Joe broke out in a cold sweat when Fox Sports Radio's Lee Hamilton laid out a logical scenario why Michael Vick will be the Bucs starting QB next season.

After shoving as much turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, yams, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie into his face as humanly possible yesterday, Joe needed a nap. Being the sports geek Joe is, he listened to sports radio while he tried to catch some Z’s, in this instance, Fox Sports Radio.

Host Lee Hamilton was talking about Michael Vick and his chances of being reinstated by Roger Goodell for next season. If that happens, Hamilton predicted he would sign with the Bucs.

Joe nearly had a stroke at the thought. But Hamilton explained why:

Jeff Garcia is in the final year of his contract. Hamilton predicted Garcia won’t be resigned by the Bucs. Joe believes Garcia might be giving out subtle hints at this.

Hamilton went on to explain Chucky likes to collect quarterbacks as if they are coins or stamps. The fact Vick still has a cannon for an arm and despite being out of football for two years is likely still quicker than most QBs would be too irresistible for Chucky to pass on.

Besides, Chucky doesn’t give a damn if a guy has a history of abusing women and leaving used condoms on his neighbors’ property. Chucky only cares if a guy can play football.

Hamilton was so dead-on in his analysis Joe almost broke into a cold sweat. So much for the nap. Based on this information, Joe only prays that Goodell never reinstates Vick.

Hall of Famer Troy Aikman says any talk of Drew Brees as an MVP candidate is ridiculous considering the Saints are 6-5

Thanks to Troy Aikman for declaring Drew Brees unworthy of MVP consideration unless his team improves greatly.

Aikman expressed his firm disagreement when FOX threw a graphic up on the screen during the Seahawks-Cowboys telecast yesterday declaring Drew Brees, Kurt Warner and Clinton Portis top MVP candidates in the NFL.

This isn’t baseball, where a guy can hit .390 with 68 homers and win the MVP on a crappy club. In the NFL, if your team misses the playoffs, how good are you, really?

Joe, too, was extremely annoyed by all the recent chatter pimping Drew Brees for MVP, especially the ramblings out of New Orleans, where they are still bitter Brees lost out on the MVP award to LaDainian Tomlinson back in 2006.

Sure, Tomlinson was marvelous that season with 1,815 rushing yards and a league-record 31 touchdowns, 28 of them rushing. And the Chargers went 14-2. But if a degree can be placed on the level of marvelous-ness, and at the risk of sounding a tad too provincial, I’d have taken Brees’ year over Tomlinson’s, given where the Saints came from and where the Chargers (who were 9-7 the previous year) came from.

The 2008 Saints are 6-5. That’s 6-5. Joe reminds you they are 6-5.

If the Bucs can force Brees into throwing a couple of picks and beat the Saints on Sunday, that will all but wipe Brees off the MVP radar. That would be a beautiful thing. 

On the subject of MVPs, the NFL hasn’t had its MVP come from the defensive side of the ball since Lawrence Taylor in 1986. It’s about time that changed.

Here’s a nod for Barrett Ruud, if the Bucs are 12-4 or better, finish as the No. 1 ranked defense, and Ruud can finish in the top 5 tackles and add to his interception total.

FOX is reporting that Pam Oliver upset Jon Gruden during an interview this week in Tampa. It airs Sunday during pregame coverage at noon

So what set off Chucky during his interview with Pam Oliver of FOX Sports this week? The mystery will be solved Sunday when FOX airs the interview during its pre-game coverage in the noon hour.

During its Thanksgiving Day yawner, Seattle at Dallas, FOX promoted the interview saying Jon Gruden was unhappy with Pam Oliver’s line of questioning, “You don’t want to miss it?”

Joe’s guessing Oliver irked Gruden by one of two subjects: Jeff Garcia, and the decision to bench him for four games, or Oliver disrespected the Bucs by calling them a “surprise” or implying that they have to prove themselves in these next three games.

Again, those are just guesses by Joe. There are any number of topics that could get under Gruden’s skin, but probably not too many that Oliver would bring up.

Regardless, this is a good development. Joe wasn’t a fan of the kindler, gentler Chucky this season. Too much calm on the sidelines and passive quotes in news conferences. It’s about time Chucky gets fired up and fires back at the lack of respect shown his team nationally. For a coach as ego-maniacal as he,  it was only a matter of time.

With any luck, the Lions will make Bucs fans and every football fan forget about the Steve Spurrier era.

Although it was a long time ago in an era almost (thankfully) forgotten, the 1976 Bucs have the dubious distinction of losing every game in a season, 0-14.

Granted, this was in an era when the Bucs were a new franchise and new franchises were not awarded such luxuries like chances to pick up decent players via free agency.

Thankfully the 2008 Lions may help erase the Bucs’ stain upon the NFL. The Kitties are so putrid, it’s a real possibility they will finish 0-16, a feat previously unthinkable as Rick Telander of the Chicago Sun-Times explains.

The Lions are so bereft of talent, coaching, passion and winning history — one playoff victory in 51 years, zero Super Bowl appearances — that there is a decent chance they can run the table and become the first 0-16 team in NFL history. Such a stench would make the 0-14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers of 1976 smell almost fresh.

Joe never imagined any team would go winless through an NFL season. But after the Bucs rallied from a deficit of 17-0 in the first quarter to blow out the Kitties, Joe was all but convinced the Lions would never win a game this season. Detroit is the worst NFL team Joe can ever remember.

And the quicker the Kitties lose all their games, the quicker football fans across the country can forget about the Bucs going 0-14.

Vacation Man, otherwise knows as BSPN’s Pat Yasinskas, in a video bloggers report on BSPNews talks about the latest happenings around the NFC South.

In particular, Vacation Man talks about Ronde Barber’s game at Detroit last Sunday.

But there’s a catch: Backwards Hat, aka Rick Brown of the Lakeland Ledger, is not wearing a hat… or a backwards cap… or any headgear of any sort. Don’t believe Joe? See for yourself as (normally) Backwards Hat talks about the Bucs and ends his video with Winston Churchill’s “V for Victory” sign:

Charley Casserly and Jason Horowitz of CBSSports break down the Bucs-Saints game. Casserly noted the Bucs only allow 11 points a game at home while the Saints’ offense struggles on the road. Casserly also expects Jeff Garcia “to have a big game.”

Joe wonders who Casserly picks? If you also wonder, check out the video:

Watch CBS Videos Online

Joe would like to wish Bucs fans a Happy Thanksgiving. Let’s hope you are somehow able to forget Son of Bob, Earnest Graham’s bum ankle and rumors of the White Tiger in order to shovel turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and whatever goodies are nearby into your grill to your heart’s content.

And then wash it all down with an adult beverage (or two).

Even though the Detroit Kitties are on TV, it’s better than no football. And for football, we can give thanks.

If anyone of us can push the age of 82 and have the fire for the game of football still burning like this guy, we can all safely say we’ve had a fine life.

The godfather of the Bucs defense, Monte Kiffin, could seize an opportunity to coach with his son Lane Kiffin in Tennessee. Just say it ain't so, Monte.

Well, it looks like Chucky might have been caught in a truth when he denied all those rumors of him replacing Phil Fulmer at the University of Tennessee.

A sports radio report today out of Knoxville, 990 AM The Sports Animal, said Lane Kiffin has been offered the Tennessee job.

University officials denied the report but not their interest in Kiffin.

Hamilton has not “offered” the job to Kiffin but contractual parameters have been discussed, a person briefed on the situation told ESPN’s Joe Schad.

Two sources told ESPN.com that they expect the search to be wrapped up next week and that Kiffin is at the forefront of that search. Speculation on Tennessee’s final candidates centers on Kiffin, Brian Kelly of Cincinnati, Gary Patterson of TCU and Tim Brewster of Minnesota.

Now, the burning question for Bucs fans is whether Monte Kiffin will join his son Lane.

Joe told you months ago that father and son were being pursued as a package deal by Clemson. Subsequently, longtime college football scribe Tom Dienhart said in a radio interview last week that “it’s almost a done deal” that Monte Kiffin will follow Lane Kiffin to whatever job he takes.

So here we are. Lane Kiffin probably will have a job next week. And the Monte Watch will be on.

For now, expect Monte Kiffin to say all the Bucs company-man comments, including he has no plans to join Lane. But all bets are off after the season.

Joe thinks Monte will stay with the Buccaneers and Lane was just offering him around as a carrot to help land a top job. But nobody knows how badly Monte might want to work with his son.

Family is family.

By BOB FOX

JoeBucsFan.com analyst Bob Fox takes a weekly look at the NFC playoff picture. Fox writes for numerous sports publications. He brings an insightful take on the conference. 

JoeBucsFan.com analyst Bob Fox says Sunday's Giants-at-Redskins clash is one many key division matchups that will clarify the NFC playoff picture

You know it is time for the stretch run to the NFL playoffs when Thanksgiving comes around.

This year, again, we will be seeing three games instead of two on Thanksgiving because of the NFL Network.  Not all will see that third game (Arizona at Philadelphia), however, because the NFL Network is not available on some cable systems. Those that have Verizon cable (like me) get NFL Network. And, of course, you hardcores with DIRECTV will have a full Turkey Day of football, too.

With five games to go in the season, the playoff situation has certainly gotten more interesting, especially in the NFC South, where the Bucs reside now in first place.  The key to the playoffs will be the remainder of each team’s schedule.

Here is a breakdown by division in the NFC:

NFC East
New York Giants  10-1
Washington Redskins  7-4
Dallas Cowboys  7-4
Philadelphia Eagles  5-5-1

The Giants are clearly the best team in the NFC right now.  But even the G-Men will have a difficult schedule down the stretch as they will have to play divisional rivals like the Redskins, Eagles and Cowboys, plus they also have to play teams with playoff aspirations like the Panthers and Vikings, as well.  This division will still probably have one Wild Card team.  But the road will be hazardous as the division will have a lot of divisional games.  The Redskins have two more divisional games left, the Cowboys also have two, while the Eagles have three. 

NFC North
Chicago Bears  6-5
Minnesota Vikings  6-5
Green Bay Packers  5-6
Detroit Lions  0-11

Only the division winner will make it to the playoffs in the NFC North.  And 9-7 will probably be the record of the divisional winner.   

All three teams fighting for the crown still have to play key divisional games.  The Bears and Vikings play each other this week, while the Bears and Packers meet in Week 16.  The Packers and Vikings still have to play the Lions, as well.  The Vikings were VERY fortunate to have won their first game against the Lions, as a very questionable interference call set up the Vikings victory.  The Bears also have to play the Jaguars, the Saints and the Texans, while the Vikings have to face the Cardinals, Falcons and Giants.  The Packers still have to play the Panthers, the Texans and the Jaguars.  

NFC South
Tampa Bay Bucs  8-3
Carolina Panthers  8-3
Atlanta Falcons  7-4
New Orleans Saints  6-5

The NFC South is a BEAST!  Every team is dangerous because of certain aspects of their particular squad.  The Bucs still have a very tough road to hoe, as they are about to begin a stretch that will bring them the Saints at home, and then the Panthers and Falcons on the road.  The Bucs will end their season with two home games against the AFC, with the dangerous Chargers coming to the Ray Jay followed by the pathetic Oakland Raiders.  The Panthers have to play the Bucs on Monday night on December 8th, plus go to Green Bay this week, play the Broncos at home, play the Giants in Jersey and then finish against the Saints in New Orleans.  The Falcons have to go to San Diego this week, then travel to New Orleans, host the Bucs, go to Minnesota and finish against the Rams at the Georgia Dome.  The Saints, who are fresh off their 51-29 thrashing of the Packers on Monday night, play the Bucs this Sunday in Tampa, then host the Falcons, go to Chicago, then Detroit and finish the season hosting the Panthers in New Orleans.  The NFC South will certainly have at least one Wild Card team.

NFC West
Arizona Cardinals  7-4
San Francisco 49ers  3-8
Seattle Seahawks  2-9
St. Louis Rams  2-9

Like the NFC North, only the division winner (the Cardinals) will be going to the playoffs out of the division.  The Cardinals will be a tough opponent for anyone that faces them in the playoffs because of their awesome passing attack.

Joe will appear this afternoon on “Happy Hour with J.P. Peterson” at roughly 3:50 p.m. The show can be heard locally in the Tampa Bay area on WQYK-AM 1010. It also can be heard on the Internet via streaming from the station’s website.

J.P. is on vacation but filling in for J.P. will be his producer, Dave Ortiz, along with Mike Pepper and The Free Stretch host Bobby Fenton.

Joe hopes to talk about Peter King’s SI.com piece on the Bucs and Adrian Peterson, as well as the soon-to-be storm of Chucky-to-Notre Dame rumors that will be flamed by Chucky’s agent.

 By all means please tune in.

Joe is convinced that the fourth estate will very soon be awash in unfounded Chucky-to-Notre Dame rumors.

Remember when Joe cautioned Bucs fans about potential Chucky-to-Notre Dame rumors? Well Bucs fans, they are about to start aplenty.

If Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune is to be believed, the death knell for the Charlie Weis era at Notre Dame is about to begin.

Joe pointed out that Weis largely got the Notre Dame job as a result of being a cheating slob. Then, when Weis brought the Irish to the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State, the Domers were so infatuated with Weis that they gave him an insane 10-year, $20 million contract.

Since, the luster has greatly worn off Weis to an extent that it’s corroded.

The Irish have sunk to a level no one could have fathomed, which included home losses in consecutive seasons to Navy and arguably the worst Division-I program in the nation: Syracuse. Weis has lost more games in the past two years than any coach in Notre Dame’s long and glorious history.

Domers were so upset at the Syracuse loss that they pelted their team with snowballs.

This Saturday, Weis and the Irish travel to Los Angeles to play their bitter rivals and arguably the nation’s top team, USC. It could get very ugly as Weis boasted to his team when he took the Notre Dame job he would never lose to USC. In fact, the opposite has happened. Weis has never beaten USC.

And trust Joe, USC coach Pete Carroll uses that as ammunition each year.

The common perception of Weis’ buyout is not accurate. Multiple sources have told the Tribune the buyout, far smaller than believed, will not affect whether Notre Dame decides to fire Weis after Saturday’s game at USC. One prominent alumnus called the amount “loose change.”

Weis’ base salary from July 2006-June 2007 was $598,000, according to the Ft. Wayne (Ind.) Journal Gazette. The newspaper cited figures from Notre Dame’s federal 990 tax form, which requires the school to list its five highest-paid employees.

Weis’ contract likely calls for annual increases to his base salary. If that average rises to $650,000, the seven-year buyout would be about $4.5 million.

It has been reported Weis’ annual compensation package is worth between $3 million-$4 million, which includes money from speaking appearances, media contracts and apparel deals. Some industry sources dispute that figure, saying Weis’ total package is closer to $2 million-$2.5 million.

Whatever the case, a consensus is building among sources with ties to Notre Dame that Weis is in danger of being fired after four seasons.

“He has built zero relationships at the school,” one source said. “It has been all about him and his ego.”

What does this have to do with Chucky?

Chucky’s dad, Jim Gruden, used to be an assistant at Notre Dame under Dan Devine. Chucky graduated from Clay High School in South Bend. And Chucky has made no secret that he grew up loving Notre Dame. So much so Chucky had an alarm clock that played the Notre Dame fight song.

Even as a Bucs coach, Chucky has made it known, “I love Notre Dame.”

But that is as far as it will go. Joe doesn’t believe there is a snowball’s chance Notre Dame will want Chucky. After getting burned badly by an NFL coach (Weis), the Domers aren’t going to turn around and hire another one after the Weis Experiment has blown up in their faces. They won’t even sniff Chucky’s resume.

That said, Joe firmly believes Chucky’s agent will flood many reporters’ e-mail inboxes with “inside information” that Chucky is talking with Notre Dame officials. Why? Leverage.

The Glazer Boys have already fired a coach for losing first round playoff games in successive seasons. Who’s to say the Glazer Boys won’t can Chucky if the Bucs lose (again) in their first playoff game, or worse: miss the playoffs entirely? Chucky’s agent will float the Gruden-to-Notre Dame rumors as a ploy to get Chucky’s contract with the Bucs extended.

From a business standpoint, that’s smart.

Joe wants to be perfectly clear: Joe doesn’t think there’s a snowball’s chance in the depths of hell of Chucky being hired by Notre Dame short of him working for minimum wage. But that won’t stop the rumors whatsoever.

And the rumors, if Weis is canned next week, will be a virtual tsunami.

Joe has warned you. Again.

(UPDATE: The graphic is from Shutdown Corner, a Yahoo! Sports blog. Angry Bucs fans can e-mail the editor of the blog, Matthew J. Darnell, for his inaccurate graphic at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com. Yes, Joe is aware the Bucs have a better record than the Desert Rats. But this post is about the NFC playoff field and how the Bucs could navigate it.)

OK. Let’s see how many JoeBucsFan.com readers don’t have their mind on turkey. There’s no way any team can get to a Super Bowl without at least one tough game. Among the teams above, there’s only one team that really, really worries Joe in the NFC bracket.

Bears: beatable.
Panthers: beatable.
Redskins: beatable.
Desert Rats: beatable.

Only the Giants scare Joe, for obvious reasons. They are the best team in the NFL.

In the infamous words of Larry King, “Your thoughts?”

These harmless photos of Chucky make one blogger (not Joe) want to punch him.

Joe has a love/hate relationship with Chucky. Joe loves the fact Chucky got the Bucs a Super Bowl win (something the Dungyphiles conveniently forget) and how Chucky rebuilt the Bucs offense with fresh faces to enable the Bucs to go on a Super Bowl run (a pesky little fact Dungyphiles never admit).

But Joe also hates Chucky’s lying habits, the way he treats his players and his sometimes twisted offensive gameplans that seem as if Chucky himself sat down with Tony LaRussa in some diabolical, twisted séance that only baseball’s mad scientist could concoct.

That said, Joe is not about to suggest someone punch Chucky.

There’s a blog called “Food Court Lunch” that seems to promote such violence in a photo display called “The Punchable Faces of Jon Gruden.”

Apparently, the author is a Dungyphile. In a photo that shows Chucky hoisting the Lombardi Trophy aloft in victory, the caption reads: “Accepting This Award on Behalf of Mr. Dungy.”

This prompts Joe to ask two questions:

1) How exactly did Chucky win with Father Dungy’s players when four key offensive skill position players on the Bucs Super Bowl team did not play for Father Dungy?

2) If Chucky could win with Father Dungy’s players how come Father Dungy couldn’t?

Yeah, Joe knows. You’re reading this at work. It’s a day before a holiday. You don’t feel like working. Neither does Joe. You just want to kill time before you can crack open an adult beverage (or two) and then tomorrow shove a bird in your grill.

Well, to help pass the day and be even less productive, Joe has some Bucs videos for you. Sadly, Roger Goodell doesn’t have embed codes.

First, Scott Smith of Buccaneers Insider has a detailed look at the win over Detroit.

Second, NFL Network has a video of Chucky talking about the NFC South race.

Third, Chucky talks about the return of Cadillac Williams courtesy of the NFL Network.

Lastly, Buccaneers.com has the entire Chucky press conference from Monday. For some reason, the opening seconds of the video reminded Joe of the opening seconds from “Patton,” the greatest first six minutes to a movie in cinematic history.

SI.com's Peter King told J.P. Peterson of WQYK-AM 1010 that Ronde Barber is a serious candidate to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Monday afternoon, SI.com Peter King made an appearance on “Happy Hour with J.P. Peterson,” on WQYK-AM 1010. Though Joe sometimes disagrees with King and what he pulled on the Bucs recently disturbed Joe from an ethical perspective, Joe loves the man. Joe reads King’s Monday Morning Quarterback column weekly and stops what he’s doing whenever King is on TV or radio.

Joe cannot get terrestrial radio at work but surfs sports shows on satellite radio all day long. When Joe was tipped off about King’s appearance, he actually called 1010 and asked to be placed on hold just to listen.

Yeah, Joe needs a life. He admits it.

Anyway, King (naturally) had some interesting things to say. What intrigued Joe was that King said the Bucs have potentially four Hall of Famers playing for them in recent years. The three obvious are Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Warren Sapp. The fourth would be Ronde Barber.

(King also noted that Kevin Carter is a darkhorse candidate for the Hall of Fame.)

Despite having so many potential Hall of Famers, King doubted all four would get in. First, King said picking one (or more) of the four among the Hall of Fame voters is sort of like “picking your favorite flavor of ice cream.” Each one could potentially cancel each other out.

Second, King said unless the Bucs quickly win another Super Bowl (or more) with Barber and Brooks still on the team, it’s highly unlikely all four would get in. That, King said, is generally reserved for a dynasty team that has won multiple Super Bowls. King cited the Pittsburgh Steelers as an example but one could also offer the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers as dynasty teams that have multiple players from one side of the ball in the Hall.

Joe got to thinking. King is right. Which of the four do you put in? It is like asking someone what their favorite flavor of ice cream is.

Joe is pretty convinced Brooks is a no-brainer. After that, Joe isn’t sure.

Joe would like JoeBucsFan.com readers to offer their choice(s).

Tiffany Simons of NBCSports.com suggests fantasy football players should draft/pick/promote/start Bucs running back Warrick Dunn this Sunday.

Joe isn’t bringing you this video because he’s keen to fantasy football. Rather, Joe is bringing you this video because he likes to look at Simons. Joe doesn’t have any opinion on Gregg Rosenthal.

Joe apologizes. Reggie Bush's girlfriend isn't quite in Carmella Garcia's league. But Joe has a longstanding Wonder Woman fantasy.

If you’re making a list of Bucs killers out there in the NFL, Reggie Bush has to be very high on the list. It’s too painful for Joe to revisit the details of the whoopin’ he’s put on our beloved Bucs.

Bush, who has been out about a month with a minor knee injury, is expected to return to action when New Orleans comes to Tampa on Sunday, according to the Times-Picayune.

Tailback Reggie Bush said, “I definitely feel like this is the week.” He has missed the past four games after tearing the meniscus in his left knee, but he has been inching closer to a return, increasing his workload in practice each of the past two weeks.

Bush said he didn’t suffer a setback last week, but he was held out of the Green Bay game as a precautionary measure.

“You’re just trying to make sure you’re 100 percent before you get back out there on the field,” he said.

Like many of you, Joe watched the Saints drop 51 points on the Packers on Monday night. That was without Bush, who creates more options in the passing game and has breakaway speed.

The Saints come to Tampa with the No. 1 ranked pass offense. The Bucs are No. 2 in the NFL versus the pass. It should be a great matchup.

And let’s hope Bush brings his celebrity girlfriend with him. Perhaps she’ll wear her Wonder Woman costume again and have a wardrobe malfunction.

Give it up for Ted Rieger of Oldsmar who won last week’s contest.

Rieger brought home a $20 gift card to the Courtside Grille. Ted said he’s never won anything in his life and he can’t wait to check out Courtside Grille in Westchase with his dad on Sunday.

You can be a winner, too. If you haven’t feasted at the Courtside Grille during football season, well, you haven’t taken on the Bay area’s best feeding frenzy and drinkfest on gameday.

E-mail Joe how many yards Warrick Dunn will rush for Sunday against New Orleans. If your guess is closest, and within 15 yards, Joe will send you a $20 gift card to Courtside Grille.  You must include your name, mailing address and e-mail. 

Courtside Grille, with locations in Feather Sound and Westchase, serves up a Sunday tailgate all-you-can-eat that would satisfy the hungriest offensive lineman.

SI.com columnist and NFL guru Peter King is scheduled to appear on “Happy Hour With J.P. Peterson” on WQYK-AM 1010 this afternoon at roughly 3:20 p.m.

Joe is sure King will discuss an item he had in his Monday Morning Quarterback column yesterday that concerned Joe greatly. King is likely to fire back a couple of shots at JoeBucsFan.com.

If you are not near a radio, you can hear the show streamed from the station’s website.

MEMO TO KING: If you have any issue with anything Joe wrote yesterday in his post, Joe is offering you an open and unedited forum to refute Joe’s concerns. Joe can reached at joe@joebucsfan.com.