Bucs seventh round draft pick Michael Smith has been issued Earnest Graham's No. 34.

Bucs all purpose running back Earnest Graham is one of the coolest guys to ever put on a Bucs uniform. No task was too small or too tedious for him. Ego was never an obstacle.

But Father Time is unforgiving, especially when it comes to running backs in the NFL and the brutal punishment they endure game after game, season after season.

If one is to read the tea leaves, it appears that Graham’s days with the Bucs are numbered.

Last year at the senior citizen age of 31 for NFL running backs, Graham suffered an Achilles heel injury at London against the Bears. Achilles heel injuries are lethal for young players much less an old man of a running back.

Provided Graham could return this season from that injury — no sure thing — he would be 32. That is ancient for an NFL running back.

Also, Graham is an unsigned, unrestricted free agent.

Now fast forward to this week’s rookie mini-camp. When the Bucs drafted speedster running back Michael Smith out of Utah State in the seventh round in last month’s draft, the Bucs could hardly hide the fact their hopes are for Smith to become the Bucs’ version of Darren Sproles.

Why does Joe invoke Smith’s name into a post on Graham? Well, Smith’s is wearing No. 34, Graham’s number.

Sure, when a team can have 90 players on the roster, there is sure to be conflicting numbers but usually that would be a defensive player is wearing the same number as an offensive player, not two offensive players wearing the same number. Also, the Bucs are chattering with smiles on their faces about Smith.

Not a word is whispered about Graham. The math of all the above factors suggest to Joe that Graham has played his last snap with the Bucs.

Sadly, all careers have to come to a close at some point.

Of all the Bucs rookies Joe had a chance to talk with — the Bucs didn’t make that many available — no player had a bigger smile on his face than cornerback Leonard Johnson.

The former Largo High School quarterback and Iowa State cornerback somehow fell through the cracks of the draft and signed with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent.

After a strong series of practices during the rookie minicamp, Johnson learned, yes, he will be at Bucs training camp later this summer. He admitted it is a dream come true to play for the same team he paid to watch as a young teenager.

Ironically, when new Bucs coach Greg Schiano was coaching Rutgers, he staged a football camp at Jefferson High School in Tampa and Johnson has a picture of Schiano posing with Johnson when he was 14. Schiano admitted he didn’t remember the moment but was taken aback when Johnson showed him the picture, seeing that he and Johnson have a past connection other than Johnson playing against a Schiano-led Rutgers.

Below is the transcription of Johnson’s chat with reporters today:

[Not being drafted], I’m past it. The draft was something I was really, really looking forward to because a lot went into the preparation and game film. I was expecting something to come through on draft day but God works in mysterious ways. I am more than happy to be right here.

It’s a great situation for me. I am excited to come to work every day and compete and bring a competitive edge. Just be myself. This gives me the opportunity to stay in touch with my community because I do things in my community. My mother won’t have to take off work to fly out to see me play because I will be right here for my hometown team.

[On the call from Schiano informing him he was offered a contract with the Bucs.]

I was excited, I was excited. It startled me at first. Just to know that I grew up watching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and that I am a Buccaneer now, it was a bit overwhelming. I have been talking to my mom and my agent and I was all aboard. I was ready.

[On how he will be practicing with Ronde Barber in the coming weeks.]

I grew up watching him. Great guy. I haven’t met him yet personally but everything I have heard about him [from others at One Buc Palace] I can’t wait to introduce myself to him and I am looking forward to getting next to him and getting some advice. Kind of just be underneath him. I’m going to force myself on him until he tells me to run away.

Not saying you may have a chip on your shoulder, but do you have any added motivation to prove to other teams, “Hey, you could have had me, you could have drafted me.”

I wouldn’t say I have a chip on my shoulder but I am just going to be me. I am a guy who plays very aggressive and plays on the edge. I want to keep everyone excited. I am going to bring everything I do well to the Bucs. I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t. Hopefully, that will put myself where I need to be and where I want to be.

[On how Schiano watched all 12 of Johnson’s games on tape prior to facing Iowa State in a bowl game.]

I knew his gameplan because they had a top receiver and knew there was going to be the matchup, Mohamed Sanu and I. So I know for a fact coach looked at previous games to prepare them. I did pretty good against them, they had limited receptions.

[Did you go to many Bucs games growing up?]

I did. I remember coming into the stadium when I was young, you could come into the stadium for $20 and [sit] way up on top. I’m so excited to come home and be right here where it all started.

Schiano said that you attended one of his football [camps] when you were in high school. Do you remember that?

It was 2004 and I think it was at Jefferson High School. They threw a football camp and I was 14, a freshman, a quarterback. I went to the camp. After the camp, coach took pictures with everyone in the camp and I saved it. My mom and I, she went through the pictures and said, “Hey, look what I found, you and your new head coach. How crazy is that?” That is crazy, isn’t it? He gave a brief message to everybody but I can’t remember what he said.

[The Bucs only drafted one other cornerback. You must look at this as a real opportunity.]

This is an opportunity. I am here. I want them to know I am here. Film doesn’t lie. My film speaks volumes. I could have easily been picked from second to fourth [round], but unfortunately, that didn’t happen. But the draft is over. I’m trying not to talk about it because I get fired up. I am a Buc and I am ready to compete. I know the guys they got here are well-respected. The guys they brought in are great players but I’m a great player as well. I’m a top guy. It’s not how you get here; it’s what you do when you are here.

[What are some of the things you do for your community?]

I threw a football camp down in North Greenwood. I had about 300 kids come out. I will throw another one sometime in July. There was a streak of violence in the community, some murders, and we wanted to reach out to the kids in the community, so I reached out to my college teammates and friends I grew up with [to organize the camp]. The message was mostly for the minorities, even though there is a lot of stuff you see, violence and drugs, there are guys who came out of here who are productive and doing great things, not just football.

[How did a guy from Florida adjust to Iowa State and ten feet of snow?]

Iowa State was probably one of the best things to happen to me. I grew up quick, I matured a lot and I learned how to be accountable. Horrible waking up at 5:30 a.m. to get prepped and go to 6 a.m. workouts. It was all about how fast can you adapt and I’m a guy that can adapt pretty fast.

[So you got used to the snow?]

I got used to it.

Bucs coach Greg Schiano stated Sunday it's a very good possibility that LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson will be signed to a contract.

New Bucs coach Greg Schiano mentioned many times this weekend that he was not monitoring the players the Bucs drafted last week during this weekend’s rookie mini-camp?

Why?

“They will be back with us,” Schiano said Friday.

But many others on the practice fields at One Buc Palace, undrafted free agent signees and players trying out, were not afforded such security. Therefore, Schiano stated he concentrated most of his time on the practice fields with those players in order to better evaluate who will return for OTAs and/or sign a contract, or those who get a pat on the back, a handshake and a warm goodbye.

Schiano today stated that “between 22 and 29” of these players will return for OTAs, depending on a variety of factors including if the players want to be used in a role chosen by the Bucs, and, of course their contracts.

Three players in this group should return. Those three include cornerbacks Leonard Johnson and Derrick Roberson, and quarterback Jordan Jefferson.

New Bucs coach Greg Schiano just spoke with the Bucs pen and mic club today as scheduled Sunday practice was canceled.

Schiano hopes to keep anywhere “from 22-29” undrafted free agents and tryouts that packed the practice fields of One Buc Palace this weekend.

Among the things Schiano chatted about was his rigid discipline many of the players refernced this weekend, specifically how detail-oriented Schiano is, including the mandatory two-drink rule during meetings.

Schiano noted that he had many players in rookie mini-camp from places that aren’t exactly enjoying balmy weather this time of year, including the northeast, the Great Lakes region of the Midwest. Of course, that included first-round draft pick Doug Martin; the highs for Boise this week were in the low 60s.

“Doctors I’ve talked to say if you are too thirsty, it’s too late,” Schiano said of players who dehydrate. The two-drink rule is an effort to prevent dehydration.

Schiano admitted for Florida folks mid-80s isn’t terribly hot but that will soon change. Schiano wanted the players to get into the habit of hydrating themselves when not thirsty, so their bodies don’t break down on the practice fields, or worse, in games.

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Joe sees that Greg Schiano mentor Bill Belicheat has now signed high-mileage, free-agent running back Joseph Addai, and Joe wants to know when the Bucs are going to stop going all yungry in their backfield and land their own veteran backup.

Addai has seen better days, but the guy doesn’t fumble, is known for his blocking, and probably has one or two more solid starts, if necessary, in his body.

It’s awesome that Doug Martin and LeGarrette Blount can slug it out to see who plays bell cow, but Joe would feel a lot better having a veteran in the mix to back them up.

Rockstar general manager Mark Dominik has always had veteran RBs during his tenure. Last year it was Earnest “Insurance” Graham. Cadillac Williams and Derrick Ward were here with Graham before that. Surely Dominik sees the value in having a proven pass blocker and rock-toter around his franchise quarterback and young backs.

Joe’s written previously about the availability of Ryan Grant, who also visited the Patriots recently. Thomas Jones, LaDanian Tomlinson, Bucs killer Maurice Morris and Cadillac are all out there and seemingly healthy, versatile and content with backup roles.

With a head coach that wants to run the football like the NFL hasn’t seen in years, Joe can’t imagine the Bucs passing on a veteran back. It wouldn’t make sense.

When the NFL draft happens every year, rarely are two guys from the same school selected by the same team.

Oh, it happens from time to time. It’s just not the norm.

But two guys who were roomates drafted by the same team? Joe has never heard of such a thing (and really doesn’t want to pore over pages and pages of websites in a desperate effort to find the truth).

However, that’s just what happened this spring when the Bucs drafted LB Najee Goode and CB Keith Tandy out of West Virginia. The two were roommates for four years at West Virginia and continue to be now, both rooming together at the Bucs’ team hotel.

Throw in the fact that both players knew new Bucs coach Greg Schiano from their Big East days. So usually, when a guy is drafted by an NFL team, rarely do they know their new coaches or even teammates. 

“There was a lot of excitement when Coach Schiano drafted me,” Goode said. “Just to get the chance to play for him is great. I played against him and he’s a great coach. I am just happy to be in Tampa.

“The chance to get drafted is a big one, especially hby a coach I already know. It eases over the stress.

“I happy to be here but to be with my roommate is great. Gives me somebody to talk to, someone I can beat up. That is cool. We are on the same side of the ball. He is talking to me when i am tired and I am talking to him when he is tired.

This, Joe thinks, may be significant. As Goode pointed out, having a couple of guys with him that he knows, especically his roommate since his freshman year in college, makes the transition all the more smooth.

Goode also told Joe he has been working out at all linebacker positions.

Yeah, Joe knows, the rooks sweating it out at One Buc Palace this weekend aren’t playing real football because it’s just shorts and jerseys, oh yeah, helmets too.

How in the world can one judge a football player by not playing football?

Bucs coach Greg Schiano agrees with this philosophy, to a degree. Especially with defensive linemen. When asked today how he can grade defensive linemen, Schiano said one aspect is they need to be contortionists.

“It’s hard. What you try to evaluate is their sudden-ness, their explosion into a sled,” Schiano said. “There is an old saying among coaches that you have to beat a sled before you can beat a man. If the sled hits you back you have a problem.

“Then you look at their flexibility, how they turn their body. Defensive linemen, though they are big guys, they have to be flexible. They have to be able to contort their bodies in able to rush the passer that are not necessarily normal. We’ve gotten a good look at that.”

For some reason Joe never pictured a contortionist as a defensive lineman, but Joe totally understands where Schiano is coming from.

If you are just a big stiff who can’t move one way or another, you are pretty much nothing more than a sled with a heartbeat.

Earlier when the NFL announced rosters could go up to 90 players for the offseason, it seemed every team would try to take advantage of the boost from 80.

Sure, Bucs coach Greg Schiano wants to have as many players as he can as well. But as he remarked after rookie mini-camp practice this afternoon, just because the league has a roster max of 90 doesn’t mean the Bucs will have a roster of 90 players after rookie mini-camp finishes Sunday.

“We are allowed to have 90,” Schiano said. “We may mix in [players] already established [on the roster]. I don’t know what that number will be. It will be as many guys as we think can help us win.

“If we don’t fill the 90, that’s OK, too. It’s a continual process. We continue to bring guys in all the time, too.”

Joe has a hard time believing the Bucs won’t keep 90. As Schiano pointed out yesterday, he has brought in a lot of Big East players, partially because they know him maybe better than he knows them. Why not keep those guys around, if nothing else as a favor, so they can continue to work out with the Bucs?

Maybe one of them might blow up in OTAs enough to keep him around for training camp, or beyond?

The media got to watch Bucs rookie minicamp for 30 minutes yesterday and it seemed Tampa Tribune beat scribe Roy Cummings squeezed every last second out the allotted time to serve his readers.

Speaking to Tom Krasniqi on WHBO-AM 1040 yesterday, Cummings said as the media’s watch time ended he saw undrafted cornerback and former Largo High star Leonard Johnson was called away from the mass of tryout players and undrafted rookies to work with a “special group” of defensive backs coaches and draftees Mark Barron and Keith Tandy.

Cummings speculated that Johnson already impressing Bucs brass.

So what did the Bucs really get in fifth-round pick Najee Goode out of West Virginia?

Former Bucs tight end Anthony Becht, also an ex-Mountaineer, offered a scouting report during an interview with Tom Krasniqi on WHBO-AM 1040 Thursday.

“Goode’s a stout, strong, physical football player. Downhill, aggressive, you know, can mess with the big linemen and go make some punishing tackles,” Becht said. “He’s just one of those nasty guys, got an attitude, kind of a bad-ass attitude. That’s kind of the force and presence he brought for the West Virginia defense.”

Joe likes the sound of that. And Joe’s hoping/praying Goode can legitimately push Quincy Black.

On sixth-round cornerback Keith Tandy, Goode’s roommate at West Virginia, Becht called said his play was “nothing great but nothing average” and Tandy is “well-rounded at his position.”

Feast on Guava BBQ Ribs, Shrimp & Chorizo flatbread, Fried Banana Cheesecake (heavenly) and more at Besa Grill, 2542 N. McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater.

Joe loves this place!

And it’s the place to be Saturday night, Cinco de Mayo!

Enjoy KAH tequila, live music, great giveaways, and drink and food specials. Besa Grill is a contemporary grill with a modern american-latin twist, bringing vibrant flavors and fresh ingredients into the local culinary spotlight. Their food has exceptional flavor, and their hand crafted cocktails, unrivaled margaritas and full line of tequilas ensure Besa Grill delivers an experience like no other. Make reservations now!

It was a comment delivered in an upbeat manner but still one that made Joe take pause and reach for his bottle of Tums.

Bucs icon Derrick Brooks said the “odds are stacked against” Lavonte David because he’s “undersized.” No. 55 uttered the quick assessment during an interview with Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski on 1010 AM yesterday.

 David is listed at 6-0, 233 — nearly identical to Brooks’ playing size — and fielded does-size-matter questions at Bucs rookie minicamp yesterday. Stephen Holder of TampaBay.com took notes.

“On the size, I don’t care what anybody says,” David, 22, said.

“I’ve been doubted about my size my whole life. But playing in two different conferences (Big 12 and Big Ten at Nebraska), I (played against) better competition and prevailed in both and made All-American. I was doubted coming into the draft because of my size, but hopefully I can just improve on what I did in college.”

Now Joe’s been on the David bandwagon since December. So Joe’s not concerned, but it was still unsettling to hear the usually overly positive Brooks talk that way about a Bucs second-round pick, a guy many fans are hoping can revitalize the linebacking corps.

Just as Bucs players have learned that success and survival under the New Schiano World Order is about attention to details, it seems the Bucs media is getting a taste of that, as well.

Joe and other media types learned yesterday that Twittering any kind of play by play while viewing Bucs rookie camp is a crime against the new regime. Same goes for similar activity via Facebook and other social media, and presumably the edict extends to anything that violates the spirit of the order.

(There’s no truth to the rumor that Schiano insists media only use No. 2 pencils for notetaking. “Details! Details!!”)

FOX-13 TV sportscaster Chip Carter offered a theory on the Twitter order, via his Twitter account.

@chip_carter – Bucs have shut down media from tweeting during practice. No updates on Twitter or Facebook — they say too much wrong info was getting out.

Now Joe can’t speak to the exact reasoning behind the Bucs’ decision to put the clamps on live practice social media updates, and Joe surely can’t say that the order comes from Schiano.

Regardless, Joe doesn’t think it’s a big deal. It’s not as if the media is being censored in any way.

Much was made of Greg Schiano’s first recorded words coaching Bucs players at a voluntary workout recent when Schiano barked about “details,” specifically how players lined up for stretching exercises to begin each practice.

Schiano’s detailed philosophy also extends off the practice field as well.

Discussing the difference between his first NFL practice and the practices he was used to at Boise State, first round draft pick Doug Martin mentioned how players are to spend meetings.

“He wants us to have drinks,” Martin said. We’re required to have two drinks with us during every meeting.”

No, Joe’s not talking beers or cocktails.

“Water or Gatorade,” Martin said.

Schiano doesn’t care which drink a player chooses, or if they mix it up, so long as they have two drinks at arm’s length at all times.

This is, of course, to help keep players hydrated.

Feast on Guava BBQ Ribs, Shrimp & Chorizo flatbread, Fried Banana Cheesecake (heavenly) and more at Besa Grill, 2542 N. McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater.

Joe loves this place!

And it’s the place to be Saturday night, Cinco de Mayo!

KAH tequila, live music, great giveaways, drink and food specials are all on tap. Besa Grill is a contemporary grill with a modern american-latin twist, bringing vibrant flavors and fresh ingredients into the local culinary spotlight. Their food has exceptional flavor, and their hand crafted cocktails, unrivaled margaritas and full line of tequilas ensure Besa Grill delivers an experience like no other. Make reservations now!

In football there is a term called “self-scouting.” This is when an assistant monitors the tape of a game or a practice and pretends to put himself in the shoes of an opposing coach.

This way, said assistant may find things or tendencies that the coaching staff may totally miss on. It’s not unlike when someone proofreads another person’s work.

Even though it is rookie mini-camp, new Bucs coach Greg Schiano may have tipped his hand a bit on why he has so many guys from the Big East on the Bucs roster, or trying out for the Bucs.

Sure, one reason Schiano selected so many Big East players is because he knows them. But just as important, Schiano said after practice today, they know him.

Maybe too well.

“Some of the guys we coached against,” Schiano said. “There are some guys here from Connecticut and West Virginia, I have visited with them. “What are you thinking?” Try to gain some insight into how people are thinking” when they faced the Schiano-coached Rutgers.

Joe, along with the rest of the Bucs pen and mic club, was allowed to watch the first 30 minutes of practice on the first day of the Bucs rookie mini-camp Friday.

Now Joe prides himself on his photography but he must apologize. The team practice so far away from where media was allowed that Joe really needed a better lens on his camera. The following photos are usually below Joe’s level of quality, mostly grainy because Joe had to blown them up so much.

With apologies up front, here are some sights of One Buc Palace Friday.

Scene at Bucs rookie mini-camp Friday.

Per the loud, implicit orders of Bucs coach Greg Schiano, players had to run outside the end line and around a pylon after running each play.

Per the loud, implicit orders of Bucs coach Greg Schiano, players had to run outside the end line and around a pylon after running each play.

Ron Girault, who played for Greg Schiano at Rutgers, gets ready for a defensive back drill Friday at Bucs rookie mini-camp.

Bucs first round draft pick safety Mark Barron, 24, listens to assistant defensive backs coach Jeff Hafley Friday.

Chika Madu of Nichols State during a defensive backs drill.

The scene at One Buc Palace Friday afternoon.

Safety Tramaine Thomas of Arkansas during defensive backs drills as Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik watches.

"Run around the pylon!"

Safety Kenji Jackson of Missouri.

Running a play.

Former Largo High School quarterback and Iowa State cornerback Leonard Johnson skies for an interception.

Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik and coach Greg Schiano chat.

The scene at One Buc Palace Friday afternoon.

Ready for the pickoff.

The scene at One Buc Palace Friday afternoon.

Joe hears the name Derrick Roberson and gets hives remembering him being overmatched covering Roddy White in a late-season close game in Atlanta back in 2009. What a brutally painful loss that was.

Aqib Talib was down with an injury (surprise) and the Bucs were forced to test their painfully thin depth.

It wasn’t pretty.

But Roberson, 27, is still clawing his way to a NFL career. He was a September cut from the Bucs in 2010, before landing in Cleveland that season. He played some UFL ball last year. And now he’s in “rookie” camp with some select other non-rookie bodies trying to beat the odds and make the Bucs’ roster. Roberson played for the Greg Schiano at Rutgers.

Here’s the rest of the undrafted names in camp on a “tryout” contract, per Buccaneers.com:

Today, for many draftees and free agents, it was their first taste of the NFL on the practice fields of One Buc Palace.

More importantly, it was the rookies Bucs’ first taste of the New Schiano Order.

New Bucs coach Greg Schiano laid down the law with the rookies right off the bat. After the players performed their requisite stretching before workouts, they were ordered to break into their position groups.

It didn’t take five seconds before the players felt the wrath of Schiano.

What was a somewhat peaceful, yet steamy afternoon, was soon pierced by Schiano’s shrill holler.

“You guys want to make the team and your are half-assing it?” Schiano bellowed.

The players were quickly ordered to get back to their original spot on the practice field and hustle to their groups.

Double-time if not quicker.

The players then sprinted in haste to their stretching spots and bolted to their respective position groups.

It was a clear, stark contrast from practices in past years. Everything was done with a purpose, quickly, no jogging, no loafing. There was only so many minutes the team practiced today and clearly coaches wanted to squeeze every precious second out of it to good order.

A New Schiano Order.

As Joe waits for Bucs rookie minicamp to kickoff, Joe just read this nice look back at Greg Schiano from Pete Schrager of FOXSports.com. Schrager explains that the Erik LeGrand story is just a symbol of how Schiano rolls.

Schiano also helped another former player for years following a debilitating car accident that cut his college career short.  

Rashawn “Rocky” Ricks was the lone survivor of the accident.

He was told he’d never play football again. His doctors said there was a chance he’d never walk again.

Greg Schiano, the man who recruited Ricks to play at Rutgers less than 12 months earlier, didn’t once question what to do with Ricks’ place in the Scarlet Knights locker room. He knew Rashawn Ricks would never play football again. He knew he’d never let that break Ricks’ spirit.

Rashawn Ricks not only walked again, but he walked right into Greg Schiano’s office less than a year later and told his former coach that he couldn’t let football go. He’d never make another tackle, but he just couldn’t give up the game because of an injury. Schiano wouldn’t let him, anyway.

Ricks kept his full athletic scholarship and was brought on to the Rutgers coaching staff in a managerial role. He worked with the younger linebackers and defensive ends, shagged balls, lugged equipment, and graduated with a degree in four years at Rutgers.

“Without their strength, without the strength of these coaches, I don’t think I’d have made it,” Ricks would later tell the New York Times. “I can’t find the words to explain the state I was in.”

Joe never finds himself thinking the Bucs missed out on Chip Kelly.

An intriguing nugget has emerged from the NFL Players Association grievance filings in protest of Roger Goodell’s punishment of Saints players involved in the BountyGate scandal.

Creator, curator and guru of ProFootballTalk.com, Mike Florio, has obtained copies of the grievances and says the labor union is claiming the NFL agreed to not punish players for actions prior to August 2011, therefore Saints players should have amnesty.

Whoa! Aqib Talib’s alleged Wild West gunslinging antics in Texas occured more than one year ago. So is he immune from Goodell’s wrath?

In one grievance, filed under Article 43 of the labor deal, the union initially argues that Goodell lacks the authority to discipline players for conduct occurring before August 4, 2011, the date on which the current CBA was finalized.  The grievance cites language releasing all players from conduct in which the players engaged before August 4, 2011

Essentially, the NFLPA is trying to take punitive power away from Goodell in BountyGate.

There’s possibly lots of gray area here. But one has to think Talib might very well be off the league’s radar as it relates to punishment for his Texas acts.

There’s always a chance, though, that Talib could say something at trial, or as part of a plea agreement, that could lead Goodell to suspend him.