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Rick Stroud - Bucs Reporter
Rick Stroud

Bucs Reporter

I’m glad we don’t change beat writers the way the Bucs change coaches. My first season was Ray Perkins’ last. He called me to ask if he was getting fired that day. He was. I’m in Tony Dungy’s book, Dirk Koetter’s phone and can sound like Jon Gruden’s voice. Covered the Gators, pinch hit on the Rays beat. Listen to my podcast SportsDay Tampa Bay M-F and you’re set. Dixie Hollins, SPJC, Arkansas State. Played baseball for all of them. St. Pete native. Married to Valerie. Three kids, grown son and two elementary school girls. I love this job. It’s taken me around the world. I’ve stood in the Oval Office, but One Buc Place is my White House.

  1. Will fans finally see the Benjamin Morrison Bucs believe they drafted?
    • Bucs
    Bucs cornerback Benjamin Morrison (21) tackles Jets wide receiver Arian Smith during a game in September in Tampa. Morrison will be pressed into duty Sunday against the Panthers with starting cornerback Zyon McCollum on injured reserve with a hip injury.
  2. Bucs will enter Panthers game as healthy as they’ve been all season
    • Bucs
    Bucs inside linebacker Lavonte David, shown tackling Falcons running back Bijan Robinson last Thursday in Tampa, is "fine," coach Todd Bowles said, and expected to play Sunday against the Panthers.
  3. Bucs’ Baker Mayfield, Josh Grizzard insist on winning the blame game
    • Bucs
    Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, center, watches from the sideline during last Thursday's loss to the Falcons in Tampa. Grizzard said Thursday the offense was to blame for not putting the game away.
  5. Bucs linebacker Lavonte David limited in practice with knee injury
    • Bucs
    Bucs linebacker Lavonte David (54) tackles Saints running back Devin Neal on Dec. 7 in Tampa. David did not practice on Wednesday and was a limited participant Thursday due to a knee injury.
  6. Emotional Mike Evans ‘super excited’ to be back on the field with Bucs
    • Bucs
    Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans (13) leaps over Atlanta Falcons cornerback Cobee Bryant (37) to make a 45-yard reception during the third quarter of last Thursday's game at Raymond James Stadium.
  7. Bucs’ Cade Otton, Tykee Smith, SirVocea Dennis return to practice
    • Bucs
    Bucs tight end Cade Otton watches as his teammates warm up ahead of Thursday's game against the Falcons in Tampa. Otton missed the game with a knee injury.
  8. Bucs were thrown an NFC South lifeline, but problems persist
    • Bucs
    Quarterback Baker Mayfield and the rest of the Bucs players were hanging their heads after Thursday night's loss to division rival Atlanta. But they're not out of the hunt for a fifth straight NFC South title.
  9. Jalen McMillan’s long, grueling journey back from a serious neck injury
    • Bucs
    Bucs wide receiver Jalen McMillan on his return to the lineup after not playing since August: ”It feels normal. It feels like I didn’t really miss a beat."
  10. Bucs place Zyon McCollum on injured reserve
    • Bucs
    Bucs cornerback Zyon McCollum is assisted by training staff during the second quarter of Thursday night's loss to Atlanta. A hip injury landed him on injured reserve.
  11. Bucs could use the sunshine Dave Canales is spreading in Carolina
    • Bucs
    Panthers head coach Dave Canales gets a celebratory boost by defensive tackle Bobby Brown III following the Panthers' upset of the Rams on Nov. 30. Bucs coach Todd Bowles says Canales' message and attitude clearly have resonated with Carolina players.
  12. Despite collapse, Bucs still have a straight path to the playoffs
    • Bucs
    Quarterback Baker Mayfield took responsibility for the Bucs' loss to the Falcons Thursday night at Raymond James Stadium, but there was plenty of blame to go around after their fifth loss in six games.
  13. Bucs blow lead and game to Falcons, fall out of 1st place in NFC South
    • Bucs
    Atlanta Falcons place-kicker Zane Gonzalez (45) kicks a 43-yard field goal as time expires to send the Bucs to a 29-28 loss Thursday night at Raymond James Stadium.
  14. Bucs receivers Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan active tonight vs. Falcons
    • Bucs
    Wide receivers Mike Evans, left, and Jalen McMillan, shown celebrating an Evans touchdown catch against the Commanders in January, are active for tonight's game against the Falcons in Tampa.
  15. When will Baker Mayfield cook again for the Bucs?
    • Bucs
    Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield has just four touchdown passes, to go with four interceptions, in his last four games.
  16. Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan activated from IR, could play vs. Falcons
    • Bucs
    Bucs wide receivers Jalen McMillan, left, and Mike Evans, shown during training camp in August, were activated from injured reserve Wednesday and could be in the lineup Thursday against the Falcons.
  17. Bucs wanted Jason Pierre-Paul for his will as much as his skill
    • Bucs
    Bucs outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul (90) and inside linebacker Lavonte David (54) celebrate their sack of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during a 2020 game at Raymond James Stadium.
  18. Bucs place Ben Bredeson on injured reserve with knee injury
    • Bucs
    Bucs left guard Ben Bredeson is checked out by training staff during Sunday's loss to the Saints.
  19. Slumping Bucs grateful for chance to right the ship against Falcons
    • Bucs
    Head coach Todd Bowles watches from the sideline during the Bucs' 24-20 loss to the last-place Saints Sunday in Tampa. "We’ve got to get over it and own what we did, and we’ve got to get better at things we need to get better at," he said Monday.
  20. Bucs signing outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul to practice squad
    • Bucs
    Jason Pierre-Paul celebrates one of his two sacks of Aaron Rodgers during the Bucs' 31-26 victory over the Packers in the NFC Championship Game in Green Bay following the 2020 season.
  21. Bucs’ Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan ‘in play’ Thursday for Falcons game
    • Bucs
    Wide receiver Jalen McMillan has yet to play in a regular-season game for the Bucs this year but appears to be getting closer to game ready.
  22. Bucs let opportunity against last-place Saints slip through their hands
    • Bucs
    Rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka had a rough game Sunday against the Saints, dropping a potential game-tying touchdown pass in the end zone and negating another big play with a pass-interference penalty.
  23. Bucs left tackle Tristan Wirfs out against Saints with oblique injury
    • Bucs
    Bucs left tackle Tristan Wirfs, shown during a game against the Eagles in September, is out for today's game against the Saints with an oblique injury.
  24. How might Todd Bowles’ coaching tree impact his future with Bucs?
    • Bucs
    Bucs head coach Todd Bowles, left, and former offensive coordinator Liam Coen both have their teams leading their divisions, Tampa Bay (7-5) in the NFC South and Jacksonville (8-4) in the AFC South.