Some Lightning for Blount's thunder?

NFL Draft guru Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski continues to break down the draft for Bucs fans like no other. Remember to tune in to WDAE-AM 620 at 7 p.m. tonight to hear Part I of Pawlowski’s interview with Mark Dominik. And be sure to come back to JoeBucsFan.com all day for more of Pawlowski’s breakdowns. Feel free to shoot him your draft questions and he’ll answer them right here, commish@620wdae.com.

4th Round options for the Bucs

By JUSTIN PAWLOWSKI

Nate Irving – LB – North Carolina State
6’1’’ – 240 lbs – 4.76

Despite his lack of elite speed, Irving seems like a nice fit for the Bucs. After a horrific car accident left him with a collapsed lung, separated shoulder, and a broken leg, Irving battled back to play in all 13 games for N.C. St. last year accumulating 92 tackles, 21.5 for a loss, and seven sacks. His work ethic and leadership will be his most valuable trait for a 4th round selection.

DJ Williams – TE – Arkansas
6’2’’ – 245 lbs – 4.67

I know the Bucs have shown DJ Williams a lot of interest this off-season which included a visit to their facility. Williams is the vertical type of tight end the Bucs are seeking. In addition, Williams has tremendous character and is great in the community. He won the Disney Spirit Award in 2010 which goes to the most inspirational figure in college football.

Jordan Cameron – TE – USC
6’5’’ – 254 lbs – 4.59

Cameron is another tight end that fits what the Bucs need and another TE that they have brought in for a visit. Cameron is another former basketball player that has transitioned to tight end. He is a great athlete with very good speed and soft hands. His technique will need refining, but he has great natural talent.

Jacquizz Rodgers – RB – Oregon St
5’6’’ – 196 lbs – 4.46

If the Bucs pass on a running back in the first three rounds, Rodgers would be an excellent selection here to counter the power of Blount. Rodgers was extremely productive at Oregon St, but he will not be able to be a feature back in the NFL. He is small, quick, and fast. Rodgers also has good hands out of the backfield.

Greg Jones – LB – Michigan St
6’0’’ – 242 lbs – 4.76

I haven’t seen the Bucs showing much interest in Jones, but if the are looking for linebackers, it’s tough to find a more productive LB over the past three years than Jones. He’s had over 100 tackles and more than 10 tackles for a loss in each of those years, and sacked the quarterback nine times in 2009. He is a great leader with a great work ethic, but his lack of ideal size will drop him.

Catch up on all of The Commish’s savage exclusive draft coverage for JoeBucsFan.com right here. Check out 60+ breakdowns, podcasts, stories and more. It’s a draft lover’s orgasm. And there’s a lot more to come tonight, Wednesday and Thursday.

Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik explains to Mike Florio, the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk, how character is a paramount in this NBCSports.com video.

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

Could Miami's Brandon Harris land on the Bucs roster?

Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik seemed to take a page out of Richie McKay’s book recently when he said you can never have enough corners.

McKay had the same philosophy and often drafted a cornerback each year. So when Dominik bluntly talked about the need for adding to the Bucs secondary, Joe sort of put two-and-two together and expected Dominik to draft one. It may be more.

Speaking on “The Blitz” this afternoon with co-hosts Adam Schein and Rich Gannon, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert spoke about the draft and was specifically asked what he thought of the current draft crop of cornerbacks.

“I think the cornerback class is very deep,” Colbert said.

This is significant for Joe. Colbert is arguably the best general manager in the NFL. His eye for talent is simply uncanny and the past success of the Steelers is largely a result of Colbert being able to pick the best fruit off the tree.

There is no one Joe repsects more in an NFL front office than Colbert. So if you add up Dominik’s comments about cornerbacks, the uncertain status of troubled cornerback Aqib Talib, and Colbert’s comments about how deep the cornerback position is, Joe can easily see Dominik selecting two cornerbacks in the draft.

Why is cornerback so deep this year? Colbert had an interesting take.

“I think with so many spread offenses in college, it has forced defenses to play more cover corners out of necessity. And I’ve always believed a cornerback covers first and supports second.”

Former Bucs and Colts head coach Father Dungy is the first guy to counsel and help a troubled man.

He also doesn’t hesitate to red flag a college player who might be trouble.

Dungy explained this during an interview with Shaun King today on The King David Show on WQYK-AM 1010.

“Character is what wins championships for you,” said Dungy, who explained that talented players make plays and win games, but teams need the locker room right to win consistently and a be a champion.

“We had a category when I was in Tampa: ‘Do not draft because of character,”‘ Dungy said. “If you have red flags on a player, it ends up saving you a lot in the long run if you don’t draft him.”

Dungy weighed in on Aqib Talib saying that once a player with Talib’s episodes is in the team family, a guy like Talib will get a lot of patience and counseling from the Bucs, but the Bucs are probably assessing now whether Talib is worth the effort.

Joe always thought defense wins championships, along with a good quarterback. But Joe gets Dungy’s point. Long term, a team is much better off with the good guys. There are plenty of them who can play damn good football.

"Do the Bucs roll the dice on Romeus?

Go get a cold beverage and a pile of awesome wings from Mugs Grill & Bar and sit back and enjoy this 2,000+ word breakdown of defensive ends by NFL Draft guru Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski. There’s pretty damn good odds one of these guys (two?) is a Buccaneers on Thursday night. And don’t forget to tune into WDAE-AM 620 tonight at 7 p.m. for Part I of the Commish’s interview with Mark Dominik.

Defensive Ends:

By JUSTIN PAWLOWSKI

1. Robert Quinn – North Carolina
6’4’’ – 265 lbs – 4.59
Top 15

Why The Commish would take him: Quinn is one of the best pure pass rushers in the draft. He fits well into either a 4-3 or a 4-3 defense. Quinn has a nice large frame with long arms that help him to keep leverage against offensive tackles. Quinn has shown a very good work ethic and has no glaring character issues.

Why The Commish would stay away: Quinn was one of many North Carolina players to accept benefits from an agent in 2010, which forced him to miss the entire season. I always wonder how a player will come back after being away from football for an entire season. Quinn could stand to get stronger and use more power on the field. A benign brain tumor is also a concern for Quinn.

Commish’s Final Say: Quinn was on the verge of what could’ve been a great year in 2010 before being suspended for the entire 2010 season. Quinn is a premier pass rusher who shouldn’t fall too far past the top 10 if he falls that far.

Comparison: John Abraham – DE – Atlanta Falcons

2. Aldon Smith – Missouri
6’4’’ – 263 lbs – 4.78
1st Round

Why The Commish would take him: Smith has a ton of natural pass rush ability.  He’s one of the youngest players in the draft as a redshirt sophomore, so his potential has yet to be reached.  He is a smooth athlete with long arms and a frame to grow even bigger. Smith also plays with some violence and will lay a big hit on a ball carrier.

Why The Commish would stay away: With Smith being so young, I am always concerned about drafting potential that high in the draft. Smith is much better against the pass than the run, which might make him a liability in the run game. He was also playing injured throughout 2010, so health might be a concern.

Commish’s Final Say: Smith is a raw pass rusher with the potential to be great.  I always hesitate to take a player with this much potential, but not much experience, as high as Smith will go. He’ll fit into a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense. 

Comparison: DeMarcus Ware – OLB – Dallas Cowboys

3. JJ Watt – Wisconsin
6’5’’ – 290 lbs – 4.84
1st Round

Why The Commish would take him: Watt has a fantastic blend of size, speed, and athleticism. Watt is very competitive and will work as hard as he can to win. Watt stood out against top competition and rushes the passer just about as good as he plays the run.

Why The Commish would stay away: Watt lacks the elite quickness and burst I like from a pass rusher. He might be limited to being a 5-technique in a 3-4 defense, although he could play LDE in a 4-3. Watt might not have much upside to grow into.

Commish’s Final Say: Watt began his career at Central Michigan as a tight end before transferring to Wisconsin and being a walk on there. He worked his way up to a scholarship and then became one of the top defensive ends in the country. I think Watt’s best fit will be as an end in a 3-4 defense, but he’s a very intriguing prospect.

Comparison: Vonnie Holiday – Washinton Redskins

4. Cameron Jordan – Cal
6’4’’ – 287 lbs – 4.78
1st Round

Why The Commish would take him:  I have viewed Jordan as an under-the-radar prospect during this whole process.  After Tyson Alualu was the surprise pick last year, it’s hard to ignore another top defensive lineman coming from the same school.  Jordan has great bloodlines with his father playing 13 years with the Vikings, so Cameron knows the NFL game.  Jordan plays with excellent technique, has natural instincts, and always has good leverage.  Jordan also displays a multitude of moves to get to the quarterback.

Why The Commish would stay away: Despite his multiple moves, Jordan lacks the burst and quickness to get off the line and be an elite pass rusher.  Jordan also does not play well in space, so keeping him near the line of scrimmage is important.  A DUI in 2008 is also a concern in the hard nosed NFL.

Commish’s Final Say: I like Jordan a lot and think he might be one of the safer defensive ends in this draft.  He is a balanced defensive end that plays with good technique and gets the job done.  His best fit might be in a 3-4 defense, but I think he could be successful in a 4-3 defense as a LDE.  I still like a Bucs 3-4 defense consisting of Cameron Jordan, Brian Price, and Gerald McCoy along the line on passing situations.

Comparison:   Derrick Morgan – Tennessee Titans

5. Da’Quan Bowers – Clemson
6’3’’ – 280 lbs – 4.80
1st Round

Why The Commish would take him:  Bowers was one of the most dominant players in college football in 2010. He plays the run and pass equally, and racked up 15.5 sacks last season. His power and strength are his biggest assets. There is no doubt that Bowers would be willing to deliver a knock out hit to a ball carrier.  He really matured into having an excellent work ethic after struggling with that in his first couple years at Clemson.

Why The Commish would stay away: Obviously, the major concern with Bowers is his knee. Only the teams in the NFL know the truth about his knee which might have degenerative arthritis. If the rumors are true and it could hinder his career, you will see Bowers plummet on draft day. 

Commish’s Final Say: When healthy, Bowers should get consideration for the top pick in this draft. He was completely dominant throughout the 2010 season.  However, his knee is a major concern and now has him as one of the biggest “boom or bust” prospects in the draft.

Comparison: Will Smith – New Orleans Saints

6. Ryan Kerrigan – Purdue
6’4’’ – 267 lbs – 4.71
1st Round

Why The Commish would take him: It’s hard to argue with the productivity that Kerrian has had over the last four years.  He accumulated 37.5 sacks and 55.5 tackles for a loss in those four years.  Kerrigan has a great work ethic, great character, and was a tremendous leader. On a defense where he was the focal point for other offenses, Kerrigan still went on to produce and dominate.  Where he lacks with elite athleticism, Kerrigan makes up for with great technique and effort.

Why The Commish would stay away: I wonder if Kerrigan can become an elite player in the NFL without elite athleticism, quickness, and speed.  Kerrigan might also not have a lot of room to grow as his potential might be near to being maxed out.

Commish’s Final Say: It’s tough to dispute Kerrigan’s production over his career. He has his flaws, but you can be sure that he will work extremely hard and strive to be a leader. Kerrigan has been a popular pick by analysts to go to the Bucs and if they drafted him, I think we’d all have a smile on our face.

Comparison: Ray Edwards – Minnesota Vikings

7. Cameron Heyward – Ohio St
6’5’’ – 294 lbs – 4.95
1st/2nd Round

Why The Commish would take him: It’s hard not to like the size Heyward possesses with a big frame and long arms. Heyward is extremely strong and is masterful with his bull rush. He was a big time leader for Ohio St.’s defense and displayed a will to be great. Heyward has also had a ton of valuable experience against top competition.

Why The Commish would stay away: Heyward is limited as a pass rusher as he lacks the burst and speed to get to the quarterback. Durability was also a concern last season.

Commish’s Final Say: Looking back at Heyward’s 2010 season, I think it was pretty apparent that he dealt with a nagging ankle injury for a majority of the season.  When he got healthy before the Sugar Bowl, he dominated against Arkansas.  He is at his best when he can use his strength to take on multiple blockers or bull rush.

Comparison:   Richard Seymour – Oakland Raiders

8. Adrian Clayborn – Iowa
6’3’’ – 281 lbs – 4.83
1st/2nd Round

Why The Commish would take him: I think you take Clayborn because of how well-rounded he is and how good he is in multiple areas. Clayborn has been a 3-year starter for Iowa, a captain, had a great work ethic, been productive, and has shown fantastic instincts. He has excellent technique against the run and in getting to the quarterback. Clayborn can be very good with the bull rush, but also shows many different moves to get to the quarterback.

Why The Commish would stay away: There are a few concerns with Clayborn.  First, it’s been reported that he has one arm shorter than the other arm which has forced him to only play RDE in his collegiate career. It’s also been reported that he has Erb’s Palsy that some teams are concerned about. In 2010, Clayborn saw his production really fall off after a great 2009 season.  I’ve heard people say that opposing offenses were keying on him, but you could say the same for Ryan Kerrigan and JJ Watt, and they were both very productive.  There are also some character concerns as Adrian Clayborn was arrested for assaulting a taxicab driver.

Commish’s Final Say: There are obviously many positives and negatives with Clayborn. I do think the Bucs have a good amount interest in him and he could end up being the pick. I do think there is risk, but Clayborn does have the talent to end up being very good in the NFL.

Comparison: Charles Grant – New Orleans Saints

9. Jabaal Sheard – Pitt
6’3’’ – 264 lbs – 4.69
1st/2nd Round

Why The Commish would take him: I like Sheard most because he is a pure pass rusher who plays with a nasty demeanor. He is tough, intense, and incredibly competitive.  He has great technique and displays many different pass rush moves in getting to the quarterback.

Why The Commish would stay away: As determined as Sheard is in getting to the quarterback, he does not have elite quickness, athleticism, or an elite burst.  Sheard is also not stout enough against the run and can get pushed back. He was arrested in 2010 for throwing a man through a glass door.

Commish’s Final Say: Sheard was arrested in 2010, but has also received a bravery award for helping an elderly women out of a burning building.  Sheard came on strong once Greg Romeus went down for Pitt.  Sheard became their sack master and was very good. I still think Sheard would be a solid 2nd round selection.

Comparison:  Greg Hardy – Carolina Panthers

10. Allen Bailey – Miami
6’3’’ – 285 lbs – 4.77
2nd Round

Why The Commish would take him: This one’s simple. I’m taking Bailey because men that big should not be ripped, but he is. Alright, just kidding, but Bailey is a great athlete with nice long arms. Bailey displays some outstanding strength and can be dominant with his bull rush. Bailey also plays with a mean streak.  Bailey has a ton of potential and upside he can still reach with good coaching.

Why The Commish would stay away: Bailey is a raw prospect who does not have very good technique.  He still needs to develop more pass rush moves as well.  Most of Bailey’s weaknesses stem from poor technique.

Commish’s Final Say: I’ll tell you, a lot of people have pegged Bailey as a 2nd round pick, but Bailey could end up being one of the more intriguing prospects in this draft. He is loaded with talent, but someone needs to bust it out of him. I know the Bucs have shown him a lot of attention this off-season.

Comparison: Kyle Vanden Bosch – Detroit Lions

11. Greg Romeus – Pitt
6’5’’ – 264 lbs – DNP
3rd/4th Round

Why The Commish would take him: Romeus was the center of Pitt’s defense. He was equally good against the run as he was as a pass rusher. Romeus was also an outstanding leader with a great work ethic. He has all the attributes of a dominant defensive end.

Why The Commish would stay away: Obviously, health is the major concern with Romeus. He was sidelined at the beginning of the 2010 season with a herniated disk in his back which required surgery. In his first game back after surgery, Romeus tore his ACL which ended his collegiate career.

Commish’s Final Say: I spoke with Dave Wannstedt after Romeus tore his ACL and he was devastated.  He told me how important Romeus was to their defense and how Romeus didn’t deserve to go through that. My conversation with Wannstedt really told me a lot of how Romeus was portrayed by his coaches and teammates.  I think Romeus is the type of player you want in your locker room.

Comparison: Justin Tuck – New York Giants

Last night and this morning, as Joe is wont to do, he surfed various football sites, monitored his Twitter and Facebook feeds of respected journalists, NFL players and teams.

Listening to Sirius NFL Radio today, co-hosts of “The Opening Drive,” Bob Papa and Solomon Wilcots, Joe heard reports of players showing up at several team facilities.

The Bucs, whose management has lauded the work ethic of its players, had a grand total of zero players show up this morning to work out. That’s the word from Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune who has staked out the Bucs headquarters.

The NFL lockout has been lifted but it doesn’t seem like it at One Buc Place.

No Tampa Bay Buccaneers players have reported to work there yet this morning, according to team spokesman Jonathan Grella, and we’re not sure if any will.

“I am not personally encouraging or discouraging players to show,” Bucs center and player representative Jeff Faine told the Tribune in a text message Tuesday morning.

Cummings added that Faine told him he had no intention of showing up this morning. Neither Cummings nor Faine elaborated.

For some odd reason, this bums Joe out. Joe thought sure that Josh Freeman and a few receivers were be at One Buc Palace at the crack of dawn.

Perhaps all the of the players are out of town?

Back in September, Joe recalls Mike Williams telling him what an impact Aqib Talib and Ronde Barber had on his development. Simply put, going against arguably the most talented cornerback tandem in the NFL in practice and training camp forces a guy to raise his game to new heights. 

Weeks later on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Saltines lover Jeff Faine raved about Talib’s positive impact on Williams and pther young receivers.

“It’s healthy competition for our young wide receivers. During training camp it was actually pretty chippy. It was great. It was fantastic. And it helped our young wide receivers grow up fast. Because this guy was in their face, was jumpin’ them, was covering them, was talking trash, was giving them everything that they were going to see this year,” Faine said. “For a guy like Mike Williams to have the opportunity to go up against Aqib Talib every single day two times a day during camp, it’s priceless.  Because now the guys Mike Williams is going up against are not as good. I really feel that Aqib is on the threshold of becoming the guy in this league at cornerback.”

Now Joe would understand if the Bucs never want to rely on Talib to be a cornerstone of their team again. The guy is thoroughly unreliable.

But regardless, why would the Bucs not want to hold on to Talib through preseason if for no other reason than to cover Arrelious Benn, Dezmon Briscoe, Williams and the other young receivers in practice, and to drive up his potential trade value. 

Unless he’s in jail, Talib has value to the organization, even if he gets a significant suspension from Roger Goodell for the situation in Texas.  If suspended, he’d still get to be a part of team activities outside of regular season games, much like sleazy Ben Roethlisberger was last year.

Cutting Talib instantly is highly unlikely to be in the best interest of the Bucs. If Talib returns to the Bucs and behaves somewhat, surely rockstar Dominik can find someone to cough up a late-round pick for Talib.

Joe touched upon this yesterday, the UFL planning to go after the many undrafted free agents come Saturday night — provided the 8th Circuit Appellate Court grants a stay for the NFL resuming the lockout.

Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik spoke about how to handle this issue while appearing on ProFootballTalk Live yesterday.

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

The Tampa Bay area is still buzzing over the bold pronouncement by Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times that troubled Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib is as good as gone when this labor mess is resolved.

Given the fact the NFL is — tentatively, barring further legal action — open for business, this would mean that Talib’s tenure as a Bucs player is in its final hours if Stroud is accurate.

Many Bucs fans erupted in outrage with Stroud, largely because he never quoted a source, not even a confidential source in the story. Fans were so enraged, Stroud’s colleague good guy Stephen Holder even had to come to Stroud’s defense.

It seems as if Holder will have reinforcements of sorts.

BSPN NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas has come to Stroud’s aid as well. Typing for the Disney syndicate, Yasinskas explains that no matter what a judge or jury may find in Texas, Talib has already been sentenced at One Buc Palace.

Rick Stroud writes that troubled cornerback Aqib Talib is all but gone from Tampa Bay. I agree and have been saying that since Talib was charged with a crime in a March incident in Texas. Yes, the legal system hasn’t played out and there is the chance Talib can be exonerated. But the mere fact Talib, who has a long history of off-field problems, was even involved in an incident with a gun didn’t exactly flatter the NFL or the Bucs. The only thing remaining is sorting out the exit strategy. The Bucs can’t do anything until after the lockout. If they don’t cut or trade Talib right away, the NFL could beat them to the punch and suspend Talib.

Now Joe knows there is a segment of Bucs fans upon reading the previous paragraph will slam their cups of coffee on the breakfast table so hard they will have to change their wardrobe for the workday. But here is an element many Bucs fans either don’t know or tend to forget:

In the court of NFL warden commissioner Roger Goodell, evidence or guilt are not factors in any way. Just the fact that Talib was present where gunfire was discharged and a man was (allegedly) pistol whipped is enough for Goodell to hammer Talib with an ugly suspension, which is largely expected.

Remember that Tanard Jackson was never charged and never found guilty by any Florida police agency or legal authorities. Yet his NFL career is hanging by a razor-thin string after multiple suspensions.

If Talib is jettisoned by the Bucs, there is no need to blame Team Glazer or Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik nor coach Raheem Morris.

The blame, in the end, should lay at the feet of Talib.

NFL Draft guru Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski continues to break down the draft for Bucs fans like no other. Remember to tune in to WDAE-AM 620 at 7 p.m. tonight to hear Part I of Pawlowski’s interview with Mark Dominik. And be sure to come back to JoeBucsFan.com all day for more of Pawlowski’s breakdowns. Feel free to shoot him your draft questions and he’ll answer them right here, commish@620wdae.com.

5th Round Options for Bucs

Julius Thomas – TE – Portland St
6’5’’ – 246 lbs – 4.68

The Bucs have a need for a tight end and Thomas might be a nice sleeper in the 5th round. He is a small-school prospect, but has a nice balance of size and speed. Thomas is a former basketball player who played just one year of collegiate football. His athleticism and potential would be very appealing in the 5th round.

Ricardo Lockette – WR – Fort Valley St
6’2’’ – 211 lbs – 4.37

My thought on 5th-7th round picks is that you want to draft players that have a distinct possibility of making your roster and contributing on special teams.  Lockette is a small school prospect with a great combination of size and speed for the receiver position. Although receiver isn’t a huge need for the Bucs, Lockette’s combination of skills might be intriguing enough to grab in the 5th round.

Rob Housler – TE – FAU
6’5’’ – 248 lbs – 4.55

Like Thomas above, the Bucs have a need for a tight end and Housler is another one of the sleeper tight ends in the middle rounds of this draft. He certainly has good speed at the positon.  With just Kellen Winslow and Ryan Purvis on the roster at that position, I think the Bucs will be adding a tight end somewhere in this draft.

Akeem Dent – LB – Georgia
6’1’’ – 242 lbs – 4.78

The Bucs have shown interest in Dent this offseason including a visit to One Buc Place. Mark Dominik told me that a successful draft this year means drafting great players with great character and leadership skills. Dent was a great leader and captain for Georgia. He is very good against the run, but a liability in coverage.

Owen Marecic – FB – Stanford
6’0’’ – 248 lbs – 4.91

I’m not sure why the Bucs don’t like true fullbacks, but if they decide Eric Lorig isn’t the answer, Marecic is one of the top fullbacks available this year. He comes from an offense at Stanford that knew how to run the football.  He has been the lead back and one of the main reasons for the success they’ve had on the ground.

Is this bye-bye Talib?

Exciting news on the NFL lockout front, if there is such a thing. The fancy federal judge presiding over the case has lifted the lockout this evening, essentially ruling in favor of the players, so reports Mike Florio, of ProFootballTalk.com.

The NFL reportedly will seek an immediate stay of the implementation of the decision.

If the stay is granted, the lockout would not be lifted until, at the earliest, after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issues a ruling in the case.  The players surely would request expedited consideration of the appeal.

If Judge Nelson refuses to grant the stay, the NFL surely would seek a stay from the appeals court.

If neither court gives the league the stay, the doors will be forced open, soon.

Joe has no clue how long it might take for a stay to take effect. Does this mean free agency starts now?

So if Rick Stroud and Stephen Holder of the St. Pete Times are to be believed, is Aqib Talib getting cut tonight?

Will Barrett Ruud have another team?

UPDATE: 7:31 p.m. – Heartwarming and exciting news for fans, per ProFootballTalk.com. Read a great paragraph from the judge’s ruling here. Maybe this mess really will be settled sooner rather than later.

UPDATE 9:35 p.m.: For the legal types out there, here is the 89-page decision by Judge Nelson.

Longtime JoeBucsFan.com readers know the famous draft bust this image represents

Chucky and Bruce Almighty often used the Manute Bol approach on draft day. They fell in love and reached higher than all other mortals.

Mark Dominik, Bucs fans hope, will never go that route.

In this exclusive podcast, NFL Draft guru Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski, of WDAE-AM 620, explains value in the draft. Click the arrow below or download here.

[audio: valuepodcast.mp3]

Joe hopes you’re enjoying the relentless free draft coverage on JoeBucsFan.com. It’s all archived here. Come tonight for Commish’s fifth-round gems.

And shoot Commish your draft questions at commish@620wdae.com or via Facebook. He’ll answer them here Wednesday.

The Bucs released the dates and kickoff times for each of its 2011 preseason games. Times are eastern daylight time.

Provided there is a preseason.

Fri., Aug. 12 @ Kansas City, 8 p.m., FOX
Thurs., Aug. 18 New England, 7:30 p.m.*
Sat., Aug. 27 Miami, 7:30 p.m.*
Thurs. Sept. 1 @ Washington, 7:30 p.m.*

Joe just knows there are hardcore fans out there who are already icing up their coolers.

* — Bucs preseason games do not have a local television affiliate as the TV contract for the flagship broadcast station is up for bid.

Bucs general manager Mark Dominik likes to brag how picking up free agents is the “second draft” of the spring.

That’s a pretty good analogy because there were many players Dominik picked up that others passed on including LeGarette Blount offensive lineman Ted Larsen. Last season the Bucs had 24 undrafted free agents on their roster.

In a story published in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, UFL coach Jerry Glanville stated over 10 percent of the starters in the NFL were undrafted free agents. Given the current lockout, once the draft is complete Saturday night, no team can sign any undrafted free agent.

That doesn’t mean the UFL can’t.

The NFL will draft 255 players next week. However, per lockout rules, teams will not be able to sign or contact undrafted players.

“What’s left over is 400 players who ordinarily would have gone to the NFL,” Glanville said. “Eleven percent of NFL starters are undrafted free agents. And I can’t tell you how long I’ve studied that 11 percent. We’re going to jump all over those kids.”

NFL teams build roster depth with rookie free agents. Many times, they strike gold, too. Texans running back Arian Foster, the NFL’s leading rusher last year, was a rookie free agent in 2009. Steelers linebacker James Harrison, the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, was a rookie free agent in 2002. John Randle made it from rookie free agent with the Vikings in 1990 to Pro Football Hall of Famer in 2010.

Given the fact Dominik and his staff have shown an eagle eye for talent that is floating in limbo undrafted, the UFL very well may poach these players. If you are such a player and someone is dangling cash at you with a chance to prove your worth as a player, you’d be stupid to pass up the chance.

Which makes Joe wonder, how much will the UFL this season put Dominik in a pinch and, more to the point, how will the UFL hurt the Bucs?

Rock star general manager Mark Dominik joined Mike Florio on Pro Football Talk Live this afternoon and Joe has the intriguing highlights:

Dominik said the lockout currently eliminating undrafted free agents from the equation will change the seventh round of the draft. Dominik explained that certain guys are more likely to be drafted rather than teams gambling on signing them in the hours following the draft. He gave the example of Erik Lorig taken with the team’s final seventh-round pick last year. Dominik explained Lorig was “drafted because I knew he was a West Coast man … and it would be that difficult to [get Lorig] across country and sign here.”

In response to whether he’s drafting for need or staying true to his draft board, Dominik somewhat changed his previous stance. Dominik is straddling the fence, “Quite honestly it’ll be a mixture of both of those.” He said other no general manager would be honest if he says otherwise.

Dominik politely declined comment on Aqib Talib. In response to Chris Hovan’s criticism on radio of the team’s handling of Talib, Dominik said not everyone in organization is aware of Talib’s discipline. In Joe’s eyes it was a polite way of saying Hovan doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

Backing comments by Bill Polian, Dominik said the uncertainty of free agency “opens up our boards” and the reality that all free agents have to be presumed gone as a team approaches the draft.

Dominik said he’s certainly interested in trading back if a coveted quarterback QB is there when the Bucs pick at No. 20. He said he’s “reaching out to other clubs now to guage interesting trading picks.”

Dominik’s first answer to the question of the Bucs’ top need? “I’ve always been a big believer in keeping our quarterback healthy and upright.” He followed that up with expressing a desire to put heat on Matt Ryan and Drew Brees.

Hardly lobbying for an apperance on Hard Knocks, Dominik said “Hard Knocks is still up in the air with our organization. …We’re going to still consider it,” he said.

As much as Joe is fired up about this week’s NFL Draft, Joe is absolutely pumped up for the NFL Network special that starts Saturday night and will extend for weeks. The focus of the series is the top 100 players currently in the league as voted by NFL players.

What? You don’t have the man channel, aka NFL Network? Shame on you. (Life tip: weather reports and radar are available online 24/7.)

Now Joe has learned with help from a reader and confirmation by an NFL source, that Mike Williams cracked the top 100 and will be featured on the show. Joe was told Williams checks in at No. 83.

Joe thinks it’s fabulous that a rookie like Williams, at a position with loads of talent and names, made the cut. That bodes very well for several Bucs making the top 100.

Joe suspects Aqib Talib, Josh Freeman and Donald Penn are locks. And Joe has a little hope for Kellen Winslow, Ronde Barber and LeGarrette Blount, though Joe realizes Peter King, via the link above, reported only two rookies made the cut, including Ndamukong Suh.

Are the Bucs high on Hynoski? A dad who played in the NFL is part of his solid pedigree.

Perhaps eager to cast aside the ghost of 2010 sixth-round pick Brent Bowden, rockstar general manager Mark Dominik surely is salivating over the chance work his late-round magic on Saturday. C’mon, Dominik, Bucs fans need you to be the prince of the seventh round AND the sixth round. NFL Draft guru Justin”The Commish” Pawlowski of WDAE-AM 620 explored some of Dominik’s likely options in the seventh round yesterday. And below he tackles possible sixth-round gems. In case your wondering, fifth-rounders will appear here this evening.

6th Round Picks that would get a “Commish’s High Five”

Henry Hynoski – FB – Pitt
6’0’’ – 257 lbs – DNP

Although the Bucs are using Eric Lorig as a full time FB now, I still wouldn’t mind them getting a true fullback. I’m not sure why they are so content to convert players from other positions to fullback, but Hynoski would be a great fit for the Bucs straight-ahead run scheme. He is an excellent blocker and proved to have reliable hands out of the backfield.

Ahmad Black – S – Florida
5’10’’ – 184 lbs – 4.76

Black is very small and displayed no speed this off-season. I could definitely see him dropping. The good part is that Black has good character and leadership skills. He knows how to be around the ball. If he does last this long, he represents good value.

Ugo Chinasa – DE – Oklahoma St
6’5’’ – 264 lbs – 4.71

Chinasa is a long and lean defensive end with long arms. He could project to outside linebackers in a 3-4. He lacks strength and an elite first step.  Chinasa is a good athlete though with decent movement.

Da’Rel Scott – RB – Maryland
5’1’’ – 211 lbs – 4.34

Scott might be the fastest running back in the draft. He is a big play waiting to happen. The problem with Scott is that with every big play for his offense, he gives a big play to the defense by fumbling the ball away. If Scott learns to hold onto the ball, he’ll have a successful NFL career.

Markell Carter – DE/OLB – Central Arkansas
6’4’’ – 252 lbs – 4.70

Carter is a hybrid defensive end/linebacker who presents a lot of positives when rushing the passer. He is under the radar, but the Bucs brought him in for a visit and apparently like him.

As part of his explosive appearance last week on “Happy Hour with J.P.” heard on WQYK-AM 1010 with electronic media czar J.P. Peterson, former Bucs defensive tackle Chris Hovan also tackled the subject of Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, who is rumored to be drafted by NFC South foe Carolina first overall.

Also last week heard on local radio airwaves, Mike Florio, the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com, during his regular weekly appearance with Joe’s good friend “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig, of WDAE-AM 620, said he wished he could see what was left on the cutting room floor of Chucky’s grilling of Newton in what appears to be a vacant Clearwater office turned film room for BSPN.

In Chucky’s episode with Newton, Chucky asked Newton to call a play in a huddle using some of the most complex verbiage used at Auburn.

Newton couldn’t do it, replying after thinking for a period of time, “You’re putting me on the spot.”

Few are aware that one of the people not shown in the video who was in that very  room at the time of the taping, lurking in the background, was Hovan.

Hovan described his impression of Newton from Chucky’s session.

J.P. Peterson: You were there with Gruden when he did his chalktalk, kind of in the background…

Chris Hovan: Right.

J.P.: … you said the other day that you were just not impressed with Cam’s intelligence and that he wasn’t very quick-witted which I am guessing has to be an absolute necessity for a quarterback in the NFL.

Hovan: It is. I mean, if you look at all the top flight quarterbacks, the Peyton Mannings and Tom Brady, they are so systematic when they play football. They know how to read coverages. The first and second audible or the third audible, where to go when the defense presents looks to them. And I don’t feel in a pressure situation that Cam can make those checks right now. If he was under Jon Gruden, if Jon Gruden was his head coach, he would definitely red shirt. If you are going to put him out there — first of all, Carolina’s offensive line, they pretty much only have Jordan Gross right now. He’s a left tackle and was drafted in the first round. If you put him in there with a suspect offensive line you are going to get the kid killed. Yeah, he can run…

J.P.: And he will be running.

Hovan: … but you can only run for so long. They are going to hunt this kid down. I don’t feel he is ready for the NFL level yet. Does he have the intangibles? Athletically, yes he does. But this is just a complex game when you go to the NFL level, especially at the quarterback position. You have to be ready to make those checks at the line of scrimmage. I don’t feel like he is ready for that yet.

J.P.: Now what kind of sense do you get from him as a leader? You have been in many, many locker rooms. You have played with many quarterbacks. You can name them. Some good ones and some bad ones. Did he have that quarterback intangible that you have to have where guys are going to run through the wall for you, they feel like you are the man and you will take us to the promised land. Did he have that charisma?

Hovan: No, I don’t really — he has charisma. J.P. The only thing I have a problem with was when he called himself an icon. You are not really iconic yet my man. Yes, you played one year at Auburn and won a national championship but you played one year. It’s enough to raise his draft stock but at the same time that does not make you ready for the NFL. You are not iconic yet. Peyton Manning is iconic, Tom Brady is iconic. Why? Because Tom Brady won three Super Bowls. Peyton Manning won a Super Bowl but he has always been in the hunt. For him to put himself out there and say that he is something that he is not, I do have a problem with that and he’s’ going to have a problem with that when he walks into a locker room. He’s going to have to go in there and earn the respect of his team. I just don’t think you need to be saying words before you produce.

Joe wishes Hovan would have given some other examples, but it was interesting to hear from someone in the same room as Newton and Gruden when this session was taped that sort of reinforced what others thought when Newton couldn’t answer a simply question from Chucky — didn’t even try to answer.

Newton was a sick quarterback in that dime store spread-option. The history of quarterbacks in the NFL succeeding in that spread-option is thin. Aaron Rodgers is one of the few Joe can think of (Sam Bradford is another) and how many years did Rodgers sit on the pine learning an NFL offense before the Packers got sick of Brett Favre’s drama?

Don’t miss the Easter night live draft chat right here with NFL Draft guru Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski, of WDAE-AM 620. Nothing is off limits when it comes to the NFL Draft. Fun time. See you tonight.