The proof is out there for all to see now on NFL.com. No team spent less real money on players over the past five seasons than your Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Big shocker, huh.

But this rare glimpse at team figures allows the Bucs to finally get their public due as salary cap champions.

Congratulations. No team spends less with such skill. Joe is applauding. Bruce Allen, you can pick up your ring at One Buc Palace (it’s fake gold, of course) then you can go up to Hollywood and accept the Oscar for best actor in drama.

Jason La Canfora, NFL.com blogger, lays out the totals teams spent on players over the past five years. The Bucs check in at No. 32, at $449 million, right behind the Chiefs at $451.58 million. Here are some notables from the list:

Team Dollars, in millions
1. Cowboys $566.89
2. Seahawks $552.42
3. Redskins $547.37
4. Colts $532.77
5. Vikings $526.87
6. Texans $522.23
7. Saints $518.49
8. Steelers $516.69
9. Panthers $516.09
10. Patriots $513.31

16. Jets $502.53
19. Giants $497.63
20. Eagles $495.75

26. Broncos $485.40
29. Titans $465.29
30. Packers $457.16
31. Chiefs $451.58
32. Buccaneers $449.00

To be fair to the Bucs, the list shows there is no correlation between spending big Bucs and winning a Super Bowl. 

And while the Bucs spent about $10 million less per year than the middle of the pack (roughly 5 percent of Manchester United’s payroll), they clearly were among the top spenders in coaching salary during those five years. Monte Kiffin and Chucky were among the league’s top paid in their respective positions. If these numbers really mean anything, then that has to count for something.

That said, the numbers don’t mean much at all, unless you got one of those 30 percent ticket price hikes last year, or you’re troubled by Bruce Almighty’s endless spin about shuffling cap money and the Bucs supposed challenges under the cap.

Sadly, Joe really has to question even further whether Mark Dominik has his hands tied or is free to spend the Bucs available wad of money under the cap.

Sure seems like he’s playing without the keys to the safe. Or he just wants the Bucs to grab the cap championship in 2009.

 Everybody loves a winner.

By JEFF CARLSON

Former Bucs quarterback Jeff Carlson writes the weekly QB Blast column here at JoeBucsFan.com. Joe is ecstatic to have him firing away. Carlson has sports radio and TV gigs in the Bay area and trains quarterbacks of all ages via his company, America’s Best Quarterback.

In 2006 the Buccaneers played a rookie QB named Bruce Gradkowski, but not by choice.

It didn’t go well.

The current Bucs will have a rookie QB on their roster: Josh Freeman. If he has to play, it might not go well, either. And there’s no guarantee that it will go any better with the veteran quarterbacks on the roster.

At the close of minicamp, Bucs QB coach Greg Olson said everyone in management got together and agreed they might accelerate Josh Freeman’s learning curve after another evaluation early in training camp.
 
Every other player in camp will have his learning curve sped up to be able to contribute on the field if needed. So shouldn’t the coaching staff be doing everything possible to accelerate Freeman’s learning curve just in case he has to be the Bruce Gradkowski of 2009?

Whether because of injury or performance, both veteran QB’s could have coaches and fans looking to the rookie to save them, so shouldn’t the No. 1 pick be fast-tracked in summer school whether or not they have any intention of using him on opening day?

Joe has said before he’s not much of a gambler, outside of a few friendly wagers and NCAA basketball tournament pools. Joe has nothing against wagering and it just stuns him that there isn’t a sportsbook or casino in each county in Florida, if not Internet gambling.

As a result, Las Vegas has no allure to Joe. But if Joe would happen to have a layover there, Joe would place a buck or two on the following bets.

Seems as if some site called “TheSpread.com” has odds on the Bucs winning the NFC South, winning the NFC title, and winning the Super Bowl.

Tampa is a hard team to figure out with so much turnover, but they do have talent on both sides of the ball. The problem is that Freeman and Leftwich have huge question marks surrounding them and the team lost long-time defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, whose schemes were always among the best in the league. The Bucs also play in one of the league’s toughest divisions, as the Panthers, Falcons and Saints are all expected to be competitive once again this season. Essentially, Tampa Bay could be a sleeper team this season after finishing 9-7 last year, but again, this team has a ton of question marks.

Odds to win Super Bowl XLIV

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 50/1

Odds to win the NFC 2009-2010

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25/1

Odds to win the NFC South 2009-2010

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5/1

Joe doesn’t seem any harm in putting a couple of George Washingtons on the Bucs.  After all, Joe does drop a buck or two each week on the Florida Scam, eeerrr, Lottery.

Nobody confused last year’s edition of Ronde Barber with Pro Bowl Ronde Barber of years past. Barber got burned and looked physically and mentally worn on too many occasions.

It wasn’t just bad luck.

Barber did survive Raheem The Dream’s veteran purge, so Joe’s hoping The Dream knows there’s a bounce-back season in those 34-year-old legs.

It’s been largely the silent treatment to the media this offseason from Barber. Maybe he’s just trying to stay channeled in to his preparation. And that seemed to be Mark Dominik’s take last week when talking about the Bucs revitalized conditioning program.

Dominik: “…Part of the two things that we felt we really needed to improve on the football team were core strength and body fat. Those were two areas that we really felt like hurt us down the stretch. Maybe hurt our condidtioning down the stretch. …[The new plan] has been a lot of fun for players. We’ve got players coming back. Ronde Barber made a lot of the offseason program. He hadn’t been part of the offseason program in a long time because he had done his own thing and kept himself in shape. I think he bought in to what Kurtis is doing, and that’s been important for us.”

Barber also has a sniff at the Hall of Fame on the line in 2009. Joe’s hoping this ugly video is motivating him to new heights.

It's easy not to sign a (soon-to-be) felon when your boss gets involved in the transaction.

Sure, Joe realizes that headline isn’t really big news.

After all, the Mad Twitterer of the St. Petersburg Times, Rick Stroud, blogged this revelation while seemingly trying to put words in Bucs general manager Mark Dominik’s mouth, writing Dominik “indicated” the Bucs would not sign wide receiver Plexiglass Burress.

Joe read the story and never read any quote from Dominik suggesting anything of the sort.

Meh, whatever. Let’s just play naive and believe that Dominik indeed did tell the Mad Twitterer exactly that, off the record: That despite Raheem the Dream’s lust over Burress, the NRA spokesman and lone gunman won’t be signed by Dominik.

But that decision may have been made already for Dominik by Roger Goodell.

Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports typed a column Monday night that suggests Goodell has made up his mind about Burress and that Goodell, the warden of the NFL, will throw the book at Burress for his felonious deeds.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is leaning toward indefinitely suspending former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress and continuing to sideline quarterback Michael Vick, three sources with knowledge of the situations have indicated. Such moves would be the latest examples of Goodell’s tough stance on players embroiled in off-field issues as evidenced with the suspension of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth earlier this month.

According to a source with the Giants, the league and another that’s close to Vick, Goodell figures to take a similar stance with the quarterback and Burress. Vick, a former starter for the Atlanta Falcons, is scheduled to be released from federal confinement on July 20 after serving 20 months for his part in a dog-fighting ring. A source indicated there was a reasonable likelihood that Vick, suspended indefinitely by the league in August 2007, will not be allowed to play this season and certainly not be with a team in training camp.

Well, well, well. This story just happens to break a grand total of two days —  two weekend days — after Dominik “indicated” he would not sign Burress.

One doesn’t suppose Goodell spoke with Dominik at some point last week on this matter, and Dominik knew that Goodell was going to come down with the hammer on Burress? Such discussions couldn’t have taken place between the NFL warden and a few general managers, could they?

Of course, this very likely did happen.

If Dominik has any common sense — and he impresses Joe as being a fairly sharp guy (his selection of bust-in-waiting Josh Freeman notwithstanding) — it stands to reason Dominik picked up his blackberry, dialed Goodell,  and asked the NFL warden what possible punishment he might dish out to Burress. Of course, Domink would have taken great pains not to call while Goodell’s wife Jane Skinner is on the air with Fox News.

It’s very likely Dominik “indicated” he wouldn’t sign Burress because he knew Burress wouldn’t be available this year, or possibly next. It’s easy to make such a non-move when the guy who runs your organization made the decision for you.

And Joe applauds Dominik for such a non-move.

Raheem the Dream has made pointed references to having a more violent team and a more physical training camp. Joe is bracing himself as a result.

Raheem the Dream has stated in the past he wants his team to be more “violent.” To that end, he is promising a more physical training camp, as The Sports Xchange reports for CBSSports.com.

Coach Raheem Morris says the Bucs training camp will be more physical than in the past seven seasons under Jon Gruden.

“We’ll hopefully get more enthusiastic practices,” he said. “We’ll have more juice. We’ll have more energy. We’ll see more physical, tough acts being displayed on the football field. We’ll be in pads. It’ll be a little bit different.”

Joe always thought Chucky was the king of “juice?” Isn’t that what he always preached?

Small piece of advice for both Raheem the Dream, and players: Make sure helmet-wielding Aqib Talib keeps his chinstrap buckled.

In recent days, Bucs general manager Mark Dominik has stated he would prefer Bucs bust-in-waiting quarterback Josh Freeman to sit and watch for his rookie season. Smart man.

Pat Kirwan discusses with his CBSSports.com co-host Jason Horowitz how a rookie quarterback can easily be ruined by throwing him to the wolves right away.

In fact, Kirwan indirectly suggested that Raheem the Dream claiming Freeman is still in the running to start the season at quarterback is too much pressure too soon.

Michael Clayton blocked out some time to help Luke McCown at his Texas youth camp

Joe awarded Kellen Winslow a medal for marching out to east Texas to help Luke McCown with his annual basic training quarterback camp.

While reading the Tyler Morning Telegraph this weekend, Joe learned the world’s greatest and highest paid blocking receiver, Michael Clayton, also coached at McCown’s camp for the second consecutive season.

Good job, men. Clayton, you deserve some love, too.

The local Texas media caught up with McCown for some feel good chatter, and McCown mentioned the positive atmosphere around Bucs camp.

“I think the competition, the atmosphere that Raheem has created is going to be good for our team, make everyone play harder, better,” said Luke, who was taken in the fourth round of the 2004 draft by Cleveland before being traded the next season to Tampa Bay. “I’m going into my sixth year with only seven starts. I’ve got a lot of football in me, just not on the field.”

Again, Joe’s rooting for McCown to win job as opening day starter. And Joe can’t wait for training camp to begin in a mere 32 days on Aug. 1. Enough talk already. It’s time to put on the pads.

The Bucs bedfellows with the colorful outdated magazine, aka Pewter Report, have reported for a few days that reserve offensive lineman Sean Mahan has taken a hefty pay cut to stay with the Bucs in 2009.

Typically, Joe would have brought you this news in a timely fashion, but Joe opted not to initially since Pewter Report failed to offer a source in its story – not even an unnamed source.

Joe is leery of these types of reports, plus the newspapers didn’t pick it up.

When Joe was learning his journalism craft, he was always taught to use sources for all information. And Joe adheres to that old school philosophy to this day.

As for Mahan, the Bucs need the depth, especially given the Arron Sears mystery. At $1.6 million, he’s worth every penny.

Old man Galloway still has something left in the tank, reports Pro Football Weekly. (There's a place in Joe's heart for the ancient veterans in the NFL, hence the prominent photo.)

Greybeard Patriots receiver Joey Galloway, a former prisoner of Chucky’s doghouse, never had much trouble establishing separation from opposing cornerbacks.

Now Galloway is finding separation in the Patriots’ receiving corps. Galloway has impressed significantly in New England’s offseason program to become the clear leader for the No.  3 receiver job, reports ProFootballWeekly.com.

This news comes on the heels of Bucs GM Mark Dominik talking to the mad Twitterer at the St. Pete Times about the Bucs’ No. 3 receiver position.

Finally, Dominik indicated the Bucs have no interest in signing former Giants receiver Plaxico Burress at this time. The Bucs are looking for receviers to back up starters Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton. 

“We’re going to let Brian Clark, Maurice Stovall and even Dexter Jackson compete and go from there,” Dominik said.    

Yeah. Yeah. Joe understands the Bucs’ whole new direction. But it sure sounds like Galloway would have been an asset in 2009.

Joe now raises a cold one in hopes of Sabby Piscitelli laying a good lick on Galloway in England.

Yesterday Joe brought you the item that Vacation Man of BSPN.com thought that Lorenzo Neal was a better fullback than Mike Alstott. As one can imagine, it wasn’t a popular choice.

Apparently Vacation Man was bombarded with nasty e-mails and rude comments. As a result, he tried to defend his pick.

Again.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Alstott was a wonderful player. He could do a lot of things other fullbacks couldn’t do — mainly carry the ball and catch it out of the backfield. Alstott’s one of the all-time favorites among Tampa Bay fans and some of his 1- or 2-yard runs were the stuff of highlight films because of his blue-collar approach. But the fact in the NFL these days are that fullbacks are around mainly to block.

Once again, Joe will try to explain why Vacation Man has a valid point, but it’s still misguided.

The key goal of an offense is to move the ball, not play keepaway. This is the kind of mentality that reminds Joe of why Bo Schembechler never won a national title, and why Father Dungy’s offense with the Bucs was putrid beyond words.

Sure, a fullback that can block is a precious virtue — in specific cases. Pass blocking springs to mind.

If a fullback can only block and not run or catch the ball it’s pretty obvious when said fullback gets into the game what’s going to happen. And the defense knows that’s one less target it has to worry about, enabling defense to key on others.

To suggest the main attribute of a fullback is to block is to suggest the main attribute of a No. 2 receiver is to block. No. The main responsibility of any skill position player is to gain yards.

If Lorenzo Neal was such a valuable weapon for his blocking, then why did he bounce from team to team and never win a ring?

There’s no question that Alstott wasn’t near the blocker of Neal’s talent. But ask any NFL defensive coordinator which fullback cost him more sleep the night before a game: Neal or Alstott?

In a Bucs team report on Yahoo! Sports, an item near the bottom of the article claims injured running back Cadillac Williams is but a few scant weeks from resuming practicing.

Williams, who had a nasty knee injury two years ago made a great recovery and seemed near 100 percent last year when he had his second knee injury in as many seasons.

Unlike last year, it appears Williams may participate in preseason workouts.

Cadillac Williams is recovering from his second torn patellar tendon in as many seasons. But unlike last year, when he tore the patellar tendon in his left knee, the tendon did not rupture. Instead, it tore away from the bone, making the prognosis for a full recovery much shorter. There’s a chance Williams might be cleared to practice sometime in the preseason, but most likely he will begin the year again on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

This is good news to Joe. Though Williams shouldn’t be counted on, the fact that it appears he could be back fairly quick is icing on the cake for Bucs running backs, already loaded with Earnest Graham and Derrick Ward.

Dan Leberfeld of Sirius NFL Radio stated if the Bucs start bust-in-waiting quarterback Josh Freeman as a rookie the season will be "a disaster."

Joe isn’t the only person who has serious misgivings about the prospect of bust-in-waiting Josh Freeman starting the season at quarterback. So too do Alex Marvez and Dan Leberfeld of NFL Sirius Radio.

Friday, the two began a conversation about the Bucs in general, and the quarterback situation in particular. Leberfeld made no secret of his analysis of Freeman.

“The guy will be a disaster,” Leberfeld said of starting Freeman as a rookie. “He needs a year in Joplin. This guy is not ready.”

“It’s interesting in Tampa Bay,” Marvez, who also writes for FoxSports.com, said. “Mark Dominik is trying to put out that fire of Freeman starting the season. The Bucs are finding out that Leftwich has major drawbacks firsthand. If you pick a starter, what do you do? Do you just stay with one quarterback?

“They have good running backs. They have a good offensive line. They are lean on defense and then they are talking about starting Freeman?”

Leferfeld noted the Bucs — nor Freeman — will get any breaks by the schedule.

“That division will be brutal,” Leberfeld said. “You have New Orleans and Carolina and Atlanta. I hate to say it, but not many people are thinking Tampa will do anything. It looks real bleak.”

“With an undetermined situation at quarterback, why bring in K2 [Kellen Winslow]? Marvez asked aloud. “He will get frustrated. That is a recipe for disaster. Freeman needs acceptance. But if things go down, Kellen will wonder what he got himself into.”

Leberfeld then mocked the concept of trying to hide a quarterback and win solely with a running game and a defense.

“If they play like Baltimore [last year] and they protect the quarterback with a running game and defense, you cannot come from behind. Baltimore couldn’t. If you pull in the reigns look at what happens.”

Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com has begun a series of interviews with Bucs players titled “Behind the Flag.”

In the first video, Kellen Winslow is interviewed. Winslow talks about how much he grew up and learned to be a professional with Cleveland. In particular, he credited Willie McGinest with guiding him.

In the second video, Sabby Piscitelli is featured. The third-year Bucs player confesses he thought he was going to be a professional baseball player when he was in college. Piscitelli also notes how he is motivated by his race.

Lorenzo Neal was more valuable than Mike Alstott?

Mike Alstott is a near god in the Tampa Bay area. His humble demeanor, punishing running and blue collar approach to the game endeared him to Bucs fans forever.

But maybe not to Vacation Man of BSPN.com.

In discussing various top players at their positions for their teams, Vacation Man approached heresy in the Tampa Bay area for stating Lorenzo Neal was the best fullback in recent history for the Bucs, not Alstott.

As one can imagine, Vacation Man drew some criticism as a result. Surprising, one source of critique came from “Mike Alstott.”

Mike alstott (Tampa): I cant beleive this pat !!! How could I not be the FB on the all decade team !!! I truly feel my skills and the way I played the game were overlooked …

Vacation Man: You could run some, but you weren’t a great blocker.

mike alstott (Tampa): I put fear into def’s, Ran over anyone and my 3yrd missle launches into the endzone will be on highlight reels for yrs to come … No other FB in the decade can compare lets be real !!!

Vacation Man: Lorenzo Neal was a much better blocker and that’s what fullbacks are supposed to do.

While Vacation Man has a valid point, the greatest thing an offense can do is move the ball. Hard to win many games if an offense can’t score, just ask Father Dungy. While it’s great to have a crushing blocker at fullback, it’s more important to have a guy that can move the chains.

How many rings does Neal have again? Oh, yes, Joe thought that was correct. That would be zero.

Joe has long and hard pounded the drum the Bucs need to stay away from NRA spokesman and lone gunman Plexiglass Burress for a wide variety of reasons. Burress’ agent, oily Drew Rosenhaus, claims on his Twitter account there are five suitors for Burress.

Mike Florio, the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com offers several reasons teams need to stay away.