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.

The signing of Gary Gibson is really uplifting Joe this morning. Joe’s got a feeling this guy’s going to bring some no-nonense leadership and help bring a new level of intensity to the Bucs’ super-young D-line, in addition to being better against the run than what was currently on the roster.

A veteran presence, a guy like Gibson who has clawed his way to a seven-year career after being undrafted out of Rutgers, should be able to bring some good lessons to eager learners Gerald McCoy and Brian Price.

There’s not a ton of info. out there on Gibson, but here’s how former Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo described him in 2010, when Gibson started all season.

“Gary comes to work every day and he’s a pro,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “He’s one of them tough guys.  People I know…everybody around him knows they can count on him.  He does his job real solid.  He’s great to have.”

A “tough guy” hand-picked and brought into the New Schiano World Order? No surprise there. That’s been the theme of the offseason.

It’s a huge weekend for horse racing fans, and you can start wagering right now at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg. Gates are open!!

Be the hit of your Kentucky Derby party with real live tickets for bets on the race. And don’t forget there are full slates of awesome greyhound racing at Derby Lane tonight and all day and night on Saturday.

Last night when Joe learned the Bucs had signed Gary Gibson, many Bucs fans sounded like scared owls they asked “Who?” so often.

That’s exactly why Bucs defensive tackle Roy Miller should be concerned.

It’s pretty obvious that the Bucs are either trying to light a fire under the backside of Miller or, likely unhappy with Miller’s lack of production, are preparing to cut ties with the Texas product.

Gibson was a backup on a miserable defense with the Rams, bagging only three sacks last year. But Gibson’s sack total with the Rams in 2011 matches Miller’s sack total in his three-year NFL career, missing but one game during that same span.

When the Bucs landed talented defensive tackle Amobi Okoye in March, many took this move as insurance against Gerald McCoy and Brian Price, who have a hard time staying on the field due to injuries.

Joe took it as more of a shot across the bow at Miller. Drafted in the third round of the 2009 draft, Miller has been a non-factor thus far.

New Bucs coach Greg Schiano has all but said how critical he believes it is for the Bucs to put opposing quarterbacks on the ground. His defensive coordinator, Bill Sheridan, came from the Giants, where that is their specialty.

If the signing of Okoye wasn’t a wake-up call for Miller, last night’s signing of Gibson surely should have his attention. It’s time for Miller to make an impact or his Bucs days are numbered.

To Miller’s credit, he was drafted specifically to play a role in the heinous Jim Bates Experience. Bates is long gone and it’s a New Schiano Order now.

No one should be surprised to learn that the New Schiano World Order will bring many roster changes.

And another change is here.

Per ProFootballTalk.com, the Bucs signed veteran free agent defensive tackle Gary Gibson to a 2-year, $2 million deal with $400,000 guaranteed. Gibson, 29, played for Schiano at Rutgers and entered the NFL with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He was with the Rams for the past three seasons.

It’s a safe bet DT Amobi Okoye, signed in March, will be on the roster. And one should assume Gibson will be here, too.

Joe hopes this latest signing comes not as a result of concern for Brian Price’s health but is born from Greg Schiano being sickened watching tape of the Bucs’ run defense.

Luke Stocker is one guy Joe thought flashed strong blocking and solid route running in his limited action last season. (Of course, Greg Olson pretty much stopped calling his number, but that’s a song for a different day.)

The point is the Bucs must have a good feeling about Stocker’s blocking, as well, considering Kellen Winslow is a subpar blocker and they drafted a tight end in Drake Dunsmore, who has little experience playing smashmouth football at the line of scrimmage. Dunsmore explained to Buccaneers.com.

“If you turn on the tape of me, you won’t see me blocking that much over the last four years. But I’d say I’m an eager blocker. You’ll be able to tell that by the way I block as a receiver and a slot guy, and moving and going in motion. But I haven’t had the opportunity to block a lot in-line, and that’s something I’m really excited to learn from the coaches up there and the tight ends that are already in Tampa. I’m hoping to progress in that department.”

Joe, too, hopes the new tight end coach and offensive staff can really coach everything out of the Bucs’ young players.

Interestingly, ex-Bucs tight end Anthony Becht, a veteran of 11 seasons and a former first-round pick, said on WHBO-AM today that it took him three full seasons to learn how to block effectively at the professional level.

Joe’s got another post coming tonight, but this is just a heads up that Bucs rookie minicamp runs Friday through Sunday and Joe expects to be there and bringing you whatever is interesting. So come back early and often over the next few days.

Also, it’s a big weekend over at Derby Lane on Gandy Boulevard in St. Petersburg. Advance wagering on the Kentucky Derby starts Friday morning at 10 a.m. Joe finds the race a lot more enjoyable when he has a few bucks on it. There’s also a full slate of live greyhound racing at Derby Lane on Friday and Saturday.

And mark your calendars for a great Saturday night — Cinco de Mayo — at Besa Grill in Clearwater. You will not be disappointed. … Or just hop on the No Excuses Tour to the Trop and relax.

While it’s quite early for season predictions, well respected NFL Network draft guru and Thursday Night Football game analyst Mike Mayock said today the Bucs are a playoff team in 2012.

In fact, when queried about the comment by NFL Network host Rich Eisen, who seemingly was overcome with disbelief, Mayock felt the need to repeat himself with emphasis and tell Eisen that he knows full well who the Bucs are competing against.

“I’m going to say it again. I think Tampa Bay is a playoff team. That’s how impressed I am, Rich, and I recognize the strength of that division,” Mayock said today on an NFL.com podcast.

While the New Schiano World Order shuns the modern NFL on offense, that’s not the case on defense. The selection of safety Mark Barron in the first round is a nod to the new NFL, said Mayock, who outlined Barron’s versatility.

“The safety position is more important than it was five years ago,” Mayock said. “We’ve seen what’s gone on in the league with tight ends and the pass-first attitude. So Mark Barron at No. 7 brings a degree of physicality, an ability to cover, and an ability to drop down in nickel and dime packages and cover different type players. At Alabama he covered tight ends and running backs in their dime package.

“What I loved about the whole thing is the extra picks they got for trading back, they were able to use again to come back up to the end of the first round and get Doug Martin, my second rated running back. So all of a sudden Tampa Bay fills in the [offensive] holes at a Pro Bowl level in free agency and then comes back and trades down and back up again to get two first-round picks that are plug, play, physical, tough. I think Tampa Bay’s a playoff team. I’m telling you right now.”

Playoffs? Playoffs? Hey, Joe’s loving all this and Joe has great respect for Mayock, who’s not one to throw love all around like Chucky or other non-credible analyst. Joe, however, can’t talk or speculate playoffs until he sees the Bucs get through a game without getting gutted and gashed up the gut of the defense.

But there’s no question the Bucs have true playoff talent on offense. It’s undeniable. There’s just so much to come together on defense and the ability of the coaching staff is an unknown.

Playoffs. It sure is a feel-good May thought on par with Rachel Watson bubble bath.

Earlier this week, NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell chatted with Joe’s good friend “The Commish,” Justin Pawlowski of WQYK-AM 1010, about the Bucs draft.

In short, Cosell firmly believes that Bucs running back LeGarrette Blount has become a second-string running back as a result of the Bucs drafting Muscle Hamster, Doug Martin.

“Doug Martin was the only other true foundation back in this draft,” Cosell said. “You don’t draft Doug Martin to use him sporadically. You use him to be your bell cow.”

As both Joe and Justin have pointed out, it’s clear what kind of team new Bucs coach Greg Schiano will have by the pattern of players he drafted: bruising, fundamentally sound players.

Cosell echoed this, by saying coaches “express their world view in how they draft.”

You can hear the rest of Justin’s outstanding interview with Cosell by clicking this link.

It’s lunchtime and Joe’s fantasizing about Baja Shrimp Tacos and the unmatched Ahi Tuna Tower and Delmonico Steak at Besa Grill at 2542 N. McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater.  

Oh, my! Joe loves this place.

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 a dining experience like no other. Make reservations now for Cinco de Mayo — Saturday night!

After the Cowboys leap-frogged the Bucs in the first round of the NFL Draft last week to snatch Morris Claiborne, a hot rumor from credible outlets had the Cowboys shopping former first-round pick and 2009 Pro Bowl cornerback Mike Jenkins.

And one would think the Bucs would have their antennae out, given that rockstar general manager often says a team can’t have enough quality cornerbacks, penciled-in starter Aqib Talib is fighting a felony charge, and the Bucs’ depth at the position is suspect.

But the Cowboys’ desire to move Jenkins is a red flag, so former Bucs defensive end Steve White said on WHBO-AM 1040 yesterday. White was an assistant coach at USF when Jenkins played for the Bulls and is a longtime Cowboys fan.

“There’s a reason why they’re trying to shop their former first-round pick,” White said. “Mike Jenkins has been hurt. He has a ton of potential but he’s only really loved up to that potential for one year a couple of years ago. I like the kid personally. I was a [coach] at USF I think his junior year. So I think he’s a really good kid. I just don’t know that you throw a whole lot of money at him or a whole lot of high draft picks to get him, because if he was that good, I’m pretty sure Dallas would want to hold on to him.”

Jenkins is coming off shoulder surgery and is in the final year of his contract. Joe was intrigued that White gave Jenkins a “good-kid” endorsement, not something he would toss out there for anyone.

Is he worth a sixth-round pick, if Dallas would make such a move? Joe’s not sure. But the Bucs can surely afford him, and it’s a safe bet he’s a better player than E.J. Biggers and Myron Lewis. At 27-years-old and from the Tampa Bay area, Jenkins is an interesting thought.

Joe’s going to bet the last time the Bucs made the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, was when the Bucs won the Super Bowl. Or was Tom Brokaw still working the nightly news then?

At any rate, here’s the video proof.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Yesterday, the Bucs and Eric LeGrand owned the national headlines… for a few hours.

Before NFL news turned gruesome with the release of penalties for players involved in the ugly Saints bounty scandal and news of Junior Seau’s suicide (Joe finds it grossly irresponsible that far too many alleged media elites immediately fingered football for his demise — how exactly do they know what troubled the man?), the Bucs’ signing of LeGrand, Greg Schiano’s former player at Rutgers who was paralyzed in a game two years ago, was front and center in sports and news headlines.

LeGrand couldn’t make it to One Buc Palace on such short notice for the press conference — traveling for him is not simple — but LeGrand did hold court for the fourth estate at Rutgers.

Below is a transcript of LeGrand’s press conference, courtesy of the Bucs media relations department.

(On his reaction to being signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and head coach Greg Schiano)

“I was in shock. All my friends asked me if I was going to be drafted. I told them I think they all need to be worried about their other picks. He called me Monday and he just said ‘We’re picking you.’ At first we had just started talking. I want to draft you and pick you up as a free agent. I was just like ‘Really? You’re just going to waste a pick? You have a 90-man roster. You’re going to pick me as that?’ And he said yes, this is something they want to do. He’d talked to the GM, he’d talked to everybody. This is a dream come true for me to go to the NFL. The circumstances, yeah, but I’m there.”

(On what it will mean to be on an NFL roster)

“It’s always been a dream to go to the NFL. I never thought I’d be picked up in the draft. Coach said this was my draft. I’m not going to lie, I was watching the draft and it was hard seeing those kids and I’m thinking this could have been my turn. When he did this for me, it was a dream come true. I was like ‘Thank you, Coach. This means a lot to me.’ They are sending me a jersey by Friday so I can tweet that out. There are so many things right now that haven’t sunk in. He picked me as a guy for his roster.”

(On his relationship with Coach Schiano)

“It means a lot. It shows the person he is, still keeping in touch with me. He still calls me every week, once a week. I talked to him a week before the draft, then right after the draft. He just calls me up. He’s been thinking about me and my family since day one. He’s been getting me the best doctors, the best care. He even got me cable in my Kessler room. You know he’s down in Tampa right now, but he’s making sure we know that he’s not forgetting about my family and I up here. He’s like a father figure to me.”

(On how he feels about going to a team and being unable to play)

“Not being able to play kind of stinks, just because you can’t. Just being able to get picked like this, in the situation that I’m in. Getting a call that they really want to pick me up, not being able to play but be a part of the team and something like that. I’m just thanking them for the opportunity. Hopefully I’ll be able to meet some of my new teammates and some of my Rutgers teammates too. They picked up Desmond Wynn, and I just played with him.”

(On how he will contribute to the team)

“That’s what we have to talk about. I’ll meet with (Coach Schiano) soon, meet with Kevin MacConnell soon and see what we’re going to do up here in Jersey. People have been asking me all day if I’m moving to Tampa. I’m not going anywhere. I’m still here in New Jersey. So I’ve got to talk to them and see what we can do and work some things out. I’m sure (Coach Schiano) has something planned.”

(On what is in the future entails)

“I’ve got to get this degree. I signed with IMG. I’m working with my agent. He’s been working with me, trying to figure out where we’re going to go in the future. We just got my book deal. That’s going to come out in the August or September area, so I’m really excited about that. Once I get this degree, I’m hoping to be working with ESPN, CBS or NBC, or somebody by next fall in the whole broadcasting gig. I’ve just got to finish up with school. I still have therapy every day. I’m still working hard at that. I’m just getting better and better and hopefully starting my career off next fall.

(On how he misses football)

“That was when I was watching the draft. When I was watching that draft, everything just came down on me. This was the year. This was what I’ve dreamed about since I was five years old. This was the day. And you saw those kids going across the stage, I thought about what I could have done and where I could have had my name called. And said ‘Damn, I miss football.’ It’s the game I love. It’s the game that taught me the game of life, basically. Seeing that draft hit on a lot of stuff.”

Joe’s been known to appreciate what a good lubricant can provide on occasion, but it seems Gerald McCoy is making daily use of them and recommending them to his fans.

Out on the Twitterverse, McCoy, aka @Geraldini93, is singing their praises.

“Multi-Vitamins and fish oils everyday to fuel and lubricate the muscles and joints. Much needed people. Try it. It’s worth it. Promise!!”

Joe puts this out there as it seems McCoy has enhanced his training regimen to include these supplements, probably more, too. No harm there. If a few milligrams of cold water sardine oil will keep him lubed up and more flexible, maybe they’ll overcome the Pop Warner fudamentals that killed his 2011 season and likely led to the jettisoning of Raheem Morris.

Joe joins the legions of Bucs fans hoping/praying McCoy can transform from part-time patient to full-time force.

When the Bucs signed the defensive lineman from Rutgers, Eric LeGrand, to a contract today, it brought about more love for the team, both locally and nationally, then Joe has seen since Chucky hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy aloft in victory.

As Joe wrote about earlier, LeGrand’s story is inspirational if not a heart-tugger.

Though LeGrand will not take up a roster spot, he is essentially a member of the Bucs family. Joe also learned his number will be No. 52, the same number he wore for the Scarlet Knights.

Not coincidently, this news was released on May 2. You know, 5/2?

Now Joe has been bombed with questions about buying his jersey. Of course, one could customize a jersey with LeGrand’s name and number. But for the NFL to sell a jersey of a guy who is not on an active roster, they gets a little dicey as far as all sorts of agreements and legalities between the NFL, the NFLPA and NIKE. So Joe isn’t sure if one can ever purchased an official NFL LeGrand jersey.

(For example, in baseball, you cannot order an Albert Pujols Cardinals customized jersey because, of course, Pujols is with another team.)

Joe has communicated with someone within the walls of One Buc Palace and team officials are overwhelmed with the positive response from fans querying about buying a LeGrand jersey.

Joe has a hunch if the Bucs can sell a LeGrand jersey, the team will, and don’t be surprised if proceeds go towards some group of LeGrand’s choice.

This photo sort of says it all — former Rutgers defensive lineman Eric LeGrand, who will never play another snap of football after being paralyzed while making a tackle on a kickoff in a game against Army, reacting just hours after news he has signed with the Bucs.

Welcome to Tampa Bay, Eric.

How crazy is the new-found Bucs hugfest getting after the Bucs draft last weekend? Consider “The Tim Brando Show,” broadcast live on CBS Sports Network yesterday, also heard on SiriusXM radio as well as local radio in various markets via syndication.

NFL Network analyst Michael Lombardi appeared on the show and waxed poetic about the Bucs draft. So much so that the crew of the show broke into song.

(FYI, a guy in the background is none other than “Big Papi,” Dave Druda, former executive producer of “Happy Hour With J.P.” heard locally on WQYK-AM 1010. Druda now is a producer for “The Tim Brando Show.”)

Hat tip to Big Papi and the good people of CBS Sports.

Eric LeGrand leads his Rutgers teammates out onto the field for Senior Day last fall.

The Bucs, like all NFL teams, are scouring the bushes to find any hidden gem to bring to their rookie mini-camp in hopes of finding the next Night Train Lane or Drew Pearson or Kurt Warner.

One player the Bucs signed this morning has no chance of ever making a football team, much less the Bucs. But that’s not the point.

Today, the Bucs announced that former Rutgers defensive lineman Eric LeGrand signed a contract with the team.

LeGrand, who played for new Bucs coach Greg Schiano at Rutgers, won’t make the Bucs and won’t even participate in the rookie mini-camp.

That’s because LeGrand is paralyzed.

LeGrand made a tackle in a game against Army in October 2010 and couldn’t get up because he couldn’t move from the neck down. LeGrand was able to recover movement in his shoulders and some in his arms later in therapy.

LeGrand wouldn’t let the injury stop him. He is scheduled to graduate this fall with a degree in labor studies. This past year, he was also a radio analyst on Rutgers broadcasts.

LeGrand was able to take part in Senior Day ceremonies for Rutgers last season.

Per NJ.com, LeGrand will have some sort of affiliation with the Bucs, though currently his role is unspecified.

“Leading up to the draft, I couldn’t help but think that this should’ve been Eric’s draft class,” Schiano said in a statement released today by Rutgers and the Buccaneers. “This small gesture is the least we could do to recognize his character, spirit, and perseverance. The way Eric lives his life epitomizes what we are looking for in Buccaneer Men.”

This is just beyond a cool gesture by Team Glazer and Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik. LeGrand and Schiano are clearly very close. It is a nice gesture not just for your new coach, not just for the image of the team, but for LeGrand as well.

Such a move is not unprecedented. In 1981, Isiah Thomas led the Bobby Knight-coached Indiana Hoosiers to second national title in six seasons. A junior center was also a key member of the club, Landon Turner, who many expected to be a star in the NBA.

But fate was cruel to Turner, who was paralyzed in a car accident a few months later.

Knight and then-Boston Celtics patriarch Red Auerbach were close. Knight had mentioned to Auerbach that Turner was a huge Celtics fan and how nice of a gesture it would be if he could sign Turner as a free agent.

Auerbach one-upped Knight’s suggestion and selected Turner in the 1982 NBA draft.

Of course, that was in the days that the NBA had 10 rounds in its draft. If the NFL still had a 12-round draft, Joe’s pretty confident the Bucs would have pulled a similar move.

All around, this is turning into a proud Bucs week.

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In simply one of the coolest moves Joe’s seen by a team in a long time, the Bucs signed former Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand today.

He was paralyzed after an on-field injury during the 2010 season.

“Leading up to the draft, I couldn’t help but think that this should’ve been Eric’s draft class,” said Coach Schiano. “This small gesture is the least we could do to recognize his character, spirit, and perseverance. The way Eric lives his life epitomizes what we are looking for in Buccaneer Men.”

Not much for Joe to say about this one and how Schiano chose to honor one of his own.