The leader of the New Schiano Order typically never wavers in his public approach to a football season. Greg Schiano always, always, always talks about one-game seasons and how that’s the only mindset he has. But not on Monday.

During his weekly radio show, Schiano referenced winning 12 consecutive games out of the bye to close the season.

“Get a little break. Get on a run here. Go for 12 straight, and hopefully we have some more after that,” Schiano said.

Joe found it notable that the head coach stepped out of his core beliefs and talked about the big picture of the current season. Schiano drills it into his players to only talk and think one game at a time. But even he couldn’t stick to that. Humans are humans.

Interestingly, the last great Buccaneers season was built around the exact opposite of a one-game-at-a-time mindset. Raheem Morris’ famous “Race to 10” mantra in 2010 was designed to get players thinking about the big picture.

Outspoken national sports columnist and former Division-I football player Jason Whitlock believes the locker room at One Buc Palace is the source of the Josh Freeman leaks.

Joe isn’t much of a Jason Whitlock kind of a guy. mostly because Whitlock generally loves sports and non-sports things Joe has checked out on long ago, namely, the Non-Basketball Association.

But Joe does admire Whitlock, the Kansas City-based national columnist now working for BSPN, for his outspoken if not unpopular takes. After Father Dungy’s final game with the Bucs when they lost (again) to the Eagles, Whitlock nearly came to blows with Keyshawn Johnson because Whitlock accused Johnson of taking veiled shots at future Hall of Famer Warren Sapp (Johnson and Sapp have had a long history of acrimony).

Last night, Whitlock decided to weigh in on the Josh Freeman saga with the Bucs. Whitlock, who played college football at Ball State, believes he knows the source of the many leaks about Freeman. Some believe they are coming from One Buc Palace. Whitlock agrees, though he believes the leaks are coming straight from the Bucs locker room, not the front office or coaches’ room.

@WhitlockJason: Has ONE Tampa receiver complained about Freebow getting benched? ONE? Receivers ain’t afraid to bitch. #takehimoffthecross #fromKCilikeJosh … Vincent Jack$on ain’t scared of Schiano. Freebow is getting played by media. Coaches are taking notes. Not a good look. … I’ve seen no proof of or motivation for Schiano to smear Freebow. More likely unhappy teammate(s) smearing Freebow. #tradevalueschiano

Whoa! Those are some bold opinions.

Joe has zero idea if Whitlock’s claims are accurate but it is interesting that Bucs receivers did not pitch a fit when Freeman was benched but rather stuck up for Mike Glennon.

Though knowing how the Bucs locker room is, Joe is confident the team was given implicit orders to say nice things about Glennon. You know, put a happy face on things and look forward and not look back?

Yup, another day, another chapter in the circus that has become the Bucs.

Earlier today we learned that the Bucs, reportedly, videotape team members on the sidelines of games to ensure they behave properly.

Tonight, Jim Trotter of SI.com claims Freeman has been fined by the team for “conduct detrimental.”

Add another layer to the ongoing feud between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Josh Freeman, as SI has learned that Freeman has been fined twice by the club in the last month, including once in the last week, for conduct detrimental to the team. The infractions include missing at least one team meeting and participating in an unauthorized media interview. According to a source, Freeman plans to appeal the fines.

That was followed up by Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times Twittering that Freeman was fined over $30,000 for the infractions.

@NFLSTROUD: #Bucs QB Josh Freeman was fined at least twice for a total of $31,500. He is appealing. $10,500 was for his unauthorized ESPN interview

Well now. “At least” two infractions? The soap opera wheels continue to turn at One Buc Palace.

It’s to the point Joe doesn’t want to sleep for fear of missing the next shoe dropping in this seemingly never-ending saga.

Joe stepped in to slug it out with the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, Steve Duemig, this evening for the popular “JoeBucsFan Hour” on WDAE-AM 620. The entire podcast is below. Every Bucs topic was on the table, and Joe stuck around for an extra couple of segments. Enjoy.

With the circus surrounding the Bucs growing crazier by the day — now we’re told the Bucs videotape players on the sideline of games to make sure they behave properly — a popular former Bucs player is pleading for Team Glazer to make a coaching change immediately in this Yahoo! Sports video.

Listen below to Mike Glennon chat with the media today at One Buc Palace. The young gunslinger touches on a variety of subjects, including Josh Freeman. Glennon’s passionate chatter about Freeman is at the end of the audio. “He’s been so supportive,” Glennon said of No. 5.

Audio via WDAE-AM 620.

Apparently, the Detroit Lions front office likes what it saw from Kevin Ogletree, who appeared to play with K-Y jelly on his hands during his brief Bucs career that ended yesterday.

The Lions signed Ogletree today.

The Bucs head to Detroit to play the 3-1 Lions in Week 12.

In the wake of Donald Penn going national and defending Bucs quarterback and teammate Josh Freeman, Penn took time today to lash out at local reporters for what he considers a character assassination against the defrocked Bucs franchise quarterback.

In his defense against Freeman last night with Bill Polian and Alex Marvez, co-hosts of “Late Hits,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Penn said the following:

“You know, the stuff that came out [Monday regarding Freeman’s ADHD medicine being monitored in NFL substance-abuse program] and stuff like that, it’s like they’re really trying to bring him down and Josh is a great guy. I mean Josh is a very humble spirit. He’s a very good guy. He’s a very good person and he really cares about him teammates and he cares about his team. I know it’s killing him what’s going on.”

It was unclear who “they” were that Penn referred to.

Was it Bucs management who some believe are in a campaign to tear Freeman down, was it agents, was it other NFL teams, was it some Bucs teammates?

(Fans of the late great Chris Thomas know who “they” were. They is Chuck LaMar.)

So today, Joe asked Penn who exactly he was referring to. Who was trying to run Freeman out of the NFL? Penn did not hold back at all.

“Y’all! The media. The Media. The Media. The Media. Y’all,” Penn said. “Y’all are all trying to find any way to tarnish his character and make it sound like he is not a good guy, like he is not a good person, like this is all his fault. That is y’all reporting that stuff. That is y’all. So don’t try to switch it up like it isn’t y’all. It’s y’all. The media.”

Joe likes Penn a lot but Penn likes to lump “media” in one big group as if every reporter — TV, print and new media — answers to the same boss, as if all media were just one big conglomerate.

For example, this past summer, when a local reporter suggested Penn was too fat to remain employed by the Bucs, Penn blasted the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com, the great Mike Florio, as if Florio was the author when Florio simply linked to the article in question.

Joe appreciates Penn sticking up for his friend and teammate. Joe just wishes Penn would save his ire for those who are planting stories with the Jay Glazers of the world (who is among the best there is, mind you), who, by the way, Joe has never seen at One Buc Palace.

Here is the audio of Penn’s response, courtesy of Joe’s good friends at WDAE-AM 620.

There’s no debating that Greg Schiano needs fireproof underwear these days. His proverbial hot seat is broiling. Not even Schiano-mandated thermostat settings around One Buc Palace can cool things off.

Joe believes the heat on Schiano is fair, but not because of the circus-like atmosphere Schiano hasn’t managed well (yes, the head coach personally could have done a much better job deflecting negative attention from his team.), but because the Bucs under Schiano aren’t winning games.

Strip away all the drama, all the rumors, whispers and nonsense, and the Bucs are 1-9 in their last 10 games. That’s deplorable when you look at the talent on the roster. Good teams find ways to win close games. Bad teams do the opposite.

Schiano is “now in Raheemsville,” Tampa Bay sports radio icon Steve Duemig said this week on WDAE-AM 620.

Duemig was referencing Raheem Morris losing 10 straight games to close the 2011 season before getting fired. Joe believes “Raheemsville” is a fair and simple analogy. There’s no way Schiano can survive as head coach if he can’t win a game.

Joe’s not rooting against Schiano in any way shape or form. Sure, it’s nice to land a great draft pick, but when the whistle blows every week Joe wants to see good, winning football. Losing always sucks.

Joe is often asked about Team Glazer’s patience level. Joe can’t predict that, but Joe knows it’s a safe bet that Schiano needs win soon.

Team Glazer often has referenced its excitement about having nationally televised games — especially night home games — for Buccaneers fans and for the pride of the organization. Well, the Bucs have two of those games upcoming this season. Joe suspects Team Glazer might not be interested in showcasing a winless coach.

There are certain writers that have automatic credibility with Joe. One of those is Andrew Brandt.

The former Packers front office man often writes about the business of the NFL. His insight is very good.

Since he dealt with agents, lots of them, Brandt has a good working relationship with many. In writing a piece on the freefall of Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman, Brandt spoke with agents of several Bucs players and has learned some disturbing news.

Playing for the Bucs, per Brandt’s sources, is akin to working for the KGB. They are monitored at all times whether inside the walls of One Buc Palace, or on the sidelines at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway to discover players who the coaching staff deems misbehaving.

In speaking with agents of several Bucs players recently, I have sensed a common theme: There is an atmosphere of fear and distrust under the current regime in Tampa. Players have told their agents about coaches roaming through the locker room (typically the players’ sanctuary away from coaches) and staff videotaping players on the sidelines during losses to single out players laughing or horsing around. The players also speak to the influx of multiple Rutgers players from Schiano’s past and the use of the phrase “Schiano Men,” a term that clearly does not apply to Freeman.

Videotaping players on the sidelines for laughing? How Bill Belicheat of the Bucs.

Joe wonders what the fine is for smiling?

Look, Joe doesn’t think Bucs commander Greg Schiano is Lucifer personified as some will have you believe. But this kind of Mickey Mouse nonsense, if true, is Harry High School crapola. It’s not even fit for college.

Perhaps maybe the Bucs coaching staff should be more concerned with not late-hitting a quarterback or hitting a field goal in order to win a game, not worrying if a player winked at a cheerleader during a timeout.

In this FOX Sports 1 video, leggy Charissa Thompson, Donovan McNabb, Mr. Brooklyn Decker and Gabe Kapler discuss the Josh Freeman saga. McNabb said what Freeman is going through he has seen happen to other players.

Joe hears from fans all the time about how the Bucs are awful at “play-calling.” Joe asks for specifics, but rarely gets them.

Often, fans want Mike Glennon to throw the ball, despite the fact that may be the worst option, which was displayed when Glennon threw two picks in the fourth quarter last week against the Desert Rats.

Well, supreme Xs and Os guy Greg Bedard of theMMQB.com decided to study the Bucs offense and came away thinking the offense, in general, is prehistoric.

And, in what has been a Greg Schiano staple since his Rutgers days, the Buccaneers’ scheme is outdated, unimaginative and too reliant on short plays. The short and intermediate passing game that is so crucial in today’s NFL is essentially nonexistent in Tampa’s system. It’s difficult to win without it. The thing is, the Buccaneers have solid pass protection—the line ranks No. 8 in our pressure points/per snap rankings—and running back Doug Martin is second in the league, averaging 99 yards a game. Those are two essential components of playing Schiano’s preferred style of offense. It means something is amiss with the quarterback and receivers. From my vantage point, both positions share the blame here. It’s just easier to replace one quarterback than get several receivers to play better.

Well now, isn’t it refreshing to see receivers (who have dropped passes from Josh Freeman far too often) catch some hell for a change?

People can forget about a strong passing game for at least the rest of the 2013 season. With a young, green as grass rookie at quarterback, having him throw a bunch is inviting destruction.

It’s Joe’s weekly podcast with the smooth-toned Ronnie Lane of the Buccaneers Radio Network and WDAE-AM 620! Joe talks about the assault on Mark Dominik and Greg Schiano, and the building distractions at One Buc Palace.

Greg Schiano says he wants to build on Jeff Demps’ package

Yes, Joe’s blood pressure exploded when track star/returner/running back/receiver Jeff Demps, with the Bucs-Cardinals game tied at 10 at 3:10 left in the fourth quarter, fielded a kickoff nine yards deep in the end zone and opted to bring it out.

It was a dumb decision (terrible coaching and/or player awareness) and, not surprisingly, Demps was dumped at the Bucs’ 10 yard line. Already-rattled rookie QB Mike Glennon took a third-down sack to the Bucs’ 1, and the ensuing, high-pressure/short-on-room punt left the Cardinals on the Bucs’ 38 yard line to win the game.

Joe’s going to have a hard time getting past that kickoff return, but Joe did like what Demps showed in the Bucs’ offense.

Greg Schiano also was giddy about Demps’ future while speaking on Buccaneers Radio Network show Monday on WDAE-AM 620.

“He didn’t do a ton, but he did a little bit, but you really like what you see,” Schiano said. “On that little sweep he gained 14 yards, on that little diagonal right he gains nine yards. And, you know, it’s not where people didn’t have angles on him. He just ran away from them. He’s a gifted, gifted guy. So you find more ways to get him involved, , you know, and you build on his package so he can get the football.”

Demps showed he’s a weapon. Now the challenge sits with the New Schiano Order to figure out a way to use him.

The Bucs’ high-haired Rodney Dangerfield is back.

Today, Tampa Bay re-signed wide receiver Tiquan Underwood to replace booted No. 3 receiver Kevin Ogletree.

Underwood was cut last year out of training camp and preseason, couldn’t find a job, and the Bucs brought him back to replace jettisoned Preston Parker.

Underwood, 26, played pretty well in 2012, catching 26 balls from Josh Freeman.

But this year, Underwood again was released just before the Bucs set their opening-day roster. He couldn’t find a job, and now he’s back.

This bizarre cycle confuses Joe. Repeatedly, the Bucs don’t want Underwood, nobody else does, either, and then he returns. If Underwood gets playing time and can catch the football, it will tell Joe that the Bucs brass really screwed up cutting Underwood and going with Ogletree to the start the season — greater than the obvious Ogletree disaster.

Bucs ironman Donald Penn weighs in on Mike Glennon and Josh Freeman

Donald Penn is one of the most candid and open Buccaneers. He’s always worth a listen and Joe recommends Penn’s interview on NFL Radio yesterday right here.

Penn opened up about how frustrating the Josh Freeman situation is for him.

“It’s just real tough. You know, I feel bad for Josh being put in this situation,” Penn said. “You know, the stuff that came out yesterday [regarding Freeman’s ADHD medicine being monitored in NFL substance-abuse program]and stuff like that, it’s like they’re really trying to bring him down and Josh is a great guy. I mean Josh is a very humble spirit. He’s a very good guy. He’s a very good person and he really cares about him teammates and he cares about his team. I know it’s killing him what’s going on.”

Penn went on to say Mike Glennon earned his respect

“I think Mike Glennon did a great job this week coming in. I’m not going to lie, I was a little worried, rookie quarterback coming in, but I really thought he managed and handled the huddle very well and controlled the offense very well being a rookie coming in there,” Penn said. “I mean, he kept good poise; it kind of felt like he’s been there for a while.”

And Penn painted a picture of Josh Freeman working behind the scenes and behind the media circus to help his teammates, including Glennon.   

“He’s still trying to help Mike out. That’s the kind of guy Josh is and, you know, people don’t see even that side of him because they just hear all the outside stuff. He’s still in Mike’s ear trying to help Mike’s out, you know He’s still in my ear and all the other teammates ears. And it’s not negative at all. It’s nothing negative. Josh has not said one negative thing since all this happened and I talk to Josh all the time. It’s just a tough time right now. We’re getting through it. We’re sticking together.”

None of what Penn talked about surprised Joe. Again, Joe recommends you listen to the interview above.

Joe’s pleased to hear Penn’s candid review of Glennon. The Bucs’ offense was ugly Sunday, but it certainly could have been worse.

Former Bucs great Ronde Barber has his take on the Josh Freeman saga while appearing on FOX Football Daily in this FOX Sports video. Barber is appalled. Among other highlights, Barber calls the smear campaign against Freeman a “travesty.”

Wow, it has gotten so crazy over at One Buc Palace — Joe has seen saner kindergarten classes — that insiders with a pulse of the team are already stating the Bucs should be looking for a new coach immediately, despite the fact Bucs commander Greg Schiano is still at the helm.

That coach should be former Bears coach Lovie Smith, says FOX NFL insider Jay Glazer.

In an odd twist of events, if one is to believe Glazer (who has one of the better batting averages of any NFL writer), Bucs commander Greg Schiano asked Josh Freeman to skip a meeting (or meetings) to create the impression to the other 52 men on the Bucs roster that Freeman once again missed a team meeting.

Now, why Schiano would go through such a time-consuming, elaborate ruse to shame a No. 3 quarterback whose days are numbered when there are bigger fish to fry — you know, like winning the first game of the year? This is beyond Joe.

Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik told Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, (hidden behind the Times’ dastardly paywall) that he asked Freeman to stay in the training room (but his missed meeting would be an excused absence) and not attend a team meeting because Schiano wanted to speak with him about the turn of events Monday evening that rocked the very foundation of One Buc Palace.

But Glazer, in his Twitter feed, claims the timeline of events does not jive with Dominik’s explanation to Stroud.

This is all very confusing.

Joe’s head is spinning from the daily bombshells out of One Buc Palace and beyond. Each day it is dizzying.

Joe does know one thing, Schiano must have really PO’ed enough people that they are working overtime with their hand-picked favorite national writers to distribute scandalous information about Schiano in order to motivate Team Glazer to pull the rug out from under him before he finishes his second season.

As for Lovie Smith, color Joe lukewarm. He’s a Father Dungy football clone through and through. He rode the coattails of a fantastic defensive coordinator (Rod Marinelli) and his offense and hand-picked offensive assistants were, well, meh. Look, Mike Tice as an offensive coordinator? No wonder bratty Jay Culter was a mental patient last year. There’s a reason the Bears jettisoned Smith after posting a 10-win season in 2012 (think Father Dungy in 2001).

If the Bucs plan on developing a quarterback via the draft next spring, you don’t want someone like Lovie Smith picking the offensive coaches, unless you want him to produce Rex Grossman II and be right back where you started without a Bucs signal-caller in 2018.