While Greg Olson has concerns about Kellen Winslow’s durability, the Bucs offensive coordinator is feeling good about Cadillac Williams and his once-mangled knees.

How about that. Some good news!

In a recent Behind The Flag video on Buccaneers.com, Olson explains why this could be the year Cadillac recaptures his rookie-season glory.

“This year, Cadillac for the first time in three seasons has had an offseason where he’s able to kind of rest up a bit,” Olson said.  The last two offseasons he’s been really working very hard to get the strength back in both of his knees. And now he’s got a chance to relax, so we think Cadillac can be even better this upcoming season.”

So Cadillac’s rested, healthy and looking at two productive years left, at most. Derrick Ward and Earnest Graham also are well rested, healthy and 30 years old this season.

Aside from being charged with squeezing greatness from a historically poor receiving corps, perhaps Olson’s greatest challenge is figuring out how use all three of these talented guys effectively.

Olson couldn’t do it last year.

Joe’s happy for Caddy. But it’s a little said that he’s nothing more than a placeholder until the Bucs draft their running back of the future, this year or next.

[Update: The NFL announced early this afternoon that the 2010 schedule will be released Tuesday at 7 p.m. on the NFL Network and NFL.com.]

There have been non-MSM hints this morning that it’s possible the NFL may release the 2010 schedule Thursday.

Non-MSM meaning specifically, Sirius NFL Radio and Twitter.

(Non-football related diatribe: Memo to the great media ethicist of our time, Eric Deggans: Will you knock off this nonsense about federal bailout money for newspapers? What next, federal bailout cash for telegraph companies? We, the government, are broke, unless you haven’t read your own newspaper in recent months! Look, Joe very much treasures newsrooms and the newshounds that populate them; he still works for one. But that 20th Century media delivery service model is history. “Newspapers” are more multimedia delivery services today. The print version of newspapers may go the way of the buggywhip but so long as Al Gore’s Internet is around, so too will there be reporters and newsrooms. Besides, the core tenant of the Fourth Estate is objectivity. By accepting federal cash, that objectivity is blown forever. That’s no different than taking money from the mob! Anyone working for a media outlet will then be considered on the take. Bad enough that many Americans are convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that the MSM is in the pocket of the Democratic Party. Don’t make every American pay out the nose because you lost your monopoly. Joe understands your burning passion for turning this country into an eastern European nation, but this just in: We still live in America! Companies that put out a good product will survive on their own merits and consumer popularity. Simple as that).

Peter King said this morning on Sirius NFL Radio, as he co-hosted “The Opening Drive” with Bob Papa, that he believes the NFL will release the 2010 schedule “tomorrow or Friday.” BSPN’s Chris Mortensen Twittered that he believes the NFL schedule will be released Thursday.

Joe checked the NFL Network’s schedule for Thursday and Friday. If the schedule is released, whenever it is released, the NFL Network will have a live show announcing the games. Per the NFL Network schedule on NFL.com, nothing of the sort is on the NFL Network grid.

Generally, the NFL likes to release the schedule before the draft. There are eight days left and it’s doubtful the NFL would release the schedule over the weekend or on one of the three days of the draft.

Joe will update you when he hears anything definitive on the NFL schedule release.

Why these Tampa Bay Buccaneers would bury positive news for months just baffles Joe.

How sadistic are the guys at One Buc Palace? Sheesh.

Legions of fans are begging for glimmers of hope, yet uplifting news was swept under the rug.

Joe’s colleague Charlie Campbell at the defunct toilet-friendly magazine turned Web-only PewterReport.com has uncovered, apparently with little help from the Bucs, that Mark Dominik months ago hired accomplished football man Bill Rees to serve as draft consultant in chief.

Rees was a college coach, a key recruiter at UCLA during their glory days in the 1980s, a co-worker of Dominik’s when they were with the Chiefs, and a NFL personnel director, most recently with the Browns in 2008.

Some league scouts and staff with other NFL teams tell Pewter Report that this is very rare for a team to hire an outside consultant to do draft evaluations. Some say that if you have confidence in your staff you don’t need an outside source, and that is why you hire a director of college scouting.

Sources with the Buccaneers say Rees protects the team from getting tunnel vision on internal thoughts regarding draft prospects. The Buccaneers view Rees’ hiring as a way to get another view on college talent from outside their own building.

Of course, it’s unknown to what depth Rees is really operating. No quotes in the story from the Bucs is a little odd.

Joe can only speculate that Dominik is so confident the Bucs will be successful in the draft, he kept this a secret so he could take all the credit.

Click the picture and enjoy yourself. Written breakdowns of cornerbacks and safeties, plus a fresh double mock draft are coming this week. 

Immerse yourself in NFL Draft coverage

Since the 2009 season ended, it seems just about everyone — from Joe, Ian Beckles, Steve White, Justin Pawlowski, Dan Lucas, Anwar Richardson and Gary Shelton to the mailman and the local bartender — has been asked, “Who’s better, Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy?”

That’s pretty much like asking, “Which do you prefer, brunette or blonde?”

Doug Farrar of Yahoo! Sports did something unique: He put together about the best detailed pro/con article comparing the two Big XII defensive tackles.

With as many as nine defensive tackles projected to be taken by the end of the second round, the 2010 draft class may be the deepest we’ve ever seen at the position. That said, there’s no doubt whatsoever who’s on top of that list – the same two who have been competing for the No. 1 spot on their position lists all last season, and perhaps the first pick in the draft. Ndamukong Suhwas good enough in 2009 to win most possible defensive awards (and probably a few that haven’t been invented yet) and make a legitimate run at the Heisman Trophy, based on his historic performance in the Big 12 championship game. Gerald McCoy trumps Suh on the cards of some experts because his first step is so quick, and he’s able to penetrate front lines so well.

Both players stand to make immediate impact on their future teams, but does one of them stand apart?

Joe was impressed with the research and how Farrar displayed his information.

So who would Joe take? Joe is ever so slightly leaning Suh but will sleep soundly if the Bucs acquire McCoy.

Michael Clayton is exhaling right now. And he’s grinning. Maybe even planning a trip to the bank.

Wide receiver Brandon Marshall and his 100-catches-every-year ass was traded to the Dolphins today pending him passing a physical, so reports Adam Schefter, of BSPN.com. The price tag was a second round pick in 2010 and 2011.

With an extremely weak receiving corps, the Bucs have now passed on Antonio Bryant, Santonio Holmes and Brandon Marshall over the past six weeks.

What, did Mark Dominik not like what he saw on film from Marshall? Heck, Marshall’s 21 catches and two touchdowns against Indianapolis last year bested Clayton’s entire season. Marshall is young, nasty, extraordinarily talented, and his presence would have made the team a lot better.

Consider offensive coordinator Greg Olson just said the following during an interview on Buccaneers.com when asked what fans should see from the Bucs offense this season.

“They should expect to see an aggressive offense. By nature, I like to push the ball down the field. I’ve been fortunate in a lot of the quarterbacks that I’ve worked with are those that have that kind of mentality, to push the ball down the field,” Olson said. “Now we’ve got to try and indentify some weapons that we can get the ball to. Certainly the draft will provide us, you know hopefully, with those players. We’ve also got to develop the players we have here on our roster right now. And we’ve got to get comfortable with our quarterback.”

Keep hoping, Olson.

Joe’s right there with you.

Joe is still quite irked that the Bucs didn’t take a fifth round flyer on Santonio Holmes when the Steelers shopped him around Saturday night.

So Joe decided to do some research to determine just how valuable this fifth round pick is that Bucs general manager Mark Dominik is holding onto as if it’s the Hope Diamond.

Below is every Bucs fifth round pick in franchise history:

1976
Michael Kelson, DB, West Texas State
Steve Wilson, T, Georgia

1977
None

1978
None

1979
Chuck Fusina, QB, Penn State

1980
None

1981
None

1982
Jeff David, LB, Clemson

1983
Tony Chickillo, DT, Miami

1984
None

1985
None

1986
J.D. Maarleveld, OT, Maryland

1987
Henry Rolling, LB, Nevada
Tony Mayes, DB, Kentucky

1988
William Howard, RB, Tennessee

1989
Jamie Lawson, RB, Nichols State

1990
Ian Beckles, G, Indiana

1991
Terry Bagsby, LB, East Texas State 
Tim Ryan, G, Notre Dame

1992
Rogerick Green, DB, Kansas State 
Santana Dotson, DE, Baylor

1993
None

1994
Pete Pierson, OT, Washington

1995
Clifton Abraham, DB, Florida State

1996
Jason Maniecki, DT, Wisconsin

1997
None

1998
None

1999
None

2000
James Whalen, TE, Kentucky

2001
Russ Hochstein, G, Nebraska

2002
Jermaine Phillips, S, Georgia

2003
Sean Mayhem, C, Notre Dame

2004
Jeb! Terry, G, North Carolina

2005
Donte Nicholson, DB, Oklahoma 
Larry Brackins, WR, Pearl River Community College  

2006
Julian Jenkins, DE, Stanford

2007
Greg Peterson, DT, North Carolina Central
 
2008
Josh Johnson, QB, San Diego

2009
Xavier Fulton, OT, Illinois

Pretty damned depressing, isn’t it, that a superior talent like Santonio Holmes was there for the taking for a fifth round pick, and the Bucs decided that the talent like the players documented above is a better alternative?

Best as Joe can tell, Dotson may have had the best impact in the NFL… for the Packers! Fusina actually won a league championship however, hoisting a trophy in final victory… in the USFL! Jermaine Phillips was pretty good; not so much as a linebacker. Hockstein did well… for the Patriots!

Beckles is best remembered as a sports radio personality!

Joe keeps hearing the Bucs talk about how deep this draft is and that as a result, cannot give up any draft picks. Charley Casserly, former Washington and Houston general manager, claims this is the deepest draft since 1983, in which the last two guys drafted in the first round, Dan Marino and Darrell Green, are in the Hall of Fame.

The Bucs pick in that vaunted 1983 draft, Chickillo, had about as much impact for the Bucs as Joe has had.

This is just damned depressing.

As Joe first reported Tuesday morning, former Bucs offensive lineman and current WDAE-AM 620 morning personality Ian Beckles was adamant that the Bucs would not spend the money it takes to sign a No. 3 overall pick, and thus would trade down not so much to stock up on picks but to save money.

“I’m telling you. They’re not going to do it. No way [the Bucs keep the No. 3 pick],” Beckles said.

It didn’t take long for St. Petersburg Times Bucs beat writer Stephen Holder to take issue with Beckles.

Moved to Twitter and later his blog on the Times’ Web site, Holder, careful not to name names (though quite clear who he was referring to) scoffed at this notion, writing that he was “hearing talk” the Bucs would trade down.

Making sure his point was clear, Holder later clarified his comments so they were not mistaken, and specifically wrote about how he heard this on radio, going so far as to write “radio jocks.” In other words, he heard Beckles.

Unlike Beckles, Holder is equally certain the Bucs will not trade down but will in fact keep the No. 3 overall pick.

I was merely attempting to bring some realism to the situation by reminding everyone that’s a very unlikely scenario, even if the Bucs wanted to trade out (I don’t believe they do, by the way).

What does Joe make of all of this? Aside from the fact it’s very entertaining, Joe is going to take Team Glazer at their word that money is not an obstacle, hence, they will keep the No. 3 overall pick.

Joe has stated all along it’s easy to want to trade down, but one has to have a partner to do so. Easier said than done, mainly because team’s don’t want to spend the extra cash a high first round pick will cost in salary, which is Holder’s premise.

That written, Joe wouldn’t be shocked if the Bucs indeed do trade down if this draft is as deep as Mark Dominik and others claim it to be. The Bucs have many holes to fill and if Dominik can swing a trade where he can stock up additional high picks, pull the trigger.

We’ll all find out in about a week what will happen. In the meantime, Joe is really hoping Beckles steps to the plate later this morning to resume the war of words.

This is fun!

Former Bucs defensive end and JoeBucsFan.com analyst Steve White doesn’t agree with Joe about Santonio Holmes. All angles considered, White believes the Bucs made a good call to pass on the young, weed-smoking wide receiver.

On White’s blog, he lays out his take thoroughly. Joe recommends you click here and read the entire analysis.

One snippet Joe found particularly interesting was the following. White has said many times that the Bucs have a PR problem, and he makes the case that bringing in Holmes would have added to those woes.

There are reasons that the Bucs really COULDN’T trade for Holmes anyway. First off after they let Antonio Bryant leave via free agency the Bucs tried relentlessly to spin it as a move brought on by Bryant’s bad attitude. Unfortunately a lot of fans bought that particular line of bullshit and started really heaping smears on him that I don’t think he deserved. I saw on more than one forum fans calling AB a scumbag etc. So how then could the Bucs justify bringing in a guy who has even MORE problems?

Not only that but the Bucs have put SOOOO much focus on their draft up to this point and to hear them tell it every single pick from the 1st rounder to the 7th rounder is going to be a starter and a future all star…or so they hope. And keep in mind that the supposed depth of this draft is the reasoning behind why the Bucs haven’t been active in free agency…allegedly. So in that situation a 5th rounder isn’t really a fifth rounder anymore. Instead its the potential steal of the draft, a guy who could have gone 1st round in any other year blah blah blah. So for the Bucs to give up said 5th round pick they would have again had to go back and contradict what they have been saying all along. And of course we couldn’t have that could we?

White also has a good take on Mark Dominik’s and Raheem The Dream’s possible perspective on the deal, citing how their jobs could be in serious jeopardy before Holmes takes the field following his suspension. Again, Joe recommends you read the whole thing.

Whatever one’s perspective on the Holmes non-deal, it’s sad that the Bucs have put themselves in the position to be so hurting for talented wide receivers that they have to consider troubled players just to be competitive.

Joe can’t describe offensive coordinator Greg Olson’s body language and voice quality when talking about Kellen Winslow, Jr. recently. For that, you’ll have to watch the latest edition of the hit video series Behind The Flag on Buccaneers.com. 

Media-loving Olson stepped into the hot seat for a face-to-face with Bucs video guru Scott Smith, who peppered him with questions.

One query was about Winslow and how much more the Bucs can expect from him in 2010.

And that’s what cued Olson’s somewhat stressed and very measured response.

Olson raved about Winslow’s talents, although he said Winslow needed to improve his run blocking. However, Olson clearly went out of his way to dampen fans’ hopes that Winslow might put the Bucs on his back and pull in 100+ catches and another new Bucs receiving record for tight ends.

“You gotta be careful with him at this point in his career,” Olson said of Winslow “There is an issue there where you gotta be careful about how much you play Kellen because you want him to be durable throughout the season. …We expect the same kind of season [as in ’09].”

The Bucs were careful with Winslow last season, with him taking on limited action in many practices. But this is the first Joe has heard of the Bucs limiting his action in games. Winslow has had multiple knee surgeries on his right knee and broke that leg in 2004.

Joe’s very concerned about Olson’s response and the way he delivered it, saying the Bucs have to be cautions with Winslow “at this point in his career.”

The guy has three more full seasons before he even turns 30. It’s troubling that the league’s highest paid tight end must be babied to keep him healthy.

One could say it’s wise to try and preserve Winslow for when the Bucs can really compete for a playoff spot. But on gameday fans pay their hard-earned cash to see the best football the Bucs can muster. Nothing else.

All signs point to the Bucs drafting either defensive tackles manbeast Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy. Though the experts suggest McCoy fits the Bucs defense better than Suh, one expert predicts McCoy could blow up in the Bucs’ faces.

Pat Kirwan is Mr. NFL. The former NFL front office executive has his own high-quality PM drivetime radio show on Sirus NFL Radio. He has his own video spots on CBSSports.com. And he has his own column on NFL.com.

While Kirwan believes McCoy to be the best defensive lineman prospect, he also believes McCoy possesses the highest chance of being a bust.

Biggest boom-or-bust prospect
McCoy is the next in a long line of potential Warren Sapp-type players. In fact, it looks like he could be headed to Tampa Bay. He did not impress in strength testing and can get washed down the line if he fails to penetrate. If he can rely on his first step quickness to win most of the individual battles, he could be a Pro Bowl player down the road.

If it’s any solace, Warren Sapp dismissed McCoy’s alleged weak showing on the bench press, saying defensive tackles don’t pump weights on the line. McCoy’s forte is speed and that is what used to make the Bucs’ defensive front so special.

Yes, Joe’s resident draft guru Justin Pawlowski will take everyone’s draft questions right here from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Don’t be late!

Bruce Almighty and Chucky were pilloried for their inability to draft. The bad Dexter Jackson was Exhibit A.

Vacation Man, of the Izvestia-like BSPN.com, writes about the worst draft classes in NFC South history. He believes the Bucs 2007 class is the worst. Consider, the first round draft pick is dead, the first of two second round picks is hiding, and the other second round draft pick should be hiding he’s such a goat.

1. 2007 by Tampa Bay.As I debated the demerits of what Atlanta and Tampa Bay did in this draft, it really came down to the fact that the Bucs hit the trifecta with their first three picks. They took Gaines Adams, Arron Sears and Sabby Piscitelli. You can’t really argue with that. Adams was a non-factor before the Bucs traded him to Chicago, Sears couldn’t play last year because of personal issues and Piscitelli showed last year that he can’t play. Safety Tanard Jackson, a fourth-round pick, has been a bright spot, but not enough to pull the Bucs out of the top spot. 

Joe really hopes this 2007 draft class is a distant memory because this month’s draft class will be so dynamite.

Joe hopes.

Might Brandon Carter catch the Jaguars' eye in the middle rounds? Draft guru Justin Pawlowski goes into that and much more in this breakdown of all things Jaguars in the draft. Yes, including Tim Tebow's chances of wiping out the Jaguars' ticket sales woes.

It’s the march to the NFL Draft, with draft guru Justin Pawlowski breaking down 32 teams in 32 days, plus so much more.

You can still subscribe to all the coverage, and there’s so much more yet to come. A mere $10 for loads of manly pleasure. Get it done now.

In today’s team analysis, Pawlowski carves up the Jacksonville Jaguars to expose their needs and strategies.

Interesting study, these Jags. They can go so many different directions with their No. 10 pick that they’re surely one of the great question marks on ever GM’s draft board.

Relax and enjoy!

{+++}

Nothing rankles the commissars of the Kremlin at BSPN more than when one of its employees calls out a comrade. Even if the critique is done in satire, the gulag awaits the offender of such a crime against the state.

So when Joe read this morning that former Bucs receiver and current BSPN employee Meshawn Johnson called out an unnamed comrade, Joe surely is expecting a harsh sentence for Johnson no matter what Johnson says is accurate and warranted.

Seems as though Meshawn is upset with a BSPN draftnik (Todd McShay, Mel Kiper?) for knocking troubled diva-in-training wide receiver Dez Bryant, as Meshawn told former Bucs beat writer and current SI.com columnist Don Banks.

“It pisses me off to listen to some of these [draft analysts] talk about Dez,” Johnson told me Thursday. “I heard someone on the network I work at say his stock is going to be questioned because his mother was a former drug user or seller. Are you kidding me? Are you serious? Because his mom did that, therefore his stock will drop? I think anybody who judges him and who he is based on his family, it’s ridiculous. He’s getting hit with a lot of stuff that doesn’t have anything to do with who he is as an individual. It’s OK for Colt McCoy to hang out with the Manning family and work out with them, but as soon as Deion hangs out with Dez Bryant, it’s an issue. What kind of double standard is that?”

Well, to be honest, Prime Time’s relationship with many college players is under scrutiny because it appears Sanders may be crossing the line between tutoring and being a front for some agency (Under Armour?).

Had Bryant not lied to the NCAA about his relationship with Prime Time, no one would be discussing this issue. Joe understands where Meshawn is coming from but let’s not move the goalposts here.

Bryant lied/covered up his relationship with Sanders and paid the price. Unless Manning is trying to run some shady front as a conduit to a sports management firm, Meshawn’s argument is apples and oranges.

That written, Joe loves it when BSPN employees take potshots at each other.

All the analysis of who the Bucs will draft with the No. 3 pick in next week’s draft is all a bunch of hot air to Ian Beckles, the former Bucs offensive lineman turned sports radio personality on WDAE-AM 620.

During the Ron and Ian Show on Monday, Beckles talked about how the Bucs passing on Santonio Holmes was another sign the team is avoiding players that will command a big payday.

And Beckles explained that is certain the Bucs will trade down out of the No. 3 pick to avoid the $30+ million guaranteed contract that draft slot will demand.

“I’m telling you. They’re not going to do it. No way [the Bucs keep the No. 3 pick],” Beckles said.

While Joe would place a small wager on the Bucs keeping the No. 3 pick, Joe would hardly be surprised if Team Glazer and personnel czar Mark Dominik dump the pick for a package of more picks and maybe a player or two.

As much as the Bucs have touted the depth of the draft, trading down would seem to fit in nicely with their new master plan.

With all the stars aligned that the Rams will draft Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, it appears a safe bet that either top defensive tackles manbeast Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy will fall to the Bucs.

Anwar Richardson, of the Tampa Tribune, isn’t exactly sold on this theory. He believes that instead of Suh or McCoy, the Bucs instead will draft Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung.

In short, Richardson believes there are five reasons why the Bucs will draft Okung. Here’s one of his reasons:

We all know the Bucs are not completely sold on starting left tackle Donald Penn. I like Penn and think he’s incredibly productive, but the Bucs have expressed concerns about his weight since he has been here, and as a result, continue to hold off on rewarding him with a big contract. If Tampa Bay has to reward a left tackle, should it pay Penn or Okung?

Joe thinks the world of Richardson but to answer his question — maybe Joe is naive — but Joe would prefer to pay a guy who has already proven he can play; Okung, only in theory, can play in the NFL.

It’s quite possible that Penn is the Bucs best player. In Joe’s eyes, drafting an offensive tackle in the first round is borderline criminal when the defensive line is so porous.

The Broncos overhauled their defensive line in free agency

NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski, of WDAE-AM 620, makes a great point here in this daily draft countdown, a look at all things NFL Draft for each and every NFL team — 32 teams in 32 days.

Today, it’s all things Broncos.

Why would the Broncos draft troubled yet talented wide receiver Dez Bryant with the 11th overall pick, as many believe they will, when they’re looking to trade Brandon Marshall because of character concerns?

Lots of other good stuff here in this six-minute audio take.

And it’s free for all.

Check out all the subscription NFL Draft coverage here on JoeBucsFan.com. Pawlowski is piling on the great analysis. Later this week Pawlowski will deliver written position breakdowns for safeties and cornerbacks, plus a new double mock draft with loads of detail

Here’s all things Broncos. Enjoy. (The Jaguars are coming later today.)

[audio:broncosdraft.mp3]

One of the few bright spots last fall for the Bucs was the play of defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson. But his six-sack performance last year could be his last for the Bucs.

Injured, the unrestricted free agent has been touring various NFL team headquarters looking for work. It appears he may have found a job in New Orleans.

Twittering last night, Joe’s friend NFL Network reporter Jason La Canfora notes Wilkerson and the Saints may come to terms on a new gig for Wilkerson.

@JasonLaCanfora Jimmy Wilkerson having a good visit with the Saints. Could end up getting a deal there.

After Joe was highly critical yesterday of Mark Dominik not taking the low risk/high reward gamble on Santonio Holmes, Joe will be nice with this post.

If Wilkerson leaves, Joe assumes Dominik plans to load up on defensive lineman in the draft, and feels confident that the now svelte Kyle Moore won’t be appearing on any more milk cartons.

Taking a break from spreading agent-driven speculation, Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud, aka Mad Twitterer, informed his readers today that stud wide receiver Santonio Holmes wasn’t worth the risk for the Bucs.

Joe was quite astounded by The Mad Twitter’s logic. Here’s some of it, if you can stomach it:

Why would a team trade for a guy who is not available until Oct. and just one positive drug test away from being suspended for the year or worse?

So is Stroud saying Tanard Jackson, who himself is a slip away from a long suspension, has no trade value? Joe highly doubts that’s the case. And what’s the real risk when you’re 3-13 with arguably the worst receiving corps in football, and no salary cap?

Here’s more logic from Stroud making a case against Holmes.

Holmes has a history of being charged with domestic violence. In 2006, he was arrested for allegedly choking and throwing the mother of one of his children to the ground. That same year, he was popped for disorderly conduct in South Beach.

Joe can’t argue with the facts, but Joe sure doesn’t remember Stroud up in arms when the Bucs signed and re-signed King of Turds Jerramy Stevens, whose background is worse than Holmes’. Where were you then, Stroud?

In typical Stroud talk-down-to-you fashion, he finishes his thesis blasting sports radio and blogs..

But to make the Holmes trade to the Jets an example of the Bucs’ front office failures is ridiculous and a cheap way to stir banal chatter on the radio or fan blogs. 

Joe wonders whether Stroud really has a clue how fans think.

If Stroud got off his high horse once in a while, he surely would understand why sports radio and blogs — the voices of the fans — view the Bucs missing out on Holmes as a collossal screwup.

In very simple terms (so Stroud can understand), the Bucs are desperately in need of a young, true No. 1 receiver. Holmes was there, and they missed out while he went to a playoff team (with a second-year quarterback) for a low fifth-round pick.

It’s just that simple.