Sports Day Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Times
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Your daily home for Tampa Bay sports. Award-winning Tampa Bay Times journalist Rick Stroud teams up with Steve Versnick every weekday to break down the biggest stories across the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, USF, and beyond. From locker room insight to trade rumors, injury updates, and the moves shaping each franchise, Rick and Steve go beyond the headlines with reporting you won't find anywhere else — plus regular mailbag segments answering listener questions. New episodes drop every weekday morning, making it the ultimate insider's guide to sports in the Bay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 2d ago

    Bucs Jalon Daniels' Opportunity, Lightning Lose Opener & Rays-Yankees ALDS Starts Saturday

    The Lightning's season opener went about as sideways as a game can go: a 5-1 loss at Madison Square Garden capped by Igor Shesterkin becoming the first goaltender in Rangers history to score a goal, while Tampa Bay finished 0-for-7 on the power play. Rick and Steve dig into why it wasn't as alarming as it looked — Victor Hedman's comfortably accepted a smaller role (and dropped weight going gluten-free to stay fast at 18 seasons in), John Carlson is still adjusting from running Alex Ovechkin's power play in Washington to feeding Nikita Kucherov in Tampa, and hockey's a "flow sport" that's brutally hard to simulate in the preseason. The Lightning still own the NHL's third-best season-opening winning percentage all time, and they get a schedule edge Saturday against a Capitals team playing the second half of a back-to-back. From there, it's a deep look at Jalen Daniels' first career start — the first rookie quarterback to play anywhere in the league this season, despite going undrafted. Rick traces how the Bucs got here (Teddy Bridgewater's disastrous relief outing last year, Jake Browning's poor camp this summer) and argues Daniels doesn't need to be great against a genuinely bad Packers team that can't run or stop the run; the defense and Chase McLaughlin's perfect kicking can carry him. A mailbag question floats Daniels as a potential Marty St. Louis-style undrafted success story, and the guys note the historical case for not rushing rookie quarterbacks, with nine of the ten passers drafted this year still holding a clipboard. The back half previews a jam-packed Tampa Bay weekend — Rays-Yankees ALDS Game 1 at the Trop, the Lightning's home opener, USF hosting Temple for a shot at a first-ever conference title, and Florida traveling to Missouri — plus a quick look at Cleveland's Deshaun Watson turnaround under Todd Monken. Timestamps: 0:08 – Lightning season-opener recap: 5-1 loss at the Rangers, a historic goalie goal, 0-for-7 power play3:22 – Victor Hedman's accepted role change, revamped diet, and his 18th season5:39 – Lightning's historic season-opening record; Saturday's schedule edge over Washington6:46 – Power play struggles: John Carlson adjusting from Ovechkin's power play to feeding Kucherov9:00 – Why "flow sports" like hockey are harder to simulate in the preseason11:50 – Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza13:16 – How the Bucs got here: Teddy Bridgewater's rough relief stint and Jake Browning's camp struggles16:13 – Jalen Daniels: the first rookie QB to start anywhere in the NFL this year, despite going undrafted18:16 – Context: the last team to start 0-4 and make the playoffs was the 1992 Chargers19:51 – Why Daniels doesn't need to be great — Green Bay's offense and run defense are a mess22:32 – Chase McLaughlin's perfect season and the "just be you" message for Daniels25:36 – Mailbag: Could Daniels become the next Marty St. Louis-style undrafted success story?26:03 – Why most of this year's ten drafted rookie QBs are sitting behind veterans30:37 – What a Daniels win (or two) would really mean once Baker Mayfield returns31:38 – MLB's wild-card format gripe: Rays drawn into a best-of-three with the Yankees34:44 – A loaded Tampa Bay weekend: Rays, Lightning, USF and the Rowdies all home Saturday39:09 – Cleveland's Deshaun Watson turnaround under Tom Monken42:09 – College football weekend: Florida at Missouri, USF hosts Temple for a shot at a first conference title Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. 3d ago

    Bucs QB Jalon Daniels On His First Start: "You Can’t Be The Thermometer, You Have To Be The Thermostat"

    Rick Stroud can't stop repeating a line Jalon Daniels dropped in his first press conference as the Bucs' starting quarterback: "You can't be the thermometer, you have to be the thermostat" — set the temperature in the room instead of just reading it. It's a fitting mantra for a guy about to become the first rookie quarterback to start an NFL game this season (yes, ahead of the Raiders' Heisman winner), and the only backup Tampa Bay has turned to since 'Fitzmagic' in 2018. Rick is clear-eyed about the degree of difficulty: Evan Closky's blocking cut-ups from last week were "some of the worst tape I've seen," Daniels knows far less than Baker Mayfield about getting out of bad plays, and Green Bay will blitz him mercilessly the way Minnesota did. But the Packers are deeply flawed too — patched together on the offensive line, unable to stop the run, playing in front of a fan base that's reportedly booing at Lambeau — and Rick and Steve talk through how Todd Bowles might manage Daniels' workload if the game gets away from them, plus the gut-punch injury report (six players missed Wednesday practice, including Rueben Bain Jr., Yaya Diaby, and Chris Godwin) that makes the 0-3 start look even worse in hindsight. From there, three mailbag questions: what the Bucs should do with the number one overall pick if the season ended today (take a quarterback, grab Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, or trade down for a haul), how to separate rooting for people at One Buc Place from grading Todd Bowles' performance, and whether anything short of winning can fix the "away game atmosphere" at Raymond James Stadium. Rick also vents about MLB's wild-card seeding dropping the Rays into Yankee Stadium's short porch for the ALDS, previews Drew Rasmussen's Game 1 start, and the guys close with a full NHL season-opening night: the Lightning play at the Rangers, sitting on the second-best season-opening record in NHL history, with Nikita Kucherov chasing a record fourth straight opener with multiple goals. Segments: Jalon Daniels' "thermostat, not thermometer" mentality ahead of his first NFL startThe degree of difficulty: brutal offensive line tape, a first-ever rookie starter league-wide, and how Bowles might manage his workloadInjury report fallout: six players out Wednesday, Baker Mayfield's timelineMailbag: What should the Bucs do with the number one pick — quarterback, Jeremiah Smith, or trade down?Mailbag: Separating rooting for the people at One Buc Place from grading Todd BowlesMailbag: Can anything fix the "away game" atmosphere at Raymond James?MLB wild-card fallout: Rays drawn into the Yankees' short porch for the ALDS; Rasmussen gets the Game 1 ballNHL opening night: Lightning at the Rangers, chasing franchise and Kucherov recordsSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Timestamps: 0:06 – Jalon Daniels' "thermostat, not thermometer" quote from his first presser as starter2:51 – First rookie QB to start a game anywhere in the NFL this season5:57 – The offensive line tape: "some of the worst I've seen"8:16 – How Bowles might manage Daniels if the game gets away from the Bucs13:06 – Injury report: six players miss Wednesday practice14:13 – Baker Mayfield's thumb, timeline, and the 0-3 start in context15:47 – Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza17:05 – MLB wild-card seeding sends the Rays into Yankee Stadium's short porch21:35 – Mailbag: Number one pick — quarterback, Jeremiah Smith, or trade down?25:31 – Mailbag: Separating the man from the job grading Todd Bowles35:26 – Mailbag: Fixing the "away game" atmosphere at Raymond James37:21 – NHL opening night: Lightning at the Rangers, Kucherov's scoring streak39:13 – Yankees beat Red Sox 9-2; Rasmussen named Rays' Game 1 starter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. 4d ago

    Rookie Backup QB History Isn't on Their Side: Jalon Daniels Gets His Shot for Bucs

    With Joe Flacco, Jameis Winston, and Jimmy Garoppolo all off the table, the Bucs' plan B for replacing Baker Mayfield is Brett Rypien — signed to the practice squad, not the active roster — while undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels makes his first career start Sunday against Green Bay. Rick Stroud lays out a sobering stat: since 2024, rookie quarterbacks are a combined 56-89, and the backup quarterbacks who've actually won games around the league this season (Case Keenum, Mac Jones, Carson Wentz, Drew Locke) all share one thing Daniels doesn't have — real NFL experience. Rick and Steve debate, half-seriously, whether a Bucs fan should even want a win right now given a stacked, quarterback-heavy draft class, before agreeing there's too much season left and too bad a division to consider punting on it. They also dig into where the blame really lies for Tampa Bay's offensive collapse — Baker's tendency to extend plays into sacks and holding penalties, Zach Robinson's predictable play-calling, an offensive line that isn't as bad as it looks — and note the one thing working: Chase McLaughlin hasn't missed a field goal all year. A mailbag question revisits why Mike Evans really left for San Francisco, and Rick makes the case that Evans saw a closer path to a Super Bowl elsewhere as his own mortality became real after his first-ever injury-shortened season. The back half looks ahead to a jam-packed week: MLB's wild-card round (Yankees leading Boston, Padres and Braves both winning thrillers), the NHL's opening night, and the Lightning's regular-season opener Thursday at the Rangers, plus a scheduling headache with the Rays' ALDS Game 1 and the Lightning's home opener both landing Saturday night. Rick and Steve also mark the sixth anniversary of Tampa Bay's first boat parade and pitch (not entirely jokingly) a stadium renovation tribute to Tom Brady's Super Bowl trophy toss. Segments: Jalon Daniels named starter; what backup-quarterback history says about his chances against Green BayIs the offensive line really the problem, or is it Baker Mayfield and play-calling?Mailbag: Why did Mike Evans really leave for San Francisco?MLB wild card round recap: Yankees-Red Sox, Padres-Cubs, Braves walk-off winNHL season opens; Lightning open Thursday at the Rangers, home opener collides with Rays ALDS Game 1Sixth anniversary of Tampa Bay's first championship boat paradeSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Timestamps: 0:09 – Bucs' backup QB plan revealed: Brett Rypien to the practice squad, Jalen Daniels named starter2:27 – Why experienced backups matter: Case Keenum's big Monday night4:15 – Rookie QBs are 56-89 since 2024; should a Bucs fan want a loss right now?7:00 – Is the offensive line really the problem, or is it Baker Mayfield and play-calling?16:23 – What Daniels has going for him: 50+ college starts, calm demeanor17:36 – Backup QBs went nearly undefeated this weekend; the risk the Bucs took at QB222:46 – Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza24:13 – Sixth anniversary of Tampa Bay's first championship boat parade28:33 – Mailbag: Why did Mike Evans really leave for San Francisco?33:22 – Mailbag: Where does the blame fall for the Bucs' offensive struggles?39:12 – MLB wild-card recap: Yankees-Red Sox, Padres-Cubs, Braves walk-off win40:10 – NHL season opens; Lightning-Rangers Thursday, Saturday scheduling conflict with Rays ALDS Game 1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. 5d ago

    Undrafted and Untested: Jalon Daniels Gets the Keys to the Bucs' Season as Baker Is Out At Least 3 Weeks

    Baker Mayfield's thumb injury turns out to be the good news/bad news scenario Rick Stroud feared: no torn ligaments, no broken bones, but a minimum three-week absence that wipes out Green Bay, Dallas, and Pittsburgh. That hands the offense to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels, whose only real NFL snaps have come against players no longer on rosters. Rick shares Todd Bowles' old blitz-every-down philosophy against rookie quarterbacks and previews exactly what Green Bay's defense (and a stadium full of Packers fans) is about to do to a first-time starter, while making the case that Daniels' calm demeanor, strong arm, and accuracy give him a real shot to at least not lose the game outright. They also note the Bucs haven't had a backup quarterback start a game since 2018 — a remarkable run now over — and flag that Jalen McMillan is now out 6-8 weeks with a knee injury, thinning an already M.I.A. receiving corps even further. A Bruce Arians radio appearance imagining what he'd have done coaching Baker provides some comic relief, along with speculation (only half-joking) about Mike Tomlin as a future Bucs coaching target. On the brighter side, MLB's wild-card round tips off with the Yankees and Red Sox squaring off in a series the Rays will watch closely — whoever survives comes to Tampa Bay for the ALDS. Rick and Steve make the case that the Rays, as the AL's best regular-season team, should be favored against anyone left standing, and note a fun crowded slate on Saturday: the Lightning's home opener, the Rays' first playoff game, and Rick's daughter at her high school homecoming, all on the same night. They close with the Lightning's season opening in New York on Thursday and a rundown of their final regular-season roster moves. Segments: Baker Mayfield out a minimum three weeks; Jalon Daniels becomes the first undrafted rookie in decades to start for the BucsWhat Green Bay's blitz-heavy, hostile-crowd environment means for a first-time starterJalen McMillan's knee injury deepens the receiver shortage; the case for a Ted Hurst breakoutBruce Arians weighs in on Baker Mayfield's style of play; lighthearted coaching-search chatterMLB wild card begins: Yankees-Red Sox preview and the case for the Rays as AL favoritesBusy Saturday ahead: Lightning home opener, Rays' first playoff game, and Homecoming weekendSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. 6d ago

    The Doomsday Scenario: Bucs Fall to 0-3 as Baker Mayfield's Hand Gets Mangled

    Rick Stroud doesn't mince words: the Bucs' 0-3 loss to Minnesota is the doomsday scenario come to life. Baker Mayfield left with a bloodied, dislocated thumb on his throwing hand after holding the ball too long on a desperate fourth-down conversion attempt, and now undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels — who struggled even in preseason snaps against real competition — is set to become QB1 for a stretch that includes Green Bay and a short week in Dallas. Rick and Steve dissect just how ugly the game itself was on both sides (both offenses managed roughly 25 total yards in the second half), question why Zach Robinson's offense keeps ignoring receivers like Ted Hurst after a 40-yard touchdown catch, and openly wonder how much the Bucs are missing Mike Evans' size and catch radius. They also debate whether the Glazers would ever consider an in-season coaching change (Mike Tomlin's name comes up, mostly hypothetically), and note the silver lining: the Bucs haven't played a single divisional game yet and remain just one game out of first in a wide-open, mediocre NFC South. The mood brightens considerably from there. The Rays wrapped a historic 162-game season with Junior Caminero playing all 162 games and hitting 40-plus homers in each of his first two full seasons, and Rick and Steve preview the layoff before the ALDS, including bullpen and rotation questions that hinge on whether they draw the Yankees or Red Sox. They also look ahead to a jam-packed weekend: the Lightning's regular-season opener at the Rangers, Saturday's home opener against Washington coinciding with the Rays' first playoff game, and a loaded college football slate topped by Florida's statement win over Ole Miss and USF's 4-0 start under Brian Hartline. Segments: Bucs fall to 0-3; Baker Mayfield's hand injury and the shift to undrafted rookie Jalen DanielsBreaking down two dreadful offenses and the special-teams punt-return touchdown that decided the gameIs this a Todd Bowles problem or a talent problem? Coaching-change speculation and the "mini-bye" scenarioRays close a historic regular season — Caminero's 162-game, 40-homer year — and preview ALDS rotation questionsWeekend preview: Lightning open at the Rangers, Saturday's dual home openers, Florida's big win over Ole Miss, USF at 4-0Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. Sep 25

    Stop the Bleeding: Bucs Face As Close To A Must-Win Against the Vikings As You Can Get

    Rick Stroud lays out why Sunday's game against Minnesota is as close to a must-win as it gets for the 0-2 Buccaneers: lose, and they're 0-3 with Green Bay at home and a short-week trip to Dallas still to come in an 11-day stretch that could bury the season. He breaks down a genuinely tricky Vikings matchup — Kyler Murray making his first real start of the year after a concussion, Justin Jefferson and a loaded receiving corps, and Brian Flores' defense, which blitzes even more than Todd Bowles' — while making the case that the Bucs are fully capable of winning if Zach Robinson can finally get Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka involved early instead of leaving them without a target until the second half. Rick's message throughout: one win changes everything psychologically, and a 3-2 stretch through five games would leave this team just fine in a wide-open NFC South. The back half is a mailbag-heavy wrap-up of the week: whether Todd Bowles has lost the locker room, patience for Rueben Bain Jr. as he continues to search for his first real production, whether Alex Anzalone's rocky start threatens his job, and whether Bowles' defense needs to simplify to fix its coverage busts. Rick and Steve also flag the news that Giants rookie Jaxson Dart is out for the year, likely handing the reins to Jameis Winston, and close with a look at the loaded weekend ahead: Ole Miss at Florida, Texas-Tennessee, the Rays wrapping their regular season in Philadelphia, and the Lightning's final preseason tune-up before next week's opener. Segments: Why Sunday against Minnesota is a "stop the bleeding" moment for the Bucs' seasonBreaking down the Vikings matchup: Kyler Murray's return, Justin Jefferson, and Brian Flores' blitz-heavy defenseZach Robinson's play-calling problem: getting the ball to outside receivers earlyMailbag: Has Bowles lost the team? Patience for Rueben Bain Jr., Anzalone's job security, and simplifying the defenseJaxson Dart's season-ending injury and the Jameis Winston watch in New YorkWeekend preview: Ole Miss at Florida, Rays close out the regular season in Philadelphia, Lightning's final preseason gameSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Sep 24

    Bucs' Rueben Bain Jr. Can't Catch a Break — Or a Quarterback

    Rick Stroud borrows his own Tampa Bay Times line to open the show: rookie edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. now has a groin strain to go with his shoulder issue, and after two games he still hasn't recorded a stat that matters. Rick and Steve debate how much grace a struggling rookie deserves — pointing to Hall of Famers like Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, and John Lynch, who all had underwhelming first seasons — while also flagging that Josiah Trotter (shoulder) and Anthony Nelson both missed practice too, suddenly thinning out a group that looked deep on paper. They dig into the Bucs' league-worst pass rush (three sacks in two games), debate whether Todd Bowles will finally bench a struggling Alex Anzalone or Antoine Winfield Jr., and note a telling business signal: the Bucs are already selling discounted season tickets mid-season. A listener mailbag question on GM Jason Licht's job security prompts Rick to lay out the case for and against, with a looming three-game, 11-day stretch (Vikings, Packers, at Cowboys) framed as the real referendum on the season. On a happier note, the Rays are settling in after their AL East-clinching celebration in New York, resting regulars and mapping out their ALDS pitching plan (Rasmussen, Martinez, and Peralta as the likely top three, with Shane McClanahan probably limited to relief work if he's back at all). Rick and Steve also preview tonight's Lightning-Panthers preseason rematch, with both sides looking to avoid a repeat of last year's line-brawl classic, and count down to next week's regular-season opener in New York. Segments: Rueben Bain Jr.'s groin strain and shoulder issue, and the case for patience with struggling rookiesBucs' NFL-worst pass rush and whether lineup changes (Anzalone, Winfield Jr.) are comingMailbag: Is GM Jason Licht's job safe if the season craters? Plus, discounted season tickets as a warning signRays resting regulars post-clinch, mapping ALDS rotation plans around Rasmussen, Martinez, and PeraltaLightning host the Panthers in preseason rematch; season opener a week awaySponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. Sep 23

    Rays Win The AL East at Yankee Stadium, 5th Time in Franchise History

    There was no venue Rick Stroud would have rather seen it happen in: the Tampa Bay Rays clinched the AL East at Yankee Stadium, capped by a dominant Drew Rasmussen start — 11 strikeouts and a no-hitter into the seventh before finishing off the win. It's the Rays' fifth division title ever and third since 2020, more than any other team in that span, and Rick and Steve marvel at how it happened: a $100 million payroll outspent 3-to-1 by the Yankees, contact-first hitting, aggressive baserunning, and a deep, versatile pitching staff that got there despite losing Shane McClanahan for stretches and never getting a single pitch out of Ryan Pepiot. They run down the almost unbelievable stat that Drew Rasmussen is 12-0 in starts since the All-Star break — a level no AL pitcher has ever matched — and dig into trade-deadline additions like Peralta, Hicks, and Wells who slotted in seamlessly. They also start plotting rotation order and playoff logistics (division series against the Yankees or Red Sox looms), debate the merits of the extra-round wild-card format, and — of course — start planning the boat parade route. Then it's back to earth for the Bucs, 0-2 and set to host Kyler Murray's Minnesota Vikings this Sunday in what Rick frames as close to a must-win. He points to specific, expensive stars underperforming — Antoine Winfield Jr.'s sharp statistical decline since signing his $84 million extension, Vita Vea's quiet impact, and Rueben Bain Jr.'s continued lack of production — and breaks down the coverage bust on Cleveland's game-winning touchdown. They preview a loaded college football weekend, including a huge Ole Miss-at-Florida matchup in the Swamp. Segments: Rays clinch the AL East at Yankee Stadium behind a dominant Drew Rasmussen startThe stats behind an improbable division title: payroll gap, bullpen reinvention, and a historic pitcher win streakTrade deadline additions and Kevin Cash's case for a return to postseason contentionBucs' must-win mentality vs. Minnesota; Winfield Jr.'s decline and Reuben Bain Jr.'s continued no-showWeekend college football preview: Ole Miss at Florida, Texas-Tennessee, and a loaded Top 25 slateSponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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About

Your daily home for Tampa Bay sports. Award-winning Tampa Bay Times journalist Rick Stroud teams up with Steve Versnick every weekday to break down the biggest stories across the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, USF, and beyond. From locker room insight to trade rumors, injury updates, and the moves shaping each franchise, Rick and Steve go beyond the headlines with reporting you won't find anywhere else — plus regular mailbag segments answering listener questions. New episodes drop every weekday morning, making it the ultimate insider's guide to sports in the Bay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Tampa Bay Times
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    2K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Tampa Bay Times All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Sports Day Tampa Bay

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