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.

Have more fun going to Rays games and save money.

The Rays are back home this weekend. So get your butt on the No Excuses Tour chauffeured luxury bus to Tropicana Field, courtesy of Paradise Worldwide Transportation and Lee Roy Selmon’s.

You get to ride in style — with beer and food in hand — and get dropped off right at the gate!!

Click on through to grab a seat for May Rays games, and get all the details at NoExcusesTour.com. Don’t flush your gas and parking money down the toilet. More than 650 fans have enjoyed the Tour. Get on board!

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.

Whenever the leader of the New Schiano World Order, Greg Schiano, does an interview, it seems he always finds a way to mention that the Bucs will run the football like a 1970s powerhouse and break the mold of the 21st century NFL.

He’s said a couple of times recently that the Bucs’ offense will be out of “vogue” in the pass-happy NFL, and that they’ll “ham-and-egg-it” with LeGarrette Blount and Doug Martin. Joe remembers in March when Schiano kept repeating “run the football” with emphasis. Daven Joseph even had some laughs talking about how much Schiano wants the run the football. And in Joe’s off-the-record luncheon with Schiano and other media types, Schiano talked in even more detail about pounding the rock. (Sadly, Joe can’t get more specific from that gathering.)

Ask Schiano what he’s going to do on defense, however, and you don’t get much to sink your teeth into. And that’s fine, the unknown plays in the Bucs favor on defense and they’ve got major personnel questions on that side of the ball.

Now Joe admits he’s fascinated by Schiano’s desire to grind out an old-school running game when many successful NFL teams are throwing the ball all over the field with reckless abandon. It’s even more intriguing knowing the Bucs were hot on the trail of Chip Kelly, who would have brought nearly the exact opposite offensive style to Tampa Bay.

Joe just hopes Schiano has the stomach — unlike Greg Olson and Raheem Morris — to stick with his plan to run the ball behind what should be a beastly offensive line. Perhaps the greatest load of BS floated by Raheem last year was that the Bucs were a running football team. That team abandoned the run — even in close games — faster than Joe would dart from a room if Rosie O’Donnell entered it naked.

Then new head coach Tony Dungy opened the 1996 season with a 1-8 record with a team that could barely move the chains. But Dungy didn’t panic or flinch from his version of the Buccaneeer Way.

Joe suspects the New Schiano World Order will have no problem sticking to its stated core beliefs and plan, even if the NFL beats to a different drum. Frankly, Joe can’t wait to see the Bucs pick up a first down on 3rd-and-3 running behind Carl Nicks.

Click here or below to find the Original Hooters locations near you. The Rays are hot and what could be better than settling in at Hooters to watch tonight’s game. Cold beer, great food, great girls and great fun. What more could you want?

There are many accolades coming from all circles on the work of Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik during last weekend’s NFL draft.

Count ornery Pete Prisco among the fans of the Bucs’ draft. The CBSSports.com NFL columnist put fingers to keyboard and banged out a grade of every team in the NFL on their picks and he gave the Bucs a “B.”

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Best pick: They landed a future Pro Bowl player in second-round linebacker Lavonte David. They have their next Derrick Brooks.

Questionable move: Trading out of their spot in the first round to pass on Morris Claiborne and take safety Mark Barron. Corner is a much more valuable position than safety.

Third-day gem: Linebacker Najee Goode is a run-thumper from West Virginia who is worth a look in the fifth round. He plays the run well. Has played inside and outside.

Analysis: The Bucs landed three starters with their first three picks in Barron, running back Doug Martin (who I really like) and David. That’s a nice bounty. I don’t know if Barron is quite the player some think he will be, but Tampa Bay had a big-time need there.

Grade: B

Prisco of late has been a fan of Dominik’s dabbling in the draft. Just two years ago, Prisco wrote how Dominik “owned” the draft and was impressed specifically citing Dominik’s prowess in landing Gerald McCoy, Brian Price, Myron Lewis, Mike Williams and Dekoda Watson.

Trevor Olson, not to be confused with the man obsessed with calling the heinous Benn’d around play, is another undrafted free agent body the Bucs have signed and expect at rookie minicamp, which will start soon.

And it’s a safe bet Olson will be there. The left tackle didn’t miss a start in four years at Northern Illinios, so a nice January feature story in the Chicago Sun-Times explained.

Battling future 2009 NFL first-round pick Larry English in practice every day for two seasons helped him get better, said Olson, who will see a lot of Arkansas State standout defensive end Brandon Joiner.

… Fellow linemates marvel at Olson and his streak.

“It’s amazing,” said senior center Scott Wedige, who has 27 starts. “All the injuries you go through, all the bumps and bruises and turned ankles. To work through all those things and never miss a start, heck, he never misses a snap. It’s miraculous to do that.”

Olson was one of two offensive tackles the Bucs added to their list of undrafted free agent signings today. The other is Rocky Weaver of Central Michigan.

Boy this is tough. Just when Joe felt like he wanted to pull for Olson to make the team, the Bucs had to go and sign a guy named “Rocky.” How cool would that be to have a Rocky on the roster. Maybe Bullwinkle can come in and play linebacker.

Joe always has a place in his heart for these undrafted guys chasing a dream. Brandon Carter was one guy Joe pulled for a couple of years ago and he made it. And Carter’s dad became a regular reader on these here pages. The Bucs will put these undrafted guys up in some local hotel room and feed them as they try and hit Lotto  to make the team and live their dreams.

The new offensive tackles have a tough go of it. Demar Dotson re-signed and the Bucs added young veteran tackle Jamon Meredith in free agency.

Yeah, it’s BSPN. So Joe’s not about to all of a sudden call this gospel, but at least it holds a little drama and is informative. Todd McShay’s outlines his top-5 winners in the NFL draft.