The running joke around the world headquarters of JoeBucsFan.com is that when the pads come on, Kenny Bell vanishes.

In underwear football, Kenny Bell is an All-Pro. Last year, without pads and playing against insurance claims adjusters, marine biologists and short-order cooks, Bell shined.

When the pads came on and he went against the first- or second-team defense, Bell vanished like sweet-nothings in the dark of the night. Bell is still looking for his first catch against a team that wears different colored-jerseys.

Well, it seems the same pattern is developing this year. In underwear football this spring, Bell made many strong plays. When training camp opened up this summer, Bell again had a hot start.

Today with pads on for the first time in training camp, well, even Bucs coach Dirk Koetter wondered where Bell ran off to. Koetter was asked about developing a No. 3 receiver if Louis Murphy can’t rebound from knee surgery and Koetter invoked Bell’s absence of play wearing pads.

“Real critical,” Koetter said of developing wide receiver depth. “Like three through eight right now in that receiver group is pretty close. “You take a guy like Kenny Bell – two days ago looked like the MVP two days ago, then he disappeared yesterday. And ‘DD’ (Donteea Dye) looked like he didn’t belong out here two days ago, and it was better yesterday. Russell Shepard has had his moments. Evan Spencer has had his moments. All those guys have a chance. You even look [at] Bernard Reedy and Freddie Martino, those are two guys that stuck with us a long time in Atlanta, two veteran players and they know what they’re doing. I like this Jonathan Krause kid, [he] has flashed a little bit. So no doors are closed right now for those receivers. I like our talent there, I like all those young guys and that’s what this preseason will be for.”

Bell did show up today a bit. He was seen apologizing to Brent Grimes for submarining him, and then was seen grabbing his groin after a collision with Grimes.

Before folks start banging on their keyboard in rage and anger at Joe, let Joe be clear: Joe really, really, really hopes Bell blows up and becomes that deep threat both the Bucs and America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, so desperately need.

To date, there is zero evidence Bell will be that man. None. Tommy Streeter (underwear football MVP 2013) showed more than Bell. Hell, Chris Owusu had shown more than Bell.

Joe wants Bell to blow up. But to make a grand and sweeping generalization that Bell is the next Antonio Brown because he was a third-day draft pick and has cool hair and can run fast is not just a reach, it’s grasping at straws.

C’mon Kenny, give Joe a reason to hop on your bandwagon.