “how could these guys be on the same page about everything?” especially if they dove into specifics during their four-hour initial meeting. But Joe surely isn’t questioning Lovie’s credibility.

It’s honeymoon time for Lovie and Licht. Joe hopes it lasts.