Whenever sports analysts, players or team officials speak for the fans, Joe’s ears perk up.

Often, that’s a dangerous slope.

Don’t mess with the masses. [read more]

Lovie Smith talks about building a winning culture with the Bucs.

Not that long ago, winning wasn’t expected at One Buc Palace. It was demanded.

Division titles were expected. The team had loftier goals than merely getting to .500.

Oh, how things have changed. [read more]

Marcus! Jameis! Marcus! Jameis! Marcus! Jameis! Marcus! Jameis! Marcus! Jameis!

Oh, what a maniacal frenzy it will be if the Bucs maintain their current 2015 draft position, the No. 1 overall pick.

But that specific No. 1 slot is critical. [read more]

Birds of a feather

Six weeks ago, former Buccaneer Mark Barron took all kinds of heat for saying the safety position in Lovie Smith’s defense was too “passive,” following his trade to St. Louis.

Even Lovie Smith took exception to that. [read more]

Crab-legs-stealing, BB-gun-shooting, obscenity-hollering, Heisman-Trophy-winning, national champion James Winston, the pride of Florida State University, continues to look like a much better quarterback prospect than Mike Glennon and Josh McCown.

It’s Joe’s daily nugget on the Jameis Watch, celebrating the best quarterback to wear No. 5 ever in the state of Florida. [read more]

Danny Lansanah is a better outside linebacker, Bucs DC Leslie Frazier said.

Recently, Lovie Smith made a not-so-subtle suggestion he wants to find more snaps for Danny Lansanah at middle linebacker.

Lansanah had lined up there against Detroit in place of starter Mason Foster, who has been slowed by an Achilles heel injury. Lansanah later bounced around after Lavonte David left with a concussion. [read more]

Freakish ability usually separates NFL legends from simply great NFL players. It’s like that at nearly every position.

One prominent Buccaneer calls those guys “mutants.” [read more]

Since the moment Stinking Panthers quarterback Cam Newton got tossed around in his truck earlier this week from an accident, Joe has heard Bucs fans moan that the Pewter Pirates will now have to face Newton’s backup Derek Anderson.

Why would Bucs fans be scared of such a thing? Anderson, really? Yeah, yeah, yeah, Joe knows Anderson picked apart the Bucs on opening day, specifically targeting tight end Greg Olsen. [read more]

New gig already?

One reason Tampa Bay let former offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford out of his contract — aside from the fact, you know, he had heart problems — is to allow Tedford to pursue other football opportunities.

It appears that may be about to happen. [read more]

A former Buccaneer says don’t point a finger at the running backs

The Buccaneers’ stable of running backs is just fine.

A former Buccaneer says Tampa Bay is well set at that position and puts this year’s running game failures on the blocking in front of them. [read more]

Gerald McCoy said he has too much respect for his teammates to sit out

Last week, Gerald McCoy did the ultimate in leadership. Felled by a knee injury — minor or serious, depending on who you believe — he decided he couldn’t sit on the sidelines and watch the rest of the Bucs-Lions game like a fan with a field pass.

Today in his weekly press conference, GMC explained why he had to suck up the injury and get back on the field. [read more]

Crab-legs-stealing, BB-gun-shooting, obscenity-hollering, Heisman-Trophy-winning, national champion James Winston, the pride of Florida State University, continues to look like a much better quarterback prospect than Mike Glennon and Josh McCown.

It’s Joe’s daily nugget on the Jameis Watch, celebrating the best quarterback to wear No. 5 ever in the state of Florida. [read more]

Like fellow Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson is nearing a franchise record.

Joe has found it interesting, in a good way how until very recently opposing defenses haven’t really focused on shutting down Bucs rookie Mike Evans, despite the fact he is on pace to set a franchise record for touchdown catches in a season.

It seems, again, until recently, teams were more concerned about reputation (read: Vincent Jackson) than numbers (Evans). [read more]

Bucs-Packers tickets are selling for triple face value

Joe’s been stunned by the furious demand for the Packers-Bucs tickets, Tampa Bay’s second-to-last home game on Sunday, Dec. 21.

Of course, the game sold out months ago with the help of sun-starved Wisconsin types and local transplants that bleed cheddar. [read more]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, lots of Bucs fans want Tampa Bay to lose its final three games and get in position to draft an elite quarterback prospect.

But there is a game to be played Sunday, and Joe wants to see defensive wizards Lovie Smith and Leslie Frazier find a way to stop Panthers quarterback Derek Anderson, the fourth best QB in the NFC South. [read more]

Joe just cannot believe how long the past 12 months have been, and how much has happened, starting with a new coach, new general manager, new assistant coaches and tons of new players.

Even the most ardent pewter-colored-glasses-wearer must admit virtually every major player transaction, but a scant few, has been a major swing and a miss. [read more]