The Mad Twitter, aka St. Pete Times Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud, is at it again.

He’s using his Twitter account, in which he labels himself an esteemed NFL writer, to drop a small bombshell of Bucs news.

His most recent Tweet pretty much says that McCown must outplay Leftwich on Thursday to win the starting quarterback job, which implies Leftwich has the edge in the race.

Unless Byron Leftwich has a poor outing and Luke McCown is great, McCown and/or Josh Johnson will be on the block. Prefer Freeman No. 2

But wait. Hold on. Stroud earned his nickname, Mad Twitter, months ago, for telling fans not to believe anything they read on his Twitter account because he only publishes real news on TampaBay.com.

Remember? He scolded his followers for sharing his Tweet about the Bucs interest in Marvin Harrison.

Whew. And for a moment there Joe thought the fix was in for Luke McCown. Thank goodness it was only one of those bogus Tweets by Rick Stroud.

Raheem The Dream had little faith in Jon Gruden's offense

Joe gives it up for Raheem The Dream. He’s one of the most refreshing guys in head coaching today. Fun, straight-forward, and rather light on the BS.

The young head coach had nothing but praise for the Bucs’ bouce-back attitude after Sabby Piscitelli was torched on the opening play of Saturday’s preseason game, so he told The Tampa Tribune.

But in lauding the Bucs mental toughness, Raheem The Dream gave a telling glimpse into the lack of faith the Bucs had in Chucky’s offenses of old.

“You see a big hit like that on the first play of the game, even on the first drive of the game, and in the past it’s always been, ‘Oh man, it’s going to be a long day, because we can’t score on offense,'” Morris said. “But we came back after that and nobody blinked. We got the lead back before halftime, and to me that was big-time mental toughness. That was all positive stuff.”

Chucky, who know doubt scours the local sports pages, is probably grumbling F-bombs at Raheem about now.

"Man, Raheem. I'm proud as heck. That's one elaborate line of BS."

Joe got a good laugh today reading about Raheem The Dream’s plan to rotate three running backs this season with methodical precision.

TampaBay.com spills the details.

The plan works like this: The starting running back would play two series, followed by another back taking the next two series, with the third back playing a single series. Then, the routine starts all over again. The back who receives a single series would be used for situational plays where his strengths can be taken advantage of (i.e. short yardage, third down, etc), thereby getting him a little more involved.

Ha. Ha. Ha. This is too funny. Very Chucky, Raheem.

Chucky would be the kind of guy who would come up with such an elaborate piece of nonsense to try to confuse opponents’ preparation. Hey, it’s worth a shot.

Joe knows the Raheem and the Bucs are going to play the hot running back, or the guy who best suits the down and distance, or the play-call. Anything else is just a pile of hooey.

Roger Goodell needs to stop the irresponsible journalism coming from the league.

Joe can’t believe the NFL is letting its own Jason LaCanfora write up a stack of unsourced innuendo about Mark Dominik and the Bucs quarterback competition and publish it on the league’s Web site.

It’s irresponsible on a number of levels. And Joe sincerely hopes Dominik gets on the phone to LaCanfora and Roger Goodell and lays down the law.

The NFL should demand their own writers refrain from writing up a bunch of rumors that can hurt a team’s chemistry and create negative controversy.

That’s what the real media is for.

If Roger Goodell needs more Web traffic that badly, he’d be much better served firing LaCanfora and hiring a bunch of part-time hotties to practice long-snapping in front of a Webcam streamed on NFL.com.

LaCanfora paints Dominik as a guy who can’t decide on a quarterback and is shopping Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown to help the team make a decision.

Of course, LaCanfora is quoting a bunch of mystery men. He might as well be quoting message board posters off TBO.com.

Two NFL sources said the Bucs have been calling teams, willing to listen to offers for Leftwich, McCown or second-year pro Josh Johnson, a player thought of highly internally but who likely wouldn’t have great trade value.

“They sounded like they’re willing to deal any one of those three,” one executive said. “They’re looking for someone to make the (starting quarterback) decision for them.”

LaCanfora goes on to quote a Bucs source who said Chucky likely would have made Josh Johnson his frontrunner for the starting job.

Now slithering with his Twitter account, LaCanfora just Tweeted this:

Tampa Bay shoppins 3 QBs other than Josh Freeman. Leftwich or McCown could probably be had for a 5-6th rounder, which would end Bucs QB comp

Joe is going to call LaCanfora today and see if the NFL’s resident coward has the nerve to go on the record.

One thing Joe got to do in Jacksonville after Saturday night’s game was to chat briefly with defensive coordinator Jim Bates.

The grizzled old coach turned into a softie when he began talking about Bucs rookie defensive tackle Roy Miller.

“He has been steady ever since he got to camp,” Bates said. “Roy is very mature for a rookie. He’s a serious young man. He comes to work every day and tries to get better. He’s been real steady and that’s very encouraging.

“He has set high goals for himself and it’s fun just to see him progress. He’s in our three-man rotation right now. We want a three-man rotation. Keeping those guys fresh for a 16-game season is so important. We have some other players who are pushing for time. Dre Moore is pushing and pushing and we are very encouraged right now.”

Jermaine Phillips comes home to safety

Linebebacker Jermaine Phillips has returned to safety until further notice, Raheem The Dream told the media today.

Joe is relieved. Joe suspects Raheem The Dream is feeling better, too.

The grand experiment to move the 30-year-old Phillips to linebacker was a poor decision that was progressing slowly, if at all. Loyal JoeBucsFan.com readers know that Joe has pounded this message for months.

Tanard Jackson’s four-game suspension for excessive partying substance abuse prompted the decision, Raheem The Dream said.

And now stabbing victim and former Florida State linebacker Geno Hayes or Adam Heyward will be the new starting weakside linebacker, writes Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.

The Flip side of this equation will have Geno Hayes and Adam Hayward battling for starting duties at weakside linebacker. That’s the spot Phillips was playing. 

Joe can’t help but think of Mark Dominik saying linebacker was the Bucs’ strongest position on the field weeks ago. Joe wonders what Dominik thinks now that Angelo Crowell is out for the year and Jermaine Phillips has been moved.

Given the performances and happenings of the past two weeks, Joe believes linebacker may, in fact, be the weakest unit on the defense.

Fans will root for their favorite QB to win the starting job on Thursday. Joe suspects Bucs players have their favorites, too.

The players on the Bucs offense are human. They have feelings. They’re not robots.

That said, Joe knows it’s very likely that each guy on the first team offense, which will play three quarters on Thursday, has a preferred winner in the starting quarterback derby.

How could they not?

Same goes for the Bucs offensive coaches, and Raheem The Dream and Mark Dominik.

Joe’s played on high school and college teams. Joe always had guys he preferred to play with — no matter the sport. Joe even thought he knew better than his coaches, at times. (Coach Slane, if your still alive, Joe still can’t believe you couldn’t find a way to get Tom DiBuono on the court. Shame on you.)

So which quarterback on the Bucs will have the most guys working that little bit harder for him on Thursday night? Byron Leftwich? Luke McCown? Might Jeff Jagodzinski keep his favorite QB in a comfort zone in order to showcase his best? After all, Jagodzinski has an awful lot at stake.

Joe does know that Earnest Graham, Antonio Bryant and Kellen Winslow have publicly touted their appreciation of McCown. Winslow and McCown even spent time at each other’s summer camps this offseason. Joe also knows that McCown has long relationships with the guys on the offensive line.  

As for Leftwich, Joe has no idea where his friends are on the offense, although it’s becoming obvious he’s got a friend in the head coach.

Sure, all the Bucs players and coaches are professionals, and they should perform that way, which means none would ever consider giving a little extra for a certain quarterback fighting for his career. Yeah, right, and Joe has an appointment with Rachel Watson in a hot tub tonight.

Joe’s going to be looking for clues on Thursday. There should be at least a few out there for the conspiracy lovers to chew on.

"You really think I'm not as good as Bo Ruud?"

Maybe Joe needs to get over any hope that Derrick Brooks will play for the 2009 Buccaneers.

After Angelo Crowell was lost for the season on Saturday, Joe was holding out slim hope Mark Dominik might get on the phone to  Brooks. After all, Crowell was never going to play special teams and he had a big salary the Bucs now won’t have to pay, so Brooks could have been a good fit as a replacement.

But Joe’s hope was quashed. Dominik had Bo Ruud, Barrett’s kid brother, on speed dial. He was drafted by the Patriots last year and was cut after spending nearly the entire season on injured reserve.

Go, Bo! Joe hopes you’re better than Derrick Brooks.

Update: Yes, Joe was incorrect here when writing the Bucs were not on the hook for Crowell’s salary. In Joe’s tired mind, Joe was thinking about the various incentives in Crowell’s deal that were reported to be about $1.5 million. Now he won’t be earning those and that could be money to sign Brooks. That said, depending on the severity of Crowell’s bicep injury, the Bucs might negotiate an injury settlement if he has a shot at returning this season.

Yes, JoeBucsFan.com has a partnership with the top sports radio station in the Tampa Bay area, 620 WDAE-AM, The Sports Animal. And yes, Joe provides content for the station’s Web site and other sites in the Clear Channel radio empire.

Joe is proud. No other Bucs news outlet can claim such an honor.

Occasionally, Joe provides exclusive content for its radio partner, and today is one of those days.

Joe caught up with Barrett Ruud in the locker room after the Jacksonville game. His on-the-record comments to Joe can be found here.

Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune believes Luke McCown's play at Jacksonville forced Raheem the Dream to delay his naming of a starting quarterback.

The TBO twins, Dan Lucas of WFLA-TV and Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune have another Bucs video, this time discussing what every Bucs fan is discussing: The quarterback controversy.

Cummings believes that Luke McCown’s play Saturday night at Jacksonville forced Raheem the Dream to delay his decision. Cummings makes the bold prediction that, “I still think it’s Bryon Leftwich’s job to lose.”

"Is that you in my ear, Joel?"

So Raheem The Dream says judgment day is Thursday, so he told the media today.

Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown will split the first three quarters of play against the Miami Dolphins — winner take all.

Each will play with the first team offense.

Leftwich will start the game, which makes Joe wonder. What if the Dolphins don’t play their defensive starters in the second half? Is Luke McCown being gift-wrapped the easier route to the starting job?

And another thing, although Joe acknowledges it’s a stretch. Joe doesn’t like that in some remote way two-time Bucs jilter Bill Parcells, Dolphins general manager, has a role in who becomes the Bucs starting quarterback on opening day.

Joe doesn’t put it past Parcells to somehow find a way to influence the play of Leftwich or McCown on Thursday. The Bucs play the Dolphins in November, and Parcells no doubt has a preferred Bucs quarterback.

But maybe Parcells will be too busy tampering with Antonio Bryant and forget about the Bucs QB battle.

The CFL star wide receiver in Bucs camp is on thin ice

Back on the practice field today after extended absences are center Jeff Faine (thank goodness), safety Will Allen and wide receiver Kelly Campbell, so says TampaBay.com.

For the speedster Campbell, formerly of the Vikings and the CFL, this surely is his last chance to win a roster spot. He’s missed both Bucs preseason games with a quad injury. Joe has seen him shine at training camp, and drop passes there, as well.

Yes, Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton are assured roster spots. And Brian Clark, Maurice Stovall and Sammie Stroughter have made their share of catches in the preseason, and all three shine on special teams.

But in Joe’s mind the Bucs could really use an experienced speed threat down the field (and what team doesn’t), especially considering it might take Bryant a couple of games to return to form and Clayton aggravated his hamstring injury in Jacksonville.

Campbell could be that speed guy.  He’s got 57 receptions (18.7 yards per catch) from his days with the Vikings, and he tore up the CFL last year.

Joe’s pulling for the guy, especially after chatting with his CFL coach. But if can’t Campbell can’t turn in a big peformance against Miami on Thursday, he’s destined to be released.

The Bucs leading rusher against Jacksonville was fullback B.J. Askew. Yes, B.J. Askew, the same guy who Chucky didn’t give a carry until he played in 17 games.

Raheem The Dream said his plans for Askew always have been for the former Pro Bowl fullback to evolve into a key ball carrier. Though it’s doubtful The Dream ever imagined he’d one day give Askew 14 carries for 52 yards — Askew’s numbers Saturday — even in a preseason game.

“I told B. J. a long time ago. … I know about your Michigan days. I know what you can do,” Raheem The Dream said. “I talked to him about possible being a short yardage back. …He accepts that role and wants to do it. …He looks like a big, heavy man that’s hard to tackle. That’s impressive.”

Fans can check out some quality Askew highlights in the latest video from Scott Smith at Buccaneers.com.

Joe agrees with Raheem The Dream. Askew is a load, with good hands, too. The Bucs should use him a lot more than Chucky did.

Still out there is the untold, unknown other side of the story in the case of Aqib Talib allegedly punching a taxi driver repeatedly last week, which left Talib charged with simple battery and a free trip to the Pinellas County Jail.

So far, Talib hasn’t talked publicly about it. Though his alleged victim stepped right up to the microphone.

Joe’s not going to write about that now. Regardless, the battery charge seems to be a case of one guy’s word against another’s. That’s always suspect. And Talib surely will hire a high-priced attorney to torpedo the cabbie’s story.

Today, Joe is going to look at what could be the tougher charge for Talib to shake: resisting (arrest) without violence.

Nobody in the mainstream media seems to care much about that, but it carries the same first degree misdemeanor charge as the alleged battery. NFL warden Roger Goodell surely will care quite a bit.

The resisting without violence charge is going to be a tough one for Talib to lawyer his way out of. The maximum punishment is a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Here’s what the state of Florida must prove in order to convict someone of Resisting Officer without Violence: (Legal geeks can verify all this on the Florida Supreme Court’s Web site.)

1) Defendant (Talib) resisted, obstructed or opposed the victim (the arresting officer).

Published reports taken from the arrest affidavit say the arresting officer told Talib to get out of the taxi three times but he wouldn’t cooperate. 

2) At the time, the victim (arresting officer) was engaged in the lawful executing of a legal duty or executing a legal process.

It sure seems lawful for the officer to require Talib to get out of the taxi as Talib was accused of battery, the alleged victim was at the scene, and the officer was there investigating.

3) At the time, the victim (arresting officer) was an officer or person legally authorized to execute process.

Yes, this was a real Florida Highway Patrol officer at the scene.

4) At the time, defendant (Talib) knew the victim (arresting officer) was an officer or person legally authorized to execute process.

It’s going to be tough for Talib to prove he didn’t know the officer was a cop. Think flashing lights, car door open and officer barking at Talib to get out.

Might Pinellas County drop this charge against Talib?

Don’t bet on it, says criminal attorney David Haenel, of the firm Finebloom & Haenel, which represents clients in Pinellas and across the Bay Area.

“The state attorney’s office in Pinellas County doesn’t drop a lot of things. There’s not a lot of preferential treatment,” Haenel said.

But Talib could walk away without a stain on his criminal record, Haenel said.

After the state attorney’s office considers the battery and resisting charges, Talib’s criminal history (While Talib has had his share of fights and fines throughout his football career, Joe is unaware of any other criminal charges filed against him), and interviews with the cab driver, officer and witnesses, the state attorney’s office may allow Talib into a diverson program, Haenel said.

But that recommendation will come solely from the state attorney’s office, said Sgt. Larry Kraus, a Florida Highway Patrol spokesman.

Today Kraus said the FHP will not drop the charge of resisting without violence against Talib.

Key components in the cases against Talib are the sworn statements from those at the scene, specifically the men who shared the taxi ride in question with Talib. The arrest affidavit did not include the names of those passengers, who are assumed to be Buccaneers players.

The absence of their names and statements doesn’t mean much now.

Joe will write more about these likely witnesses on Tuesday. 

"McCown $2.5 million deserves more time. Don't you think?"

Now Joe’s not sold that the Glazer Boys are meddling in key Bucs personnel decisions. Not now, after key free agents have been signed.

But Rick Stroud, Bucs beat writer for the St. Pete Times, has the opposite view.

Speaking on 1040 AM this morning about who will be named the Bucs starting quarterback, Stroud said “more than ever the ownership is in control of the decisions here. …That’s why we don’t have a [quarterback] decision.”

The Bucs giving McCown a $2.5 million signing bonus this offseason versus no bonus for Leftwich is a major factor in the starting QB decision, Stroud speculated.

Stroud said the Bucs may not even settle on a starting QB until after a fourth preseason game.

Again, Joe doesn’t buy Stroud’s theory. Although it wouldn’t shock Joe if he’s correct.

The Glazers, in season, always seem to have given their football minds free reign to call the shots. A change in philosophy would be troubling. Joe isn’t convinced Bryan and Joel would make good offensive coordinators.

By JEFF CARLSON
JoeBucsFan.com analyst

Former Bucs quarterback Jeff Carlson writes the weekly QB Blast column here at JoeBucsFan.com. Joe is ecstatic to have him firing away. Carlson has sports radio and TV gigs in the Bay area and trains quarterbacks of all ages via his company, America’s Best Quarterback.

Was that future Hall-Of-Famer John Lynch voicing his opinion to make Josh Freeman the Bucs’ starting quarterback on Saturday night?

I remember a QB Blast column in May detailing Freeman’s need to start for the Bucs from the Day 1.

The problem now is that even after the coaching staff brought up the subject of speeding up Freeman’s development after the final mini-camp in June, the subject never came up during the first week of training camp and he just hasn’t gotten enough game time to make the leap.

So I think my Week 1 prediction for Freeman is off the board. And even though Luke McCown would be my starter, I think Raheem Morris goes with the guy who has over 20 wins and a winning record as a starter in the NFL.

And I can’t blame Raheem. McCown becomes the starter in the first month of the season when Byron Leftwich is sidelined after being hit awkwardly while throwing. Then Freeman becomes the starter after the midpoint of the season following brief spots to get him acclimated, kind of like Tim Tebow did for the Gators during his freshman year.

The good news is that Morris cannot make a bad decision here.

The bad news is he doesn’t have a QB that is good enough to separate himself from the crowd.

With the help of offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski, Bryon Leftwich may have come full circle as an NFL quarterback.

Locked in a battle to start for the Bucs, Bryon Leftwich is a happy man. In a few short seasons he has gone from starter to back-up to cast off to valued back-up (again) to possibly a starter (again).

As a result, he seems to be a happy guy, so writes Jeff Chadiha of BSPN.com.

It’s fair to say teams weren’t lining up for Leftwich when his contract expired in Pittsburgh. But he also only needed one franchise to see that he’s ready to fight for a job again.

“I needed all those bad things to happen to me in order to get to where I am today,” said Leftwich, who has started only eight games since 2006. “There really wasn’t another way to do it. Looking back, I wish that things had worked out in Jacksonville, but the fact is that they didn’t. There are divorces in the NFL all the time, and I’m not bitter about mine. I know that I’ve moved on.”

What Leftwich realizes is that he can’t let his past affect this opportunity. He came to the Bucs because they told him he’d receive a fair shot at the starting job. Leftwich easily could have stayed on as a backup in Pittsburgh, especially because that team had just won the Super Bowl. But that would have meant accepting a backup job once again, and he wasn’t ready to hold a clipboard for the rest of his career.

It’s possible that Leftwich may not be picking up that clipboard this season.

One thing to keep in mind with the quarterback battle. Bucs general manager Mark Dominik told the fourth estate that a tiebreaker in deciding whether to keep players on the bubble is consistency. Did they just practice well and stink in preseason games or did they play OK in every game and are good in practice, too?

That might be something to keep in mind. Leftwich thus far has been consistent. Luke McCown has not.

Despite turning in his second straight steady performance, Bryon Leftwich still hasn't won the starting quarterback job.

For weeks Raheem the Dream has said he would name a starting quarterback after the second game of the preseason. He even said so last night.

As Lee Corso would say, “Not so fast my friend!”

Faced with his first major decision as Bucs head coach, Raheem the Dream has decided to drag his feet. He may need more time to pick a quarterback, so reports Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.

Morris said the team is still evaluating the battle between Byron Leftwich, Luke McCown and Josh Freeman for the starter’s position and that he won’t be locked into a date to determine a winner.

“It may be extended,” Morris said of the decision regarding his starting quarterback. “It may go to overtime. That’s good, too. You set a deadline but deadlines are made to be broken. We’ll see.”

Deadlines are made to be broken? It’s pretty clear Raheem the Dream has never worked for a newspaper.

Damn, Joe wishes his supervisor had the same philosophy as Raheem the Dream.

Joe hasn’t forgotten those that may not have watched the game and for whatever reason have chosen not to have the NFL Network (a concept Joe simply cannot fathom).

First up are all of the game highlights. Second up is a package highlighting Josh Freeman.

Also, there is a video highlights package of Josh McCown. Then there are highlights of plays of the game by McCown and Freeman.

Raheem the Dream also offers his postgame comments and he speaks specifically in this video about the meaning of the win.

Bucs rookie quarterback Josh Freeman logged his second NFL game Saturday at Jacksonville. Joe caught up with the Kansas State product for his thoughts of his play, highlighted by a 28-yard touchdown run.

You seemed to have a shorter stint tonight?

Yeah, I came out and we had that really long drive and then we had a short one that didn’t end up so successful. [Josh] Johnson played well last week and he didn’t play much so they wanted to give him more snaps.

Were you more calm tonight?

The first night, I could feel my heart beat. I was like, “Wow.” This game, I was more of the mentality of, “OK, let’s get at this thing.” I guess the shock and awe was gone.

So you are comfortably in the NFL now?

This is something I have done my whole life. I am a football player. Stepping out there, that’s my element: on the football field. And I will continue to build on what I have been working on with [quarterbacks coach Greg Olson].”

Derrick Ward brings Pro Bowl talent to the Bucs backfield

When was the last time the Bucs had a lightning quick, powerful, do-it-all running back in his prime?

Say, Warrick Dunn 2000? It’s been a long time — until now.

Joe is giddy that Derrick Ward looks like the same guy who averaged 5.6 yards a carry and caught 41 balls for the Giants last year. He’s already got 5+ yards a carry for the Bucs in preseason action and two quality games in the books. And at training camp, Joe could see Ward, who turns 29 next week, is carved out of stone.

Ward gushed over the Bucs rushing attack after the game Saturday on the Buccaneers Radio Network on 620 WDAE-AM. He talked about the Bucs depth, including fullback B.J. Askew (14 carries for 52 yards) shouldering the rushing load effectively late in the game.

As for the new zone blocking scheme, Ward said the offensive line is adjusting just fine. “I can see the cutback lanes,” he said.

Joe is juiced to watch Ward get 20+ carries a game and be a game-breaking target out of the backfield. As Bucs fans saw when Cadillac Williams (who couldn’t catch the ball like Ward) burst onto the scene, a dominant running back can cover for a number of ills. 

Former Hofstra running back Kareem Huggins, who was without a team last year, continues to impress.

The big guy from the little school continues to challenge for a roster spot. Kareem Huggins, for the second straight game, did nothing but impress but Bucs coaches, executives and yes, even the fans.

The rookie free agent averaged 3.1 yards a carry on 10 attempts with his longest being a 13-yard run.

“He showed some shake and bake,” said director of pro personnel Doug Williams.

But in the second half there wasn’t enough shake and bake for Huggins. He injured his right knee. He noticeably limped out of the Bucs locker room but dismissed his injury.

“I’ll be fine,” Huggins said with a smile.