Yes, Joe’s been curious about the actions LeGarrette Blount and helmet-wielding, cabbie-slugging, Adderrall-popping, coach-cussing, referee-charging, pistol-friendly, granny-hassling Aqib Talib in Patriots camp, especially with the Bucs heading to New England next week and in Week 3 of the regular season.

Talib has been shining and healthy throughout camp, including two picks of Tom Brady at Pats night practice for fans. He also won some sort of annual Patriots award for offseason dedication. And The Boston Globe notes that Talib and Brady are bonding in a big way.

Talib’s first training camp with the Patriots, after the 2012 midseason trade, has given him the chance to learn more coverage checks and calls, and that’s a byproduct of a continued chemistry.

He has also formed a fun on-field rivalry with Brady, as the two like to bark back and forth at each other during practice. So far, Talib has the early upper hand against Brady and his younger receivers.

“Me and Tom, we go back and forth. It’s all fun,” Talib said before referencing the pick-six. “That’s Tom Brady, man. You’ve always got a smile on your face when you can make a play on Tom.”

As much as Darrelle Revis wants to face — and dominate — the Jets, Joe can only imagine that Talib can’t wait to square off against the New Schiano Order and do some trash talking to Josh Freeman. Joe can’t wait. Talib has always been more about hype than substance.

As for Blount, you can catch up on him here.

Lots of fans and media types have been zeroed in on all things Mike Glennon during training camp. Some believe that even if Glennon isn’t competing now with Josh Freeman, Glennon’s development is an important factor in the Bucs season.

NFL Network’s Rich Hollenberg has been a fixture at Bucs camp and offered a major thumbs up to Glennon during an interview with Bucs beat man Tom Krasniqi of WDAE-AM 620.

Hollenberg said Glennon has been impressive and has “proven himself worthy” of being a strong, rookie No. 2 quarterback. Krasniqi said Glennon has been more impressive than Freeman this summer, though he countered that there is no quarterback controversy.

Joe gets that media needs something to discuss, but Joe can’t offer any decent evaluation of Glennon. Let’s see the guy on Thursday in a half game or more against the Ravens, and then again against the Patriots.

Joe is pulling for Glennon in a big way. If he can, in fact, master the offense and look like a viable backup, then the Bucs can skip wasting a third-quarterback roster spot on Dan Orlovsky.

Here’s the video of Sapp’s induction speech, and the full audio is below, including his dramatic introduction produced by ESPN.

Sapp gives lots of thanks, and he omits several Bucs icons, as well. Sapp holds his emotions together until thanking his “rock,” his ex-wife, to close the speech.

Wide Receiver Derek Hagan is entering his eighth NFL season and finds himself in Bucs camp with his old Giants position coach, Mike Sullivan.

Joe considers that relationship – and Hagan never fumbling in his 129-catch career – and Joe wonders whether the New Schiano Order will have a huge comfort level and “trust” in Hagan when it comes time to pick a No. 5 receiver or No. 6 receiver.

One of Greg Schiano’s trifecta of core beliefs is “trust,” which clearly extends to players he and his staff know well.

Hagan caught 20 balls for the Raiders last season (one against the Bucs), and he snagged a touchdown pass that got Schiano’s attention yesterday.

“Derek Hagan made a nice catch. Yeah, you’re not kiddin’, right in the middle of traffic for that end of game situation,” Schiano said. “That was impressive. You know, he’s playing through some discomfort as well, which is impressive for a veteran guy.”

Hagan’s a long shot to make the roster, but not if nagging injuries keep piling up. Tom Coughlin once called Hagan an “excellent contributor on special teams.” A Raiders blog this year characterized Hagan as hard-working and reliable, and a guy the Raiders wanted to return.

Just another body to keep an eye on in Thursday’s preseason opener.

Steven Means

The Bucs thought they had a steal when they drafted defensive end Steven Means out of the football factory known as Buffalo. Means played outside linebacker there but the Bucs thought Means possessed the pass rushing skills they sought in a defensive end.

With an injury to right defensive end Adrian Clayborn, Means has been getting a lot of work the past couple of practices with the first-team defense. On Thursday, with pads on, Means was actually getting penetration on left tackle Donald Penn of all people; not so much Friday and on Saturday, thought he sort of rebounded to make a few plays, even batting down a Josh Freeman pass.

Joe caught up with Means after practice to discuss going mano y mano against one of the better left tackles in the game, Penn.

JoeBucsFan: Talk about how much it has helped you playing on the first team and going against an All-Pro like Donald Penn.

Steven Means: Oh, he’s real good (laughs). Probably the best I have gone up against. That helps out a lot going up against the best. Just listening to him as a leader and him telling me what I go good and what I need to work on, things like that. We are all a family here. We are all trying to get better.

Joe: (Thursday) in pads you were flashing. You got past him a few times. Did you surprise him?

Means: I was just working hard. I took some of the advice he gave me but he showed me I was still a rookie. I have gone back out there – we have gone at it a few times in practices but I am sure that has helped us both.

Joe: Does Penn like to run smack?

Means: Yeah, yeah, yeah (laughs). He tells me to just keep moving my feet. One time I had him and I stopped my feet and he recovered. He told me to keep moving my feet and to attack his shoulder instead of going upfield and other stuff to help me better myself.

Joe: Can you tell an immediate difference in the things he told you and then you went out and executed that?

Means: Definitely. Everything that everybody tells you out here – Bryan Cox, Randy Melvin, even Gerald McCoy, Adrian — they all tell me, they all give me feedback on what to do more and what I need to stop doing and what to improve on.

Joe: One thing the coaches must love is you batting down passes, you got a couple on Freeman. The Bucs haven’t had that many from their defense in recent years. Talk about that.

Means: It’s just that last minute effort.

While Chris Owusu has been the (sort of) unexpected star of camp, and Rashaan Melvin has been opening eyes big time, Means is quietly getting noticed. Bucs coach Greg Schiano is big on competition. Joe thinks there is good competition underway for reserve defensive ends with Means, Daniel Te’o-Nesheim and William Gholston.

For the full interview, click the arrow below courtesy of WDAE-AM 620.

Several Bucs players were available after practice to talk to the local pen and mic club Saturday before taking a day off today prior to a big week ahead.

Those who were available to speak included cornerback Rashaan Melvin, wide receiver Eric Page, safety Ahmad Black, and linebacker Lavonte David (with WDAE-AM 620 host Tom Krasniqi).

Also, Bucs coach Greg Schiano with his daily post-practice press conference.

Audio courtesy of Joe’s good friends at WDAE-AM 620.

In a few hours, Warren Sapp will be officially introduced to the world as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In this TBO.com video, it shows how Sapp came from a dirt poor beginning to be a football icon.

Joe knows Bucs fans are grousing about the dings, dents and bruises a handful of Bucs have suffered in training camp thus far, including a couple players key to the Bucs playing in January, Mike Williams and Adrian Clayborn.

Williams has a sore hamstring and begged Bucs coach Greg Schiano to practice today, but Schiano declined the request. Adrian Clayborn, who looks to be a man possessed after coming off season-ending knee surgery last year on an ACL torn in the third week, has a mild groin injury.

There are others, including the perpetually injured Nine Lives Myron Lewis who also has a sore hamstring.

While a bit concerned with the injuries, Schiano expects them this time of the year, and believes it may make for a better team down the road in order to deal with injuries.

“This is training camp,” Schiano said. “It is OK to have some guys with nicks and bruises and strains. Iron sharpens iron. This is the time to do that, in training camp.”

The good thing is, none of these injuries are serious. Williams will be back in a few days if not sooner, and Clayborn is expected back next week and has yet to be ruled ineligible for Thursday’s game against the Baltimore Crows at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway.

Dominik weighs in

Listening between the lines of rockstar general manager’s radio interview today on WDAE-AM 620, Joe got the distinct feeling that Peyton Hillis is impressing and giving the Bucs the intense competition they craved among backup running backs and fullbacks.

Dominik called the Bucs’ depth at the positions perhaps the best ever in Bucs history.

“Running back is about a deep a running back group that we’ve ever had here that I can remember in terms of talent at the fullback and tailback position,” Dominik said.

WDAE host Tom Krasniqi asked Dominik the money question: “Is it fair to say that Brian Leonard and Peyton Hillis are fighting for maybe one spot on this roster?”

“No, I wouldn’t say that. I think it’s a very good question,” Dominik said. “I think we’re going to keep the best 53 we can. And if that means that one of them can’t dress because of how we got the numbers, if they both make it, that’s one of those things. You love that problem. That’s what we’re hoping for. Right now, they’re both competing hard and I know they both want to make this roster. They’re doing a great job mentally and physically with the ball. Doing the right things, the little things. The pass protection, pushing the ball up the field, just catching the ball. It’s all those things that are really important if you’re going to be behind Doug Martin if we have to turn to you a lot, or just a little bit that we can trust you.”

A lot of the eventual Hillis decision, aside from his performance in preseason games, likely will come down to how well Leonard and rookie Mike James play special teams. The Bucs will surely carry four running backs, but they won’t keep two who don’t play special teams. Hillis is not a special teams player, so he told Joe last week.

Bucs coach Greg Schiano offered updates on injuries in his daily post-practice, post-push-ups press conference.

Mike Williams was out with a mild strained hamstring. “Mild” is the key word. Williams visited Schiano’s office this morning prior to the team taking the field and, per Schiano, begged the coach to let him practice.

Adrian Clayborn has a sore groin and it too is a mild injury. Schiano noted that Clayborn is expected to return to practice next week and may be able to play in Thursday’s preseason opener against the Baltimore Crows at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, though that hasn’t been determined yet.

Vincent Jackson was absent today, but for good reason. He is healthy and he and his wife also welcomed a healthy new baby boy to the world this morning. Name to be determined.

Here are sights and nuggets and news from Bucs training camp 2013 practice Day 9. No, Joe is not doing push-ups.

* Just saw a young lad wearing a Darrelle Revis jersey at Bucs practice, albeit a Jets jersey.

* Darrelle Revis is in full pads but thus far only participating in walkthroughs. He usually is “guarding” Kevin Ogletree.

* Revis tripped and fell awkwardly, yelling “Oh!” and fans in bleachers audibly gasped. He’s fine.

* In a hurry-up drill, JF5 had pass tipped, intended for Chris Owusu and he still nearly came down with catch. Next play another tip. Pick by Ahmad Black.

* Nobody open for Mike Glennon and under pressure he unloads the ball. Smart. Live to fight another day.

* Dashon Goldson and Gerald McCoy bump into each other and the ground-shaking was registered at nearby TIA.

* Chris Owusu Show today. Catches bomb from Freeman on left sideline. TD.

* Rashaan Melvin reacts to JF5 pass for Owusu beautifully and has a pick. Right now your two non-starter stars of camp are Owusu & Melvin.

* Um, yes Freeman is tall. That doesn’t mean you should try to snap the ball over his head.

* Does the play of Rashaan Melvin, who has same measurables as Nine Lives Myron Lewis, measurable coaches love, signal the end of Myron Era? Lotta time left before the cutdown to the final 53. A month in fact.

* Doug Martin short pass from JF5 along left sideline TD. This guy is ready for the Jets.

* Somebody screwed up and entire team has to do a penance of pushups.

* Carl Nicks participated in some 11-on-11 drills.

* Owusu beautiful juggling catch over the middle while falling down. Lynn Swann would approve.

* More pushups for entire team after hollering from Schiano. Crowd applauds the discipline.

* Eric Page is blasted by Anthony Gaitor on a helmet to helmet hit. Roger Goodell hates them but (non)paying customers sure don’t. Crowd “ooohhhsss” the loudest all training camp.

* Glennon threads needle along right sideline to Terriun Crump.

* Schiano calls entire team into a huddle at midfield and is doing pushups.

* Fans starting to sink into a humidity coma as practice hits a lull.

* Doug Martin tries to run right but is caught from behind from the weakside by GMC.

* Owusu wide open over middle but pass from JF5 too high. Rare misses by Freeman this week.

* Da’Quan Bowers is limping. He later returns to practice.

* JF5 goes low for Kevin Ogletree to the left but Rashaan Melvin goes lower and bats pass away.

* More push-ups!

* Jonathan Casillas nice read and tackle.

* Mike James with a nice little run to right. He is getting a lot of work this week. Captain of the inactive list Michael Smith? Not so much. Feel free to do math here.

* “OFFENSE: BALL SECURITY. LET’S GO!”

* Owusu catches bullet from Freeman (nearly broken up by speedy Leonard Johnson) along left side, gets loose and trips. Big gain, though.

*Glennon on a roll out (!) right and hits Erik Lorig who is blasted out of bounds by Najee Goode.

* CB Branden Smith catches tipped pass off David Douglass hands from Glennon and takes pick to the house along right sideline.

* More push-ups!

* “Eight seconds left, zero timeouts!”

* Fake crowd noise!

* Derek Hagan skies high for a catch in traffic. TD!

* Owusu with a TD catch.

* Josh Freeman pass batted down by Steven Means at right defensive end.

The New Schiano Order hit the media workroom today as several members of the credential media beat writers dropped and gave Bucs coach Greg Schiano two or three.

In practice today, Schiano had a competition of sorts to break up the monotony of training camp with his players. If the offense or defense did not succeed in reaching a goal, the team had to do push-ups. In a show of solidarity, Schiano himself called the players into a huddle at midfield and Schiano dropped and gave the Bucs 20.

This seemed to motivate the pen and mic club. Upon Schiano entering the media studio at One Buc Palace for his daily press conference, Rick Brown of the Lakeland Ledger quickly barked an order, and roughly six to eight reporters dropped to the floor and began doing push-ups, to the delight of Schiano.

Even WHBO-AM 1040 reporter Jenna Laine, a former fitness competitor, performed one-handed push-ups.

“Well-orchestrated,” Schiano said, beaming with a wide smile. “Good job guys and ladies.”

Schiano has an excellent working relationship with the local pen and mic club. Schiano never tries to bulls(p)it the press and takes time to explain details when asked. Reporters greatly respect that.

Enough for scribes to do a push-up, for a few, probably the first in years.

No, Joe was not among the push-up group, only because he was not tipped off about the display beforehand.

The question of Darrelle Revis and preseason action games came up again today — 36 days from the opening kickoff against the Jets in Gotham.

Will Revis get at least a taste of real football (he hasn’t had any in training camp yet) to be ready to earn his $1 million-per-game contract?

The Bucs are still figuring that out, so said rockstar general manager Mark Dominik today at One Buc Palace. Dominik explained to Tom Krasniqi of WDAE-AM 620 that Revis is ahead of the intricate readiness and rehab schedule the Bucs laid out for him in April and the New Schiano Order is still debating having Revis see live action before September.

“There’s a chance we may play him a little bit. You know, talking with Coach Schiano, do you want to get some butterflies, just so he can say he’s on the field. But if he does, it’s going to be real limited. But it won’t be a factor of ‘could he,’ it’s whether we let him,” Dominik said.

Joe can’t see the harm in giving Revis a little preseason action, assuming he’s healthy. Revis is still human. A taste of the field can only give him needed confidence and readiness for opening day — a game the Bucs should (and need to) win.

Mark Dominik weighed in on Josh Freeman’s contract negotiations, saying all parties involved are comfortable and “understand where Josh Freeman’s going.”

A terrific start for Josh Freeman this season won’t affect his contract negotiations. That was the word from rockstar general manager Mark Dominik to Tom Krasniqi this morning on WDAE-AM 620.

Dominik ruled out locking up Freeman, who’s in the final year of his contract — until the season is over. Dominik explained that he’s talked to Freeman’s agents at training camp and everyone, Josh, his representatives, and the Bucs, are in a happy place.

“I think there’s just a comfort level that everybody understands where Josh Freeman’s going. Let’s focus on this season, and then, we’ll go after the season’s over,” Dominik said.

Well, Joe’s not in the mix of “everybody. No. Joe doesn’t know where “Josh Freeman’s going.”

Hopefully, Freeman is marching towards consistency. That’s probably the only place that will make the Bucs feel good about tossing him one of those massive contracts good, young quarterbacks score these days.

Those who’ve paid attention at Bucs training camp have seen Vincent Jackson putting in extra work all over the field when he can. Sometimes, early in the morning, he finds a spot on his own to catch ball after ball from close range.

As Jackson puts it, it’s “a beginner’s mentality.”

Jackson’s been working so hard that the Bucs told him he had to shut it down today.

Speaking on WDAE-AM 620 this morning, rockstar general manager Mark Dominik explained that Jackson’s work ethic is top shelf and the Bucs wanted him to stay fresh and stay focused in what Dominik called the end of long grind of training camp.

“Today’s a tough day. It’s probably the hardest day of our entire training camp,” Dominik said. “Because we’ve been going hard. We have a player’s day off tomorrow then you start to go focused on the game week of the Baltimore Ravens.”

Yeah, guys had it much tougher in training camp 10 year ago before the NFL labor laws got more player friendly. But there’s still no reason to overwork a committed and already-fit manbeast like Jackson.

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Joe is typing this here post straight from One Buc Palace. And there’s also another guy here who is hard at work too, and his name is Tom Krasniqi, better known in some circles as “TKras.”

Krasniqi is broadcasting live from One Buc Palace from 9 a.m.-noon on WDAE-AM 620 today and will have all the up-to-date Bucs information you will ever want, as practice will take place right before his very eyes.

At 9:30 a.m., Krasniqi will have Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik to discuss the newly released depth chart and other Bucs matters.

Those chained to a desk can listen to the show streaming live from the WDAE-AM 620 website, or the iHeartRadio app for your smartphone.

Yes, former Bucs great Warren Sapp was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last night, and the ceremonies continue today with his speech on national TV, televised by the Man Channel, NFL Network.

When the Bucs hosted an announcement that the team would retire Sapp’s number, several of Sapp’s former coaches and teammates gathered including Steve White. The former Bucs defensive end (1996-2001) is one of the most eloquent guys to talk football Joe has ever met, and Steve offered Joe his thoughts on playing for Sapp, and the legacy he left behind.

“At the time he was awesome because everybody game-planned for him. There is a thought out there that guys get double-teamed all the time. But very few actually get double-teamed,” White said. “Seriously, because it is hard to double-team a defensive end, for instance. It really is. But with an inside guy you can always send the center to help the guard. Always. Even when your protection is supposed to go the other way.

“When you have a special player like Sapp, they always send a center after you no matter what. And he still won. He still got to the quarterback. It was amazing. But you really didn’t think that far out like, ‘Man, I am watching a Hall of Famer, I am playing with a Hall of Famer for six years.’ It kind of brings it home. He’s a Hall of Famer. No one will ever wear his jersey again.

“When you think about it, that’s as it should be. It is crazy when you really sit to think about. You have a lot of great players through the years. But when you have a guy that every year [teams] are trying to find the next him, that to me defines a Hall of Famer.

“Every single year, whether it is the draft or free agency, everybody is trying to find the next Sapp and they really haven’t. They really haven’t. So when you have a guy who is that transcendent from the things he did on the field, it is only right that no one will ever wear that number again. He defined that numbe, no doubt. When you think 99, Tampa? Warren Sapp. When you say “99,” you know you are talking about Sapp.

“I think [retiring the number] is one of the best honors you can bestow upon a player and I don’t think there is anyone more deserving than Sapp.”

And so it is. Sapp is now the second Bucs player to be enshrined into immortality. Sapp and Lee Roy Selmon.

Derrick Brooks, you are next.

Longtime Bucs coach Herm Edwards and Merill Hoge talk all things NFC South in this BSPN video.

They agree that Atlanta is the favorite and that the Panthers and Saints have serious issues — and upside.

As the Bucs are about to take the fields at One Buc Palace for training camp practice Day 9, Pat Welter and Woody Cummings of TBO.com and the Tampa Tribune look back at Day 8 in this TBO.com video.