Following the end of the fourth and final round for the second day of the NFL draft, Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik and coach Greg Schiano did their best to tell Bucs fans, and indirectly, perhaps Josh Freeman, that no, the team did not select a quarterback in the third round to groom as the next Bucs starting quarterback.

“We have a starting quarterback in Josh Freeman,” Schiano said.

Yes, for now. The facts are too glaring to simply dismiss as a coincidence. Freeman, who was drafted on the strong advise of a coach since fired, has not yet developed into a steady, consistent NFL quarterback after 3 1/2 years as the Bucs starter. And rather than locking up Freeman for the future, the Bucs decided to roll the dice and let Freeman enter the final year of his contract for the 2013 season, even though the team had major leverage on Freeman in that he will have few if any suitors if he doesn’t advance further as a quarterback.

And then the team drafts a quarterback, North Carolina State’s Mike Glennon, in the third round?

Dominik and Schiano were insistent the draft of Glennon is nothing more than competition and depth. Dominik was adamant Glennon would have been drafted even if Freeman was not entering a contract season.

“Competition and quality depth across our roster is critical for us to be a championship team,” Schiano said. “That applies to every position. It will make us a better football team.”

Will it? The Bucs are dangerously thin up front defensively. Joe knows the Bucs want depth at linebacker. Yet they pick a quarterback who will, if all goes well, just stand on the sidelines and offer encouragement, just because the team had Glennon ranked atop their draft board?

Would the Bucs have drafted a safety instead of Glennon if a safety graded out higher than Glennon, or an offensive guard? Or a running back?

“We talked about this since the end of last season, it’s a chance to increase the competition for everybody, to bring the best of everybody,” Dominik said. “We thought it was a good fit in the third round. A good fit for what we can do offensively, in this system.”

“God forbid if something should happen to Josh you want to be able to continue with your offensive philosophy as best you can,” Schiano said.

To be fair, Joe will admit drafting Glennon is a safety net if Freeman decides leaves the squad for whatever reason in January. While perception may not be reality, in this case, the perception sure seems like the Bucs are at least a litte concerned Freeman can lead the Bucs to January games.

North Carolina State quarterback Mike Glennon seemed a bit stunned when talking with the Bucs’ pen and mic club after he was selected by the Bucs in the third round tonight. He had little communication with the Bucs since talking with Bucs quarterback coach John McNulty at the NFL Combine.

Next thing Glennon knows, he’s getting a call from the Bucs welcoming him to Tampa Bay.

“I heard whispers, but I didn’t know what to think,” Glennon said.

It’s not as if Glennon doesn’t know Schiano. As a kid growing up in Virginia, he was named the state’s Player of the Year as a senior and Schiano, then the Rutgers coach, recruited him hard.

“I wanted to play in the ACC,” Glennon said.

At first, he mostly just backed up Russell Wilson, now the star quarterback with the Seahawks.

“I’m excited to go down there and meet Josh [Freeman],” Glennon said.

Joe has a hunch that the feeling is not mutual with Freeman.

A scribe in the Bucs media workroom that Joe has the utmost respect for is adamant the selection of Mike Glennon, NC State quarterback, is “developmental.”

Developmental for what, a backup? Joe politely disagrees. Third round selections are not made for developmental slots, unless they are being developed to start one day.

With a thin defensive front and not exactly a roster overflowing with All-Pros at tight end and right tackle, the Bucs go quarterback? And the incumbent, proven to be inconsistent, is in the last year of his contract under a coach who did not draft him?

That does not add up “developmental” in Joe’s vernacular.

So this brings Joe to popular sports radio personality Adam Schein. The SiriusXM and SNY host also has a football show on CBS Sports Network co-hosted by Hall of Fame quarterback Phil Simms and Super Bowl quarterback Rich Gannon. Schein claims both Simms and Gannon are big believers in Glennon.

@AdamSchein: Love Glennon to TB. My guys Phil Simms and @RichGannon12 thought he was 2nd best QB in draft.

No, Joe cannot sit here on a (so far) sober Friday evening and flat out say the selection of Glennon is not a safety net if Freeman starts launching balls into the stands with receivers open in the end zone (again), or vanishing in critical games this season.

If, in fact, Glennon was drafted as developmental, it surely wasn’t a virtual hug for Freeman from the Bucs’ brass.

Bucs pick North Carolina State quarterback Mike Glennon in the third round.

Josh Freeman, you have just been put on notice. You are in the last year of your contract and your team just drafted a quarterback in the third round.

Mike Glennon, from the quarterback factory known as North Carolina State, just may be your next Bucs quarterback if Freeman struggles this season.

For a coach like Greg Schiano who loathes distractions, he just drafted his first major quarterback controversy.

Glennon threw for 4,031 yards and 31 touchdowns last season for an underwhelming (outside of a Florida State upset) Wolfpack team while tossing 17 interceptions.

Training camp just got a whole lot more interesting.

Joe knows Bucs fans pine for the good ol’ days when the Bucs were playing on a San Diego Sunday night and Chucky hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy aloft in victory.

Newly drafted Bucs cornerback Johnthan Banks remembers those days too. He became a Bucs fans watching those storied squads.

And he kept his allegience to the Bucs. So when Banks later developed into one of the top college corners and the Bucs had more holes at the position than a brick of swiss cheese, Banks was hopeful the Bucs would draft him.

Then came the trade for Darrelle Revis. Banks’ heart sank.

“I didn’t think they would take a corner when they traded for Darrelle Revis,” Banks said via conference call with the local fourth estate after the Bucs made Banks the 43rd player drafted Friday night.

“Tampa Bay was the first place i wanted to play i grew up watching the Bucs win the super bowl with Coahc Gruden,” Banks said. “It’s a dream come true.”

Banks, who likes to compare himself with Seahawks star Richard Sherman, plans to be a second skin to Revis once Banks arrives, to try to learn every morsel of football he can from the new Bucs leader.

“Learn from Revis? Oh, my God, I will try to learn as much as I can,” Banks said. “He is the best at his position and I get to play with him. Whatever he knows I want to know.”

When asked about facing the likes of Drew Brees, Matty Ice and Cam Newton twice a year, Banks didn’t blink.

“I played in the sec for four years. you have to be ready each week,” Banks said. “But it is crazy that I get to go up against those guys that i grew up watching.”

Johnthan Banks had been on the Bucs’ radar prior to the season. When the Bucs graded out the 2011 juniors, Banks was among the top corners the Bucs had on their watch list of sorts.

When the play of the Bucs corners this past season stunk worse than a barnyard in July, Banks thought he was ripe to get picked by the Bucs. Then the Bucs went out and traded for Darrelle Revis. So when Banks got a phone call this evening Bucs coach Greg Schiano he was elated and surprised.

Banks will immediately be thrown into competition for the starting cornerback slot opposite of Revis, Schiano said. Right now the position is open, with Banks, Wright and maybe even Ronde Barber battling for the job.

“He started over 45 gmes in the toughest league, the SEC,” Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik said of a few of Banks’ many attributes. “And in every game, he took on the No 1 [receiver.] That is a tough road to hoe in that conference.”

Banks, as a freshman, made his first start memorable, and likely so unnerved Gators quarterback Tim Tebow that the memory of Banks may have forced Tebow to drink a beer, picking off two Tebow’s offerings and returning both for six.

“Winner,” is how Bucs coach Greg Schiano said Banks’ coach, Dan Mullen, referred to Banks over and over.

Dominik said that when the Bucs were on the clock, Banks was atop their draft board.

Banks was always high on our board,” Dominik said.

Thought to be perhaps the top rated corner entering the 2012 season, Banks slipped due to a not-so-fast 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, a factor Dominik dismissed.

“Look at his tape,” Dominik said of Banks, who Dominik lauded for his handwork and his ability to play both man-coverage and zone. “He has such good instincts, such good ball skills. He can run, push and shove when he needs to.”

“He’s really, really diverse,” Schiano said. “He’s done all of that and has shown he can do that. He was the guy who made [Mississippi State’s] defense go. Period.”

Dominik said that when Banks fell to the Bucs, the Bucs’ war room erupted; a rare moment of joy, Dominik said.

The Bucs’ selection of former Mississippi State stud cornerback Johnthan Banks in the second round is definitely a backhanded vote of confidence for the Bucs’ defensive line — and a statement of the team’s priorities on defense.

Rockstar general manager Mark Dominik and Greg Schiano must really have faith that Da’Quan Bowers, Adrian Clayborn, Derek Landri, Gerald McCoy, Gary Gibson and Daniel Te’o-Nesheim will get to the passer and make everyone forget Michael Bennett and run-stuffer Roy Miller.

Schiano said he expects Bowers to be a double-digit sack guy, and Dominik said Darrelle Revis will cause quarterbacks to “pause,” which will create sacks. These guys must really mean it.

Sure, the Bucs likely will use the middle rounds to bring in defensive line talent, but that’s still not a premium pick(s).

Schiano loves coaching defensive backs with a very hands-on approach, like he did with the Chicago Bears. Now he’s a got another talented one to coach up.

Here are some highlights from new Bucs corner Johnthan Banks.

Rockstar general manager Mark Dominik stood his ground, hung in and kept the Bucs’ No. 43 overall pick, snagging cornerback Johnthan Banks out of Mississippi State moments ago.

Now Bucs fans can exhale knowing the team is no longer painfully thin at cornerback. If Ronde Barber decides to return, then the Bucs will have legitimate, quality depth.

Banks is an interesting, versatile pick. He’s considered a “press corner” and stands 6-2, 185 pounds without blazing speed. He’s a playmaker who was a converted safety. He’s also a more mature talent, given that he was a four-year starter and turns 24 in October.

The Bucs tried to score a “long” corner in Myron Lewis three years ago, but that didn’t pan out. However, the desire for that uncoachable length remained a priority for the Bucs.

The reality is unreliable Eric Wright will be counted on heavily in 2013, and if Wright succeeds, he’ll be a coveted unrestricted free agent after the season. For that reason, Banks appears to be a wise pick for the short-term and long-term.

Ironically, a Banks analysis on NFL.com compares his skills to those of Aqib Talib.

STRENGTHS

Joe apologizes for not doing this last night. But Joe guesses there is more keen interest in the draft tonight.

Have at it guys. Let’s hear the chatter, including what Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik should do.

Should the Bucs trade up in the second round?

Should the Bucs draft a tight end at No. 43?

Should the Bucs draft a cornerback at No. 43?

Should the Bucs grab a defensive linemen at No. 43?

Should the Bucs go linebacker at No. 43?

As always boys and girls, do behave.

Now Joe’s longtime readers know Joe has been a Mark Dominik-kinda guy. Dominik, like many long-standing elite NFL teams, often finds success building through the draft. Dominik wants to do this and Joe is absolutely on board with this concept, despite how it drives fans absolutely bananas.

We live in a fast food, Twitter, fantasy sports world and this is not the atmosphere in which teams like the Steelers and Packers reside. Given Joe’s traffic patterns over the years, Joe’s pretty convinced a number of fans would rather win the free agent war than win football games.

Has Dominik been Jack Vainisi or Art Rooney, Jr.? Of course not, but he’s getting better.

In the wake of Dominik (who rarely gets fleeced in a trade — how many NFL general managers can trade a walking corpse for a second round pick?) landing star cornerback Darrelle Revis for a first round pick and a cold beer, one member of the Bucs’ pen and mic club is taking a stand, all but demanding Team Glazer re-up Dominik’s contract.

PewterReport.com chieftain Scott Reynolds believes it would be a disaster to let Dominik go after his contract expires.

With a 24-40 record in four seasons, and plenty of blunders along the way, including overpaying for the likes of wide receiver Michael Clayton, running back Derrick Ward and cornerback Eric Wright, some Bucs fans want Dominik fired. Maybe those fans are still bitter over Dominik cutting some Tampa Bay legends like linebacker Derrick Brooks, running back Warrick Dunn and wide receiver Joey Galloway. Or maybe those fans are sick and tired of the Bucs losing, noting that the team hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2007 and hasn’t won a playoff game since winning Super Bowl XXXVII to culminate the 2002 season.

The reality is that Dominik shouldn’t be fired. He shouldn’t even have to even ride out his existing contract. Dominik deserved to have his contract extended right now. I’m advocating that the Glazers lock him up for the next four years through 2017, which is the same year Schiano’s contract is up.

What Dominik has done in transforming the Buccaneers from pretenders to contenders over the past two years is staggering when you think about it. It takes two things to win in the NFL – talent and coaching. The primary job of every general manager in the NFL is to acquire talent. While he had some personnel stumbles with Clayton, Ward and Wright, every general manager in the league has their share of gaffes. But Dominik’s hits have far outweighed his misses.

To reinforce Reynolds’ premise about needing players and coaching, just look back at Schiano’s first year with the Bucs. Quincy Black, whose career is over due to nerve damage in his shoulder, had his best year in the NFL, easily, as did Mason Foster. Gerald McCoy had his best year. It could be strongly argued Roy Miller had his best year.

Same goes for Mike Williams. And Jeremy Zuttah, among others. The Bucs were no less a laughing stock in 2011 and all of a sudden the Bucs got coached up and look what happened. The Bucs all of a sudden had the best rush defense in the NFL, Williams is one of the better receivers in the game and the Bucs offensive line played above the rim when you factor the M*A*S*H unit it became.

Dominik got off to a slow start in his first year. He was basically thrown into the job. But he has learned and grown.

If last year meant anything, it appears the Dominik-Schiano pairing is working. Barring a calamity this season, that should not be broken up.

Joe wouldn’t lose sleep if big ol’ Johnathan Hankins of Ohio State was picked by the Bucs at No. 43.

In the past few weeks, Joe has noticed Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik raving about how deep the cornerbacks depth is in this NFL draft. Joe also has noticed Dominik has often invoked “third round” in talking about the depth.

Now Joe has detailed the gaggle of talented cornerbacks still available; quite a few in fact.

But back to Dominik. Joe has never detected Dominik talking about the draft’s depth at defensive tackle, which is another area of need for the Bucs, perhaps more so than corner.

This is why Joe fully expects the Bucs to grab a defensive tackle at No. 43 tonight. Let’s look at who is still out there.

First, there is Johnathan Hankins, a quick, beastly tackle from Ohio State whose forte is stopping the run. We all know how Bucs coach Greg Schiano prioritizes stopping the run.

The neat thing about Hankins is that he can also play defensive end because of his quickness. Given the injury-crossed careers of Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers, this trait shouldn’t be overlooked

Then there is John Jenkins of Georgia. Jenkins has good hands to fight off blocks, eats up double-teams to stop the run, and he can bull rush like a Mack truck. The trick is, he is likely better suited for a 34 defense.

How about monster Kawann Short, a two-time captain at Purdue (we all know how the Bucs covet captains and multi-year starters from BCS schools)? Short is a smart guy who rarely gets lured into a fake block on screens. He may not be a great pass rusher but he is good on the run.

If the Bucs are just worried about stopping the run with a new defensive tackle, it might be hard to pass up Bennie Logan of LSU. He eats up interior ballcarriers and rarely gets moved off the line.

There are other defensive tackles the Bucs could jump on including Brandon Williams of Missouri Southern State, John Simon of Ohio State and Jesse Williams of Alabama.

All these players mentioned in this post were listed by Mike Mayock among his top 100 college prospects.

Click on through below to schedule a test drive. Joe gives a superior grade to Ed Morse Auto Plaza.

For those unsure what Joe will do as the New Schiano Order drafts new players tonight, Joe wants to make sure everyone knows Joe will pound out as all kinds of stuff on these here pages as the picks are revealed.

Whatever intriguing background Joe can find, Joe will deliver through the night. Also, the newest Buccaneers are sure to get a little quick love on local sports radio, and Joe surely will pass on whatever is interesting.

Then, of course, there’s reaction from One Buc Palace.

In short, stick with Joe through all weekend, as the Bucs score more draft picks and start luring undrafted free agents. Joe also will have an open thread going through tonight’s second and third rounds, so you can moan, groan and cheer for all your Internet comrades.

Replacing Dashon Goldson was the 49ers’ top priority last night

It’s feels a little warm and fuzzy to note that the Super Bowl 49ers’ top priority in the draft was to replace Dashon Goldson by trading up in the first round to nab former LSU safety Eric Reid last night.

Apparently, the hole left by Goldson, the Bucs’ top free-agent prize this offseason, was perceived to be that big.

USA Today penned an interesting feature on the Niners’ moves and how they played smokescreen games by not bringing Reid to their headquarters for an official visit, and head coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed replacing Goldson was paramount.

“Why would we want to advertise to the rest of the league that we had interest in a player?” Baalke [the 49ers general manager] said.

When the draft began, though, landing Reid was apparently the priority for a team that lost all-pro safety Dashon Goldson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent.

“This was definitely Option A,” Harbaugh said.

As for the Jets drafting Dee Milliner to fill the void of mighty Darrelle Revis, well, Joe knows that unlike the Niners, the Jets are often draft-day fools. So Joe’s not comforted by that move. However, Joe would take Revis over Milliner any day.

Joe hates acting like a Nervous Nancy, but Joe must always share what’s on his mind when it comes to the Bucs.

Watching Darrelle Revis enter the field off Dale Mabry Highway and greet Bucs fans last night, walking and bouncing and looking like he might be limping, was a sobering sight. It was simply a cold reminder that the guy’s knee still has a ways to go to be ready for NFL football, let alone dominate.

You can watch the video here. Revis comes out about the 10 minute mark after several other Buccaneers.

Revis’ movements also caught the eye of Tampa Tribune columnist/humorist Martin Fennelly.

“Now, Bucs fans, meet your newest Buccaneer … four time Pro Bowler … three-time, first-team All Pro … your new shut-down cornerback. Ladies and gentlemen … Darrelle Revis.”

Out of the tunnel he walked, wearing a No. 1 jersey, his name on the back. Then he jogged, then he walked, then danced ever so slightly, then he walked. Are you writing all this down?

Yes, Joe knows Revis has about 130 days to prepare himself for opening day, and Joe will join the ranks of Bucs fans praying he doesn’t have a health setback.

Revis also conspicuously was wearing No. 1. Mark Barron has yet to cough up his No. 24 jersey to Revis — and Revis hasn’t picked another number.

Barron has taken to Twitter to agonize over giving up his No. 24 and express sadness about being unable to wear his Alabama No. 4 in the pros. You can follow Barron’s commentary here.

Joe wonders whether Barron is pulling a Revis and cleverly holding out for a better payoff. After all, Revis is taking in $1 million per game.

Pat Welter reports on the fun both fans and Bucs players had at the team’s draft party at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway Thursday night in this TBO.com video.

Will Jamar Taylor land in Tampa?

Joe can’t spell this out any clearer. The Bucs are thin at cornerback.

Their two projected starters? One is coming off major knee surgery, and the other is returning from Achilles issues and a league-imposed drug suspension.

Their nickel cornerback and backup candidates? Danny Gorrer, Leonard Johnson, Myron Lewis and Anthony Gaitor.

If all that makes you feel confident the Bucs can make a successful playoff run, then Joe’s happy for the calm and optimism that flows through your world. Joe suspects Drew Brees is good with that, too.

Last night, four cornerbacks came off the NFL Draft board, Dee Milliner (Jets), D.J. Hayden (Raiders), Desmond Trufant (Falcons) and Xavier Rhodes (Vikings).

But that leaves a stable of allegedly quality cornerback prospects to be had. They include:

Jamar Taylor (Boise State)
Darius Slay (Mississippi State)
Johnthan Banks (Mississippi State)
Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Connecticut
Robert Alford, Southeastern Louisiana
David Amerson CB, N.C. State
B.W. Webb, William & Mary
Jordan Poyer, Oregon State
Logan Ryan, Rutgers
Dwayne Gratz, Connecticut
Tyrann Mathieu, LSU

The Bucs (for now) have the 43rd overall pick when the draft resumes at 6:30 p.m. with the Jaguars on the clock at No. 33.

Joe’s keeping an extra close eye on Jamar Taylor, who’s known for his crazy work ethic and speed, and he’s considered strong all around. Greg Schiano also has a connection with the Boise State staff. And Joe’s watching the Rutgers kid, Logan Ryan. Joe’s done quite a bit of research on Ryan, and it’s hard to imagine Schiano doesn’t trust and covet him.

Of course, the Bucs might not go cornerback at all. But they still need another good one, or perhaps they can go back to Brandon McDonald to fill their nickel back role, like they did to open last season.

You want to hear a confident Buccaneer? Take a listen to the audio cut below of Dashon Goldson chatting on the Buccaneers Radio Network tonight via WDAE-AM 620.

Goldson gets into his choice of the Buccaneers in free agency, how he talked Xs and Os with Bucs coaches before signing, and how he is more than ready to take on the beastly receivers of the NFC South.

The entire interview with former Bucs tight end Dave Moore and Ronnie Lane is below.

The leader of the New Schiano Order stepped out of the One Buc Palace war room this evening to talk to the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, Steve Duemig, of WDAE-AM 620.

Schiano talked about how Darrelle Revis is the Bucs’ first-round pick, how he’s excited about big things from Eric Wright in 2013, and he explained what the Bucs target in the draft that doesn’t show up in college game film.

“If they love the game of football, and they’re willing to sacrifice for something bigger than themselves, they have a great chance of being a Buc,” Schiano said.

Schiano’s entire interview is below.

Mark Dominik will be joined by a new guy in the Bucs’ draft war room, director of college scouting Eric Stokes, who comes from a team with a solid rep for finding studs in the middle- to late-rounds.

Now Joe knows that despite recent additions the past couple of years to the Bucs roster by Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik, there are still Dominik detractors out there.

One bone of criticism is that Dominik, being a draft-first guy, has a poor batting average of picks in the middle-to-late rounds. That’s a fair rebuke. But that may soon change.

This year, joining Team Glazer, Dominik, Bucs coach Greg Schiano, trainers, director of player personnel Dennis Hickey and Bucs scouts in the draft war room at One Buc Palace will be a guy by the name of Eric Stokes. While many Bucs fans may immediately ask “Who?” Stokes may be Dominik’s biggest selection since Gerald McCoy.

Stokes, Bucs director of college scouting, was groomed in the Seahawks organization, a scouting department once tutored by current Packers general manager Ted Thompson, perhaps the best general manager in the NFL. Thompson avoids free agents like the Ebola virus yet because of solid scouting, the Packers are an annual playoff contender, if not a Super Bowl contender, because the Packers are able to succeed in the draft.

Consider some of the draft picks Stokes helped oversee while in Seattle: running back Robert Turbin, a fourth-round pick; cornerback Richard Sherman, a fifth-round pick; safety Kam Chancellor, a fifth-round pick; and running back Justin Forsett, a seventh-round pick, now with Jacksonville, who rushed for over four yards a carry in two seasons with the Seahawks.

If Stokes can help mine talent for the Bucs like he did in Seattle, he may prove to be almost as valuable a free agent signing as Dashon Goldson.