Last year, at this time, the Bucs had to give players fluids via intravenous methods over 100 times. But this year, reports Rick Brown of the Lakeland Ledger, the Bucs cut down the number of IVs significantly. Other reports suggested the amount of IVs needed to rehydrate players was down 75 percent from last year.

That was largely because of the air-conditioned 136-by-136 foot indoor tent that was used by the team. The Bucs normally spent mornings on the fields and at least 45 minutes in the afternoon before going to the tent.

Not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Obviously, it’s never good that a player has to rehydrate himself using an IV. But one of the advantages of playing in the middle of the day early in the season is that teams, specifically the old Norris Division rivals, would come down to Tampa and wilt in the still broiling afternoons.

That air conditioned tent may backfire. Maybe, not being so used to the heat, the Bucs will be the ones melting in the heat and thereby losing a tremendous home field advantage. Joe hopes that is not the case.