Trying to remember the Bucs’ 2011 season, including the grotesque 10-game losing streak, it reminds Joe of the fateful night he experimented with peppermint schnapps.

So Joe can understand how new Bucs coach Greg Schiano’s stomach has turned several times over, especially watching so many turnovers.

With this in mind, Joe and other members of the pen and mic club at One Buc Palace over the past several weeks were witness to how taking care of the ball has been a paramount focus of the New Schiano Order.

It has been such a focus that eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune explained how ball security is so important to right the Bucs ship.

“For everyone who touches the ball, we give specific coaching points about ball security being paramount,’’ said new running backs coach Earnest Byner. “It is consistently emphasized and coached. The bottom line is we can’t score if we don’t have the football.’‘

The three teams with the fewest turnovers—San Francisco, Green Bay and New England—went a combined 41-7 last season. The clubs with the most giveaways—Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and Washington—were a collective 17-31.

“More games are lost than won in this league,’’ Byner said. “That’s because people are giving away opportunities, shooting themselves in the foot.’‘

This can be easily corrected, Joe believes.

First, Josh Freeman had an unthinkable 22-interception season. Say, cutting that in half — not unlikely — would be a big boost right there.

And to see all of the Bucs running backs biting the football in preseason practice, Joe wouldn’t be shocked if the Bucs force more turnovers this season than times they cough up the ball.

In what Joe hopes sends a resounding message to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about the validity of the recently dropped felony assault case against Aqib Talib, the Dallas County District Attorney dismissed the felony assault with a deadly weapon charge today against Okolo Talib, Aqib’s mom.

Okolo Talib also had a charge against her of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, based on a previous conviction, which also was dismissed today.

Aqib Talib and his mother’s nearly simultaneous arrests had stemmed from the same March 2011 incident outside Talib’s sister’s home in Garland, Texas.

This is very curious considering that both Aqib Talib and his mother told police, per police affidavits, that Okolo Talib fired a gun multiple times during the March 2011 domestic disturbance that led to their arrests. In that affidavit linked above, there also are reports of witness statements that Okolo Talib fired at Shannon Billings, the sex offender who was involved with Talib’s sister and was reportedly fleeing from the scene.

Not that Joe wishes ill on Talib’s mom, but something really stinks here in the dropping of both charges. And the stench isn’t coming from the Talibs.

Again, Joe hopes Roger Goodell takes note and passes on holding Talib accountable for the events surrounding the March 2011 shooting.

There are many questions coming into Bucs training camp in just a hair over a month. But one question does not surround the No. 1 receiver.

That question was stamped in red ink when Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik signed Vincent Jackson as the new toy in quarterback Josh Freeman’s playpen.

Joe is pretty sure, barring injury, that Mike Williams is the No. 2 receiver. In fact, Joe would be shocked if he isn’t to hear Freeman talk.

But new wide receiver Tiquan Underwood seemed to open the door to the belief that the No. 2 receiver position is not yet set in stone, as he told Stephen Holder of the Tampa Bay Times.

“Once you get past (Jackson), it’s just a bunch of guys trying to make a name for themselves in this league. That just brings about competition. Competition is always good, because that makes the cream rise to the top.”

Underwood added that he likes the fact that the Bucs are “a younger team. And in this league, it’s a quarterback-driven league. Josh (Freeman) came out the same year as me and is going into his fourth year. And I just like the direction Coach is taking and the attitude he has with this team. It’s all about hard work and I want to be a part of that.”

This is an interesting quote, but again, Joe will believe it when he sees it, if Williams is not the No. 2 receiver.

After that, it’s a jumble between Arrelious Benn, Preston Parker, Sammie Stroughter, Dezmon Briscoe and Underwood at this early date.

If Joe had to bet, it would be that Underwood makes the team before Briscoe, who missed much of the Bucs offseason practices due to a variety of things that Joe doesn’t want to get into as he’s not a reality TV kinda guy.

Just a hunch, neither is Greg Schiano.

Before former Bucs safety Sean Jones turned into a serial loafer, he was a “Wolf,” so Raheem Morris dubbed him. It was one of the more comical nicknames during the Raheem The Dream era.

And now the 30-year-old Jones finally has found a new job. Signed by the Lions yesterday, Jones is even going to compete for a starting gig in Detroit, so says the Detroit Free Press.

Joe’s not quite sure what the Lions liked on Jones’ film, but Joe wishes Jones well.

The whole likelihood floated yesterday of joint training camp practices between the Bucs and Patriots led Joe to do a little research on what these things are really all about.

One ex-player told Joe that in addition to adding intrigue and excitement deep into the tedious training camp routine, the Bucs’ offensive line will draw the greatest benefit because of the chance to play against the Patriots’ challenging 3-4 defense. The practice repetitions will be a phenomenal way for the Bucs’ O-line to work on the footwork and subtleties of playing against the Pats’ two-gap scheme, he said, which should help when the Bucs take on a 3-4 defense during the season.

As for the practices themselves, a Patriots beat writer sent Joe the following. The Pats have done this before with the Saints and Falcons, though there was nothing last year thanks to the asinine lockout.

From what I remember, the first part the teams work on their own on separate fields, then eventually, you’ll see 11-on-11, and 7-on-7 drills, with the Pats and Bucs locking horns both with their respective offenses and defenses going toe-to-toe. I also remember seeing the Pats offense go against the other team’s defense in the red zone, and vice versa. And, there were also individual drills involving the offensive linemen with pass rushers. It’s kind of a typical practice. You also see a lot of coaching. If there’s a second day, they might scrimmage a little. It’s all pretty cool to watch down at the field level. It’s something different for them, not having to go up against their teammates.

There’s also trash-talking, and apparently the Patriots don’t take water breaks and cool-down breaks like the Falcons, so noted the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“You’ve got a chance to be up close and personal with a team which is not that easy to be up close and personal with,” said Dimitroff, and he should know. He worked for New England.

“Bill [Belichick] was very up front, [saying], ‘We’re coming there. Your rules. Your house,'” Dimitroff said.

The Falcons practiced against Jacksonville last week, but that wasn’t preceding a game between the teams, and, as Gonzalez said: “Nothing against Jacksonville or any other team, but when you go against New England you’re going against one of the best teams in the NFL. It’s good to see where you stack up.”

It was a little eye-opening, particularly for those of us who generally aren’t allowed to watch the other team practice. I’ll break protocol here: No. 12 likes to throw to No. 81. That’s sure to get me banned from future New England practices. Actually, Randy Moss (81) burned the Falcons’ secondary a couple of times, and made certain they knew it. “What’s up? That’s two today,” Moss said as he jogged back behind Falcons’ defenders on the sideline after catching a deep pass.

There were no fights and no real heated moments. Tom Brady (that No. 12) didn’t bring Gisele Bundchen and Kroy Biermann didn’t bring Kim Zolciak. (Imagine the look on Belichick’s face with that potential TMZ moment.) The Patriots were mildly amused when Falcons coach Mike Smith announced, “Everybody to the cool zone.” (That’s the players’ tented rest area.)

“We’ll go over to the hot zone,” a New England aide said. “They’ve got a cool zone, water breaks — we don’t have any of that,” Brady said.

Joe really can’t imagine a better all-around scenario for the Bucs than what these joint practices would deliver. And Joe has learned that opposing coaches spend time together and that Greg Schiano should expect detailed, real-time feedback on the Bucs from Bill Belicheat, which would be invaluable.

Joe’s also been wondering how much time Ronde Barber actually will get in preseason games to adjust in his new position and read opposing quarterbacks from a different vantage point. Getting practice looks against Tom Brady should help him sharpen up that much faster.

"Look Bill, I love you like a father and all, but we must keep that 7-on-7 drill to under 3 1/3 minutes."

Make no mistake that wily Bill Belicheat is doing whatever he can to help the New Schiano Order. Greg Schiano himself detailed this two weeks ago during a radio interview.

So it’s no surprise to learn that the Boston Herald is reporting that the Bucs and Patriots have been examining having joint practices in August, before the two teams square off in the Bucs’ final home preseason game.

The Herald has learned the Pats and Bucs have been exploring the possibility to hold joint practices prior to their Aug. 24 preseason game in Tampa, which makes sense given Belichick’s relationship with new Bucs coach Greg Schiano. If it happens, it would be a short week for the Patriots, who host the Eagles on Aug. 20. But again, nothing is certain.

One would assume the Patriots would come to Tampa to practice, though Joe wouldn’t be shocked if Schiano wasn’t interested in getting the Bucs out of town for a few days to bond and train in Massachusetts.

Regardless of the venue, this can only be a good thing for the Buccaneers and their young roster. Aside from the good example of Team Belicheat, the Bucs would get to see first-hand how a championship team operates. And it could help bring home Schiano’s radical culture change for the doubters that might be on the roster.

Yesterday, eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune typed a column about how the Hall of Fame in Canton will likely add some Bucs players in the next few years.

Yes, we all know about Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks and John Lynch and Ronde Barber.

Later yesterday, Joe was watching (again) the “Top 10 Sack Artists” on the man’s channel, the NFL Network. Other than the top 10, many others were mentioned as those who just missed the cut.

In neither of Kaufman’s column nor in last night’s show on the NFL Network was the name Simeon Rice mentioned. This despite how Rice had double-digit sacks in eight of his 12 NFL seasons.

Joe wonders why Rice is rarely mentioned as one of the Bucs greats?

Yes, the Bucs had a strong defense when Rice came to Tampa Bay in 2001, but Rice made the Bucs defense simply lethal. Not only did quarterbacks and offensive linemen have to worry about Sapp, they now had to worry about Rice as well, a frightening proposition.

In Joe’s eyes, Rice should have been the MVP of the Bucs Super Bowl win against the Raiders. He simply harassed, hounded and, yes, sacked Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon all game long.

Now Joe knows that Rice getting elected into Canton is a Hail Mary pass. It likely won’t happen, not unless he is added by the seniors committee some 20 years from now.

Joe always found it strange when the top Bucs players from such a wicked defense are mentioned, Rice’s name is often overlooked.

One of the most exciting hires by the Bucs last year was pass-rush guru Keith Millard. He came to Tampa with big-time experience and a strong endorsement from Warren Sapp, who was coached by Millard in Oakland. Plus Millard brought an old school work ethic and everything about him screamed that he was a no-BS football coach.

Dare Joe say Millard seemed to exemplify a coaching version of what Greg Schiano calls a “Buccaneer Man.”

But Millard, who had no 2011 offseason to teach the defensive line thanks to the asisnine lockout, got the boot with the rest of Raheem Morris’ coaching staff. It was the one staff loss that made Joe cringe. And those who want to know how hard Millard took the news can read Joe’s two-part interview with him after last season.

Millard landed with the Titans and Tennessean reporter John Glennon has penned an interesting feature story about Millard’s instant impact with his new team. Here’s an excerpt:

Judging by what the team’s defensive linemen are saying, Millard is doing just that. He’s in the process of overhauling much of what the Titans have learned about pass-rushing, whether that means changing their hand placement, footwork, hip movement or strategies to get after the quarterback.

Defensive tackle Shaun Smith called it Football 101. Defensive end Derrick Morgan said it’s about demanding perfection to detail.

And defensive tackle Karl Klug, who led the Titans with seven sacks last season, admitted he was a little overwhelmed during offseason practices.

“He’s teaching a lot of different stuff than what we went through last year,” said Klug, whose sack total led all NFL rookie defensive tackles. “Everything, from footwork to the rhythm of the pass rush that he’s been getting us to learn, has kind of been a struggle for most of us.

“It’s just different and it takes a while to get used to. Hopefully by the time training camp rolls around, I’ll have a better grasp of it.”

Randy Melvin and former NFL great Bryan Cox have taken over the role of molding the Bucs’ defensive line. And mysterious advisor Butch Davis, an accomplished defensive line coach himself, likely is scrutinizing practice film of the Bucs’ D-linemen.

The prized prospects along the Bucs’ D-line might be in great hands, but Joe really can’t say with certainty the Bucs have upgraded their coaching in that area.

Joe is fired up!!!!

In 32 short days the Bucs will open up One Buc Palace to fans to watch training camp practices, as players put on the pads and try to win jobs and playing time the old fashioned way. Joe can’t wait to see the many camp battles, highlighted by LeGarrette Blount and Doug Martin trying to earn real carries with every preseason touch.

Once again, the Buccaneeers will install bleachers for fans to watch training camp. Nine public practice dates have been released. Admission is free. And the best news is that eight out of nine of these open practices will be in the morning, rather than in the afternoon summer swelter as in years past. The non-morning practice is the popular night event at Raymond James Stadium.

Here’s the current schedule, which is always subject to change:

Friday, July 27,  8:45 – 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 28,  8:45 – 11:30 a.m.
Sunday, July 29,  8:45 – 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 1,  8:45 – 11:30 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 3,   8:45 – 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 4,  6:30 – 9:00 p.m. (Night Practice at RJS)
Monday, Aug. 6,  8:45 – 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 7,  8:45 – 11:30 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 12,  8:45 – 11:30 a.m.

Buccaneers.com will update fans with more details as training camp approaches. There’s always a chance free tickets will be required for entry, so Joe advises you to not just show up without checking JoeBucsFan archives or the official team website.

The 2011 season was a horror show for the Bucs. What started off as a promising season at 4-2 with two wins over playoff teams suddenly imploded into a grotesque 10-game losing streak to end the season.

The defense was particularly horrid, but perhaps no player had a worse season for the Bucs than the team’s most important player, the guy Bucs officials like to point to as being the franchise player, quarterback Josh Freeman.

Freeman’s play recently came under the flim microscope of Jaws, former Eagles quarterback and NFL resident quarterback guru Ron Jaworski, now of BSPN. Evan Silva of ProFootballTalk.com documented Jaworski’s breakdown of Freeman’s play last season.

According to ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski’s game-tape study, Freeman lost confidence, made poor decisions, and did not improve the finer points of his game.

“In 2011, Freeman threw four red-zone interceptions,” Jaws noted. “No quarterback threw more. It was part of a season in which Freeman took a step back. He struggled all year with his decision making. He tried to make too many throws that were not there.

“In addition, his ball location was not precise enough. Throws that you have to make became turnovers. Freeman has a lot of work to do. … I saw a lot of deficiencies that plague young quarterbacks. Poor decision making, lack of confidence. The physical talent is there, the consistency is not.”

Hhhmmm? So Freeman “tried to make too many throws that were not there,” eh? Smells to Joe like Kellen Winslow, no?

Jaws also noted he expects the Bucs to go heavy on play-action passes this season.

Of all the things wrong with the Bucs last year, righting Freeman may be the most important task of the New Schiano Order.

Greg Schiano may have a five-year contract, but that doesn’t mean he has a lot of time to turn around the Buccaneers.

The Bucs undeniably have a win-now offense chock full of talent. There’s no rebuilding going on there. And then there’s the matter of Schiano’s militant style. That might lose its positive effect if the Bucs don’t start winning quickly, so said former Bucs linebacker and current Buccaneers Radio Network analyst Ryan Nece on WDAE-AM 620 last week.

It was a sentiment that’s been expressed by others: the New Schiano Order has got the heat turned up, which runs a risk of backfiring if results don’t follow soon after.

“When you come in as a coach and you come into a situation where you are a polar opposite to the type of coach that was there before, and you bring a culture that was counter to whatever the culture there before, it’s a very hard adjustment,” Nece said. “It’s a hard adjusment for everybody … and yes, there’s going to be players that aren’t going to like it, and there’s going to be players that it’s not going to suit well because it’s hard to please everybody. And I think what he said is, ‘Hey, you’re either with me, or you’re against me.’ I remember that was a line Coach Gruden said all the time, ‘You’re either with me, or you’re against me. And if you’re against me, we can’t have you on this team.’

“But at the end of the day, all that matters is what happens on Sunday. Guys can buy in and say, ‘Hey, We like it now. This is different.’ All that’s going to matter is what happens on Sunday. If they go out there and they win, this is going to be a great adjustment, guys will buy in and they’ll believe in it. But if things start to look bad and they start losing, this makes it a much harder sale when you come in and change things this drastically as he has. It makes it harder for some of these veteran players to swallow that type of medicine.”

Joe found it interesting that Nece likened Schiano’s team-building mindset to Chucky’s. Clearly, Gruden had a doghouse, where those allegedly not in lock step would land.

Joe suspects anyone Schiano finds out of order will find the street or a new team rather than a doghouse.

To help fill the NFL’s unofficial dead period until training camp begins, Pat Yasinskas of ESPN is unveiling his top 25 players in the NFC South. Recently, he released his No. 22 player, which happens to be Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman.

What he did in 2011: After a tremendous first full season as a starter in 2010, Freeman appeared to take a major step back last season. He threw for 16 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. At times, he appeared to be nervous. At other times, he appeared to be forcing things. Freeman was bad, but so was his supporting cast and his coaching.

Why he’s No. 22 in 2012: The front office and the coaching staff firmly believe Freeman can be a franchise quarterback. They think the physical tools, work ethic and intangibles all are there. The front office already has done its part, signing free-agent Vincent Jackson to be the No. 1 wide receiver, drafting Doug Martin and planning to use him as an all-purpose running back and adding All-Pro guard Carl Nicks to an offensive line that looks like it has a chance to be very good. Freeman’s learning a new offense with coordinator Mike Sullivan, but it’s an offense that’s supposed to put him in a position to succeed. Freeman didn’t really have a chance last year because so much was going wrong around him. This year, there are no excuses. It’s time to find out what Freeman truly can do.

That’s just it. Which Freeman should Bucs fans expect to see? Is it the Freeman who had the sick touchdown-to-interception ratio of 25-to-6 in 2010, or the Freeman who threw a ghastly 22 picks last season?

Sure, he has new toys to play with and Bucs rock star general manger rid Freeman of a cancer that was the root of many of his interceptions. B But transforming from a bad quarterback to a good quarterback isn’t that simple.

The thing that concerns Joe is that Freeman is now on his third offensive coordinator in four years. Ask Jason Campbell and Alex Smith how a revolving door of offensive coordinators messes with the development of quarterbacks.

Looking around the NFL, Joe sees that a chunk of teams have released training camp dates and practices open to fans. This has Joe fired up, as an announcement from the Bucs must be coming soon.  

Joe’s been lucky enough to watch spring practices under the New Schiano Order, and Joe’s excited for fans to get their shot, especially those that braved the swelter of training camp under Raheem Morris. It’ll be interesting to hear fans’ persepective of the contrast.

Now Joe was concerned that Greg Schiano might not be a big fan of opening practices to fans and/or that he might be interested in getting out of Tampa for future training camps, but then Joe saw that Schiano’s mentor and Patriots chief Bill Belicheat has open practices at New England’s facilities. Therefore, Joe doesn’t expect Schiano and the Bucs to make significant changes to their camp activities.

Hopefully, for old time’s sake, Schiano will at least bark out one “toes one the line” for K2’s memory the Bucs faithful.

It’s Sunday. It’s gospel music. It’s Da’Quan Bowers singing Sail On Superstar!

The Bucs’ second-year defensive end with a healing Achilles spends a lot of time on Twitter sharing his love of music and football. This month Bowers has directed fans to his music, and updated his rehab to get back on the football field. Just yesterday, Bowers Twittered out links to some of his college highlights writing, “I’m determined to dominate like this again.”

Joe’s of the mind that the Bucs should put him on the shelf for the season and let him come back 100 percent in 2013. But Joe likes Bowers’ spirit. Speaking of spirit, here’s Bowers singing a song he co-wrote: Sail On Superstar. 

Definitely click on through to learn more and/or shop online at Ed Morse Brandon Auto Mall. Joe bought his pre-owned Ford at Ed Morse and had a fantastic experience. Not a peep of trouble with the vehicle in 16 months. You’ll be amazed by the selection, price and service at Ed Morse.

When it comes to late-June and July, Joe mines the interwebs for Bucs news and information far more than usual. That’s because it is the unofficial NFL downtime until training camp kicks off.

So Joe was browsing the website of the football geeks ProFootballFocus.com and came across a headline that made Joe wonder if he slipped something a bit stronger than cream in his coffee.

Michael Bennett a superstar? Well, author Nathan Jahnke didn’t exactly go that far but he does classify the Bucs veteran defensive end as a “secret superstar.”

Bennett is a perfect example of why we grade players in addition to keeping track of various other statistics. He finished tied with Leger Douzable for the 10th-highest Run Stop Percentage for 4-3 defensive ends at 8.6%. While that hints at his talent, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Bennett does an excellent job at pushing the man blocking him back and disrupting the play so the running back has to alter his path. This gives his teammates the opportunity to make the play and get the glory. Among 4-3 defensive ends over the course of the season, only Jason Pierre-Paul and Terrell Suggs had better run defense ratings than Bennett.

In 2010, Bennett managed just one sack and 16 hurries in his 263 pass rushes. The Buccaneers draft picks showed they were looking to upgrade their pass rushing, but they may not have expected Bennett to also be one of the solutions to the problem. In 2011 he increased his pass rushing snaps to 336, but also increased his sack total to four, his hit total to six and his hurries to 28. The teams overall sack numbers dropped in 2011 fro the previous season, but that was because the blitzing linebackers couldn’t get to the quarterback nearly as often as they should have.

Late in the season, Bennett missed two games with a groin injury, and also showed up on the injury report with a toe injury. That didn’t slow him at all, with two sacks, a hit, and six pressures in the Buccaneers’ last three games. His improved pass rushing can allow Bennett to be a three-down player rather than just an excellent run stopper.

If there was one coach Joe hated to see leave last year when Raheem Morris was jettisoned after a grotesque 10-game losing streak to end the season, it was the dismissal of defensive line coach Keith Millard.

Every defensive lineman Joe has spoken to revered Millard. Joe wonders if part of Bennett’s success last year was as a result of working with Millard?

If Bennett — who will get loads of playing time with the injury to Da’Quan Bowers — can continue to improve, that will suggest to Joe he is indeed a secret superstar.

So it goes for older running backs, especially those that are banged up; the NFL rudely kicks them to the curb and routinely seems disinterested in what they have to offer.

Earnest Graham, 32, falls into that boat but says he’s healthy now after his Achilles tear in London last season, so he told the Fort Myers News-Press. Though Graham is a man without a team. 

“I’m spending a lot of time with my family,” Graham said. “If something opens up in the NFL, I’ll consider it.”

A ruptured Achilles tendon injury shortened Graham’s season in 2011. He played in just seven games, starting two at fullback. He finished with 206 yards on 37 carries (5.6 yards per carry) and caught 26 passes for 163 yards.

“I feel fine,” Graham said of his health. “I’m running around well. If training camp started today, I’d be able to do it.”

Graham said he would be open to playing for a team other than Tampa Bay. Although he has not met new coach Greg Schiano, Graham said he could envision playing again for the Buccaneers, perhaps as a midseason signee should any of the team’s backs suffer injuries.

One would think Graham wouldn’t fit the mold of the cast aside NFL running back, given how versatile Graham is. He plays special teams, fullback, catches the ball well, can fill in on any down, and he’s got the A+ work ethic. Teamless Cadillac Williams, 30, for example, doesn’t have nearly the same skillset.

Joe suspects Graham will get a few phone calls at some point, if his agent is actively burning up the phone lines.

For Joe, it is far too early to take a stab at how many games the Bucs might win this season. Look, if Josh Freeman goes down in training camp or in a preseason game, the Bucs are in a world of hurt.

But that hasn’t stopped “The Professor,” John Clayton of BSPN, from taking a stab at the Bucs roster come January, and he believes the Bucs will win six games.

Pat Yasinskas of ESPN decided to take a page from Clayton and look in his crystal ball for a 2012 Bucs record. He comes up with a different mark.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Clayton has the Bucs going 6-10. That would be a two-win improvement over last season, which ended with 10 consecutive losses. But I think the Bucs have their eye on something better than 6-10, and this team is capable of more.

The cupboard isn’t bare here. The Bucs have stockpiled some nice young talent in recent drafts. Those players haven’t completely proven themselves yet, but players such as quarterback Josh Freeman, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and defensive end Adrian Clayborn can prosper under the guidance of new coach Greg Schiano. The Bucs also gave themselves an infusion of veteran talent by signing receiver Vincent Jackson, guard Carl Nicks and cornerback Eric Wright, which should bring veteran leadership that was lacking.

More or less? I think the Bucs have a chance to finish closer to 8-8.

Joe would be shocked if the Bucs duplicate last year’s horrid win total of a mere four games. How much more? Joe isn’t sure. Again, it’s June.

It just seems bizarre to think with all of the additions and Freeman almost having to improve on his nasty 22-interception season that the Bucs would still lose 12 games.

Talk about a pay-per-view Joe would fork over good money to see. It seems Warren Sapp is ready to get into a bare-knuckles street brawl with Jeremy Shockey.

Now Sapp is good with Shockey in the aftermath of Sapp fingering Shockey as the Saints Bountygate snitch, but if Shockey ain’t good with Sapp, well, No. 99 will throw down, so Sapp told sports radio 98.5 in Boston, via Deadspin.com. Here’s an excerpt:

On if Shockey is OK with him:
“The two times I’ve seen him I haven’t had a problem with him, but if he does we can go out in the grass and get it over with. … I don’t have a problem with getting my knuckles a little scarred up.”

On reporting the information from his source:
“It isn’t something that I’m running from or hiding from or anything like that. It is what it is. You’ve got a source that gives you information, you’re gonna go with it. It’s simple, because I’m not a reporter. My boss made that clear to me. Got it. Check. You won’t have to worry about it again. Some things you don’t share, some things you do.”

The whole Shockey-snitch thing with Sapp cracks Joe up. Joe gets that the NFL Network doesn’t want Sapp “reporting” anymore, but Joe thinks that’s a bit of a joke. Sapp’s got a load of sources around the league and certainly he should be able to tap those and run any information he gets by the NFL Network producers.

And Joe really does hope Sapp and Shockey settle any score — if there is one — in a steel cage match on pay-per-view. Sapp certainly could use the money, and Joe could use a great laugh from the weigh-in shenanigans.

One of the freshest breaths of air for Joe in the New Schiano Order is the drafting of first round pick Doug Martin.

The few times Joe has had a chance to talk to Muscle Hamster, he’s really a cool guy. Always wears a smile on his face, not unlike Hines Ward. Dude just loves football, and Joe supposes given his less than towering height, Martin loves to prove people wrong about how smaller players can’t play football.

Bradenton Herald columnist Alan Dell isn’t yet buying Martin as the next Ray Rice, however. Dell points to Muscle Hamster’s high school recruiting and Boise State’s soft schedule as caution flags for Bucs fans’ expectations for Martin.

Among the 32 first-round picks in this year’s NFL draft, Martin was the lowest-rated player coming out of high school by Phil Steele’s magazine, which is commonly known as the most accurate college football prognostication publication in the country.

Martin was rated the 279th best running back by Steele and one of just three first-round picks in 2012 who was not rated among the top 100 at their positions during their senior year of high school.

The others are defensive lineman Shea McClain (also from Boise State) and Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden, who at 28 years old is an anomaly.

While Dell has a point about Boise State’s schedule, there is little a school can do about its conference. A school has to be invited to join a conference; it can’t pick or choose and there is no logical reason a big-time conference would want Boise State.

In its non-conference schedule, Boise State always played a top-notch opponent. And when the Broncos played Georgia at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta in 2011, a virtual home game for the Bulldogs, Muscle Hamster fared well against a team that if memory serves Joe later played in the SEC Championship game.

Oh, and Boise State beat Georgia 35-21.

As for his high school recruiting ranking, well, Rivals and that type Joe will rant on some other time (and Joe used to be a Rivals subscriber). But let’s not forget that there was this quarterback from northern California who didn’t receive one Division-I offer and had to play juco ball. Yeah, some guy named Aaron Rodgers.

Joe also seems to recall Steve Smith having to go the juco route as well. So Joe isn’t going to sweat Martin’s college recruiting rankings as a harbinger of doom in the NFL. After all, how many five- and four-star recruits didn’t amount to a hill of beans in college ball? Does the name “Willie Williams” ring a bell? How about “Fred Rouse?”

Remember: New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese, largely regarded as one of the top executives in the NFL, was allegedly ready to draft Muscle Hamster before Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik pounced in with a trade to swoop up Martin.

Joe feels for the many Bucs fans that have to endure blacked out games.

Sure, there are unlawful Internet streams, blackout tours, tape delays, NFL Game Rewind, and the radio to satisfy fans. But for most, nothing compares to sitting at the local Hooters or on the family couch watching a Bucs home game in HD with a remote in hand to catch other games when the Bucs trail by four touchdowns go to a commercial break. This is especially gratifying when you can’t afford to go to a Bucs game, or physically handle what going to a game entails.

Joe is often asked what effects the New Schiano Order and the Bucs’ dive into free agency are having on ticket sales. And while Joe doesn’t have a definitive answer, Joe points to $30-per-game season tickets ($15 for kids), and $35-per-game season tickets still being available for sale.

That’s not a hopeful sign for those hoping blackouts fade away, especially considering how far prices have dropped for some season tickets and the various food and parking discounts the Bucs now offer.

Yeah, the economy in the area remains poor, but it still saddens Joe that the Bucs haven’t yet sold their fabulously priced tickets. Click the link above to see what’s available throughout the stadium.

Joe has no doubt Bucs attendance will improve in 2012, but Joe’s not seeing that translating into fewer blackouts. There’s no London “home” game or home night game this season, so the Bucs might actually have less of a television presence.

Of course all Bucs fans know full well about “toes on the line.” It’s a theory embraced by one of the greatest of all Bucs players and scorned by former Bucs more interested in spinning discs in Las Vegas, having a social hour at practice and quitting on teammates.

But the New Schiano Order isn’t about Marine-like rigid ways. It’s also about having enthusiasm for your job, taking pride in your job, and fostering camaraderie among teammates.

Bucs left tackle Donald Penn explained after he caught a punt to end minicamp earlier this month.

“A couple of times, a defensive guy made a great play and I had to go congratulate them, even though I am competing out there,” Penn said. Anthony “Gaitor made a great play on Vincent Jackson in the end zone. I had to go congratulate Gaitor, it was such a good play.”

For Joe, this is very cool to know. Penn is right; guys are out there competing for a job, for their livelihoods, for their childhood dreams. But any hint of selfishness is put aside when a teammate does well.

This is not a bad thing.