Joe thought he would give his readers an update.

First, 49ers safety Dashon Goldson is being whisked to One Buc Palace by private jet courtesy of Team Glazer, tomorrow. Joe only hopes his hostess for the day is a scantily-clad Rachel Watson.

Also, the agent for Goldson, who is also Dixie Chicks cornerback Brent Grimes’ agent, has denied Grimes signed a contract with the Dixie Chicks and is still available to play elsewhere in 2013.

Now with Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com, the great Mike Florio, reports that indeed the Jets had (have?) an offer on the table for Revis. Terms of the deal are unknown. What is known, per Florio, is that the Jets turned their nose up on the offer.

To add intrigue, the Jets have yet to discuss a new pact with Revis or his people.

Joe thinks this is critical. Joe cannot imagine Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik trying to make a serious play for Revis, and not having him locked up before consummating the trade.

If Dominik, or any general manager, acquires Revis without a new contract, Joe’s pretty sure that will end in a one-year player rental and Revis bolts.

If the Bucs were just one cornerback from a Super Bowl push, Joe wouldn’t be too worried about renting Revis.

The Bucs, however, are clearly more than one player away from playing in February.

UPDATE: Ian Rapoport of NFL Network stated late Tuesday night that Goldson is expected in Tampa Bay tonight and, “would be surprised if he leaves without a contract.”

So do the Bucs want competition for Josh Freeman or not?

Depending on the time of the year and which member of the Bucs organization Joe talks to, either Josh Freeman is firmly dug in as the Bucs starter, or the Bucs want someone to push him (or both?).

It seems this afternoon, the “Freeeman-needs-pushing” element of the Bucs organization must have cold-called the Patriots asking about the availability of backup quarterback and former second round pick Ryan Mallett, so reports Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald.

The Browns and Buccaneers have expressed interest to the Patriots in trading for quarterback Ryan Mallett, but a deal seems unlikely at this point, according to a source.

The CBA doesn’t allow players to restructure their contracts until after their third season if they were drafted in 2011 or later, and that has tempered teams’ interest in acquiring Mallett. Of course, Mallett would be under a team’s control through 2014 for affordable money, but a new team would prefer to have some long-term security if they’re going to invest in a potential starting quarterback.

It’s unknown what type of compensation has been discussed. Mallett was drafted in the third round in 2011, so it would make sense for the Patriots to covet a similar pick, if not something with more value.

Though getting a capable backup like tis certainly a smart move, Joe has given up trying to read the tea leaves on whether the Bucs are nervous about Freeman or believe he is their stud for the next 10 years.

The answer to that question will be answered by the end of the 2013 season.

Bucs Hall of Fame icon Warren Sapp didn’t hold back on NFL Network moments ago. No. 99 said, “I guarantee it” when asked whether free agent safety Dashon Goldson will become a Buccaneer.

Sapp said with Team Glazer firing up a fancy jet to pick up Goldson, there’s no chance the Pro Bowl 49ers safety leaves Tampa without a contract.

Joe has to agree. Obviously, Goldson will get the full court press and top dollar. Joe hopes Goldson, a lifetime west coast guy, really wants to be in Tampa and isn’t just chasing dollars. Obviously, he’s a professional, but that personal stuff makes a difference.

The Bucs will court superstar 49ers free agent safety Dashon Goldson in person, so Twittered BSPN NFL insider Adam Schefter moments ago after the free agency bell has rung on the 2013 offseason.

@AdamSchefter – 49ers free-agent safety Dashon Goldson is scheduling a visit with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

For those living in a cave without NFL Network or NFL games, Goldson is a hard-hitting superstar who made the last two Pro Bowls and will command huge money. He turns 29 in September.

Hopefully, the New Schiano Order will be able to sell him on being the savior of the Bucs’ woeful secondary.

Last year, Team Glazer busted out the corporate jet to pick up Vincent Jackson and Carl Nicks to woo them in Tampa. Joe expects Goldson will get the same treatment.

Update: 4:02 p.m. NFL Network also is confirming the Bucs-Jets trade discussions.

The team most desperate for cornerback help is working to craft a deal with the team most desperate to trade a stud corner, so reports NBC Sports’ Mike Florio, creator, curator and guru of ProFootballTalk.com.

Florio says the Jets and Bucs are working on a trade that would bring Darrelle Revis to Tampa Bay. But time is of the essence.

At best, it’s a package headlined by a second-round pick this year or possibly a first-rounder in 2014.  Under these circumstances, a 2013 first-round pick for Revis doesn’t make sense.

For the Jets and Revis, the question now becomes whether they are willing to do the deal, before the opportunity dries up.  If the Bucs sign a player like, say, Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes once the market opens, the Bucs will lose interest in Revis — and as of right now there’s no one else trying to get the deal done.

Joe can’t make this more clear. A healthy Revis is exactly what the Bucs need. However, Revis is coming off ACL surgery and his health is a major question mark.

Revis likely is the prototypical “Buccaneer Man,” given that he played for Greg Schiano confidant and new Bucs special teams coach Dave Wannstedt in college. But, is Revis willing to stay with the Bucs after his 2013 contract expires?

Lastly, what the hell is the trade value for an injured guy with one year left on his contract?

Joe thinks a first round pick is just too much. If the Jets will take a second-rounder, Joe thinks it’s worse the risk, assuming Revis passes the rigorous medical exam the Bucs will put him through.

Most Bucs fans are chewing on wet towels like Jerry Tarkanian waiting for the free agent siren to sound at 4 p.m. today.

Will it be Derek Cox, or Dashon Goldson, or Sean Smith, or… Ezekiel Ansah?

Ezekiel Ansah?

Yes, it’s New Year’s Day of the NFL calendar year but in the world of Joe’s good friend “The Commish,” noted local draft guru Justin Pawlowski, it’s always mock draft time.

Pawlowski has posted his recent mock draft and he has the Bucs going defensive end with the No. 13 pick.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Ezekiel Ansah – DE – BYU
Commish’s Comments: The phrase “boom or bust” is a phrase often used in the NFL draft. Ansah has limited games played at BYU, and in those limited games, Ansah played all along the defensive line…even at nose tackle. Ansah is a physical freak with size (6’5” 271 lbs), speed (4.63), athletic ability (34.5″ vertical), and strength (21 reps). It’s very possible that a team within the top 10 could take a chance on Ansah because of his potential, but his inexperience and the time it might take for him to fully develop could shy teams away. I’m also not as certain as others that Ansah is a good fit as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. The Lions and Dolphins are possible landing spots for Ansah, but if he slips to the Bucs, I believe the Bucs should select him. With Michael Bennett likely gone in free agency, the Bucs will have Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers as their starting ends, which might be a benefit to Ansah where he would not have to come in and start immediately. I believe the Bucs should address their secondary needs in free agency, so that their hand isn’t forced to reaching on a cornerback with the 13th pick especially if Rhodes is gone. Other options for the Bucs with this pick if available are Jarvis Jones, Xavier Rhodes, Star Lotulelei, Kenny Vaccaro, and Tyler Eifert.

What has Joe been saying for months, that he has a hunch Bucs rock star general manager would target a defensive end at No. 13. Joe believes that’s where Dominik is leaning slightly, given his history and how Michael Bennett may bolt for greener pastures.

Today, it sure feels like the draft is a long way away, just over six weeks.

“I can’t wait to vibe with Talib in my room again, and things of that nature.”

Joe shook his head this morning at the reports from the Washington Post and USA Today claiming the Redskins are eager to ink helmet-wielding, cabbie-slugging, Adderrall-popping, coach-cussing, referee-charging, pistol-friendly, granny-hassling Aqib Talib.

Are Bruce Allen and Raheem Morris, leader of the Skins’ 30th-ranked secondary last season, that foolish?

How did the Tanard Jackson signing work out up there, fellas?

Apparently, Washington would need to make some last-minute, salary-cap clearing to afford Talib, and will have to outbid Bill Belicheat. It seems the Patriots want injury-riddled Talib to disappear in the playoffs again.

Joe’s so glad rockstar general manager fleeced New England of a fourth-round pick for Talib.

DaQuan who?

Jason LaCanfora of CBSSports.com is piping in this morning with word that the Bucs may approaching Lions free agent defensive end Cliff Avril with a whatever-it-takes mentality.

Avril is a fast, manbeast who rushes off the left side, like DaQuan Bowers and Michael Bennett, and had 9.5 sacks last season after an 11-sack campaign in 2011.

Cliff Avril is the best in breed here, and the Lions desperately want to retain him, though that seems less likely by the day. The question is whether he reaches $10 million per year, which would help set the rest of the market for pass rushers. Tampa Bay is pushing hard for a pass rusher and several league sources believe they’ll do what it takes to get Avril. Michael Bennett is bracing to leave the Bucs, and he is drawing nice interest as well, with the Eagles and Falcons also deep in on players at these positions.

How well does Avril play the run? Joe isn’t certain, but Joe’s pretty confident he doesn’t compare to Michael Bennett in that area. But Avril will get after the passer in a huge way.

He turns 27 next month and is originally from Jacksonville. Perhaps he wants to come home? Here’s a highlight reel of Avril below.

Joe found it more than interesting yesterday when he learned Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik was shopping wide receiver Arrelious Benn.

A former second round draft pick, Benn pretty much had his career hijacked by an ugly knee injury as a rookie and has never been the same. In fact, it seems as if he has been cursed.

If what Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported is true, it only stands to reason, sadly, the Bucs have given up on Benn and are willing to move on.

It’s too bad. The guy is a hard worker and you won’t find a better dude.

This brings Joe to one of the most popular of Bucs players, cornerback Myron Lewis.

Like Benn, Lewis was part of the vaunted 2010 draft class. Unlike Benn, Lewis, a third round draft pick, has never shown an ability, save for a spurt or two against second and third teamers in training camp, to be deemed worthy of a third round pick much less a starting job.

Like Benn, Lewis has been injury prone, but none of his injuries were even close to being as nasty as Benn had with his knee.

Joe thought it was telling that last year, each week it seemed, the Bucs trotted out a cornerback they pulled away from a real estate office or a beer distributorship to come off the street and take the field. Yet all the while, there was Lewis (when he wasn’t hurt) sitting on the sidelines with his hands on his hips.

Now Joe knows a general manager will give a high draft pick all the rope he needs to establish himself. But if the Bucs are willing to wave goodbye to Benn, it also stands to reason that the Myron Lewis Experiment has run its course as well.

It’s hard to justify Lewis’ roster spot when last year the Bucs were signing gravediggers to play ahead of him.

How Lewis has lasted this long is still something of a riddle.

At least Benn, sans those annoying “Benn’d Around” plays, has shown an ability to be an NFL player.

Hamstring, knee, groin, rib and back injuries have led to Derek Cox missing 17 games over the past three season. Cox is said to be a target of the Bucs.

Forget the cabbie-slugging, granny-hassling, helmet-wielding, trouble-finding ways of former Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib for a moment. One could make a case that the biggest knock on Talib is that the guy is hurt every year. Hamstrings, hips, pulls, and back issues have all cost Talib plenty of games.

Do the Bucs really want another letdown corner who lives on the trainer’s table?

This is why Joe is very leery of the Bucs’ reported interest in Derek Cox, the Jaguars’ talented free agent corner. The guy has been injured repeatedly. And Joe hopes the Bucs find surer bets to be among their cornerback scores after the free agency bell rings this afternoon.

Counting on Cox feels like a foolish risk. Consider this from Jaguars beat writer Gene Frenette.

[Cox] has missed 17 games the last three years with injuries to five different body parts. Whether it’s a hamstring, knee, groin, rib or back, Cox has been one of the most brittle starters in recent memory. On the flip side, the Jaguars have no proven cover corner going into next season if they don’t re-sign Cox. Rashean Mathis, who turns 33 in August, will likely be allowed to become a free agent. Plus, it’s hard to imagine coach Gus Bradley wanting to throw nickel back Mike Harris or Kevin Rutland into a permanent starting role. Aaron Ross, a free-agent pickup last year, has underperformed. At least the Jaguars can count on a healthy Cox to hold up in coverage and occasionally make a big play.

“You got to have that trust with the player,” said [Jags head coach Gus] Bradley. “They can be really good, but if they’re always on the sideline injured, that’s tough. Now [Cox] has some traits that we’re excited about.”

Joe gets Cox’s talent, but Joe would sleep easier with signing a guy like the Dolphins’ Sean Smith, who hasn’t missed a game since 2010, and is still just 25 years old.

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While attending the NFL Scouting Combine last month, Joe was humbled that cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-ignorant, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, beer-chugging Peter King of Sports Illustrated gave Joe a few minutes of his very busy day to talk Bucs football.

JoeBucsFan: What if anything surprised you about the Bucs this past season? Obviously their pass defense was horrendous and they didn’t play well down the stretch, but for a while there, they were a puncher’s chance from a wild card berth.

Peter King: I think what surprised me about the Bucs is how quick Greg Schiano got his message across. I think he was very, very good at mobilizing the troops very quickly. I remember going to training camp and Aqib Talib basically – one of the reasons why I was surprised it blew up with Aqib Talib was Talib was [Schiano’s] biggest cheerleader in training camp. At least with me the day I was there. He did a good job of getting people to believe he was going to give them a chance to win early on.

Joe: On the Bucs’ defensive line, Mark Dominik has made a point that he has never had Da’Quan Bowers, Gerald McCoy and Adrian Clayborn all playing together healthy at the same time. Does he have a point, that the Bucs may have something special if they can all stay on the field at the same time?

King: I think the important thing is, assuming Bowers is going to be all right with his legal thing up in New York, and Clayborn healthy, I think there are a lot of teams that shied away from Bowers early on [in the 2011 draft] because of his health. Because of the belief he is not going to have a long NFL career. Well, you know that issue just doesn’t go away. That is a continuing issue. To me, it is important that they get their core in tact and healthy and playing all at once and then I think it is important – I think this draft is important because I think what you want to do is, you have some key guys, young guys at key positions, especially on defense, I think you need more. You will need a corner. You will need a long-term replacement for [Ronde] Barber at safety. And you will need depth, in particular, big-time depth along the defensive line. So, I think the one thing about Schiano that I thought he did so well at Rutgers is he took guys who weren’t the blue chip, A-No. 1 prospects, the kids he was losing to Florida to Georgia to Penn State and those places, he would take the guys who were the B-plus recruits and somehow and someway would be in a bowl game every year. It would be a lesser bowl, but he would figure out a way to be the 20th or so best team in the country. That’s one of the reasons why I loved the hire at the beginning because I think in this day and age of football, you have to make your sixth round picks work, you just do. The teams that do, you look at the Seattle Seahawks last year. They had two prime candidates for rookie of the year, one of them was picked in the second round and one was picked in the third round. Those are the teams that will eventually have the best players and have a chance to win.

Joe: Like Lavonte David, who was a late-second round pick.

King: Lavonte David was an incredible draft choice. He is a great modern linebacker. To me, if you look at this draft, everybody loves Alec Ogletree, who is a sideline-to-sideline player, speed, makes a lot of plays, is noticeable every game. That’s what Lavonte David was. So to me, I look at the way they have drafted and say, consistently, if they get guys beyond the first and second round who can play, those are the teams that will eventually win.

Joe: Schiano said recently he was going to pull back on some of his rigid rules; he has so many of them. I don’t know how to buy that. From Bobby Bowden all the way down to the better high school coaches, if you ask them the key to success, they always say, “Be yourself.” Schiano not being a rigid coach, that’s not being himself. That’s now how he got to where he is. Being a tough coach, that’s who he is. I don’t buy that he will pull back that much.

King: I think the one thing with Greg is, if you ask his players at Rutgers, he had some static rules like how they traveled and eating and things like that, but, I don’t think if you ask Ray Rice how he was treated by Greg Schiano over the long haul, even if you gave him sodium pentothal and he was telling the absolute truth, he would say Greg Schiano was a dictator and had the whip out on him. The thing about Greg is, he learned how to trust people and over time, it is a classic case of Bill Parcells, “I don’t treat all my players the same, but I treat them fairly.” And fair is different for Aqib Talib then it is for Ronde Barber or for Mike Williams lets say. So, I think he is not going to be a guy who will keep the same rules forever.

Joe: Your reaction to something Tim Ryan of SiriusXM NFL Radio told me at the Super Bowl. Look, the Bucs were just a handful of yards from setting a 97-year record for worst pass defense in NFL history. Most people would say the Bucs needed to get more heat on the quarterback and that’s really not disputable. But Ryan believes the Bucs corners were so awful that the Bucs could have had Hall of Fame players straight across the front line and if quarterbacks on a three-step drop only needed 2.5 seconds to find an open receiver because receivers were open from the moment the ball was snapped, then the Bucs need an upgrade in the secondary far more than they needed pass rushers. Is he on to something?

King: Oh, if you look at any team in the league, and I have been studying this at the combine here, what are the really important positions now in the NFL when you play these multiple set offenses with quarterbacks who can run and get out of the pocket? Almost everyone says, “You better have corners who can cover and cover not for a split second, but a premium on guys who can knock guys at the line of scrimmage, knock them out of their route but they better be fast enough to run with these 4.4 receivers.” Look, you saw them play every snap. Whenever I saw the Bucs, I said, “If I was Greg Schiano, if I am Mark Dominik, I don’t mind taking corners in the first two rounds.” Because that to me, you will never know how good your defensive line is, you will never give Da’Quan Bowers a chance to be the guy who you thought would have 14 sacks in a season, you are never going to give them a fair chance unless you can cover the backside and also get linebackers like Lavonte David who can cover well. That to me is added importance now and I think it is vital for them to fill the need at corner through either free agency or the draft.

It appears the Bucs are not sitting on their hands waiting for Ronde Barber’s answer to an invite for one more final year with the Bucs.

Per NFL insider Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Bucs are making a serious push on stud 49ers safety Dashon Goldson, and with hours left before the free agent siren sounds at 4 p.m. Tuesday, the Bucs are considered a finalist for Goldson’s services.

‏@AdamSchefter: Four teams – SF, PHIL, DET, TB – in play on Dashon Goldson – but DET, TB considered favorites. TB also in on CBs Sean Smith, B. Grimes, DRC.

It sure seems like Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik is not fooling around. He knows the secondary needs serious, serious, serious upgrades.

To be honest, if Dominik lands Goldson, which would be a coup on the level of signing Vincent Jackson, Joe’s pretty sure we have seen the last of Ronde Barber on an NFL field.

Joe’s definitely somewhat surprised by the silence from the Ronde Barber camp.

The free agency bell rings at 4 p.m. tomorrow. It’s almost unfair to the New Schiano Order if Barber doesn’t tell the team his 2013 intentions before that time.

Where are you, Ronde? And why do you need more time?

After the Bucs beat up the Falcons in Atlanta to close 2012, Barber had nine weeks to consider whether or not he wanted to return to the Bucs for his 17th season. His annual sit-down with rockstar general manager Mark Dominik and Greg Schiano was Thursday, and the Bucs told the world they wanted Barber back, but Barber asked for more time.

Joe wonders what the hold up really is?

Did the Bucs lowball Barber? In 2011, he earned $4 million. In 2012, he earned $3 million. Are the Bucs trying to kick his salary down again?

Was Barber not guaranteed a starting job, like he was last year at free safety? If so, Barber has such a competitor’s mentality, and has said in the past he thrives on the doubt of others, Joe would be shocked if a win-your-job role would deter Barber.

Is Ronde feeling out broadcasting offers before deciding on his playing future? Tiki Barber implied last week that Ronde was considering other job opportunities.

Joe has to believe an answer on Barber is coming tomorrow. Joe knows Barber loves his team, and it’s in the Bucs’ best interest to know where Barber stands ASAP.

If there was every a player Joe felt badly about, aside from Brian Price, it is Arrelious Benn.

A second round pick from Illinois, Benn was going from a spread-option offense to a normal NFL offense, which is like learning a new language, and just when it appeared Benn had turned the corner as a rookie and proved to be playing at the level of a second-round pick, he blew out his knee.

Benn has never been the same.

Well, Benn may have played his last game as a Buccaneer. Per all-around good guy Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik is shopping Benn around the NFL.

@JasonLaCanfora: On a day in which we’ve seen two WRs dealt-Percy Harvin and Anquan Boldin – the Bucs are shopping another, 2010 2nd rnd pick Arrelious Benn.

The sad thing about this is most Bucs fans, unfortunately, think of that godawful Benn’d-Around play when his name comes up.

Benn is truly one of the good guys on the Bucs. If he’s not with the team this season, Joe hopes he has success. Joe always roots for the good guys.

Frankly, if this is the only way to rip that friggin’ Benn’d-Around play out of the Bucs’ playbook, so be it.

If the Ravens can only get a sixth round pick for a stud like Anquan Boldin, Joe’s not sure what Dominik thinks he can get for Benn.

Joe isn’t surprised about the following. Hell, Joe was tipped off to it in January.

Bucs rock star general manager seems serious about washing his hands of cornerback Eric Wright. Why? Because, as the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com, the great Mike Florio reports, Wright’s agent has filed a grievance against the Bucs for preparing to unload his client.

Per a league source, Wright has filed a grievance challenging the voiding of the guaranteed salary. A ruling is expected Tuesday.

While the 2011 labor deal allows guaranteed money to be voided, there’s a dispute over whether the specific language in Wright’s contract accomplishes that goal. If the Bucs win, Wright can be cut at any time before Week One of the regular season. If Wright wins, the Bucs owe him $7.75 million.

Joe remembers being told by a suit at One Buc Palace in January that, in so many words, if Dominik cut Wright, then Wright’s agent would freak out and challenge Dominik’s move to void guaranteed money in Wright’s contract.

Joe’s source proved pretty prophetic, huh?

“Hey, Michael, turn your phone off until I tell you otherwise. Stop undercutting me.”

It looks like oily Drew Rosenhaus, agent of Michael Bennett — and E.J. Biggers in case anyone cares — was perturbed by Joe reporting Bennett told 98.7 FM today that the Bucs would have a chance to match any offer that came Bennett’s way in free agency.

ProFootballTalk.com picked up Joe’s original story of Bennett’s desire to return to the Bucs and give them every opportunity to re-sign him. But now ProFootballTalk.com is back quickly with a new story claiming a source close to Bennett’s situation claims Bennett spoke out of turn.

Joe’s quite confident Rosenhaus is the “source.” A perception of Bennett likely running back to the Bucs for a final offer makes it less likely he’d be a priority signing for other teams.

But make no mistake, Joe believes Bennett’s claim of wanting to play for the Bucs and to let the Bucs match an offer. The only question is whether rockstar general manager Mark Dominik will pay what it takes to have his best defensive end return.

Photo by Michael Hamm

Former Bucs running back and Florida Gators great Earnest Graham is a huge LeGarrette Blount supporter but understands why the Bucs would want to trade him, as has been rumored.

In Graham’s mind, the Bucs and the rest of the NFL know Blount is a true No. 1 running back capable of a Pro Bowl-caliber season, so the Bucs know Blount could return strong value in a trade.

Graham explained that Blount is not an ideal complementary back to Doug Martin during an interview with host Steve Isbitts on 98.7 FM yesterday.

“LeGarrette’s talent is undeniable. I think LeGarrette in the right system is a 1,500-yard back, I just really do,” Graham said. “I think the guy is impressive. I played alongside him. I played fullback for him. I saw him day in and day out. I think he just needs to be part of a system. You know, LeGarrette’s a back that needs to be heavily involved. He’s not a back that’s, ‘Hey, you get here and you play a couple of spurts.’ He’s a guy that feeds on getting carry after carry and the game becomes really simple for him. You know, I think definitely the Bucs understand his value. They understand his value might be greater to another team. If you turn on that film [from 2010], it’s undeniable the level of football LeGarrette is capable of playing.”

Graham went on to say if he were rockstar general manager Mark Dominik, he would not be interested in any veteran free agent running backs to replace Blount if he is traded. Graham said he’s confident the Bucs could find a true No. 2 running back late in the 2013 draft or an undrafted player.

Joe gets that Blount could return a third or fourth-round pick on the trade market, which would be too juicy to pass up. But Joe also knows the Bucs have been constructed to run the football — a lot.

Blount may be second-rate in spot duty, as Graham suggested, but Blount remains fantastic insurance if Doug Martin were to be out injured for a full game or more.

Joe has to give Bucs defensive end Michael Bennett some props. While perhaps not a professional negotiator, he either has a keen instinct about jockeying for a new contract, or he has been coached well..

Just after he spoke on the “Gary and The Commish Show” heard on WHFS-FM 98.7 this morning, Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune got a hold of Bennett for follow up questions.

Specifically, will he sign when the gun to start free agency is shot off tomorrow at 4 p.m?

“A lot of teams have called already,” Bennett said. “So we’ll see what happens. But I’m not in a hurry. This is a big decision for me. I’ll probably take a couple days to decide.”

This is just downright smart on Bennett’s part. The longer he waits, so long as it isn’t a month, likely the higher the bidding goes for his services as teams start panicking that he will re-sign with the Bucs, or sign elsewhere.

But also, waiting means his chances of coming back to the Bucs is far less than the 40 percent chance he proclaimed this morning.

As for Bennett’s radio interview, here is the full version.

The Bucs’ best defensive end wants to return and will offer the Bucs every chance to re-sign him, so he told the “Gary and The Commish” show on 98.7 FM this morning,

“I’ll give the Bucs the chance to match any offer I get. I love the Bucs and want to finish [my career] here,” Bennett said.

Bennett said at least eight teams have talked to his agent about signing him when the free agency bell rings Tuesday.

As Joe has written multiple times, Bennett confirmed he is personally close to former Bucs defensive line coach Keith Millard, who is now the pass rush specialist for the Tennessee Titans, a team seeking a premier defensive end.

Bennett said he’d love to be around Millard again and that he and Millard were in touch during the Bucs’ regular as Bennett sought Millard’s guidance and breakdowns of Bennett’s film.

One of the greatest quarterbacks to ever take an NFL field Dan Marino, showed up in the Tampa Bay area Saturday and was interviewed by WTSP-TV Channel 10 sportscaster Bobby Lewis (sorry, if there is video, Joe cannot find it on the station’s site).

In the interview, Marino actually used the term “Super Bowl” in the same sentence as Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman and it had nothing to do with buying tickets.

Marino believes Freeman could lead the Bucs to the NFL’s biggest stage.

“I think he has the talent that someday would be in position to get to the playoffs,” said Marino, and NFL analyst for CBS Sports. “If the talent comes around, he could get them to a Super Bowl.”

Here’s the thing from Joe’s perspective: Joe has heard Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik talk about getting Freeman toys — perfectly understandable and logical. But at what point does the Bucs’ braintrust say, “You know, many quarterbacks don’t have all these toys and still get their teams to the playoffs.”

Were the Redskins that loaded on offense this past year? Was Seattle? Cincinnati? Hell, Aaron Rodgers would love to have as many weapons as Freeman has, not to mention the offensive line the Bucs have.

Sooner or later, if Freeman continues to be an up-and-down quarterback, it will be time to stop blaming his offensive and defensive teammates for a subpar record.

In case it’s been forgotten, this season will be a contract year for Freeman. If he wants a massive payday, he better somehow dial it back to his 2010 form, not 2011 or 2012.

So Joe turns on SiriusXM NFL Radio Friday night to catch up on NFL chatter before he headed to his favorite watering hole to throw down a few pints, and lo’ and behold who does Joe hear? None other than former Bucs defensive tackle and current WHFS-FM, 98.7 personality Booger McFarland making his debut as co-host of “Late Hits,” along with Alex Marvez.

(SiriusXM NFL Radio is going through a massive change. The original voice of the station, popular sports radio personality Adam Schein has left NFL Radio to work for the one and only Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on Mad Dog Radio, also heard exclusively on SiriusXM. Joe is chagrin about this move as Joe was and is a big fan of Schein.)

Naturally, Marvez asked McFarland about the Bucs defensive line and Booger didn’t hold back.

In short, Booger said Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik cannot afford to stand pat and should make a big splash in the draft grabbing Ziggy Ansah of BYU.

Alex Marvez: What is the state of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ pass rush. If you were Mark Dominik and had the GM cap on, how would you approach to free agency?

Booger McFarland: Well, the Bucs are an interesting team because they spent a lot of picks on the defensive line. Adrian Clayborn, Da’Quan Bowers, Gerald McCoy, Brian Price who they traded up to Chicago but this is a team that is still searching for pass rushers and still trying to find the next Warren Sapp. I think they are close with Gerald McCoy but they still haven’t gotten that guy who can dominate that one-on-one matchup to create havoc. They need someone that can come off the edge. Michael Bennett led the team in sacks last year with nine-and-a-half, they decided not to franchise him and let him become an unrestricted free agent. Adrian Clayborn is coming off a knee injury. What are you going to get from him? That’s why I fully expect this team to be active in the draft or free agency trying to get a pass rusher.

Everybody makes a big deal in Tampa: “We need a corner, a corner, a corner.“ I am always reminded, every coach I ever played for said one thing: Men, it starts up front. You can give me the greatest secondary in the world and if the quarterback has all the time to throw, it doesn’t matter. So the Bucs have to have a guy to go along with Gerald McCoy to turn the corner and force the quarterback to step up [in the pocket] especially playing in the NFC South with Matt Ryan and Drew Brees and Cam Newton. You need athletic guys who can bend and turn the corner and get after the quarterback. The Buccaneers are still looking for the guy to give them double-digit sacks and double-digit pressures and hits on the quarterback. They think they may have one in Da’Quan Bowers if his legal troubles hold up. We will see. Adrian Clayborn has to come back off the knee injury and if he can do that, maybe they have something.

I would not be locked in to these guys if I was Mark Dominik. I would go out and find me a guy in the draft, a Ziggy Ansah, maybe a Paul Kruger from Baltimore in free agency that can turn the corner on a dime every time they needed to.

Now Joe agrees with Booger, but for different reasons. Remember when Joe interviewed former Bears defensive back and current FOX analyst and SiriusXM NFL Radio host Tim Ryan? While researching the Bucs during the season, Ryan told Joe there were some games where the opposing quarterback was getting rid of the ball on average every two-and-a-half seconds against the Bucs.

Why? Because the Bucs corners were so inept, receivers were open virtually when they left the line of scrimmage. Unless totally unblocked, Reggie White would have had a hard time getting pressure on a quarterback in less than three seconds. That’s just out of hand!

Did you ever hear of the Bucs getting a coverage sack last year? Of course you didn’t. The Bucs corners were so miserable, they couldn’t cover their heads in a rainstorm.

Remember those three-step drops Eli Manning killed the Bucs with last year? Joe’s not so sure Bruce Smith would have made a difference.

Yes, Joe agrees wholeheartedly with Booger about needing to get heat on a quarterback and is intrigued by Anash. But if the Bucs cannot upgrade the secondary, Joe just cannot see the pass defense improving that much.

It would also help if the Bucs knocked off using all of those damned stunts upfront on passing downs.

Now if Dominik is able to add a pass rusher — which Joe has had a hunch for months will be the case — in addition to beefing up the secondary, now you are talking.