Listed at 6-5, 305 lbs., on the Bucs roster (he’s probably more like 325), Donald Penn is hardly a symbol of fitness.

He’s a tough, gifted, smooth-footed left tackle, but he hardly looks capable of running the floor in NBA. 

Penn, however, disagrees.

A former All-State high school basketball player in California, Penn said he could score a long term contract in the NBA right now. He made this ridiculous proclamation on Thursday’s edition of Total Access, a Buccaneers Radio Network show on 620 WDAE-AM.

Penn spoke of how he credits his basketball footwork and skills for preparing him for a football career and he grew up believing he was an NBA star in the making.

Apparently, that dream hasn’t died.

“I played power forward, center, but I was always one of those power forward/centers that liked to get the ball at the top of the key and take somebody to the hole. I think that if I got a 10-day NBA contract, it would turn into a long term deal. I think so,” Penn said. “I had two schools come to my high school [basketball games] and after the game they both offered me scholarships to play football.”

Joe will take the bait, considering the NBA preseason is in full swing.

“I think you have to play everything with confidence,” Penn said Thursday. “That’s one of the things that makes me as good as a player as I am. Because I go in every game with a big swagger, and I think nobody’s going to be able to beat me even though it does happen sometimes. I do get beat sometimes but I still, if somebody beats me one play they ain’t going to beat me again. I go back and forth. I just have that confidence about myself. And it’s been like that forever. A lot of people told me I couldn’t do things growing up and, you know, I overcame a lot. I lot of people didn’t think I was going to make it to the NFL. Because growing up I always thought NBA. But it’s just been a confidence thing that I go with.”

Joe is glad Penn has no prayer of sniffing the NBA. The Bucs need him here too badly. It’s time to give the man six-year deal.