Wednesday, 4 a.m. In the days ahead, Dirk Koetter faces the biggest challenge a coach could face. And no, I’m not talking about facing the New England Patriots. For that matter, I’m not talking about the Packers or the Falcons or the Falcons again. I’m not talking about Drew Brees or Odell Beckham or Jordy […]

Tuesday, 4 a.m. The long, strange tale of the Tremblin’ Toes begins with a bricklayer. Perhaps, it ends with one, too. His name was Mirro Roder, the canceled Czech. He didn’t last long, but he was the original Bucs kicker, an odd designation of an odd position. He was a common man, a blue-collar man. […]

Monday, 3 a.m. Do you call him “Ace” yet? At least, do you recognize that he finally won the “deuce” of his season? Blake Snell, who spent much of this season as the Rays’ starter without a win, stopped his second consecutive four-game losing streak Sunday, throwing a shutout against a Seattle Mariners lineup that […]

Sunday, 4 a.m. Tampa Bay fans don’t want much from second-year defensive end Noah Spence. They just want him to be Simeon Rice. That’s all. Like Rice, Spence is a lean, fast defensive end. Unlike Rice, he has yet to build his resume. But already, he has flashed enough potential – and gotten enough rave […]