Da’Quan Bowers was candid and confident this morning reporting to training camp

Fresh off playing good citizen for an intoxicated lady, and getting called out by his general manager, embattled Bucs defensive end Da’Quan Bowers was one of the early arrivals to Bucs training camp this morning.

Always a pretty mellow guy, Bowers was talking a big game at One Buc Palace. [read more]

Josh McCown offered a take on Bucs fans this morning.

Sun was rising at One Buc Palace this morning as the latest edition of the Buccaneers, Lovie Smith’s Buccaneers, arrived to start the 2014 season.

Team leader and starting quarterback Josh McCown was among those who spoke to Joe and assembled media. [read more]

Bucs players are filing into One Buc Palace this very moment. Of course Joe will have updates as you can expect.

As we find out today if Carl Nicks still has two feet (and presumably, 10 toes), the memories of the Nightmare on Dale Mabry Highway, otherwise known as the rancid 2013 season, are finally fading away.

A new era is about to dawn. Where this leads us, who knows? [read more]

Akeem Spence hasn’t “taken his foot off the gas,” says the Bucs GM, who was not referencing Spence’s recent ticket for driving 100+ miles per hour.

Now this is interesting. Damn, Joe is fired up for training camp.

Lovie Smith is on record saying his nose tackle must be a pass rusher first. Run-stuffers need not apply on Lovie’s watch. [read more]

Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht sat down for an hour this evening to talk all things Bucs. [read more]

Bucs GM Jason Licht issued Da’Quan Bowers a blunt challenge if not a frank warning

When Bucs defensive end Da’Quan Bowers was called out by his position coach Joe Cullen near the end of OTAs, it raised all sorts of red flags.

For a position coach to openly mock a player for being out of shape — in June, no less — coming off a knee surgery of unknown severity, wow! That showed the new regime was no longer going to baby Bowers and that his Tampa Bay days could very well be numbered.

That point was hit home big time this evening. During a townhall meeting with Joe’s good friend, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620, broadcast live before a studio audience at the Clear Channel headquarters in Tampa, Licht, in no uncertain terms, let it be known that Bowers has arrived at his career crossroads. [read more]

The Bucs’ GM loves his Pro Bowl defensive tackle

The Bucs want to give Gerald McCoy a big fat new contract.

The only question is when and how much. Jason Licht addressed that this evening on WDAE-AM 620. [read more]

Bucs general manager Jason Licht is proud to say he’s not a salary cap guy. He’s a film junkie, a scout at heart.

But Licht spoke tonight about how he’s transitioned in recently years into a numbers lover. [read more]

Oh, the pride is oozing.

Nobody works harder than this Buccaneer, says Lovie Smith.

Lovie even told a national audience yesterday. [read more]

Former Super Bowl quarterback Rich Gannon was outraged that Tiquan Underwood was a No. 2 receiver for the Bucs

Why is Lovie Smith the Tampa Bay head coach and Jason Licht their general manager? Simple, said former Super Bowl quarterback Rich Gannon. It was the thin roster last season.

Yesterday, Gannon, co-hosting “The Blitz” with Bruce Murray, heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, did a drive-by shooting of a preview of each NFC South team. He went off on the Bucs. [read more]

A former teammate of Tampa Bay starting quarterback Josh McCown, and a man quite popular among Bucs fans, says the Bucs’ new QB has all the skills — on and off the field — to become an epic success story.

With training camp just two days away, optimism is everywhere. [read more]

Don’t mess the enlightening fun this evening when Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht — for an entire hour — joins the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, Steve Duemig, for a Town Hall style sit down featuring questions from fans and Duemig. The action starts at 5 p.m.

Click below to listen live.

Jeff Tedford’s up-tempo offense may soon be the NFL norm

One of the great mysteries of the 2014 Bucs, aside from whether guard Carl Nicks can practice or suit up for games, is the Jeff Tedford offense. The Bucs are treating his offense as if it is the Manhattan Project.

Tedford, who has never stepped on an NFL field as an NFL employee of any sort, was a college football guru whose only experience in professional football was the CFL variety. What his offense may look like is akin to wondering about the whereabouts of D.B. Cooper. [read more]

A former Tampa Bay quarterback has worked as an analyst covering plenty of West Virginia football, and he’s all jacked up about Charles Sims joining the Buccaneers.

Weed-friendly Chris Simms is a broadcaster nowadays, and he’s absolutely convinced the Bucs have scored one of the most dangerous NFL prospects. [read more]

The popular NFL Top-Whatever craze got Joe thinking of the anemic Tampa Bay teams of the past 10 years. Not a Bucs playoff victory since their Super Bowl glory. Ugh!

That motivated Joe to gather with his senior and junior level staff and rank the 20 worst Buccaneers of those seasons. Serious deliberations went down at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters. Beer bottles were thrown. Game film came out. Arguments ensued.

One sour young female employee cursed up a storm when told Kenyatta Walker wasn’t a finalist. [read more]