Joe usually monitors coverage of the opposition’s beat writers both before and after a Bucs game. So this piece totally slipped by Joe.

Joe has to thank his good friend Justin Pawlowski of WDAE-AM 620 for this find.

Seems as though Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart has a very low opinion of the Bucs front seven. That’s understandable to Joe, who noticed more heart and passion among tackling dummies than what the Bucs defense displayed on the Panthers’ game-winning, 80-yard drive late in the game.

Carolina jammed the ball right up the Bucs rear end 16 out of 17 plays on that drive. So a reader can almost sense the giggling in Stewart’s voice reading his quote about that drive, reports Charles Chandler of the Charlotte Observer.

Stewart said the Panthers worked extensively on their running game in practice last week and that, against the Bucs, “a couple of runs felt like it was in practice.”

So there you have it: The Bucs front seven is a glorified practice squad.

And Tom Brady and Randy Moss await in four days.

Oh, joy!

(Tip ‘o the hat to Justin Pawlowski.)