If guard Carl Nicks can’t go, then C Evan Dietrich-Smith quickly becomes a critical player.

With training camp but four days away, lots of people are pumping out lots of lists (not including Joe’s Worst 20 Bucs nightmares). Of course, Joe always tries to be different.

So too may the Bucs be trying something different: winning with subpar guard play. [read more]

Johnathan Banks may be a “key” in the developing Bucs defense.

Since the departure of All-World cornerback Darrelle Revis and the signing of All-Pro cornerback Alterraun Verner, Bucs fans don’t believe the secondary has slipped one iota.

Compared to two years ago and the secondary the Bucs trotted out there that nearly set an NFL record for most passing yards allowed, an eyerake worse than an image of Rosie O’Donnell nude, the Tampa Bay secondary is light years ahead. [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 years. Serious deliberations went down at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters. Beer bottles were thrown. Game film came out. Arguments ensued.

One poorly dressed intern even quit when he was told Kellen DJ Toes On The Line Winslow wasn’t a finalist. [read more]

“Man, that girl went all Talib on us.”

Perhaps in a drunken search for Mike Williams’ old house, former Destiny’s Child star Farrah Franklin was arrested in the wee hours on the front lawn of a home that wasn’t hers yesterday.

What this has to do with the Bucs is that Tampa Bay defensive end Da’Quan Bowers is the good citizen who helped law enforcement find Franklin and give a her cot to sleep on. [read more]

If Josh McCown hears voices in his head when they shouldn’t be there, it’s understandable. The Tampa Bay starting quarterback has burned through NFL playbooks at an alarming rate.

Joe doubts the NFL stats geeks keep track of such things, but during an exclusive chat with Joe, McCown agreed that he’s on his 11th offensive coordinator, and that’s not counting his stint in 49ers camp in 2011 and a 2010 dance with the Harford colonials of the UFL. [read more]

Joe’s taken all kinds of feedback on The Countdown: Worst 20 Buccaneers Of The Past 10 Years. It sure has stirred the passions of Bucs fans. Joe’s inbox has been filled with outrage.

Most of it has been reasonable, except Joe doesn’t get the endless Derrick Ward hate. [read more]

Fans might want to hit the brakes when it comes to anointing the 2014 Tampa Bay defense great.

That’s the message from soon-to-be Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks. [read more]

A lot of pressure is being put on Michael Johnson.

Hopefully in four days, Joe can somehow bury the memories nightmare of the Bucs (lack of) pass rush to a deep, dark place.

You know the kind of memories: like when you were three and thought the boogieman was hiding in your basement once the lights were turned off? Or that Jack the Ripper was knocking on neighborhood doors looking to knife you? Or worse yet: the nuns, armed with pointers, trying to teach you algebra? [read more]

Jeff Demps has the speed to make coaches drool and poor ball security (in OTAs) to make coaches want to vomit on themselves.

OK, Bucs fans. Joe can see the light at the end of the tunnel. He is sure you can as well.

After way too much chatter about the draft for months (May draft stinks) and the annual NFL summer siesta, football is in reach. Bucs training camp is but four days away. Joe can smell the sweat of cheerleaders from here. (It’s a fruity scent.)

Everybody and their brother will or has typed up their training camp preview. Joe thinks he’s been doing that all summer. [read more]

Endless Top-Whatever lists across the Internet got Joe thinking of the Tampa Bay drought since their Super Bowl glory. Not a playoff victory since! And that motivated Joe to rank the 20 worst Buccaneers of the past 10 years.

Serious deliberations went down at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters.

Beers bottles were thrown. Game film came out. Arguments ensued. [read more]

One NFL.com analyst expects a big season from Doug Martin.

Yes, Joe’s antennae jumped the night the Bucs drafted running back Charles Sims. Of course, Lovie Smith said moments later that Sims was drafted largely because of his pass-catching abilities.

Still, drafting a running back that high with a stable full of running backs, led by Doug Martin, seemed to suggest maybe Lovie wasn’t a Martin guy. [read more]

Derrick Brooks isn’t coasting

Now just 13 days before Bucs icon Derrick Brooks’ induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, get used to hearing plenty from No. 55.

Joe particularly liked this very casual chat with Brooks talking about the history and evolution of his Tampa charter high school, current Bucs, and much more. [read more]

Endless Top-Whatever lists across the Internet got Joe thinking of the Tampa Bay drought since their Super Bowl glory. Not a playoff victory since! And that motivated Joe to rank the 20 worst Buccaneers of the past 10 years.

Serious deliberations went into this at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters.

Beers bottles were thrown. Game film came out. Arguments ensued. Chants of Sabby from wild interns were quieted by Joe. [read more]

A lot of questions on offense must be answered to expect Lovie Smith to be a playoff head coach this season.

It is almost hard to believe the Bucs haven’t won a playoff game since Chucky hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy aloft in victory in San Diego. If the Bucs don’t make the playoffs, much less not win a playoff game this year, then that will make it 12 years. Incredible.

In the current age of NFL parity, not winning a playoff game in 12 years is extraordinary. And Joe isn’t ready to buy playoff tickets this year, not as we currently stand in July. [read more]