That Dave Wannstedt pipeline to the Bucs continues.

The Bucs have filled the last major hole in their coaching staff, so says Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com. And it’s with a guy who the Bucs strongly considered (and thankfully, dismissed) for the offensive coordinator job, former Bears offensive coordinator and Illinois head coach Ron Turner.

The brother of San Diego coach Norv Turner, Ron Turner’s greatest claim to fame as an offensive strategist was developing the immortal Kurt Kittner.

Ron Turner held the same position last season in Indianapolis. The 58-year-old Turner spent the past two years with the Colts after serving as Chicago’s offensive coordinator from 2005 to 2009.

Freeman entered the 2011 season regarded as one of the league’s rising passers, but he regressed with 16 touchdowns and 22 interceptions as the Buccaneers finished 4-12.

Joe isn’t blown away by this hire, unless of course Rex Grossman’s tenure as quarterback of the Bears is looked upon as a shining beacon of light.

But at this late stage with the Bucs and Greg Schiano having doors slammed in their faces at virtually every turn in order to find assistants, the hire could have been worse.

The Bucs need depth in lots of places, but Joe’s not so sure wide receiver is one of those spots.

Could the Bucs use a burner of a No. 1 receiver? Sure. That’s different than needing depth. The Bucs seem to have a plethora of No. 3 guys.

But there is chatter out on the interwebs that the Bucs want to add another No. 3 receiver. Mario Manningham is one of those rumors. Another rumor, per ESPN’s Pat Yasinskas, is the Bucs are targeting Denver’s Eddie Royal.

Like Manningham, Royal wouldn’t solve all of Tampa Bay’s problems. But, also like Manningham, he could be a nice addition. I don’t see Royal as a No. 1 receiver, but I think he could fit as a No. 2 or 3 receiver. He had a big rookie year under former coach Mike Shanahan in 2008 when he caught 91 passes for 980 yards.

Royal’s numbers have slipped the past three seasons and he bottomed out last season, catching only 19 passes for 155 yards. But any receiver’s numbers are going to dip when Tim Tebow is your quarterback.

While that is true,  with Tebow as a signal-caller any receiver’s numbers will drop, that doesn’t mean Royal is going to be a big help to the Bucs.

If Denver, also a young, building team, doesn’t want the guy, that raises an eyebrow with Joe why the Bucs would want him.

Despite all the endless chatter about the Bucs adding linebackers, defensive leaders, cornerbacks, a No. 1 wide receiver and more, so much of the Greg Schiano regime and the future of the Bucs simply will be shaped by Josh Freeman’s performance.

There’s no getting around it, especially given the nearly unlimited ceiling on Freeman’s potential, and the fact he has a long way to go to reach it.

Speaking on Movin’ The Chains on SiriusXM NFL Radio last week, rockstar general manager Mark Dominik offered a glimpse inside Freeman’s mindset as No. 5 enters this critical 2012 season.

Pat Kirwan: You know I’m a big fan of Josh Freeman. I must say it four times a day on the radio how much I love the guy and how much I think he has a chace to be a great player, not a good player, a great player. How did he handle personally, last year? Because he’s got a lot of pride. That had to bother him. He may have taken it out on himself quite a bit as well.

Mark Dominik: “It really hurt Josh,” Dominik said. “He’s a really ultra competitive guy. He’s got kind of a quiet demeanor when you’re just sitting around just talking to him. But in terms of football love and passions, it’s deep. And last year was really tough. And certainly once we had to make a tough decision in dealing with the coaching staff, he called me right away and just said, ‘Hey look, I just want to win. I’m going to do whatever I can to help.

“And then when we hired Mike Sullivan, he was through the phone and wanted to talk to him and be a part of it, “How can I get there? What can I be?’ He came in right away when Greg Schiano was announced as head coach, he flew from Missouri and got back here because he wanted to be meet the new coach. He’s been great. Just know how important football is to him, Pat. And as we know, that’s the first step to becoming a great player.”

If you put a gun to Joe’s head and forced Joe to make a call on Freeman, Joe would say that Freeman will bounce back to a top-10 quarterback level in 2012. But Joe would hardly say that with confidence, especially with a first-time offensive coordinator.

The glorious family of Ed Morse dealerships has gotten bigger and better with the addition of Brandon Auto Mall Fiat. Click on through below to learn more and shop online.

Joe’s shared thoughts previously on the Bucs possibly adding All-Pro Saints left guard Carl Nicks in free agency. But now the opportunity is staring the Bucs’ brass in the face.

The cheating, head-hunting, tax-evading Saints, and their sleazy coaching staff and front office, have now used their franchise tag on Drew Brees, which means they can’t use it on Nicks and he’s all but sure to hit the free agent market when the bell rings on March 13. Why would Nicks want to return to New Orleans when the entire organization is in chaos and it can’t pay him what the Bucs or other teams presumably will?

This is a real interesting spot for the Buccaneers. How, with a mammouth sack of cash, can they turn their nose on a 25-year-old true star entering his fifth season who is arguably the best in the league at his position — a position the Bucs have experimented with over the past three seasons? There are very few All-Pros that hit free agency.

If it’s all about No. 5 and Greg Schiano wants a pound-the-football offense, it seems like Nicks would be a guy rockstar general manager Mark Dominik would seek in earnest. Sign Nicks. Sign Jeremy Zuttah and move him to center. And the Bucs just got a lot better and younger on the O-line, plus the Saints are weakened.

On this chilly Sunday morning, Joe’s not seeing how Dominik isn’t salivating over this opportunity.

Joe reads virtually every day readers pining for Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik to draft Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

Joe just shakes his head when he reads these comments and hears people barking on sports radio for Richardson. There are many reasons Joe is against this, but the main reason is the Bucs already have a running back.

LeGarrette Blount averages nearly 4.5 yards a carry, which is damned good in the NFL. But to hear talk from his former assistants, Blount can’t pick up blitzes, can’t catch balls and ugly rumors have surfaced about his lack of knowledge about his playbook, among other things Joe will not get into.

For the aforementioned sins, Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune believes Blount has scant time to prove his worth to Greg Schiano and his new coaching staff, or Blount could be let go.

Though Blount has yet to prove during his two seasons in a Bucs uniform that he can block and catch well enough to earn regular snaps on third down, the team is willing to give him another chance.

Time, though, is not on Blount’s side.

Even with a new head coach on board, Tampa Bay cannot begin its offseason workout program until April 2. That will leave less than a month before the draft starts April 26 to determine whether they can successfully expand Blount’s role.

Joe just can’t believe these words. Do people not forget the coaches Blount had last year? The same football savants who gave him the ball a grand total five times in the season opener — FIVE!

Joe is firmly of the belief that Blount’s former coaching staff had no clue or simple grasp in how to utilize his talents. Every one of the ills that are cited about Blount are all coachable obstacles.

And, if all the bad things said about Blount are really true, then why the hell was he on the active roster?

As irresponsible as it would be to draft Richardson with the fifth pick when the defense has more holes than a fish net, it would be equally irresponsible to just let Blount walk away.

The last time the Bucs gave away a productive running back who Chucky said couldn’t block was Thomas Jones. Don’t think the Bucs could still have been able to use Jones to this day?

Don’t make the same mistake Mr. Dominik.

There’s always a good fluffy, feel-good video up on Buccaneers.com, but one there today made Joe pay attention.

It’s a feature on Michael Bennett, who explains that he hasn’t taken a day off since the end of the 2011 season, and he likens himself to single-minded Lord of the Rings character Smeagol.

Hearing that flashed Joe back to Joe’s postseason interview with former D-line coach Keith Millard, who made if very clear that Bennett is team-leader material and the kind of “warrior” you want to follow on Sunday. 

Joe would be surprised if Bennett, a restricted free agent who played hurt for much of 2011, is not back for 2012. Defensive end if one of the few positions where the Bucs actually have legitimate depth. But these guys have to find a way to get their sack totals up.

Living in the league cellar for sacks again won’t cut it.

Tonight is truly one of the greatest nights of the year for greyhound racing across the country, and it’s right in our backyard at historic Derby Lane on Gandy Boulevard in St. Petersburg.

Some of the best dogs in the country will line up for the $85,000 Sprint Classic final before a buzzing large crowd. And Derby Lane is giving away $500 cash to five lucky, random winners through the night. There are awesome dining options throughout Derby Lane and their awesome smoke-free poker room is 24 hours on the weekends. Click on through for all the details.

Before the boo birds come out and start calling Joe and draft guru Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski idiots, let Joe say that he and The Commish are well aware that mock drafts prior to free agency involve a lot of guesswork. But they’re still entertaining and interesting, and good mock drafts can teach you a lot about the draft class.

Loyal JoeBucsFan.com readers know “The Commish” offered his glorious draft coverage here from 2009 through 2011. Now it lives on the pages of CommishOnline.com. His first mock draft of the season came out this week, and here’s a snapshot of the top of the second round with the Bucs grabbing Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill.

Round 2

33. St Louis Rams – Lamar Miller
RB – Miami
5’11” – 212 lbs – 4.40

Comments: Miller is electric and provides a nice complement to Steven Jackson.

34. Indianapolis Colts – Alshon Jeffrey
WR – South Carolina
6’3” – 216 lbs – DNP

Comments: Jeffrey can give Andrew Luck a nice big target opposite Pierre Garcon…if he stays.

35. Minnesota Vikings – Stephon Gilmore
CB – South Carolina
6’0” – 190 lbs – 4.40

Comments: With the Vikings contemplating moving Cedric Griffen to safety, corner is a potential need.

36. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Stephen Hill
WR – Georgia Tech
6’4” – 215 lbs – 4.36

Comments: The Buccaneers want a physical offense that takes shots down the field. Well, it’s tough to take those shots unless you have speed like Hill’s on your team.

Joe surely wouldn’t be stunned if the Bucs made this pick, if they don’t land a top-tier wide receiver in free agency.

Assuming Mike Sullivan is not the second coming of Greg Olson, he’ll know how to make use of a guy that can stretch the field. Hill was definitely a head-turner at the combine (for whatever that’s worth); the guy just moves like a elite receiver.

Lamar Miller is one guy Joe will have an eye on come draft day. Joe’s not seeing where the Bucs would pick up an electric scatback in free agency, and if they want that element to the offense, Miller, still just 20 years old, is a very intriguing player.

A limo this weekend sure would have been glorious, wouldn’t it?

A classy limo roundtrip to the Hard Rock or the Tampa Bay Times Forum would have made everything so much more special, impressive and safer. Take it from Joe, you should have done it, and it’s very reasonably priced to enjoy limos in Tampa and limos in St. Pete, and all across the Tampa Bay area, from Paradise Worldwide Transportation.

Remember, Paradise Worldwide Transportation is ready to answer your call 24/7 to accommodate all your travel needs. Joe highly recommends Paradise. This is top-shelf reliability and service at competitive rates.

Paradise Worldwide Transportation is a tremendous Tampa Bay company with service worldwide, so you can book airport rides or executive transportation easily — anywhere. One phone call gets the job done.

And, of course, Paradise also has superior party buses, fancy stretch SUVs and so much more in its fleet.

Traveling for Easter? Make it easy and call Paradise Worldwide Transportation today at (800) 729-4713.

Former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been implicated by an NFL investigation of running a bounty system by paying Saints defenders to hurt opponents.

Yes, this is a Bucs blog; Joe does not deny that at all.

But it is times like this that Joe will deviate just slightly, as this is indirectly connected to the Bucs.

It seems the Bucs’ division rival, the New Orleans Saints, were busted by an NFL investigation for running a bounty program, where defenders got paid if they mauled opponents.

That could have included Bucs players as victims of dubious tactics.

Joe will paste the entire release from the NFL below so Joe’s readers can inhale all of the investigation’s findings.

NFL Discloses Findings of Investigation Into Violations of “Bounty Rule”
03/02/2012
NFL DISCLOSES FINDINGS OF INVESTIGATION
INTO VIOLATIONS OF “BOUNTY RULE”

A lengthy investigation by the NFL’s security department has disclosed that between 22 and 27 defensive players on the New Orleans Saints, as well as at least one assistant coach, maintained a “bounty” program funded primarily by players in violation of NFL rules during the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons, the NFL announced today.

The league’s investigation determined that this improper “Pay for Performance” program included “bounty” payments to players for inflicting injuries on opposing players that would result in them being removed from a game.

The findings – corroborated by multiple independent sources – have been presented to Commissioner Roger Goodell, who will determine the appropriate discipline for the violation.

“The payments here are particularly troubling because they involved not just payments for ‘performance,’ but also for injuring opposing players,” Commissioner Goodell said. “The bounty rule promotes two key elements of NFL football: player safety and competitive integrity.

“It is our responsibility to protect player safety and the integrity of our game, and this type of conduct will not be tolerated. We have made significant progress in changing the culture with respect to player safety and we are not going to relent. We have more work to do and we will do it.”

The players regularly contributed cash into a pool and received improper cash payments of two kinds from the pool based on their play in the previous week’s game. Payments were made for plays such as interceptions and fumble recoveries, but the program also included “bounty” payments for “cart-offs” (meaning that the opposing player was carried off the field) and “knockouts” (meaning that the opposing player was not able to return to the game).

The investigation showed that the total amount of funds in the pool may have reached $50,000 or more at its height during the 2009 playoffs. The program paid players $1,500 for a “knockout” and $1,000 for a “cart-off” with payouts doubling or tripling during the playoffs.

The investigation included the review of approximately 18,000 documents totaling more than 50,000 pages, interviews of a wide range of individuals and the use of outside forensic experts to verify the authenticity of key documents.

The NFL has a longstanding rule prohibiting “Non-Contract Bonuses.” Non-contract bonuses violate both the NFL Constitution and By-Laws and the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Clubs are advised every year of this rule in a memo from the commissioner. Citing Sections 9.1(C)(8), and 9.3(F) and (G) of the Constitution and By-Laws, the memo for the 2011 season stated:

“No bonus or award may directly or indirectly be offered, promised, announced, or paid to a player for his or his team’s performance against a particular team or opposing player or a particular group thereof. No bonuses or awards may be offered or paid for on field misconduct (for example, personal fouls to or injuries inflicted on opposing players).”

“Our investigation began in early 2010 when allegations were first made that Saints players had targeted opposing players, including Kurt Warner of the Cardinals and Brett Favre of the Vikings,” Commissioner Goodell said. “Our security department interviewed numerous players and other individuals. At the time, those interviewed denied that any such program existed and the player that made the allegation retracted his earlier assertions. As a result, the allegations could not be proven. We recently received significant and credible new information and the investigation was re-opened during the latter part of the 2011 season.”

The additional investigation established the following facts:

1. During the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons, the players and other participants involved used their own money to fund a “Pay for Performance” program. Players earned cash awards for plays such as interceptions or fumble recoveries. They also earned “bounty” payments for “cart-offs” and “knockouts.” All such payments violate league rules for non-contract bonuses.

2. Players were willing and enthusiastic participants in the program, contributing regularly and at times pledging large amounts. Between 22 and 27 defensive players contributed funds to the pool over the course of three NFL seasons. In some cases, the amounts pledged were both significant and directed against a specific opposing player.

3. The bounty program was administered by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams with the knowledge of other defensive coaches. Funds were contributed on occasion by Williams.

4. Saints owner Tom Benson gave immediate and full cooperation to the investigators. The evidence conclusively established that Mr. Benson was not aware of the bounty program. When informed earlier this year of the new information, Mr. Benson advised league staff that he had directed his general manager, Mickey Loomis, to ensure that any bounty program be discontinued immediately. The evidence showed that Mr. Loomis did not carry out Mr. Benson’s directions. Similarly, when the initial allegations were discussed with Mr. Loomis in 2010, he denied any knowledge of a bounty program and pledged that he would ensure that no such program was in place. There is no evidence that Mr. Loomis took any effective action to stop these practices.

5. Although head coach Sean Payton was not a direct participant in the funding or administration of the program, he was aware of the allegations, did not make any detailed inquiry or otherwise seek to learn the facts, and failed to stop the bounty program. He never instructed his assistant coaches or players that a bounty program was improper and could not continue.

6. There is no question that a bounty program violates long-standing league rules. Payments of this type – even for legitimate plays such as interceptions or fumble recoveries – are forbidden because they are inconsistent with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and well-accepted rules relating to NFL player contracts.

Commissioner Goodell has advised the Saints that he will hold further proceedings to determine the discipline to be assessed against individuals and the club. This will include conferring with the NFL Players Association and individual player leaders regarding appropriate discipline and remedial steps.

The discipline could include fines and suspensions and, in light of the competitive nature of the violation, forfeiture of draft choices. Any discipline may be appealed as provided for in the Constitution and By-Laws and Collective Bargaining Agreement. Any appeal would be heard and decided by the commissioner.

Commissioner Goodell also advised the Saints that he is retaining jurisdiction and reserving his authority to impose further discipline if additional information comes to his attention.

Joe wonders if the guilty Saints defenders, going the extra mile to maim opponents, had to use the stash of painkillers Saints executives were allegedly accused of stockpiling?

In Joe’s eyes, this is far worse than the stunts Bill Belicheat pulled. Bad as what Belicheat did, he wasn’t trying to put players out of the game and potentially end their careers.

This makes Joe sick.

Sign Hines Ward, says Ian Beckles, as long he's at the bottom of the depth chart.

So do you want Sammie Stroughter, Preston Parker or Dezmon Briscoe as the Bucs’ No. 4 receiver, or would you prefer blocking icon — and catching icon — Hines Ward and his 1,000 career catches?

The answer to that question comes easily to former Bucs guard Ian Beckles, co-host of the Ron and Ian Show on WDAE-AM 620.

“To bring [Ward] in here to be the No. 4 receiver for $2 million, that’s money well spent,” Beckles said.

Joe’s not on board, as Joe wrote yesterday, but Beckles’ take that Ward would be a valuable, still-productive mentor has merit given the Bucs’ young receiving corps. Ward also has played with way-too-handsy Ben Roethlisberger, who has a similar on-field style to Josh Freeman’s.

Yes, Ward had 46 catches last year and is a certain Hall of Famer, but if you’re 36 years old and the Steelers cut you after you offer to renegotiate your contract, that’s a big ol’ red flag.

Evan Longoria has a new — and real — Playmate at his side. The Rays have more starting pitching than should be allowed by law. And Reid Brignac might torture fans of good hitting again in 2012. (At least Kelly Sloppach has moved on to torture Sox fans.)

Ahh, baseball season is officially back, which means there’s more content than ever at JoeRaysFan.com. The marriage of Joe and the great RaysIndex.com is now entering its third season. And thank you to all that have it the No. 1 destination for all things Rays.

Free agency doesn’t hit for another two weeks and it already feels like it is here.

Just minutes after NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora Twittered that the Titans would slap cornerback Courtland Finnegan with a franchise tag, Adam Schefter of BSPN shot down that report with one of his own:

Finnegan will be free to negotiate with other teams.

@AdamSchefter: Titans will not place their franchise tag on cornerback Cortland Finnegan, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent.

This makes Joe’s Friday all better again, but still doesn’t hide the fact the Bucs desperately need to draft Morris Claiborne.

The Bucs very well could be looking at a starting cornerback duo next season of Myron Lewis and E.J. Biggers, if Ronde Barber retires and troubled Aqib Talib is jailed after his trial, or suspended after his trial by NFL warden commissioner Roger Goodell.

This is why Joe has been banging the drum for Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik to pick up a solid free agent cornerback.

Well, the talent pool just got a lot shallower this morning. Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network reports via Twitter that two favorite targets of Bucs fans, Courtland Finnegan and Brent Grimes, of the Titans and Dixie Chicks, respectively, will be slapped with a franchise tag by their respective teams.

@JasonLaCanfora: Falcons are notifying CB Brent Grimes he will be franchised. … and Titans likely to tag CB Courtland Finnegan.

The Finnegan news is a shocker because the Titans’ beat writers have all but written Finnegan off from returning to Nashville.

This news should be a sobering reminder just how thin the Bucs are in the secondary and demonstrates why the thought of drafting Trent Richardson would be shameful. With Grimes and Finnegan, allegedly, off the market, it is even more imperative Dominik lands cornerback Morris Claiborne in the draft next month.

How pitiful was the Bucs’ linebacker play last year during the grotesque 10-game losing streak? Let Joe explain.

After watching the Bucs play matador defense, sans the red cape, allowing opposing running backs to run at will down the sidelines, there were multiple beer bottles laying at Joe’s feet following games with Joe hoping that somehow the next beer would numb him enough to delete the game from Joe’s memory bank.

Joe is still looking for that Holy Grail of beers.

So to suggest that the Bucs could use an upgrade at linebacker play via free agency is akin to saying it would behoove a Bucs fan’s experience at games if Rachel Watson would sit next to said fan, scantily attired.

There have been hints that rather than making big splashes in free agency, Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik will get a slew of decent players because the Bucs roster needs depth.

This led Joe to believe that Lions middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch would be a good fit now that the pride of Seminole High School, D’Qwell Jackson, re-upped with the Cleveland Browns.

It seems someone of the same mind is Pat Kirwan, the former NFL coach and front office executive, and current SiriusXM NFL Radio talking head and CBSSports.com columnist. Kirwan believes that both Tulloch and the Dixie Chicks middle linebacker Curtis Lofton would be solid, affordable pickups, so Kirwan Twittered.

@PatKirwanCBS: D’Qwell Jackson deal sets the table for the Curtis Lofton and Stephen Tulloch deals. Both younger and just as productive.

Now Joe really likes the idea of the Bucs getting their mitts on Lofton. The Dixie Chicks’ middle linebacker is entering his fifth NFL season and he’s been calling the defenses for an Atlanta run defense that has been very solid during his tenure. While he doesn’t have a boatload of tackles, he couldn’t be worse than what the Bucs have.

More importantly, which is why Joe is big on the Bucs grabbing cornerback Brent Grimes, is that while the Bucs would be adding to their roster, they are also weakening a divisional opponent at the same time.

That’s what’s called a win-win.

The younger brother of Josh McDaniels and the former Broncos QB coach, Ben McDaniels, may have emerged as the new man to mold Josh Freeman as the Buccaneers quarterbacks coach, so reports CoachingSearch.com.

The Bucs have snagged him out of his brand new gig at Columbia University, which also is confirming the hire.

Tampa Bay Bucs: Sources tell me that Columbia offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach Ben McDaniels will be joining the Tampa Bay Bucs staff.

The Bucs, however, have not confirmed this report.

Interestingly, McDaniels was recently named to the Columbia staff by ex-Bucs offensive line coach Pete Mangurian, who was Raheem Morris’ former boss at Cornell University, a former Patriots tight ends coach under Bill Belicheat, and a guy known as a foul-mouthed, ball-buster when he guided the Bucs’ O-line to great achievements in 2010. Mangurian was sent packing by the Bucs after that season.

So via the association to Mangurian, Joe will assume that McDaniels is a no-nonsense guy. He also played quarterback for Kent State. And perhaps Greg Schiano’s close ties to Bill Belichick, who re-hired Josh McDaniels, somehow played a role in this hire.

Of course, Ben McDaniels’ ties to Tim Tebow are sure to grab plenty of headlines; anything Tebow does that. So Joe expects this move to actually ridiculously excite casual football fans across the Bay area for that reason alone. Maybe even sell some tickets.

UPDATE: Trusted sources have told Joe that McDaniels will not be the Bucs quarterback coach, though his specific position and duties with the team are unclear at the moment.

The market might be ripe for a trade of No. 82

While Joe’s pretty confident productive and cost-friendly Kellen Winslow will return to the Bucs in 2012, Joe’s now wondering about Winslow’s potential trade value.

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, and other scribes, have written about how the 2012 class of free agent tight ends is weak along with this year’s draft class of tight ends.

Even rockstar general manager Mark Dominik isn’t impressed by the TEs out there in the draft, so much so that he recently told Movin’ the Chains on SiriusXM NFL Radio that he made the bold move and forked over a fourth round pick in 2011 and 2012 to the Eagles to draft Luke Stocker last year because this year’s crop is so thin.

“So last year, that’s why we traded up to get Luke Stocker, because we didn’t feel like this year’s draft class was going to be a great tight end draft class,” Dominik said. “You always try to forecast forward what are the strenghts and weaknesses of the next year’s draft class. That’s really why we went and got Luke Stocker last year.”

So Joe has to wonder, with good tight ends tough to find now, whether Dominik might sniff the market’s interest in a trade for Winslow. He might fetch a second- or third-round pick.

If the Bucs score a legitimate No. 1 receiver in free agency and commit to pounding the running game, like Greg Schiano claims he wants to do, all of a sudden Winslow doesn’t seem as a valuable.

Joe’s not one to write about quality control coaching hires, but this one is at least somewhat interesting.

Andrew Janocko, a 23-year-old former backup quarterback and full-time holder at the University of Pittsburgh, is a new offensive assistant for the Buccaneers and Greg Schiano, so reports The Progress, a small town Pennsylvania newspaper. He was a graduate assistant in a similar role at Rutgers.

“I’ll break down film and work with the wide receivers and quarterbacks,” Janocko said. “I’m basically an assistant to the offensive coordinator. It’s a lot of the same carryover, just not as much hands-on coaching. And it’s definitely magnified being in the NFL.”

So at just 23 years old, Janocko has already lettered three times for a Division I football team, coached at a Division I college and now begins a journey in the NFL. “All the opportunities I’ve had are truly blessings,” Janocko said. “That’s a testament to my family, and all the great coaches and great people I’ve been around. “I have tried to emulate people like my dad, Frank Cignetti, Dave Wannestedt, Henry Hynoski … I’ve been blessed with opportunities and success.”

Of course, quality control guys typically are young, but Joe found it noteworthy that Janocko said he’d be working with the Bucs’ young receivers and quarterbacks — nearly all younger than him.

Joe had been waiting to post this as some fans have asked him about this potential transaction.

Yesterday, the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to part ways with arguably their best receiver in franchise history, Hines Ward.

Of course, Joe was asked about the Bucs maybe picking him up. The answer should be, “No.”

Now Ward is one of Joe’s all-time favorite players. Dude had a linebacker’s mentality in a wide receiver’s body. He just loved to lay out linebackers on blocks. Of course, linebackers, not used to getting lit up by a wide receiver, often claimed he was dirty as a result.

Boo, hoo!

Few players loved the game like Ward. Whenever he made any kind of a tough catch over the middle, or blasted a linebacker, he’d get up with that beaming ear-to-ear smile.

In the last few years with Father Time catching up to him, with other, younger wide receivers eating away at his playing time, Ward never said a word. He never took to the Internet on a weekly basis, never resorted to using props to call attention to himself, never did sit ups in his driveway all in an effort to get on the field.

Instead, Ward did what all good teammates do: He helped out the younger guys and supported them up best he could. Ward was more worried about wins then headlines.

Wrap it all up, and that’s Joe’s kind of player. A dude who does everything asked of him all at 110 percent, a guy that dearly loves the game, a person whose only goal was the scoreboard. A class act.

Would Joe love to have Ward’s attitude on the sidelines and in practices? You bet. But Joe has to think with his head when it comes to football, not his heart.

Joe has one simple axiom when it comes to the NFL: If Ted Thompson and/or Kevin Colbert don’t want you, then neither should Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik.

Ward was willing to stay with the Steelers at a much reduced salary. Colbert never attempted to renegotiate Ward’s salary.

That’s all Joe needs to know.

Minus the growing numbers of readers that send Joe vile hate mail for various and bizarre reasons, Joe would like to thank all who helped make February a standout month on JoeBucsFan.com.

Joe’s traffic (actual visits to the website) jumped 108 percent compared to February 2011, and unique visitors (different IP addresses) jumped 80 percent over last February.

Perhaps Bucs fans’ excitement is growing immensely, or perhaps fans are eagerly spreading word of the unique brand of Bucs coverage on these here pages. Regardless, Joe’s very appreciative.

It sure seems like we’re now entering the final minutes of the Geno Hayes era in Tampa Bay.

Hayes is an unrestricted free agent. The Bucs can do better for a starting outside linebacker. And while Hayes proved Taser-proof and alarm-clock challenged, those likely aren’t qualities Greg Schiano is seeking in his linebackers.

Hayes checked in with Tom Krasniqi on WHBO-AM 1040 yesterday and stated he didn’t see any Buccaneers quit last season, the Bucs locker room was “tense,” and Raheem Morris was a great coach who took the fall like a man but players didn’t want him to take it.

As for Hayes’ assessment of his 2011 performance?

“I wouldn’t grade it at 100 percent; that’s for sure,” Hayes said. “I’d grade it at least about 85 percent. It wasn’t the full, you know, me. It’s something that I don’t regret but I’ll learn from. I went through a couple of stages. But hey man, who doesn’t, man? You know, you gotta live and you learn, and that’s what I did this last year. And I learned a lot going through the things I went through.”

Joe’s got no problem with Hayes, who easily performed as well as can be expected over four seasons for a sixth-round pick, plus Hayes is still just 24 years old. He’s just not a sound linebacker and Joe’s seen enough since Hayes grabbed the starting job from Jermaine Phillips in 2009.

Might Hayes return in 2012 as a backup and special teams player? Joe wouldn’t wager against it, but it seems unlikely. Hayes made no mention of the Bucs showing interest in him during the radio interview.