Yesterday, while speaking with the Tampa Bay pen and mic club, Derrick Brooks talked about life and football, particularly his Buccaneers moments after the team announced no other Bucs player will ever wear No. 55 again.

As most know, Brooks is a successful local businessman. That’s why he will never coach, sans his son’s youth team. He’s making too much cash and is enjoying spending quality time with his family, as opposed to the 80-hour-work-week grind of the NFL or college ranks. (more…)

Mississippi State G Gabe Jackson might be a guy the Bucs could use up front.

Yes, Joe has beaten his readers’ collective heads into the wall discussing how the Bucs’ now thin offensive line is in desperate need of a guard (at least).

One could make an argument that offensive line is a greater need than wide receiver. That’s how bad it appears on paper. (more…)

Walking around the Bucs’ minicamp practice fields taking” mental reps” two weeks ago was Bucs safety Dashon Goldson, aka the ferocious “Hawk,” who has been neutered by NFL flag football rules.

The Bucs kept Goldson’s condition quiet, but now the story is out. (more…)

Plenty of love on the airwaves yesterday

Greg Schiano is still on the Bucs’ payroll to the tune of $3 million a year– and he acted like it yesterday.

The commander-in-chief of the Mike Glennon Mob, now a “tape room” analyst for NFL Network this week, was raving about his favorite subject. (more…)

“This guy’s going to work his tail off, Bill. You should really look at Te’o Nesheim, too.”

It seems another former Bucs standout could be landing in New England to help the Patriots make a playoff run.

Free agent guard onetime Tampa Bay captain Davin Joseph visited the Patriots this week, per BSPN. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the ass if Joseph landed in New England on a league-minimum deal and revives his once strong career while the Bucs search for his replacement? (more…)

Believe it or not, Joe invests extensive research into Bucs opponents. And given that Tampa Bay has played the Rams the past two seasons, will again this season, and Joe traveled to St. Louis for the 2013 game and has friends in Rams media, Joe feels qualified to offer a Rams opinion.

The alleged interest of St. Louis in Johnny Football with the No. 2 overall pick is as close to a nonsense rumor as you’ll find today. (more…)

Bratty Jay Cutler spoke fondly of Bucs starting QB Josh McCown yesterday in Chicago.

Bucs fans wondered aloud, and in some cases still mutter to themselves like mental patients on corner barstools, why Bucs coach Lovie Smith wanted journeyman quarterback Josh McCown so badly.

(The Mike Glennon Mob asks the same thing, only they don’t try to hide their feelings. They just holler at complete strangers walking down the sidewalk in broad daylight.)

Well, when Joe broke that the Bucs, led by McCown, had the entire offense working out on their own at a local park, it spoke volumes for McCown’s leadership. (more…)

If rumors the Bucs are trying to move up to No. 2 are true, then could that be a play for South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney?

OK, this is the season of smoke. There’s no telling what to believe and what not to believe. Joe does believe what Jay Glazer Twittered last night, that the Browns have no interest in Johnny Football at No. 4, but maybe they’re interested later in the draft.

And if the Rams are so hot for Johnny Football, as rumor has it, then why would they trade out of the No. 2 pick? (more…)

Yes, this is a Bucs blog. But Joe brings the following because it involves one of the greatest Bucs of all time, Mr. Derrick Brooks, and a guy more than a few Bucs fans drool over as a future quarterback, Florida State quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston.

Joe cannot remember a quarterback in recent memory (sans Andrew Luck) who was this good, this accurate. Surely not a freshman. Joe remembers getting hell from Shaun King, one of three Bucs quarterbacks to lead the Bucs to an NFC championship game, when Joe Twittered last September that Winston was the best quarterback in the state of Florida wearing No. 5. (more…)

Johnny! Johnny! Johnny!

This evening, well connected Mike Florio, of ProFootballTalk.com and NBC Sports, is sharing word he’s hearing around the league that the Bucs are looking to trade up to snatch the Rams’ No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft. (more…)

Derrick Brooks discussed a difference, albeit slight, between Father Dungy and Lovie Smith.

Joe knows a lot of people point to Father Dungy as the North Star of Lovie Smith. In some ways, Lovie is the ultimate disciple of Father Dungy.

In fact, it was Father Dungy who brought Lovie from the college ranks to be an NFL assistant and  Derrick Brooks’ and Hardy Nickerson’s position coach. (more…)

An NFL Network reporter weighs in

Joe learned anything truly is possible on the NFL trade front the day Lovie Smith and his Chicago friends handed over a second-round draft pick for disappointing Bucs defensive end Gaines Adams.

That’s still a mind-blower. (more…)

“Hey Brooks, you’re not the only guy on this practice field that knows a thing or two about football! I’m one of People Magazine’s most beautiful people, you know?”

In his speech after being told his No. 55 will never be worn by a Bucs player again, Mr. Derrick Brooks, of course, thanked many people for his career and success today.

When talking about how he was influenced by different coaches, Brooks made a particular reference to Chucky, the only coach in Bucs history to win a Super Bowl. Brooks lauded Chucky for driving him to play at a level higher than even Brooks thought he could reach. This came about even though Chucky was the de facto offensive coordinator. (more…)

Pat Kirwan details. Will Lovie Smith fight off his D-line fixation?

Joe’s written 1,456 times about the alleged incredible depth at wide receiver in the 2014 NFL Draft.

But where else is it deep, and in what rounds? (more…)

Former Bucs LB Hardy Nickerson remembers Derrick Brooks’ first days with the Bucs.

Today, when it was announced Mr. Derrick Brooks would be the latest inductee into the Buccaners Ring of Honor, and that his No. 55 will never be worn in a game again, Brooks, of course, took the podium for a few words.

Brooks used the opportunity to brush up on his Pro Football Hall of Fame speech later this summer. He thanked several people for his career, including former linebacker teammate Hardy Nickerson. (more…)

Super Bowl-winning quarterback Phil Simms knows a thing or two about quarterbacks. He guided the New York Giants to their first Super Bowl title against the Broncos, having as close to a perfect game as any Super Bowl quarterback has had.

Simms, a regular contributor to SiriusXM NFL Radio and CBS Sports Network discussing quarterbacks, is great in his detail. Joe’s favorite Simms’ story was when he saw Packers QB Aaron Rodgers as a rookie in camp. Simms thought he was horrible and declared he would be a massive bust. (more…)

What feels like the worst kept secret in town officially will be out in the open this afternoon, when Bucs icon Derrick Brooks will be named the next entrant into the hallowed Buccaneers Ring of Honor.

Induction game is Sept. 14 against the Rams

Warren Sapp got in last season, his Hall of Fame induction year. And it’s only fitting Brooks would get the same timely love, as he heads to Canton in August.

Joe could write endlessly about Brooks’ accomplishments and his place in team history, but any credible Bucs fans should be up to speed already.

Congrats, Double Nickel!

Joe will bring more details from this historic day later this afternoon.

What an appropriate color top

The national media honcho with arguably the best NFL sources, the most street cred — and the guy who has inhaled the most pre-draft smoke — believes Johnny Football will be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer in a matter of hours. (more…)

Joe would do cartwheels if the Bucs landed high-flying All-American Allen Robinson

Weird stuff is going on with Penn State wide receiver Allen Robinson. Does he have a twin or a body double helping him get through the pre-draft process?

Before Joe explains, Joe wants to remind readers he’s been on board the Robinson bandwagon for many months. Joe watches plenty of Big Ten football, and Robinson is a true standout wideout who surely would be first-round material if not for the incredible receiver depth of this year’s draft. (more…)

Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times isn’t exactly buying what the Bucs are selling on G Carl Nicks.

There are all sorts of ways for the Bucs to go with their No. 7 pick, or for that matter, their first two picks in the draft. Many Bucs fans, who love shiny objects, are stomping their feet for a wide receiver, even if it is a Vincent Jackson clone (Texas A&M WR Mike Evans).

Joe is of the belief if the Bucs don’t draft Johnny Football at No. 7, while it may not be sexy, drafting a tackle would sure be a smart move. (more…)

For those who can’t stand gameday lines in the sweltering heat and having their most tantalizing food option being a giant turkey leg, great news has arrived. (more…)

Man, Joe wonders whether Greg Schiano took a bunch of locker room grief from Warren Sapp in the NFL Network makeup room last night.

“Hey, Schiano, did you apply for a job with Dancing With The Stars? You’re good at that.”

“You here to diagram the victory formation for our viewers?” (more…)

Former Bucs DT Booger McFarland said the Bucs better not draft Pitt DT Aaron Donald.

Lots of Bucs fans, maybe in a borderline panic mode because they think the Bucs may draft Johnny Football, are reaching into the wayback machine. They look to the early 2000s and see Warren Sapp and Booger McFarland manning the starting tackle spots on one of the game’s greatest defenses.

They see that Team Glazer reached into the wayback machine as well to hire Lovie Smith to build a defense that will have fans wrapping themselves in their favorite blanky at night with feel good memories. (more…)