The TV watchers have gathered at ProFootballFocus.com headquarters in jolly old England to determine which quarterback in the NFL is the worst when pressured.

Even Bucs fans walking around with a white cane could tell that all too often, especially in important games, Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman wilted way too often under pressure. And, yes, the numbers-crunchers have confirmed what Bucs fans already knew. But if there is any consolation, Freeman is in the same boat as a future Hall of Famer with three rings.

Yes, that would be Tom Brady.

Freeman has a completion percentage under pressure of 41.9 percent, which is just a hair over Brady’s 40.4 percent under pressure.

The difference is turnovers. Brady has but two interceptions while under pressure. Freeman leads this list by tossing a ghastly nine interceptions while feeling the heat.

To his credit, Freeman is tied with Andrew Luck on the list for touchdowns thrown under pressure, seven.

Joe has a hunch if Freeman can tune down the picks while defenders are in his face, it could translate into three additional wins.

That’s a lot.

The Buccaneers support the community in all kinds of cool ways, some of which Joe has written about, but this latest one is way up there on the wow meter.

Davin Joseph recently returned from an eight-day NFL-USO tour in the Middle East with all kinds of cool stories and experiences. Buccaneers.com pumped out a two-part Q&A with Joseph, who relayed a take on danger he encountered, as well as finding plenty of pewter lovers.

Buccaneers.com: You said one of the first servicemen you met was a Buccaneers fan. How many others did you meet overseas?

Joseph: “I didn’t even get in half of the pictures of all of the Bucs fans that I met there.  A lot of people were either at one time based here in Tampa, were from Tampa or were just Buccaneers fans.  You saw so many people that were happy to see a Buccaneer and it was an awesome feeling to know that we have so many fans there and so much support there.  It was like no other feeling and I really didn’t expect it, but it was a pleasant surprise to meet new Bucs fans.”

Kudos to Joseph for giving his time and representing all things Bucs so well. You can read the full Q&A via the above link.

Many Bucs fans, Joe included, thought perhaps the Bucs would dabble in free agency, or maybe in the middle rounds of next month’s draft, to grab a right tackle to either replace or push incumbent Demar Dotson.

The former basketball player became the Bucs starter early last season when then starter Jeremy Trueblood was benched. Dotson played OK but nothing that would make people forget Jonathan Ogden.

Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik signed Dotson to an extension, which could lock him up as a starter, but Steve White isn’t a believer. The former Bucs defensive end looked behind the numbers and is not convinced Dotson will start for the Bucs.

@sgw94: Finally saw the terms of Dotson’s extension. Uhmmm unless he definitely goes back to being a back up he got robbed! … I honestly don’t know why he would sign that deal unless they threatened to release him. … Great backup money but cheap starter $.

Well now, that explains a lot. Look, Joe doesn’t believe just because Dominik has a lot of cash under the cap to spend he should go drunken sailor just for the hell of it. He still has to answer to Team Glazer how he spends their cash.

So if Dotson truly is being paid backup money, perhaps Dominik is still sniffing for another right tackle, as Joe referenced this morning?

Joe’s been intrigued by Rays owner Stu Sternberg and team president Matt Silverman bouncing around in various interviews lately preaching a “One More Game” theme.

Essentially, the Rays honchos are out there telling media and fans that if each individual person who came a Rays game last year simply attended one more game in 2013, then the team would be in great financial shape and be far from the cellar of Major League baseball attendance. Silverman even said yesterday on 98.7 FM that the Rays would be happy with revenue at Tropicana Field if that were the case, almost implying there would be no urgency for a new stadium if current fans stepped up just one step higher.

This got Joe thinking about the state of the Buccaneers and the heinous blacked out games that are a stain on the entire Tampa Bay community. The sad reality is that fans in other cities, annoying local fans of other NFL teams, and many Bucs fans, find blackouts to be thoroughly humiliating and embarrassing.

What if every Bucs fan not holding a season ticket, and who attended a game last season, attended one more game this year versus? Joe suspects the Rays’ “One More Game” goal applied to the Bucs would end blackouts in a hurry.

Earlier this month, Jaguars owner Shahid Khan opened up for a comprehensive interview with Forbes. It was extremely revealing and Joe recommends the entire piece.

The excerpt below dives into ticket sales and how the Jaguars climbed the ranks of NFL in ticket sales last season despite their awful team. Interestingly, they allowed toddlers in free and let fans bring in water and food — and that led to more food and drink sales.

Moving over to the business side, you obviously think it had a much better year than the football side.

There were three games that we took tarps off. A year ago we were 29th in ticket sales. We finished 20th in ticket sales. The London experience is turning out to be everything and more than I thought. The game is sold out, we got marketing rights in London, which is the first time that’s happened. Just as we speak, we’re hiring a dedicated sales and marketing representative for the Jaguars in London. The ticket revenue for a London team is about 44% higher, so playing that game is better. Wembley is a better stadium and so on. Sponsorship-wise we’ve done well. We have a number of fans who are excited to attend games there.

We’re also off to a record start on season ticket sales in Jacksonville even though we have raised prices and had a 2-14 season. We expect to have record season ticket sales. It’s about engaging the season ticket holders and doing a lot with the gameday experience. We redid the locker rooms last year. We’re spending more money on the weight room. We’re moving forward now with getting the state to upgrade the stadium with a big scoreboard, the biggest in the business. We’re getting state and local support on that, which is very encouraging. So I think business side, it’s almost a mirror image, regrettably of what happened on the football side.

… …

Blackout is not even on the horizon. But typically what teams do is buy tickets, which is allowed under NFL rules [to avoid blackouts]. The #20 position in sales is actual money that we recorded. Another thing which is interesting, we allowed people to bring kids under 34 inches tall in for free. We also allowed water and food in free. You’d be amazed that our per capita sales of food and drink went up.

How is that possible?

Well, it’s very simple. People brought in food, and you attract a certain budget crowd. “I can go to the games, and don’t have to take a babysitter, I can take my son with me.” And then you’re attracting a crowd that says “I’m not going to buy the $5 hotdog, I’m going to buy the $9 beer.” A lot of the business moves sound counter-intuitive but they turned out really well.

Of course, Team Glazer also has slashed prices of many tickets over the past few years, offered discount concessions for select games, among other measures to lure fans. Stadium improvements are on the way, as are new food vendors and more.

Yes, fans across the NFL are increasingly opting to stay home to enjoy football Sundays. But somehow, it seems, the lousy Jaguars, in a tiny Florida market, are making significant strides.

Joe wonders what it would take for Bucs fans to attend “One More Game.”

Yes, the Bucs inked Demar Dotson through 2016 yesterday. (No, Joe doesn’t know how many years are guaranteed.) But Joe is confident this move is about depth more than an anointing of Dotson at right tackle.

The Bucs are well aware of Dotson’s shortcomings and considering the New Schiano Order and rockstar general manager Mark Dominik are always talking about the importance of competition, surely another promising right tackle will find his way to the Bucs. Considering Dominik has only drafted one offensive lineman in four years and has said he prefers O-linemen who have shown they can adjust to the pro game, even if only in preseason, Joe’s sure Dotson’s competition/replacement will come via free agency or the waiver wire.

Bucs fans may have forgotten Dotson was the backup left tackle last season and in years past. Raheem Morris even tried to sell the media on Dotson’s ability as a starting left tackle during Donald Penn’s holdout of 2010.

Joe doesn’t doubt Dotson’s versatility, as well as his ability to continue to develop under Bob Bostad. But Joe would hardly be surprised if Dotson starts the season as the first man off the bench in case Penn or a new right tackle gets hurt.

OK Bucs fans, the NFL draft begins four weeks from tonight. Time for Joe to start focusing a bit more on the draft.

Earlier today, Joe brought a video from his good friend, “The Commish,” Justin Pawlowski of WHFS-FM 98.7. Each weekday late afternoon/evening, Joe will try to bring a potential prospect Bucs fans may be interested in, heavily focused on cornerback which is a crying need for the Bucs.

Now a lot of Bucs fans have pointed to Johnthan Banks, a corner at Mississippi State, who may fall to the Bucs in the second round. (Joe emphasizes, “may.”)

All the attention on the Mississippi State product may be taking the spotlight off his teammate who just may be a big time sleeper, that would be fellow cornerback Darius Slay.

Now if Bucs rock star general mananger Mark Dominik is looking for a well-rounded athlete, Slay is the guy. He was a basketball and track star in high school and started 12 games his first year on the Starkville campus.

Slay is known as a tough guy who is able to use his hands to battle receivers and force incompletions though at times he can get worked with speedy receives.

Dominik has stated the crop of corners is three rounds deep. Joe firmly expects Dominik to draft two corners. Might Slay be the second corner off the board for the Bucs?

OK, you Bucs fans who have been tossing lamps against the wall at home and drop-kicking the cat because Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik hasn’t made many moves since signing safety Dashon Goldson, your day has been made.

In the shadows of the inner-workings of the NFL, it seems the Bucs made a move to secure their offensive line for the near future.

It appears Demar Dotson got a contract extension.

Per someone by the Twitter moniker of @Jason_OTC, he noticed NFLPA records that shows Dotson is on the books for the next three years.

@Jason_OTC: Not sure if I just completely missed this the other day or not but it looks the #Buccaneers signed T Demar Dotson to a 3 year extension … Per NFLPA records base salaries for Dotson are $1 mil in 2013, 1.25 in 2014, 1.5 in 2015, and 1.75 in 2016

Per Rotoworld.com, Dotson was about to enter the final year of his two-year contract.

So Bucs fans can quit hollering about filling a hole on the offensive line. That hole has now been filled.

See, Dominik is doing something.

It’s almost like the parade scene in the final moments of the comedy classic “Animal House.”

Bucs fans are outraged as they see rivals sign valuable players who may have helped the Bucs. Whether it is Leon Washington with the Patriots, the Dixie Chicks signing Osi Umenyiora or the Saints signing a pair of understated yet talented cornerbacks, the Bucs, since the first day of free agency, remain quiet.

Yes, the Bucs signed stud safety Dashon Goldson, which was fantastic, but Bucs fans see the crater (not hole) at cornerback and cannot fathom why Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik has not signed anyone with a pulse to play corner.

Ah, such is life in the age of video games and fantasy football where only a click of a button brings you a player.

Yet through the din of pounding fists, like the cop in the aforementioned “Animal House” scene, a voice of reason softy cries out, in so many words, “Remain calm.”

That is the Bucs’ Facebook page.

The powers that be at One Buc Palace have heard the angry, desperate pleas of player transactions and have issued a statement. On the Bucs Facebook page, is a poster of sorts pleading with Bucs fans to remain patient.

KEEP CALM
AND
LIVE
THE
BUCS
LIFE

There is a point to all of this. The draft is less than a month away. The Bucs are five months from kicking off the regular season. There is plenty of time for Dominik to upgrade the corner position as well as the defensive line.

But Bucs fans, this is evidence the Bucs brass hears your cries in the dark of night.

Last season, the Bucs paid Jeremy Trueblood $4 million to largely sit on his ass and watch Demar Dotson have an average-at-best season at right tackle.

Perhaps heralded free agent right tackle Eric Winston would take the same money to produce and be the final cog in the NFL’s nastiest (in a good way) offensive line?

Winston, who publicly skewered Chiefs fans for cheering when Matt Cassel got hurt last season, was cut from Kansas City two weeks ago. Since then, he’s been visiting various teams (not the Bucs) but hasn’t inked a deal yet. Per ProFootballTalk.com, Winston just thinks it’s an off year for most free agents.

Winston turns 30 in November, and he hasn’t missed a game since 2006. He would be a significant upgrade for the Bucs. Joe’s having a hard time finding anyone saying Winston’s play sucks.

Yes, the Bucs have more pressing needs. However, Joe knows Greg Schiano yearns to run the ball — and run some more. And Greg Schiano has revealed this offseason that he likes what he sees when Josh Freeman throws on the run. A stud right tackle sure would help.

Winston might come cheap on a one-year deal. He might like playing next to a Pro Bowl guard in Davin Joseph. And the Bucs certainly have money to play with.

Spa-day-loving, pill-popping, BS-peddling Eric Wright, the Bucs’ letdown cornerback, explained on his blog recently that he’s tight with the Bucs’ new All-Pro safety and helped recruit Dashon Goldson to Tampa.

That really happened, says Goldson.

Tomorrow at 10 a.m., 98.7 FM host Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski will air an exclusive interview with Goldson, but The Commish has released excerpts that include Goldson talking about his relationship with Wright and how he believes he can mentor Wright back to a successful path.

“I definitely feel that I can be the person that can help guide him and be a positive role model and help him get back to that player he was and I know he can be,” Goldson said.

This is all fascinating to Joe. And Joe has to wonder whether there’s a chance the Bucs wooed Goldson, in part, with the chance to play with his close friend Wright. Many Bucs fans will remember how the re-signing of Davin Joseph seemed tied to his pal and linemate Jeremy Trueblood getting a new contract.

Regardless, Joe doesn’t want to see Wright in a Bucs uniform this season. The Bucs can do better.

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All that chatter about the Bucs and Tommy Kelly made Joe decide to go defensive tackles with his first draft video of the season.

Yes, JoeBucsFanTV has returned. Enjoy!

Joe was having a nice, calm, peaceful, quiet, relaxing Wednesday evening, the calm before the NCAA hoops Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds, watching DVR reruns of 24 when Joe learned free agent defensive end Osi Umenyiora was signed by the Dixie Chicks.

Joe knew what would happen next. The haters were awakened began bombarding Joe about how Bucs rock star general manager let yet another one get away and how Dominik is taking a two-month siesta, not to be disturbed until the first night of the draft.

Frankly, only the misinformed or the uneducated or the plain old haters would rag on Dominik for this non-move.

Short of Bucs coach Greg Schiano firing defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan, there is simply no way Osi was going to sign with the Bucs, even if Dominik pursued him like Joe would Rachel Watson on Clearwater Beach.

For those unaware, once upon a time, Sheridan was the defensive coordinator of the Giants, whence Osi came from. Few if any would suggest Sheridan did a good job with the Giants. He didn’t and his tenure was very short.

From Sheridan’s time with the Giants, he and Osi clashed, much of it came about when Sheridan benched Osi, relegating him to a part-time role. There was bad blood between the two. At one point, nerves between Osi and Sheridan were so frayed, the two got into a shouting match and Osi bolted from a team meeting in a fit of rage as a result.

It’s likely there is enough lingering animosity that Osi would never willingly put himself in the position of being an underling to Sheridan again.

And to be fair, Osi, who wasn’t exactly an angel with the Giants, may not have worked with the Bucs, Sheridan or not. There is a very real possibility that Sheridan has good intel on Osi and perhaps persuaded Schiano and Dominik to steer clear of him.

At any rate, those planning to march on One Buc Palace with lit torches and pitchforks wanting to storm Dominik’s office, put the liquor down and take a deep breath. This idea of Osi and the Bucs was dead on arrival.

What’s going to make Gerald McCoy turn into an absolute monster undertackle in his fourth season?

Former Bucs nose tackle Booger McFarland says a big, physical nose tackle alongside McCoy, one who can draw a double team on occasion and rush the passer, would be a great next step for the Bucs and McCoy. Speaking on his “Booger and Rich” show on 98.7 FM this evening, McFarland lobbied hard for the Bucs to pursue veteran former Raiders tackle Tommy Kelly to fill that role. Kelly was cut today.

McFarland likes Kelly’s size (6-6, 330), strength and experience but questions whether he’d bring the motor and dedication of Roy Miller.

Kelly, 32, is a very intriguing possibility. The guy hasn’t missed a game since 2007, and he played for years alongside Warren Sapp in Oakland.

Joe would love to hear what Sapp has to say about Kelly’s fit with the Bucs. If Sapp likes him, Joe suspects No. 99 has already been in touch with the New Schiano Order.

Since before the 2012 season was completed, Bucs fans already were hollering about what free agent cornerback the Bucs should sign when the free agency bell rang.

Now two weeks after the doors were thrown open to start free agency, the Bucs have not collected a cornerback for one of the NFL’s most historically rotten pass defenses (though Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik did reel in safety Dashon Goldson).

This has been met by Bucs fans about the same way citizens in Cypress reacted upon learning banks were closed by their government and funds seized. Of course, the situation has ratcheted up the expectations Bucs fans have that Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis will be wearing pewter and red, so Twittered eye-RAH Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune.

@IKaufmanTBO: Buc fans will be very upset if the club doesn’t consummate a deal for Revis. Lots of pressure on Dominik and Schiano to close this deal

Joe sees where Kaufman is going but Joe isn’t quite there yet. It’s pretty obvious Dominik doesn’t believe the corners currently on the free agent market are worth working up a sweat over.

Joe firmly believes Dominik thinks if he drafts two corners in the first three rounds, those guys will be just as talented and, perhaps, more cost effective than the guys knocking on doors looking for work as the close of March nears.

Also keep in mind Dominik could still keep Eric Wright in the fold. The fact he is still on the roster demonstrates how little Dominik thinks of the current cornerback free agent crop.

Remember folks, the regular season is five months away. Lot of clock left for Dominik to repair holes at corner.

When it was learned recently that former Bucs and current Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett had a torn rotator cuff, it backed up information Joe learned from a suit at One Buc Palace, who claimed one reason the Bucs let Bennett, their sack leader last season, walk is because the team was spooked his shoulder and ankle issues were not improving.

It seems the Bucs had solid information. Seattle general manager John Schneider conducted a radio interview Monday and said Bennett played last season with the same injury he will likely need surgery for, per BSPN.

Schneider said in the interview that it was his “understanding” that Bennett played with the injury last season when the 27-year-old had had a career-high nine sacks for the Buccaneers, starting all 16 games for the first time in his career.

Not only does this explain fully why Dominik waved goodbye to Bennett, it also may explain why Bennett’s numbers took a nosedive late in the season.

In the final five games, Bennett had but two sacks, both coming against the Eagles in that debacle of a loss at home.