At the height of Josh Freeman’s stud season in 2010, former Bucs center Jeff Faine revealed that Freeman was a Taco Bell junkie but predicted Freeman eventually would figure out he needed to change his diet.

Presumably, Faine was not referring to Saltines and anchovies, but rather Freeman switching to veggies and lean protein over Supreme Beef Gorditas and Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes.

It seems Faine was a sound prognosticator. While Joe’s already written about how Freeman has dropped some serious weight, now rockstar general manager Mark Dominik has weighed in on the body transformation of his franchise quarterback. Dominik detailed Freeman’s motivation during an NFL.com podcast.

Dominik said Freeman wanted more flexibility in his torso and launched a new fitness regimen on his own.

“You’ve seen a guy who’s completely committed to getting his season back on track and hitting the reset button and getting his game back to hopefully to more of what we saw in 2010 as a young 22-year-old,” Dominik said Wednesday on NFL.com’s “Cover Two” podcast. “The last couple years, he’s been playing around 255-260 (pounds). Right now, he’s sitting downstairs (at the team facility) weighing about 235-238.

“He’s getting his body right, working on getting more mobility and better conditioned and buying in, heart and soul, to how and what (the newly hired) Mike Sullivan is and wants to be as offensive coordinator.”

Dominik said that Freeman’s weight loss was completely voluntary, and no coach or trainer recommended he shed weight. Dominik added that Freeman has slimmed down mainly by changing his diet.

Joe figured there was a chance Freeman was still pounding the Chalupas, but apparently that’s out the window. Joe wonders whether someone inspired Freeman. Perhaps a young lady? Perhaps Raheem Morris’ fruit obsession was a factor.

Bucs fans heard all about Ronde Barber getting a look at safety during pre-draft, voluntary minicamp.

It was largely put out there that Team Schiano was simply exploring options. Well, per rockstar general manager Mark Dominik, it seems the Bucs have reached some conclusions on the Bucs icon.

During a NFL.com podcast today, Dominik talked about the team’s depth at cornerback in the event Aqib Talib isn’t available. He referenced Barber’s flexibility and said, “if we need to make the move to pull Ronde back from safety and down to corner, we can do that in a heartbeat,” Dominik said.

That got Joe sitting up his recliner, and Joe hit the rewind button to confirm.

It sure sounds like Dominik and Team Schaino already have Barber penciled in as a starting safety. If so, it’ll be fun to watch Mark Barron and Barber build chemistry, and see the Bucs get creative moving Barber around and using Cody Grimm.

Joe is just a little concerned about Barber’s durability in a bigger run-stuffing role.

If one takes out the microscope and really, really tries hard, there was a positive thing or two to come out of last season’s grotesque 4-12 record, replete with a heinous 10-game losing streak.

(And no, getting a fifth draft pick overall was not one of them.)

One positive was flashes that Da’Quan Bowers was as good as advertised.

Bowers, thought to be an early first round pick in 2011, plummeted to the second round because of his bum knee. But with his knee healed and becoming used to play in the NFL, Bowers, at times, was dominant.

One reason the Bucs had Bowers split time with fellow defensive end Michael Bennett was that it limited Bowers’ pitch count. The less wear and tear on that bum knee, the longer Bowers can be a productive player.

Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune is of the mind that Bowers could be seeing more playing time because of his development.

Q: Will Da’Quan Bowers ever be the same dominating force he was in college? Can you discuss your expectations of him for the 2012 season? Will he ever fully recover?

Joseph Sims, Howard, Kan.

A: Bowers was fully recovered late last season. And it showed. He was often a dominant force as a pass rusher and run stopper late in the season and was just beginning to develop a comfort level when the year ended. I think he will prove to be a pleasant surprise for the Bucs in 2012 and beyond. He’ll likely split time with Michael Bennett again, but he’s probably going to surpass Bennett within a year or two and become the leading left end on this team.

— Woody Cummings

Well, since the Bucs have a Tom Coughlin disciple as a defensive coordinator, that tells Joe the second priority is to put heat on the quarterback, which is one reason you see new Bucs coach Greg Schiano loading up on defensive linemen.

(The first priority of the Bucs defense, to hear Adrian Clayborn tell Joe’s good friend “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig, is to tackle.)

With an objective of getting a quarterback’s jersey dirty, it’s a good bet Bowers will see more playing time.

The can’t-miss Man Channel spring/summer feature, The Top-100 Players of 2012, is back for a new episode tonight at 8 p.m. when players 71-80 of the countdown will be unveiled and profiled.

Honorees are selected by the votes of NFL players only. Donald Penn checked in at No. 97 and, per Buccaneers.com, another Buccaneer will be revealed tonight.

(For those confused or slaves to Outhouse Networks, the Man Channel is NFL Network.)

Joe’s betting on Carl Nicks to grab this latest slot. Just a hunch.

It’s always a fun time watching Rays baseball at Hooters, but it gets a lot more special tonight. And it’s not just because the Rays are playing the hated Yankees.

Hooters at 4125 4th St. North in St. Pete will host an official Rays watch party, which means the Rays pregame and postgame radio crew will be there giving away all kinds of prizes and there will be food and drink specials, including $5.99 boneless wings and fries.

This is the place to be. Joe will be there enjoying all things Hooters girls, ice cold beer and baseball! The action starts at 6:30 p.m. and first pitch is 7:05 p.m.

Yesterday Joe touched upon what some Bucs fans perceive as a troubling pattern of new Bucs coach Greg Schiano signing a bunch of his ex-players from Rutgers.

Many fans brought up Steve Spurrier, who, in his only NFL coaching stint at Washington, decided to try to turn the Redskins into Gainesville north, only to see it blow up in his face.

The Spurrier analogy has also raised the antennae of Steve White. The former Bucs defensive end who appeared on the radio show of good guy Derek Fournier, “Old School” of WhatTheBuc.net fame, something called “Touch Yourself,” or some such thing heard Sunday mornings on WQYK-AM 1010.

Here, White admitted he’s trying to ignore all the Rutgers connections.

“I’m trying not to be concerned that we are targeting so many guys with personal ties to [Schiano]. That can be a good thing or a bad thing. Just because he played well for you at Rutgers doesn’t mean he will be a good NFL player. Maybe he will be, maybe [Schiano] can bring that out. But I remmber when Steve Spurrier had a former [Gators] quarterback and receivers and this guy and that guy and it didn’t work out. There is some precedence that shows that when an ex-college coach goes shopping for his ex-players in college” it doesn’t work.

Well, it’s not just his ex-players, but as White touched upon, it’s players who Schiano has personally known, whether it be players from West Virginia or Conneticut or even Leonard Johnson, who Schiano recruited out of high school. And he admits to having a strong bond with Johnson’s old high school coach at Largo, Rick Rodriguez.

It’s not just players either, but coaches. Joe’s lost count how many ex-Rutgers coaches are on the Bucs staff, not to mention Butch Davis who hired Schiano to be his defensive coordinator at Miami.

Again, Joe doesn’t believe Schiano is guilty of cronyism. What coach doesn’t surround himself with guys with whom he’s familiar or has a background with?

As for the Bucs turning into Rutgers south, well, there are 90 positions available. Most of these guys will be camp meat for this summer. If Schiano is able to push some of these guys’ buttons to be effective football players, it’s a win-win for the Bucs.

Of the 90 or so men on the Bucs roster, six are former Rutgers players, including newly signed wide receiver and former Patriots backup Tiquan Underwood. (Joe’s not including Eric LeGrand for this discusssion).

Here’s the list:

Gary Gibson DT
George Johnson DE
Derrick Roberson CB
Desmond Wynn OT
Tiquan Underwood WR
Jeremy Zuttah C

Some Bucs fans find this alarming. “Too many Rutgers players. Rutgers sucks!”

Joe finds that mindset ridiculous this early in the offseason. (Now if Ray Lucas shows up for a comeback, Joe will freak out.)

First off, Zuttah and Gibson are established professionals and were unquestionably sound and wise free-agent signings. Johnson started his career with the Bucs in early 2010. So he was already here. That leaves Roberson, Wynn and Underwood as Rutgers guys one could say are only here because the head coach trusts them.

Big deal. Joe doesn’t see this as a repeat of Steve Spurrier hauling ex-Gators, including his quarterback, to the Redskins.

A primary mission of Greg Schiano is to transform the bad habits of the Buccaneers that reached peak ugliness last season. To do that, the head coach needs players he’s sure will exemplify the practice and training habits of the New Schiano World Order. Roughly 40 percent of the current roster won’t make the team come opening day. So why not bring in a few guys that have some talent but definitely will deliver the proper work ethic and subsequently make those around them better Buccaneers?

Every coach — good and bad — does the same darn thing. Heck, Raheem Morris snatched “the driving force of our football team” from the scrap heap, a guy from his hometown and 1-AA alma mater.

Many Bucs fans were quick to knight the Bucs offensive line as one of the best in the NFL when Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik landed All-Pro guard Carl Nicks in free agency.

This allowed the Bucs to move left guard Jeremy Zuttah to center and wave goodbye to former starting center Jeff Faine.

But Evan Silva of Rotoworld.com isn’t ready to jump on the bandwagon quite yet. Though impressed with Nicks, he believes Dominik is not getting the most bang for his buck with his offensive line and barely grades the Bucs offensive line in the top third of the league at No. 10.

Overview: Meet the NFL’s most expensive O-Line. Over the past three years, the Bucs have devoted an unprecedented $168 million in combined contracts to their five starters, including this offseason’s Nicks ($47.5M) and Zuttah ($16.3M) deals. So far, the group has been overpaid. Nicks is the lone truly elite lineman, and he’s yet to play a down for Tampa. There are reasons to believe this unit is destined for a big leap, though. New coach Greg Schiano is installing a run-heavy attack, and that philosophy plays to the strengths of this power-blocking group. Nicks’ presence allows Zuttah to kick from left guard to center, turning last year’s biggest negative into a positive. The addition of a running back with power and wiggle in first-round pick Doug Martin will naturally make the blocking look better. Though not quite as good as its price tag suggests, Tampa’s offensive line was still a top 15 or 18 unit in 2011. It should be top ten in 2012.

The key to the offensive line lies with two people, both tackles: Donald Penn and Jeremy Trueblood.

Though in a NFL Network special on the Top 100 players of2012 Penn was ranked by current NFL players at No. 97, Penn seemed to become disinterested late last season, gaining weight and losing his edge as one of the dominant tackles in the NFL.

Trueblood is a pretty damned good run blocker but he struggles against the pass. Two years ago James Lee pushed him aside for a starting job and defensive ends ran past Trueblood ease.

If Penn can stay sharp all year and Trueblood can improve his pass blocking, there is no reason to believe the Bucs will struggle on the offensive line.

In between brutal workouts, embracing lubricants and watching Little Mermaid reruns, everyone’s favorite eight-figure defensive tackle took 400 of his Twitter fans to see The Avengers the other day.

The bubbly Rachel Ramirez captured all the hoopla for Buccaneers.com. Here’s the video: 

Gerald McCoy said he wanted to embrace the family atmosphere among Bucs fans. It’s the second time McCoy has taken fans to the movies; this time it was on a grander scale and more formal. As for the movie itself, McCoy is a big fand and said, “The Hulk is my man.”

No word on whether Greg Schiano issued a proper protocol for eating popcorn or insisted that the two-drink rule apply at the theater.

Joe thinks all this player-fan bonding is very cool.

Those outside the football world were of the opinion that Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik reached to draft Alabama safety Mark Barron at No. 7. Those inside of football don’t believe that is so.

Take Daniel Jeremiah for example. Who? Jeremiah is a respected former NFL scout who puts out a lot of solid football information on Twitter on a regular basis.

Jeremiah scouted for the Browns, Eagles and Ravens, and he believes that Barron is so versatile that new Bucs coach Greg Schiano to play Barron at linebacker in some formations.

@MoveTheSticks: Barron is going to be a fun toy for TB to use in their nickel package..He can cover TE’s, play LB, blitz or roam from the hash

If Jeremiah is to be believed, this explains why Dominik didn’t draft many secondary players where the Bucs are razor thin. Sounds as though Barron is a physical corner the way Jeremiah describes him.

And if Barron can play linebacker a little bit in some crazy defensive alignment, Joe simply applauds this. Imagine both Lavonte David and Barron lining up at linebacker for the Bucs?

It simply couldn’t be worse than what the Bucs trotted out there for linebackers last year.

It was Adam Caplan, a credible source who works for the Philadelphia Eagles and multiple radio outlets, who first broke the story that free agent defensive tackle Amobi Okoye signed with the Bucs.

And speaking this morning to Bobby Fenton on WDAE-AM 620, Caplan said the Bucs targeted Okoye from the opening bell of free agency and they pegged him as “a nickel pass rusher.”

That was interesting to Joe. Do the Bucs see Brian Price as more of a two-down lineman?

Then there’s the angle that new DT Gary Gibson is known as a first- and second-down guy only. Perhaps Okoye and Gibson are the complete backup plan if Price isn’t healthy.

Perhaps Joe’s just paranoid about Price’s health. But without any new information, it still feels like a longshot that Price can get back to 100 percent.

It’s always a fun time watching Rays baseball at Hooters, but it gets a lot more special on Wednesday. And it’s not just because the Rays are playing the hated Yankees.

Hooters at 4125 4th St. North in St. Pete will host an official Rays watch party, which means the Rays pregame and postgame radio crew will be there giving away all kinds of prizes and there will be food and drink specials, including $5.99 boneless wings and fries.

This is the place to be on Wednesday. Joe will be there enjoying all things Hooters girls, ice cold beer and baseball! The action starts at 6:30 p.m. and first pitch is 7:05 p.m.

The Bucs kept the dream alive for many of the guys at rookie minicamp/tryout camp last weekend. Several others were sent packing.

One of the more interesting players to stick is De’Anthony Curtis, a former running back, fullback, wide receiver and cornerback at Arkansas. Bobbby Petrino called him “the ultimate team guy.” (Insert your own joke.) Curtis also plays special teams and averaged 5.9 yards per carry for the 11-2 Razorbacks last year.

Speedster seventh round draft pick Michael Smith might have some competition. Curtis clocked a 4.36 40 yard dash.

Here are all the latest Bucs moves released today by the team.

SIGNED COLLEGE FREE AGENTS 
DE Quintin Anderson – Wagner 
S Sean Baker – Ball State 
RB De’Anthony Curtis – Arkansas 
P Eric Guthrie – Iowa 
T Jermarcus Hardrick – Nebraska 
QB Jordan Jefferson – LSU 
FB Antonio Leak – Henderson State 
DT Jordan Nix – North Carolina 
TE Danny Noble – Toledo 
C Moe Petrus – Connecticut 
DT Myles Wade – Portland State 

SIGNED VETERAN FREE AGENTS 
CB Derrick Roberson 
DE Hilee Taylor 

WAIVED 
WR Luther Ambrose 
LB Ryan Baker 
LB Mike Balogun 
QB Zach Collaros 
S Ron Girault 
C Chaz Hine 
DT Donte’e Nicholls 
T Trevor Olson 
G Chris Riley 
K Jake Rogers 
CB Quenton Washington 
T Rocky Weaver

Bucs rookie running back Doug Martin "bites" the football, just the way new Bucs coach Greg Schiano showed the team.

In the New Schiano Order that has encompassed One Buc Palace since Greg Schiano took over the floundering Bucs, Schiano has made no secrets that turnovers on offense simply will not be tolerated.

How much is Schiano a stickler about this? First round draft pick Doug Martin noted Friday at the Bucs rookie mini-camp that the number of touches he gets is directly tied to how he hangs on to the football.

Sure, it’s easy for anyone to say, ‘Don’t turn the ball over.’ Any drunk in a bar like Joe could say that. But Schiano, given the fact he’s also a stickler for fundamentals, takes it a step further.

Schiano taught the Bucs running backs a new trick to help them hang on to the football: Bite the football.

“Ball security is a big thing with the coach,” Martin said Friday. “He makes sure that you are finishing through the line with the ball high and tight. So high and tight that you can bite it.”

It’s amazing the amount of attention to detail Schiano has brought to the Bucs in just a handful of short weeks. As Joe learned himself many moons ago on the football field: If you take care of the little things first, the big things will take care of themselves.

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.