When asked whether any Buccaneers swayed his decision to play in Tampa, new Bucs All-Pro safety Dashon Goldson fingered Mason Foster as a fellow Washington Huskies alumnus he turned to for feedback on the Bucs.

But hold on! Eric Wright wants Bucs fans to know he, too, had a hand in recruiting his “close” friend Goldson. Wright was busy on his website yesterday sucking up to Bucs management sharing his hopes and dreams and feelings on his favorite team.

Things are still very much in the air in regard to my situation with the Bucs. I would like to be back, especially with Dashon Goldson coming in and signing. I want to play with somebody that I consider a brother. I’ve known him for a very long time, and we’re close.

I told him about Tampa. It’s not to say that Tampa didn’t do their job as far as going out and getting him and paying him, and all that stuff. But of course, when he’s going over his options, he’s going to ask me about Tampa. I told him it would be a great place for him to continue his career and continue his success as a football player. And obviously, it would help the team.

Wright went on to say he’s training with Goldson in California, and Wright explains to Bucs fans that he’s been an injured superstar and fans just haven’t seen all he can do yet.

The difference in this game is millimeters and milliseconds. So when you have those little things, nagging injuries, things change and you have to make different decisions. This year I expect to play with a lot more bounce, a lot more energy, look a lot more youthful.

That’s what they brought me in for, and frankly, that’s what I know I can do. They brought me in because they know I can do it, and I hope they still have that confidence in me. I would like to be back, and will continue to express that until something happens where I’m not a Buccaneer.

Click through above for the rest of the comedy show.

Joe’s no fan of Wright. He let down his team in multiple ways. If Wright returns, Joe will be dumbfounded. There’s just no way the Bucs’ intense evaluation and scrutiny of the cornerbacks market could lead them back to Wright.

The favorite topic among Bucs fans is Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis. Will he or won’t he? To be more accurate, will Jets general manager John Idzik succumb to pressure from Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik or will he waffle and not get anything for Revis?

The second favorite subject is, of course, Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman. Joe’s good friend “The Commish,” Justin Pawlowski of WHFS-FM 98.7, told Joe how he read a text on-air from a listener about trading Freeman for a first-round pick and the station phone banks lit up full the rest of the show, and “The Commish” never once gave his opinion on the matter.

Freeman’s name came up with Bucs great Ronde Barber during Monday night’s broadcast of “Total Access” seen on NFL Network, as documented by Dan Hanzus of NFL.com.

“I think Coach (Greg Schiano) wants to find out if Josh is the guy because Josh shows moments of complete brilliance,” Barber said. “Yet he gives you the moments where you’re scratching your head as well. It’s kind of reflective of our season and as a whole last year.

“Coach Schiano did not draft him, even though (general manager) Mark (Dominik)’s married to him because he was with him when (former Bucs coach) Raheem (Morris) drafted him. But you have to believe that Josh Freeman is our franchise quarterback. He fits the build. He has the arm. He understands the mechanics of the game. Like I said, when he’s good, he’s really, really good. We just need him to be that player with more consistency.”

Will Freeman play for his job next season? “I would imagine so,” Barber replied. “That’s just the nature of football. (When) you have a new coach, which we had last year, you’re proving yourself to him, and Josh has to do that.”

Interesting that Barber talks about Freeman much like others do outside the organization. There are times when Freeman absolutely makes your jaw drop. The end of the Carolina game at Charlotte and the final game of the season at Atlanta spring to mind.

But then there are the bad games. The four picks against the NFL’s worst defense (New Orleans) and the epic meltdowns at Jacksonville and Atlanta in 2011. Then there are the mostly erratic short throws.

Looking ahead to September, Bucs fans would not be wrong to call 2013 “The Year Of Freeman.” If he has a fantastic season like in 2010, he’s here for another big contract. If he struggles again, who knows what happens?

Many Bucs fans are just slightly less angered than a hornet whose nest was destroyed at the thought of the Bucs not upgrading the cornerback slot prior to the draft.

Yes, the Bucs may or may not trade for Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis. Yes, the Bucs may or may not draft a cornerback in the first or second round. This doesn’t matter to hyper, frustrated if not impatient Bucs fans who demanding Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik sign someone, anyone, even though they may not be an upgrade in any way to current projected starters Danny Gorrer and Eric Wright.

These same fans want a signing like yesterday.

But it likely won’t be Brent Grimes, claims Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. It seems Dominik (and thus far, 31 other teams) have turned their nose up on Grimes.

@NFLSTROUD: Doesn’t look as though CB Brent Grimes is going to be a Buccaneer, according to someone with knowledge of the situation. Miami or Cleve?

Based on why Dominik let sack leader Michael Bennett walk (he’s damaged goods), Joe believes there is a reason Dominik hasn’t made a move for a corner yet. Given there are so many corners walking the streets right now begging for a contract, it seems to reinforce whatever motivation (or lack thereof) Dominik has to signing a corner.

If Jets general manager John Idzik doesn’t get off his throne, Dominik’s liable to draft a corner in the first and second rounds and his laughing at Idzik would be heard all the way to Bradenton.

Ronde Barber spoke about his future live on NFL Network Monday evening.

Bucs great Ronde Barber appeared live in studio tonight as a guest analyst for “Total Access” on NFL Network, and while the soon-to-be 38-year old noted (as if anyone didn’t know) that he met with Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik and coach Greg Schiano, Barber admits he has yet to make up his mind on a return to the Bucs.

Andrew Siciliano: Let’s talk about you.

Ronde Barber: What about me?

Siciliano: You are going to be 38.

Barber: I’m going to be a young 38 like I told you earlier.

Sicilians: Will you be back for a 17th season?

Barber: (Smiles) Perhaps.

Siciliano: Maybe?

Barber: I have not made a decision yet.

Siciliano: Why not?

Barber: [The Bucs] have allowed me not to rush the decision, so I’m not going to rush it.

Siciliano: When is it going to come?

Barber: I wish I could tell you.

Siciliano: Will you play for someone other than the Buccaneers?

Barber: I have had that option a couple of times before. I have been a free agent the past couple of years. We’ve had an understanding that I would always be back in Tampa.

Siciliano: So that is a “no?”

Barber: That’s basically a “no.”

Siciliano: So that’s definitely a “no?”

Barber: It’s basically a “no.”

Siciliano: Well, they signed Dashon Goldson.

Barber: He’s a pretty good player.

Siciliano: He plays your position.

Barber: He does.

Siciliano: OK, does that affect your position?

Barber: No. When I met with Mark and Coach Schiano and we had this discussion. I knew they were going to be active in free agency. This is the same discussion I had with them last year when they told me they were going to go out and get a corner in free agency which may necessitate a position change or a role change for me. I had a similar conversation [with Dominik and Schiano] this year.

Siciliano: Would you accept less playing time because you can assume if they are giving Dashon Goldson all of that money you would be playing less?

Barber: That was addressed as well.

Siciliano: OK…

Barber: Those are the types of things [the Bucs] are allowing me to weigh.

Siciliano: So what will it come down to?

Barber: Probably gut feeling and that’s what it was last year. I’m pretty non-committal, aren’t I?

Siciliano: You did a good job.

Former Bucs tight end Kellen Winslow may have been up Josh Freeman’s ass demanding the football, but he clearly isn’t as passionate about telling his wife they’re hiring a moving company.

Back in 2009, Winslow was a late arrival to the his new Bucs teammates because he was too busy fiddling with bubble-wrap, packing tape and Styrofoam peanuts. This morning, Winslow explained to NFL Network that he quit the Patriots after one game last season, in part, because he was too busy moving again.

In the interview (linked above), Winslow also explains his extreme passion for playing techno DJ, something that was more important to him than putting his “toes on the line” under the New Schiano Order.

The Raiders, Browns and Panthers, Winslow revealed, have all shown interest in his services for 2013.

It’s interesting that Oakland, with Benn’d around architect Greg Olson as their new offensive coordinator, is sniffing Winslow, but Joe would love to see Winslow land with Carolina. The thought of Winslow in the sights of Dashon Goldson or Mark Barron is making Joe’s day.

Though the tone has died down a bit since it was learned why Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik let last year’s Bucs sacks leader Michael Bennett walk away, Bucs fans are still irritated Dominik hasn’t pulled a federal government and gone wild with Team Glazer’s American Express card.

Specifially, Bucs fans are angered Dominik hasn’t signed a cornerback — any cornerback with a pulse — who fans believe would be a significant improvement over projected starters Danny Gorrer and Eric Wright.

Even Joe’s good friend “The Commish,” Justin Pawlowski, of WHFS-FM 98.7 can feel the tension in the air.

Yes, the Bucs made a big splash with the signing of Dashon Goldson at safety, but Bucs fans want more.

Sure, the Bucs made under-the-radar signings of Kevin Ogletree as a slot receiver, Tom Crabtree at tight end, and Jonathan Casillas at outside linebacker, but Bucs fans still want more…and why shouldn’t they?

The Buccaneers still have holes at the biggest need areas on their team even after 2 weeks of free agency. While we’ve mentioned cornerback, the Bucs defensive line lacks any depth, they have no right tackle, and a threat across the middle of the field on offense is still uncertain.

Joe will have more tomorrow on why Dominik possibly has been quiet of late, but let’s look at the obvious, shall we?

Yes, Joe knows Dominik hasn’t signed Brent Grimes, although there are/were rumors Dominik might be interested. Please note that 31 other teams seem to be looking the other way on Grimes, including his former team looking to return to the NFC Championship, the Dixie Chicks.

If Grimes is still a valuable commodity, like he was before he blew his Achilles tendon, wouldn’t the Dixie Chicks have already locked him up? As the old (?) NFL saying goes, “If they want you, they’ll find a way to keep you.”

While Joe wouldn’t mind the Bucs taking a stab at Grimes — hell, Lakewood High School’s cornerbacks might be an upgrade — there seems to be a reason why he’s still looking for work.

Who needs Nostradamus when popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve Peter King is in the house?

King, of Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports fame, has penned today in his weekly must-read Monday Morning Quarterback column that he’s confident Bucs-cornerback-in-waiting Darrelle Revis lands with Tampa Bay before the NFL Draft kicks off only one month from today.

3. I think I still wouldn’t trade Darrelle Revis if I were the Jets. And I think New York GM John Idzik will try to find a way to not trade Revis. But in the end, I believe he’ll go to Tampa Bay for two high draft choices sometime before draft day.

Joe can’t exactly take King’s prediction to the bank. As Joe’s written previously, there are financial incentives for the Jets to trade Revis after June 1, and a later trade date also would afford the Bucs a clearer medical picture of Revis. A better understanding of Revis’ recovery from his ACL surgery also would give the Jets more leverage and perhaps make the Bucs more eager to mortgage their future.

It’s just premature to expect the Revis soap opera to end before the 2013 draft. But it’s not premature to hope/pray/expect the Bucs to add quality bodies at cornerback before the draft.

Bucs fans will soon find out the Tampa Bay fate of letdown cornerback Eric Wright, known for drug suspensions, spa days while suspended and, to be fair, arguably the best interception return in Bucs history.

But Joe’s now wondering whether Team Glazer will exercise executive powers and order rockstar general manager Mark Dominik to rid the Bucs of Wright because Wright is not the new breed of Buccaneer Man.

Speaking to Tampa Tribune veteran eye-RAH! Kaufman at the NFL owners meetings, Joel Glazer explained that the Bucs have little tolerance for those of questionable character.

Q: The Bucs have had their share of off-field incidents in recent years. With all the talk about character, does the franchise have to do even more due diligence in researching players?

A: That’s a tremendous focus for us and nothing disturbs us more than an incident with a player. It puts a bad shine on the organization. It’s not good for the player and our tolerance has definitely gotten shorter. We just can’t tolerate role models not upholding the highest character of our community.

Hmm, has Wright upheld the highest character of our community?

Look Joe’s not expecting a bunch of choir boys on the Bucs. Hell, DaQuan Bowers is a real-life choir boy, and he’s rolling around packing heat in the wrong places.

But Joe’s not feeling anything good from Wright. He’s overpaid, underperforming, banged up, and the Bucs have the chance to cut him without financial consequence and sign one of several other cornerbacks on the market. It should be an easy decision.

It appears the Bucs, as we currently stand on the final Monday of March 2013, are so devoid of talent at cornerback that fan favorite Myron Lewis will be granted yet another shot to produce.

Lewis, a third round pick out of Vanderbilt in 2010, more often than not finds himself on the inactive list due to some malady than he finds himself on a football field. Judging by his first three seasons in the NFL, that’s been a blessing in disguise for the Bucs.

Joe thought it was telling that the Bucs pulled in bank tellers and insurance salesmen and beer truck drivers to play at cornerback last year while Myron Lewis watched the parade of cornerbacks from the sidelines.

In an extraordinary detailed surgery of Lewis by Pewter Report honcho Scott Reynolds, he documents the many reasons why Bucs fans shake their heads when Lewis’ name is mentioned, and more importantly, why the Bucs are giving him yet another shot and has yet to be handed a pink slip.

There are several reasons. First, the Bucs are desperate at the cornerback position. They need to be adding young, talented cornerbacks – not losing them. Lewis is young (he’ll only turn 26 on November 24) and he has talent. What he appears to be lacking is toughness – mental and physical – and confidence. Lewis missing the 2011 season opener against Detroit with a mild ankle sprain – after missing two preseason games a few weeks earlier with a hamstring injury – is one instance that stands out.

The second reason why he’s still in Tampa Bay is Lewis’ size. Schiano and the front office like big cornerbacks and at 6-foot-2, 203 pounds, Lewis is blessed with length and great athleticism. There isn’t a cornerback with Lewis’ size in the 2013 draft aside from North Carolina State’s David Amerson, whom the Bucs aren’t considering drafting because of his bad character.

The final reason why Lewis is getting a final shot to live up to his draft billing in Tampa Bay is because he received poor coaching last year. Not just Lewis – every Bucs cornerback did. Schiano took a chance on former LSU secondary coach Ron Cooper and the move turned out to be a mistake as Cooper was often too quiet and not assertive enough, especially on the sidelines on game days when it came to coaching up technique and relaying adjustments to his defensive backs.

The article is damning to Lewis and Joe strongly recommends clicking the link.

Look, Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik is no different than any other general manager in an NFL front office, in that Dominik will give players he drafted plenty of opportunities to develop until said player proves to be more of an Albatross than the team can handle.

Thus far, as most Bucs fans know and as Reynolds documents, Lewis, with all the rope Dominik has granted him, has done his best to hang himself. Quickly, aside from two or three plays in a training camp practice, name a play that Lewis has made in his three years in the NFL. On the other hand, Joe can name several in which Lewis was roasted by opposing quarterbacks and receivers — badly.

Joe is going to guess that new cornerbacks coach Tony Oden won’t be granting Lewis any favors just because he was a third round draft pick.

“Thank you, Mr. Glazer, for understanding that I did not draft Aqib Talib.”

One thing that still sticks out in Joe’s memory is the sight of Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik in the press box at Sun Chips Stadium in Miami. It was just before halftime and Dominik was sweating as if he was running laps around the stadium. That’s how seriously he takes games.

And this was a nondescript preseason game no less!

Like in any profession, success brings job security. Sans one season, the Bucs haven’t won much under Dominik but last year showed promise if not progress.

Dominik can somewhat breathe easy knowing he has the backing of Team Glazer. In a wide-ranging interview with eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune, Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer discussed Dominik’s job standing.

Q: Mark Dominik is 24-40 in four years. How patient will you be with your general manager?

A: We’re patient. Every team has to win, that’s not just Mark Dominik or Coach Schiano. Ultimately, you’ve got to win. The NFL has become a league where every year, teams pop up or go down. It’s a bottom-line business and the bottom line is winning. The last few years we haven’t been doing that and I can assure you there’s a lot of attention and awareness that it’s time. There’s nothing worse than losing. We’re as competitive as the next person. Mark and Coach Schiano have an excellent working relationship. They’ve earned each other’s trust and respect and that will pay dividends over the long term.

Dominik should be given, in some measure, a benefit of the doubt. Look what he was saddled with as his first coach. That was not Dominik’s choice. It was made for him.

Joe just found it amazing that the Bucs went from the worst rush defense in the NFL in 2011 to the best in 2012 and added just one piece to the puzzle, rookie Lavonte David. That shows what decent coaching can do for players.

Even Quincy Black has his best year in the NFL under the tutelage of Bryan Cox.

Most NFL general managers are granted two coaching hires. Dominik is currently on his first coaching hire; in the second year of that tenure in fact.

Now Joe remembers in the days after the Bucs’ sack leader Michael Bennett left the Bucs and signed with Seattle for about the cost of six beers at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, Bucs fans erupted in outrage.

Joe was as puzzled as the rest of Bucs fans. How could you let a guy who led your team in an area of need walk away for basically nothing?

Then Joe had contact with a front office suit who told Joe the Bucs were spooked by Bennett’s shoulder and ankle maladies and thought the injuries would get worse.

Well now, seems as if Joe’s source knew what the heck he was talking about. Just this afternoon, ESPN’s Adam Schefter Twitters out that Bennett has a nasty shoulder injury.

@AdamSchefter: Seahaws DE Michael Bennett, who left Tampa for Seattle, was diagnosed with torn rotator cuff. Injury why Bennett got a 1-yr deal in SEA.

So there is your answer why the Bucs didn’t fall over themselves trying to re-sign Bennett. A rotator cuff injury to a defensive lineman is nasty. Kind of hard to use your hands and fight off blockers when you can’t use an arm.

Sometimes, a team’s front office really does know what it is doing.

Now Joe has been harsh on certain media types who have a naive notion that the Bucs will move to Los Angles, London, Bangkok, wherever, because there are often a good handful of unsold tickets at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway.

People, especially those who should know better, peddling this premise just demonstrates to Joe that said people have done little to no research or refuse to.

Now on the other hand, on the rare times (generally once a year) that Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer speaks, Joe has to give credit to eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune for getting Glazer on the record to dispel this myth that the Bucs are looking to leave the Tampa Bay area.

Q: If attendance doesn’t improve, would you consider relocating the franchise?

A: That’s not even an issue. We have worked as hard as anybody to get tickets sold. It’s tough circumstances in Florida. The economy’s not great and it’s a changing world. We have to adapt to that changing world. I think we saw progress last year and fans are enthusiastic about the upcoming season.

EXACTLY! Glazer just reinforces what Joe has written time and time again.

We are changing as an American sports culture. More and more people are choosing to enjoy the at-home experience than to go through all the costly hassle of dust-choked parking lots in the broiling sun, insane prices for beer, and limited replays with not always a great seat.

Roger Goodell has been talking about this for roughly three years. Shoot, just this past season, the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers had their worst attendance in over a decade. The Steelers! You know, Pittsburgh, Football Town USA?

And no, the financial effects are barely a blip. Just on revenue from national TV and radio broadcast rights alone, per Forbes.com, the Bucs and every NFL team will receive $200 million annually starting in 2014. This is before one ticket is sold, one beer is poured, one car is parked, one corporate ad is sold, one TV ad is sold, before one red cent is collected from digital and mobile revenue, and not even counting the river of cash flowing in from NFL Network.

Read the lease the Bucs have with the Tampa Sports Authority — it is public record — and you can see why the notion of the Bucs leaving is comical.

With all the revenue NFL teams have at their disposal, a couple of thousands seats short of a sellout is, in the big picture, irrelevant.

The Bucs are going nowhere, folks.

When the Bucs inked stud safety Dashon Goldson to a major contract, Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik was lauded from Tallahassee to Naples.

Just a few days later when defensive end and Bucs sack leader Michael Bennett and defensive tackle Roy Miller — who the Bucs raved about at every turn last year as if he was Joe Greene — walked away for about the price of a luxury box at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, fans turned on Dominik rather quickly.

But as former Bucs defensive end Booger McFarland notes, it is not easy being Dominik these days, writes McFarland, who co-hosts “Booger and Rich” heard on locally WHFS-FM 98.7.

If the season started today theoretically we can play with the defensive linemen we have. Bowers, McCoy, and  Clayborn sound pretty good when all are healthy and humming. But when you talk corners, it’s a completely different deal. The sound of Johnson, Gorrer, and any other slappy in the secondary just doesn’t do it for me.

So Mark Dominik is in charge of changing that, but he must be careful. We need the signings/trades to impact our team like Vincent Jackson, not like Mario Williams. We need Simeon Rice not Albert Haynesworth. Which spins the arrow right back to where it should be pointing, at Mark Domink.

It’s up to Dominik to fix the areas in which we are weak or down right awful. So as we all sit and wonder what’s going to happen and start to panic because there haven’t been any corners signed or traded for, remember not only does Dominik’s reputation depend on it, so does his job.

Look, even Dominik admitted when he was interviewed on SiriusXM NFL Radio last week that the Bucs need upgrades at cornerback. He was blunt about this, as are many fans. So it is not like Dominik has blinders on.

It is still March. Lets wait a while to see how things shake out? Training camp is a good four months away. The draft is a month away.

That’s a lot of time to make moves to bolster the Bucs at cornerback.

For those missing old friend/2012 run stuffer Roy Miller, the Jaguars cranked out a live chat with him on their official website.

There were interesting nuggets:

First, Miller would choose Nicki Minaj over Mariah Carey. (Good, that leaves Joe’s pick available). Also, Miller named Gerald McCoy as the top NFL player he’s been exposed to. Miller cited McCoy’s attitude and leadership. And Miller shared that he wasn’t fond his free agency experience, calling it “nerve-wracking,” and he seemed sad about his departure from the Bucs.

“You are with a team and you finally realize the business side of all,” Miller wrote.

Miller also raved about former Bucs defensive line coach Todd Wash, who, after screwing up in Tampa a successful stint in Seattle, will now coach Miller in Jacksonville.

Now this is a smart yet futile move, if correct.

If the Bucs do land Darrelle Revis from the Jets, or even another free agent cornerback, the days of Eric Wright with the Bucs are over. Wright, busted for popping Adderall last season by the NFL, had a clause in his contract in which Dominik could void it and cut him if he was suspended for violating the NFL substance policy.

Well, if the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com, the great Mike Florio’s source is accurate, Wright surely has played his last snap in Tampa Bay.

It seems Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik is trying to trade Wright.

Given the current cornerback market, Wright surely would have to agree to a dramatically reduced deal in order to facilitate a trade. Which could mean that he’ll refuse, making it difficult if not impossible to trade him.

In the end, the Bucs may have to just cut him — which then would allow him to sign the best deal he could find on the open market.

No, there is no friggin’ way Wright is worth anywhere close to his contract. Not when better corners are signing for less than a third of the nearly $8 million the Bucs are on the books (for now) to pay Wright for 2013.

It seemed clear that the only way the Bucs kept Wright was if they couldn’t upgrade the corner position, a position that is woefully inadequate for the NFL.

Does this nugget of news suggest Dominik is confident Revis will be wearing Bucs pewter and red colors this fall? Sure smells that way.

Former Bucs QB Jeff Carlson

Former Bucs quarterback Jeff Carlson (1990 & 1991) writes The QB Blast column here at JoeBucsFan.com. Joe loves when Carlson fires away. Carlson is often seen as a football color analyst on Bright House Sports Network, and he trains quarterbacks of all ages locally via his company, America’s Best Quarterback. Plus, he’s a really cool dude.

By JEFF CARLSON
JoeBucsFan.com

Quarterback Coach Greg Schiano (I thought he was a defensive coach — did anybody check his NFL passing statistics to see if he could have an opinion?) diagnosed Josh Freeman’s mechanical problems recently and came up with interesting observations, some of which are correct.

Here’s how Schiano spelled it out for TampaBay.com.

Yes, the Bucs need cornerbacks worse than Joe needs a beer on a Florida July Friday afternoon. Many Bucs fans are weirded out by the prospect of the Bucs talking turkey with the Jets for Darrelle Revis. They are pacing around their house like Cornholio.

And for good reason. If healthy — key phrase there — Revis is not just the best cornerback in the NFL, he almost takes care of two cornerback positions. This subject was grazed in a BSPN NFC South chat.

EastEndBoy (DC)

If Tampa lines up Revis and Leonard Johnson (or a 2nd round rookie), with Star Loutelelei as the new DT, how strong does the defense look?

Pat Yasinskas

A lot better than it looks today.

Here’s the thing about Revis: If the Bucs somehow grabbed him, he would make Leonard Johnson (or Danny Gorrer or Eric Wright — but not Myron Lewis) a better cornerback?

How you ask? Let Joe explain:

With an All-Pro corner on one side, and an All-Pro safety (Dashon Goldson) and a talented first round draft pick (Mark Barron), the Bucs could roll coverage and cheat to the side of the field where Johnson/Gorrer/Wright would be.

So by just adding one outstanding cornerback, it would immediately make the second corner much more effective.

Joe knows eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune just parked himself in front of Team Glazer for a half hour or so at the NFL owners meetings in Arizona this week. So Joe’s figuring Kaufman might have special insight behind his bold claim about the next Bucs Ring of Honor inductee.

Via Twitter today, Kaufman told his minions to expect Warren Sapp to follow Lee Roy Selmon, John McCay, Jimmy Giles and Paul Gruber into the beloved Ring.

@IKaufmanTBO – Not much suspense surrounding the next member of the Bucs Ring of Honor. Expect new Hall of Fame inductee Warren Sapp to be the 5th man in

Joe’s fine with the choice of Sapp, if Team Glazer goes that direction.

Joe likes the old-school-first approach, but it would be cool to have Sapp in the Ring on the heels his Hall of Fame induction in August.

Might “Warren Sapp Day” prompt a sellout in Tampa? After the fan response to the 10-year Super Bowl anniversary game last season, Joe believes it would.

Yes, Bucs fans are yearning for a cornerback — a good cornerback not named Eric Wright.

One name on the tip of Bucs fans’ tongues for weeks is Brent Grimes, the 2012 Falcons’ franchised player who tore his Achilles on opening day. The Bucs have been linked with chatter with Grimes’ agent, but now the Bucs might have to push all-in or lose out.

BSPN claims Grimes has a multi-year offer on the table from the Cleveland Browns.

Interestingly NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas says losing Grimes to the Browns would then thrust the Falcons, who cut Dunta Robinson weeks ago, into the cornerback market where the Bucs are still sniffing around.

Well, if this latest from the New York Post is accurate, then it’s no wonder Darrelle Revis is still employed by the Jets.

Per Post reporter Brian Costello this morning, the Jets have yet to decide what they want in a trade for their star cornerback.

According to league sources, Idzik has not been clear with what he wants exactly in return for Revis. The Post reported earlier this week that Tampa Bay was losing patience with the Jets as negotiations have stalled.

Jimminy Christmas! Somebody needs to inform the bungling Jets they can’t make a deal without a price tag.

Joe suspects the translation of this is the Bucs put an offer on the table for Revis and the Jets rejected it without lobbing back a counter offer.

Weeks ago Derrick Brooks talked about how Greg Schiano would pluck the “weeds in the roses” this offseason, and it seems Arrelious Benn was among the crabgrass.

Benn, recently traded to the Eagles where he got a contract extension yesterday, told PhillyMag.com that he wanted out of the New Schiano Order.

Although he doesn’t have the hands of Jason Avant, Benn, who is a good blocker, thinks he can be effective in the slot.

“I think I have the skill set to play both [inside and outside],” he said. “I think I’m a mismatch in the slot with my speed and size. We’re going to see where I fit in, and I’m going to go with it.”

Asked if he was expecting to be moved, Benn said, “I was expecting it. I’m not going to lie, I was expecting it. I wanted to move forward. I didn’t want to be there.

“I just needed a change of scenery. I just needed a fresh start. The situation just wasn’t going right. That’s all I’m going to say about it.”

Benn’s a good guy, but perhaps he wasn’t cut out for the mental toughness needed to thrive under Greg Schiano? In contrast, Roy Miller and Michael Bennett were eager to stay in Tampa.

The Bucs gave up on Benn, and Benn gave up on the Bucs. Joe’s wondering which came first.

Joe knows Bucs fans are still throwing things at their TVs in disgust for the Bucs letting defensive linemen Michael Bennett and Roy Miller walk away for the price of two pizzas at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway.

As Joe wrote a week ago, he had heard the Bucs were spooked by nagging injuries Bennett had (and played through) and thought those injuries would only grow worse.

Joe doesn’t know about Miller, but Joe does know Miller was always dinged up and played through a nasty back injury. IF the Bucs let Bennett, their top sacker, walk for this reason, perhaps the same logic applied to Miller?

Joe thinks it is a gamble to put so much responsibility on the shoulders of Da’Quan Bowers, who has yet to play a full season in the NFL because he himself is often sidelined by some malady.

Don’t fear, Bucs coach Greg Schiano says. He is taking the bull by the horns and says he and his coaching staff will develop Bowers into a feared pass rusher, so he told eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune.

A better pass rush would help and Schiano said Bowers is poised for a breakthrough season.

A second-round pick in 2011, Bowers recovered from an Achilles injury and posted three sacks in limited action last year. He is awaiting the fallout from his arrest a month ago for carrying a gun at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

“He’s a tremendous athlete for a man his size,” Schiano said. “He’s explosive and he’s done it. It’s our job to make him do it consistently. When he hurt his Achilles, it changed his body. Rather than being negative, he got in with our strength staff and changed his body. I think he’s prepared to take the next step.”

Bowers showed flashes of being a dominant pass rusher, though Joe isn’t sure he can defend the run as well as Bennett.

The words from Schiano are reassuring, but in Joe’s eyes, the first goal is for Bowers is to play consistently and remain healthy for a full season.