Like all Bucs fans, Joe is wondering what kind of immediate impact Raheem the Dream will have on the Bucs fortunes. Jason Horowitz, Ian Eagle and Clark Judge of CBSSports.com draw back the curtains for a peek. Caution Bucs fans, it ain’t pretty.

Bucs talk begins at about the 4:00 mark.

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Maybe now the wild rumors of Chucky going to Notre Dame in February can be put to rest.

Joe told you last year. He also told you today.

Now, Notre Dame is telling you, and the Fighting Irish are fighting mad.

“There’s no way in Touchdown Jesus that Chucky is coming to Notre Dame in February,” or in so many words.

John Taylor of CollegeFootballTalk.com, sister site of ProFootballTalk.com, contacted Notre Dame for a response to reports coach Charlie Weis was to be fired just after signing day Feb. 4 and be replaced by Chucky.

Let’s just say the Domers aren’t very happy about the rumor.

“It’s ridiculous that this rumor has even gained the traction it has over the past few days,” Notre Dame director of of football media relations Brian Hardin told the website. “I hesitate to respond to it at all because by dignifying this ‘report,’ I set myself up to be forced to set the record straight on future rumors. But it’s obvious that some people out there are trying to sabotage our recruiting efforts and it’s unfortunate that their agenda has been published and reproduced in recent days.”

Anyone with an ounce of knowledge about college football would recognize how bogus of a rumor that was. But there were/are enough gullible people in the fourth estate to run with it like someone just caught James W. McCord, Jr. snooping around a hotel in Washington where he shouldn’t have been.

These rumors of Chucky taking the coaching gig at Notre Dame come February are so crazy, it's enough to make Chucky himself scream.

Sometimes Joe can understand why much of America hates the fourth estate. The following is just such a reason:

Rumors — many fanned by Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com — are circulating that once national signing day passes Feb. 4, Notre Dame will fire Tuna wannabe Charlie Weis and hire Chucky.

These rumors are so absurd Joe doesn’t know where to start. Joe guesses that he will begin by documenting how he predicted these rumors last year.

On face value alone, the rumors are ludicrous bordering on insane. First, these rumors are doing a nice job of torpedoing Notre Dame’s recruiting. What recruit wants to sign with a school when the guy recruiting him will be gone as soon as the ink dries on his letter of intent?

Second, the moment Weis is fired, assuming the rumors are true — which is a big stretch of the imagination — how many of those recruits will decide to simply sit out a year in order to be released from their letter of intent, which is a binding contract?

Third, while it’s pretty obvious Weis is on thin ice, why in the world would Notre Dame want to follow a failed experiment of hiring an egomaniacal, alleged NFL offensive genius by repeating the same mistake with Chucky?

Fourth, the way players are starting to talk and information is beginning to float out of One Buc Palace, Chucky is a borderline pathological liar who is brutal on players. While Weis was tough with players in New England, the players didn’t want to beat him with a baseball bat like some Bucs seem to want to do with Chucky. Why would Notre Dame, which has had its image bruised enough already by Weis’ brusque, if not profane personality, want another such coach.

Then factor in how Chucky, who is still being paid by the Glazer Boys $5 million a year, would likely have to take a pay cut of roughly 60 percent to move to South Bend. Who in their right mind would do that?

Notre Dame likes to pride itself as above most schools in relation to academics and image. To cut loose a coach the moment players sign letters of intent — even a coach many Golden Domers would love to see have a door hit him in his massive rear end as he leaves the building —  would be the height of academic and athletic hypocrisy.

Notre Dame doesn’t want, doesn’t need and won’t pull such a stunt.

As Joe predicted last year, these Chucky-to-Notre Dame rumors would run wild and have as much validity as Joe claiming he will come home to find a scantily clad Bonnie Bernstein awaiting him.

Chucky is such a mad scientist, so writes Michael Lombardi, that he hates players.

It’s difficult to be a successful coach in any sport if you hate players. But being a player-hater is the charge against Chucky from former Gruden confidant Mike Lombardi, who now writes for NationalFootballPost.com.

Lombardi worked with Chucky in Philadelphia when Chucky was their offensive coordinator, and in Oakland where Chucky was once the Raiders’ head coach. Lombardi claims not only does Chucky hate players, he is so impatient that cannot be satisfied with any player on the roster.

When I joined him in Oakland, I learned more about him as a person and coach. What came to the forefront was that Jon is never happy. He can never love his players — especially his quarterback. Jon always wants new, even when new is not necessarily better. He was instrumental in returning the Raiders to their glory days with the help of some key players, notably Rich Gannon, then went off to Tampa to have all the power and ability to run his own show. That’s where his downfall started.

This sort of reinforces what Joe has come to believe about Chucky: That given a very strong general manager (or owner like Al Davis) who forces Chucky to do certain things, Chucky can be an excellent coach. When there are no checks and balances for Chucky, he’s like a drowning man flapping and wailing away on the surface trying to keep his head above choppy waters.

"You want me to treat you better? Then throw the damn ball to our guys, not theirs."

The regime change at One Buc Place has Bob Garcia talking Bucs again in his weekly blog for the Gilroy Dispatch. Garcia is Jeff Garcia’s father and a legendary retired college football coach.

The elder Garcia had stopped commenting on all things Buccaneers recently after the Tampa Tribune published one of his blog entries in which he took a shot at Derrick Brooks. Apparently, Jeff Garcia told dad to shutup because he had crossed the line.

But Bob Garcia is talking again, giving more of his trademark colorful and candid insight into the 2008 Bucs and his favorite target, Jon Gruden.

I don’t want to throw oil on the fire, and you don’t necessarily want to shout with a lot of delight over a guy getting fired, but there were a lot of things going on with that team. I think Jon has gotta reevaluate his life as far as coaching: The way he treats individuals, the way the offense is totally him, no input from anybody else, even his assistant coaches. Maybe this will be a wakeup call. Maybe he’ll get another opportunity down the road and maybe he’ll realize the way he was doing things is not the way you do it — dealing with human beings. They’re not machines or robots, or whatever. You know I don’t want to get all ecstatic and whatever, but he had it coming.

Hmm. “No input from anyone else, even his assistant coaches.” There are more juicy nuggets in this week’s edition.

Bucs icon and personnel executive Doug Williams might keep his job

One reason Joe became a Bucs fan years ago was Doug Williams at quarterback wearing the old orange jerseys, flipping the ball to Jimmie Giles and Kevin House. Joe, along with many other Bucs fans, have had a special spot in their heart for the old QB.

Joe was happy to see Chucky hire Williams to work in the Bucs’ front office some years ago. And despite the recent purge of Chucky followers, it appears Williams, whose contract runs out this winter, will remain a fixture with the Bucs if Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times is to be believed.

Doug Williams, whose contract expires next month, is expected to return to the Bucs in the pro personnel department. He has met with new GM Mark Dominik and accompanied coaches and team officials to the Senior Bowl.

Since the Bucs’ drafts in recent years haven’t exactly been stellar, Joe isn’t quite sure what to make of Williams as a personnel guy. But Joe is more than willing to give Williams a shot under the new regime.

Ah, the good ole’ days.

The St. Pete Times is reporting Raheem Morris got a four-year deal, possibly with an option for the Bucs to terminate the contract after three years.

No word yet on money.

And no confirmation of the rumor that Morris is working for $200,000 and an unlimited supply of Bucs tickets, beer and Manchester United jerseys.

Chucky's QB coach Greg Olson is a candidate for Bucs offensive coordinator. Olson is a close friend of Jeff Garcia and attended his marriage to the fabulous Carmella.

The latest round of Bucs rumors, courtesy of TBO.com, is naming Chucky’s quarterbacks coach, Greg Olson, as a strong candidate for the Bucs offensive coordinator position. 

Former Rams coach Scott Linehan appears to be the top candidate for offensive coordinator, says the St. Pete Times. And Chiefs offensive coordinator Chan Gailey and Browns offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski are in the hunt.

Olson is a very close friend of Jeff Garcia. Last year, the St. Pete Times reported Olson attended Garcia’s wedding to the lovely Carmella. Olson coached Garcia during his best years in San Francisco, as well as in Detroit.

In 2006, Olson was the Rams offensive coordinator, where he guided Marc Bulger to the Pro Bowl with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

In 2007, Bulger played more like Brian Griese and tossed 15 interceptions in 12 starts. With lots of help from Gus Frerotte and Brock Berlin, the ’07 Rams (3-13) led the league in interceptions, and Olson was relieved of his coordinator duties after the season. He then joined the Bucs as QB coach.

If Raheem Morris’ stated philosophy of “Stay the Course” is real, and Joe’s not sure it is, then it would make sense that he’d want an in-house guy who is part of the Bucs family.

Olson fits that mold. And Jeff Garcia is his good buddy. The Bucs could have a 39 1/2-year-old under center on opening day.

It seems Bruce Almighty fell on his sword in defense of Chucky.

October, 20, 1973, is best known in American political history as the “Saturday Night Massacre” because then-president Richard Nixon wanted special prosecutor Archibald Cox, who was investigating Watergate, fired.

Nixon’s attorney general Elliot Richardson refused to can Cox and resigned. Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus also refused Nixon’s demands and he too resigned.

Buccaneers history will show a similar episode for Jan. 16, 2009, the “Friday Night Massacre.”

The dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, Steve Duemig, just dropped a bombshell during his opening monologue today on WDAE-AM 620. Duemig, who has great sources within the Bucs organization and was the first to break the news that Raheem Morris was the new Bucs head coach, stated former Bucs general manager Bruce Almighty took a bullet for Chucky when, against the Glazer Boys’ direct orders, refused to fire Chucky.

The Glazer Boys then fired Bruce Almighty and Chucky.

Joe was sad to hear of the demise of Bruce Almighty. Joe thought Bruce Almighty did a fantastic job with the salary cap. And Joe thought the Glazer Boys would just shuffle the deck chairs and make Bruce Almighty the VP of football financial affairs or some such title.

Instead, Bruce Almighty, like Chucky, is now getting paid to fish. Paid quite handsomely, as a matter of fact.

Hey, even Dick Vitale knows a Super Bowl win is a priceless commodity, bay-bee!

The Glazer Boys paid a stiff price to lure Chucky from Al Davis back in 2002.

Since the Super Bowl win, the fortunes of the Bucs have pretty much been a downfall.

Still, that glorious Super Bowl win was worth it all for Joe and all real Bucs fans. Peter King of SI.com agrees.

I’d say it was worth it because you play to win the Holy Grail. Also, the Bucs are a solid eight- or nine-win team right now, and they’re in very good financial shape, the best in the NFC, with $45 million in cap room entering 2009. They’re slightly above average in talent right, with a strong offensive line, good building-block pass-rusher (Gaines Adams) and middle linebacker (Barrett Ruud), and a good young secondary, even with the aging Ronde Barber.

Joe will have a story later about Chucky. But ask a fan of the Saints, Bills, Vikings, Chargers, Falcons, Browns, Eagles, Seahawks, Titans, Texans, Jaguars, Lions and Bengals if they were would trade four lousy seasons and two additional one-and-done playoff appearances for a Super Bowl ring?

You are damned right they would!

In a candid comment to SI.com's Peter King, Raheem Morris expressed doubt in his ability as the new Bucs head coach

Unlike the empty cheerleading chants and cliches new Bucs coach Raheem Morris spurted during his initial press conference Saturday, Morris opened up with interesting comments to SI.com’s Peter King over the weekend. And in a breath of fresh air and honestly, Morris admits he’s a bit unsure if he’s up to the task of being Chucky’s successor.

“Getting a job at this age, I don’t know if you’re ready. But I don’t know if you’re ever ready. They could have given me the job at 65, and there would still be things I’d be unsure about. All I know to do is deal with each situation as it comes. Deal with the situation honestly, with candor, and be direct. Keep your core beliefs the same. They hired you because they believe in you. That’s what I plan to do.”

Joe only wishes Morris would have admitted as much in his press conference rather than whatever that jibberish was that came out of his mouth.

Joe has procrastinated too long on this, but Joe would like to thank JoeBucsFan.com readers. Readership here has climbed steadily through the Bucs season, and remarkably, Joe’s readership is climbing even more despite the fact the Bucs’ season ended in December.

Joe was just checking the stats for JoeBucsFan.com this morning and was blown away. There were thousands of unique visitors to the site Friday, most of which came Friday night after news broke that Chucky was fired.

It’s great to know so many Bucs fans are flocking to JoeBucsFan.com when they’re hungry for news about the team.

Joe extends his warm appreciation and thanks to his readers and Joe encourages you to tell your fellow Bucs fans about JoeBucsFan.com.

Get ready for a major announcement in February. Let’s just say that Joe is confident no one in the Tampa Bay MSM will provide draft coverage that will match Joe’s.

Our readers’ dedication to JoeBucsFan.com motivates Joe even more to pump out relevant content for Bucs fans. Thanks again. And Joe appreciates your support!

Apparently, the first move by new Bucs coach Raheem Morris was to ax offensive line coach Bill Muir. That troubles Joe.

Well, it seems Raheem Morris has made the first big move of his career as Bucs head coach, and it’s a curious one. Morris — Joe presumes — canned offensive line coach Bill Muir along with other assistants. per a release by the Buccaneers.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released six members of the coaching staff: Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line coach Bill Muir, Defensive Quality Control coach Johnny Cox, Defensive Quality Control coach Ejiro Evero, Offensive Assistant coach Jay Gruden, Head Strength and Conditioning coach Mike Morris and Assistant Offensive Line coach George Yarno.

Of all the assistants remaining from the Chucky regime, Joe thought Muir was the best. Let’s face it, the most promising and productive unit on the team was the offensive line. So why get rid of the guy responsible? That makes absolutely no sense to Joe.

That is, of course, unless Muir and Morris didn’t get along.

Former Bucs QB Jeff Carlson looks for a Steelers win to give him a share of the lead in the JoeBucsFan.com picks competition

Our crack team of NFL playoff experts has been cut down to the two leading contenders: JoeBucsFan.com analyst Bob Fox and former Bucs quarterback Jeff Carlson.  

Carlson, a TV and radio personality and quarterback trainer, is 5-3 picking winners through the playoffs. Fox, who also writes for numerous sports publications, is 6-2. Not bad, guys, especially in this wacky postseason. 

The contenders are completely split for Sunday’s AFC conference title game, but agree on the Eagles to beat the Cardinals in Arizona. Carlson says Philly will take it 24-20; Fox likes the Eagles 34-24.

Fox takes the Ravens to win 20-17, and Carlson has the Steelers by the same score.

Sometimes Bucs fans can be some of the smartest fans in the NFL. Joe thinks these two dudes are very well spoken. Heck, they should have their own blog.

Allow this video also to introduce you to the lovely Erica Pitzi, some new talent at Ch. 10. She’s Joe’s favorite Ivy League graduate after Bil Bradley, and she’s far more impressive in person.

The trend in the NFL is for young coaches, even younger than Chucky.

Three of four head coaches leading Championship Sunday teams have a grand total of six years experience. Two other playoff coaches this season were in their first year, as well. This is the trend that doomed Chucky, writes Thomas George of NFL.com.

So for that reason, an experienced coach not in the playoffs should be watching his back, George suggests.

And that’s fueling the idea among owners that if they can do it, why can’t we? Owners now feel emboldened about youth in their head coaches. About change, about fresh ideas, fresh faces in attempts to reach new places.

Thus, Jon Gruden is out in Tampa Bay; general manager Bruce Allen was fired on Friday, too.

Chucky is 45 so it’s not like he’s an old man. Joe believes the Glazer Boys got tired of the soap opera surrounding Chucky without the benefits of a single playoff win since the magical Super Bowl win.

Joe also wonders whether the possibility of Carmella unable to prance amid Tampa Bay eateries and shops next season was another factor in Chucky’s demise?

BSPN talking head Mark Schlereth discusses why the Glazer Boys pulled the trigger on Chucky.

Joe wonders what secretive former Bucs QB feeds Jason Whitlock information about Chucky

Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star is one of the best columnists in the country. He apparently was lobbying for Chucky to be the next coach of the Chiefs but was talked off the ledge by both former Bucs great Warren Sapp and “a former Bucs” quarterback.

“He would do a fine job in Kansas City,” Sapp told me. “Why not? The thing that would really be exciting for Gruden in KC is that he’d have a strong-armed young quarterback to work with. Hell, Tyler Thigpen damn near saved Herm Edwards’ job.”

This is where I had to tell Warren to slow his roll.

Tyler Thigpen is not Kansas City’s quarterback of the future. The Chiefs need to draft and develop a franchise quarterback.

“Well, Gruden has never groomed a young quarterback,” Sapp acknowledged. “He’s turned some into head cases.”

Exactly. The former Buccaneer QB I talked to on Saturday made the same point. His contention was that Gruden is a perfect fit for a veteran team, not a young rebuilding club.

“Gruden would be great for Dallas,” the former QB said.

Joe almost is convinced now that Chucky is to quarterbacks what Dave Duncan is to pitchers in baseball. Duncan is a longtime pet orangutan/pitching coach of Tony LaRussa, who just happens to be a friend of Chucky. Given a veteran pitcher, Duncan works well with the hurler. Given a young pitcher to groom, Duncan is a butcher with few equals.

There’s plenty of evidence now to suggest Chucky is a butcher of young quarterbacks. Still, Joe would love to know the identity of Whitlock’s “former Bucs QB.”