One draft guru Joe respects is Russ Lande. The former NFL Scout who now works as a college scouting director in the CFL offers researched takes, and he doesn’t throw crap against the wall. Lande has written books on the NFL Draft, and you’ve probably heard him on radio or TV, or seen his work for NationalFootballPost.com or Sporting News.

His new mock draft is intriguing. [read more]

Spreadsheeters don’t like Davin Joseph.

In the Bucs locker room, there are few good guys like Davin Joseph. July or December, win or loss, hot or cold, Joesph is always a stand-up guy, always willing to discuss a game or a practice, and often harshly critiques himself.

If you see Joseph bouncing around Tampa and approach him, he will stop in his tracks to shake your hand and flash that ear-to-ear smile. In the past, Joseph masked that calm, cool, friendly demeanor with a bit of a nasty side on the football field. He donates a lot of cash and work to help out Blake High School’s athletic department and works with programs to help kids stay in school. [read more]

If one is to read the tea leaves and read the smoke coming from One Buc Palace, at the very least the Bucs will pursue a quarterback to compete with Mike Glennon. Joe has no issue with that at all. Competition, as former Bucs commander Greg Schiano preached, is always good.

For Tampa Bay Times sports scribe Tom Jones, that competition comes in the form of free agent southpaw Michael Vick. Jones believes the Bucs not just should sign Vick, but before dusk sets on March 11, the first day of free agency, Vick should be breaking down tape with Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford at One Buc Palace. [read more]

Surely NFL draft analysts are not that inebriated to believe the Bucs should replace Lavonte David the way they are seemingly pimping the Bucs to select an OLB at No. 7 overall?

Sometimes, Joe doesn’t understand football people. Granted, Joe will never be Chucky much less Jim Bates, but about some Bucs-related matters, Joe just has to scratch his head.

There are all sorts of draft analysts that have the Bucs taking Buffalo linebacker Kahlil Mack with the seventh pick. Others have the Bucs taking UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr. Help Joe out, someone. [read more]

Jeff Tedford likely only has two seasons to succeed. So what QB will he want?

Don’t think the new Bucs regime is under win-now pressure?

Consider the recent Twittering of former Jets linebackers coach and personnel executive Pat Kirwan, who co-hosts Movin’ The Chains on NFL Radio and does a bunch of work for CBS Sports. Kirwan noted that only three offensive coordinators in the 32-team NFL have been with their club for three straight seasons. [read more]

As Joe is watching national TV news this morning and seeing just about everyone along the eastern seaboard north of Valdosta digging out from yet another wintry mix of snow and ice — damn, Joe counts his blessings every day living in an area where a snow shovel is but a rumor — Joe brings the final installment of his interview with legendary former Dallas Cowboys personnel man Gil Brandt.

Today, Brandt talks about how important it is for NFL teams to have a successful quarterback. [read more]

His coach wants more

So how can star receiver Vincent Jackson improve?

For Joe, that’s an easy answer, Jackson could work with a training guru this offseason to enhance his speed. Get faster. Jackson’s been caught from behind too many times the past couple of seasons. [read more]

Man, Joe almost pities the good folks of Cleveland. Just look at their misery during the winter and, when it comes to late summer when most of America is wetting its pants in anticipation of football, the poor people of northeast Ohio are kicked in the groin repeatedly by the Browns.

If any snobbish NFL suit tries to mock fans for not knowing what they are talking about, then point that individual in the general direction of the Factory of Sadness on the shores of Lake Erie. Why, a drunk in a bar couldn’t do any worse than what alleged learned football men have wrought upon Cleveland since the original team bolted for Baltimore. [read more]

It was time again to sit down for an hour this evening with the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620.

Joe talked a bunch about Mike Glennon, Greg Schiano and the Browns, trading up in the NFL Draft, and more.

Joe gets the concept of Bucs fans and observers rejecting all things Rutgers, but not every Scarlet Knight is worthy of dismissal.

So Joe was surprised to learn one analyst is so eager to dump free agent running back Brian Leonard in favor of Bobby Rainey. [read more]

“You may not be familiar with that animal; it’s called a second-half touchdown.”

Joe consistently brings you varying assessments of Mike Glennon. Why? Because Glennon’s starting job is not secure — and he plays the most important position on the football field.

Rich Gannon says Glennon is “the right guy.” Warren Sapp says he’s in over his head. Gil Brandt calls Glennon “interesting.” Amani Toomer is referencing farm animals. [read more]

Joe knows fans love mock drafts like Joe loves beers (or Joe’s newfound Sunday favorite, the bacon Bloody Mary). In a perfect world, we could consume them on end. But be wary, good things come with responsibility.

Enter prickly Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com. He has a mock draft, but wisely points out how irresponsible mock drafts are before free agency. Joe can’t disagree with that point whatsoever. [read more]

Coach killer?

Joe has written several times that the antics of leaky Rip Van Freeman in two cities  — Freeman did his best to firebomb the Bucs locker room to force his way out and continued his tardy stunts in Minnesota — earned Freeman the dubious honor of getting three people fired: former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik, former Bucs commander Greg Schiano and former Vikings head man Leslie Frazier (who is now the defensive coordinator of your Pewter Pirates). [read more]

The details of the legal hassle Bucs wide receiver Mike Williams finds himself in has everything to do with a front door. In short, a court document alleges Williams did up to $200 damage to a front door, reports Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. [read more]

“Others know you are blessed, my son.”

Yes, Joe is dumbfounded by today’s passionate column by Pat Yasinskas, ESPN.com Bucs beat writer. Yasinskas makes a long case (about 700 words) that Mike Glennon very likely could be the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl quarterback.

Joe can respond to that in one word: poppycock. [read more]

An O-lineman for the Bucs, if they trade down?

Fans of former Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik will pay close attention to this post. The anti-Dominik crowd will now know one guy they absolutely don’t want to draft. [read more]