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.

"Hey Dominik, you had a chance to get Santonio Holmes for a f@#$%^&* fifth round pick and you passed? Jimminy Christmas! That mother $#@#$% would be living with me for a fifth round pick."

Joe’s good friend Justin Pawlowski said this to Joe this morning, and Joe later read commenter “Eric” write the same thing:

If Chucky were still here, it’s very likely the Bucs would have had Donovan McNabb at quarterback and it’s not unrealistic to believe Chucky would have twisted the arm of Bruce Almighty to swing a deal to Pittsburgh for Santonio Holmes, especially if it only took a fifth round pick.

How’s that for a pitch-and-catch combo, McNabb to Holmes?

Joe is reading from various sources on Twitter, including Mike Florio, the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com (via Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), that the Steelers were about to release Holmes because they couldn’t find a trade partner and a fifth round pick was the best they could do.

Color Joe skeptical. Sure, Joe knows Holmes is one flying glass in a bar away from being suspended for a year for being dumb. But a fifth round pick???

In any year, a fifth round pick, a team just hopes the guy makes the final cut and if he is on the field at all his first year, it’s a bonus.

Holmes is an elite wide receiver whose greatest sin Joe can tell is he cannot put down the bong.

[A fifth round pick? Joe buries his face in his hands while shaking his head in disbelief.]

Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune and some dude from FoxSports.com Joe never heard of discuss the Bucs’ plans for this month’s draft.

Hint: Cummings believes the Bucs may be gun-shy drafting a wide receiver early due to the sins of the past.

Another Virginia corner for the Bucs?

Ahh, nothing like a beautiful spring day, an overflow sandwich on great bread, and a pile of NFL Draft analysis to scour.

Joe’s feeling great about now (as great a Bucs fan could knowing his team seemingly turned its nose on a great receiver).

Here’s the latest “Commish’s Board,” NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski’s rankings the top 50 players available in the NFL Draft regardless of position. You’ll enjoy a quick look at each player and how their current stock has changed.

Always fun.

Enjoy! {+++}

Remember, Justin Pawlowski will chat live here on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Mark it down!

And thanks again to all the subscribers!

Commish’s Board

1. Gerald McCoy – DT – Oklahoma (same position in previous rankings)
Most disruptive and best pass rushing defensive tackle in the draft.

2. Ndamukong Suh – DT – Nebraska (same)
Most productive college football player in 2009. Suh’s strength is unmatched.

3. Russell Okung – OT – Oklahoma St (same)
Balanced offensive tackle who dominated during his time at Oklahoma St.

4. Eric Berry – S – Tennessee (+1)
Might have the most talent in the draft.  Versatility makes Berry more valuable.

5. Sam Bradford – QB – Oklahoma (-1)
A superb pro day has solidified Bradford as the draft’s top quarterback.

6. Trent Williams – OT – Oklahoma (+8)
Williams draft stock continues to rise as may feel he is the most athletic tackle in this draft.

7. Rolando McClain – MLB – Alabama (-1)
McClain is a hard worker, a leader, dedicated to being great, and productive.

8. Derrick Morgan – DE – Georgia Tech (-1)
There’s no more balanced end in this draft.  Morgan was very productive and has great character.

9. CJ Spiller – RB – Clemson (+1)
Spiller is a lightning bolt from the running back position.  Return skills add value.

10. Dez Bryant – WR – Oklahoma (-1)
Without his baggage, Bryant is the top offensive player in this draft.  He has everything you want from an elite receiver.

11. Bryan Bulaga – OT – Iowa (-3)
Bulaga is big and nasty.  He thrives in run blocking, while still be reliable to protect a quarterback’s blindside.

12. Jason Pierre-Paul – DE – USF (-1)
There’s no player with more potential in this draft.  Unfortunately, Pierre-Paul’s lack of production and uncertainty might drop him a bit.

13. Earl Thomas – S – Texas (+2)
Tremendously versatile and able to play corner or safety.  Thomas is a true ballhawk.

14. Brandon Graham – DE – Michigan (+1)
Graham’s production can not go unnoticed.  20 sacks in the last 2 years means he knows how to get to the quarterback.

15. Kyle Wilson – CB – Boise St (+4)
I view Wilson as the most balanced corner in this draft with added returner skills.

16. Jared Odrick – DT/DE – Penn St (+8)
The ideal 3-4 end in this draft.  Odrick could see his stock rise like Tyson Jackson’s did last year.

17. Dan Williams – DT – Tennessee (-5)
Very active nose tackle who excelled in Monte Kiffen’s “Tampa 2” defense.

18. Joe Haden – CB – Florida (-1)
Very athletic corner who’s very good in coverage.  Will miss some tackles at times.

19. Mike Iupati – OG – Idaho (-3)
Dominant and powerful offensive guard.  His feet are not very quick, so a move to tackle or a fit in a zone blocking offense will not work.

20. Anthony Davis – OT – Rutgers (+3)
Very talented tackler whom some scouts think might be the best pass protector in this draft.  Weight issues and character have him slipping.

21. Sergio Kindle – OLB – Texas (+4)
Lanky rusher off the edge.  Can play in a 3-4 or a 4-3 defense.

22. Sean Weatherspoon – OLB – Missouri (-4)
Very balanced linebacker who has the versatility to play inside or outside linebacker.

23. Devin McCourty – CB – Rutgers (+3)
McCourty was a big-time playmaker in the Big East.  He also adds treendous value as a special teams ace.

24. Maurkice Pouncey – OC – Florida (-4)
Top center in the draft.  Pouncey has great balance, smarts, and leadership skills.

25. Demaryius Thomas – WR – Georgia Tech (+6)
Tons of raw ability and potential.  Coming from a run-first offense, he needs a team to take a chance on him.

26. Ryan Matthews – RB – Fresno St (+9)
Most balance back in this draft.  Matthews can carry the load 20-25 times a game with the speed to break long runs.

27. Jerry Hughes – DE/OLB – TCU (same)
Great athleticism will allow Hughes to play either end or linebacker in the NFL.

28. Taylor Mays – S – USC (+4)
Mays has the size, speed, and ability teams dream about.  Lack of production is a big worry.

29. Brian Price – DT – UCLA (-7)
Very active hands and a non-stop motor.  Lackluster workouts and production could have him fall.

30. Golden Tate – WR – Notre Dame (+7)
Lacks elite size, but Tate has excellent speed and hands.  Unlike Thomas and Benn, Tate is very close to being NFL-ready.

31. Carlos Dunlap – DE – Florida (-2)
All the talent in the world, but does he want to be great?

32. Jermaine Gresham – TE – Oklahoma (-6)
Big athletic target and a nice security blanket for a quarterback.  Not much of a blocker.

33. Nate Allen – S – USF (+4)
Has been rising up boards.  Great ball-hawk, centerfielder, and playmaker at the safety position.

34. Terrance Cody – DT – Alabama (same)
Massive body who can take away an opposing run game by himself.  Weight will be a concern.

35. Kareem Jackson – CB – Alabama (-14)
Underrated on a great defense.  Jackson is great in coverage and a solid tackler.

36. Jimmy Clausen – QB – Notre Dame (-6)
Solid skills, but has yet to have a team fall in “love” with him.  Played in Charlie Weis’ pro-style offense, but so did Brady Quinn.

37. Everson Griffen – DE – USC (-1)
Has had great workouts this offseason, but lacked production at USC.

38. Tim Tebow – QB – Florida (NR)
There is no greater leader, no harder worker, and no one tougher than Tim Tebow in this draft.

39. Charles Brown – OT – USC (+1)
Brown has good potential to be a franchise left tackle.  Might need a year to adjust to the pros.

40. Jahvid Best – RB –Cal (-1)
Best is a huge playmaker.  Durability is biggest concern.

41. Cam Thomas – DT – North Carolina (NR)
Despite the lack of production, Thomas is a big body who can play the nose in the NFL.

42. Arrelious Benn – WR – Illinois (-14)
Benn has all the tools of a number 1 receiver.  Benn needs more consistent hands.

43. Linval Joseph – DT – East Carolina (NR)
Joseph is a massive body who can play tackle in a 4-3 defense or nose or end in a 3-4 defense.

44. Patrick Robinson – CB – FSU (same)
Robinson is not very physical, but is excellent in coverage.

45. Chris Cook – CB – Virginia (NR)
Cook has the best combination of size and speed for a corner in this draft.

46. Alex Carrington– DE – Arkansas St. (+1)
Carrington is an ideal fit for an end in a 3-4 defense.  He played very well during senior bowl week.

47. Daryl Washington – ILB – TCU (NR)
Slightly undersized, Washington is a big hitter and physical.  He also has the speed to cover sideline-to-sideline.

48. Aaron Hernandez – TE – Florida (NR)
Great receiver from the tight end position.  Not much of a blocker.

49. Bruce Campbell – OT – Maryland (-11)
Campbell is a freak physically.  His tape and film are terrible.

50. Tyson Alualu – DE/DT – Cal (-8)
Alualu is very active and a hard worker.  I didn’t see enough big plays from him on film.

"Damn, Mike just won't quit texting me about Santonio Holmes. Doesn't he know the Jets got him?"

Joe has been working the phones — more accurately, texts — to those close to the Bucs organization to try to get a feel for why in the world the Bucs didn’t take a gamble on a fifth round pick for pot-loving Santonio Holmes.

Holmes is an elite receiver who has proven to be clutch against some of the toughest defenses in the league during the most crucial of playoff games. Granted, the dude has a well-documented past for smoking left-handed cigarettes, but at least the guy hasn’t been around any shootings (Brandon Marshall) or had to stand in front of a judge in a murder trial (Ray Lewis).

The Bucs have someone on their roster who has done far worse (helmet-wielding, cabbie-loving Aqib Talib) than anything Holmes has done, and also has someone that served a four-game suspension (Tanard Jackson).

Sure, Jackson didn’t test positive, he just forgot to take the test. Feel free to read between the lines on that one.

Yes, Holmes back in 2006 was accused of domestic battery, just like a Bucs free agent safety is accused of (Jermaine Phillips), who is not currently on the Bucs roster.

So Holmes,’ ahem, “baggage” doesn’t fly with Joe. If the Bucs were so concerned about baggage, the aforementioned characters wouldn’t/won’t be on the team.

Joe has learned that Raheem the Dream’s influence on a potential Holmes’trade should not be overlooked. Remember that Raheem the Dream and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin are tight and chat regularly.

It’s not a stretch to consider that Tomlin either talked Raheem the Dream out of any interest in Holmes or, in deference to his friend, Raheem the Dream wasn’t going to take advantage of Tomlin’s misfortune and, by doing so, show up his good friend by dealing for Holmes.

Now trading a second round pick for a troubled guy like Marshall, sure, Joe has to give great pause. But a fifth round pick to a guy who is better than Marshall and more reliable than Marshall who has less brushes with the law? Joe will take that gamble any day.

Joe doesn’t care how deep a draft is, a fifth round pick is still a fifth round pick. You hope the guy just makes the final cut and any productivity is gravy. Joe normally shies away from guys with shady pasts. A fifth round pick is hardly a risk, even on a risky guy.

The Steelers’ late-night trade of stud young wide receiver Santonio Holmes to the Jets for peanuts has many Bucs fans arguing about how and when Mark Dominik will get Josh Freeman a No. 1 receiver.

And that inevitably takes the discussion to Broncos’ No. 1 Brandon Marshall, who is allegedly on the market for a second round pick.

Former Bucs defensive end — and blogger and analyst — Steve White, who long ago was on the record saying the Bucs should deal for Marshall, thinks “The Beast” is long gone from Mark Dominik’s mind.

In a recent, high-energy live chat on JoeBucsFan.com, White stomped on all hope that Marshall would be a Buccaneer.

[Comment From AJAJ: ]
Steve, there’s a lot of rumors and hoping out there… what do you think are the chances Brandon Marshall is wearing pewter this fall? 

Steve White: @AJ

Slim and none and Slim just left town. I think the Bucs have hyped this draft so much that trading away a draft pick for Marshall isn’t even on their radar right now. Although in my opinion the trade should have happened already 

Barring a series of miraculous resurrections and a rookie phenom, the Bucs will have a poor receiving corps in 2010.

Joe wonders what the Vegas over-under would be on total catches for Antonio Bryant, Marshall and Holmes this year, 215 perhaps?

Joe’s good friend and the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620 is reporting via his Facebook account that the Tampa Bay Lightning have fired coach Rick Tocchet just hours after the Bolts finished the regular season.

Joe’s not just about the Bucs, he’s about the Bolts as well so check out JoeBoltsFan.com.

[Update: Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersburg Times reports the other shoe has fallen. Brian Lawton is out.]  

Perhaps Golden Tate is too short for the Bucs?

Joe still tosses and turns when he thinks of Tampa Tribune beat writer  Woody Cummings’ report from the Senior Bowl. It quoted an unnamed “coach” who suggested the Bucs should focus on taller receivers to help Josh Freeman cut down on missing receivers with high throws.

The “coach” claimed the Giants followed a similar philosophy the help Eli Manning.

Joe thinks such an approach would be ridiculous. If Freeman really has problems, then fix his mechanics rather than go looking for taller guys. Somehow 6-4 Dan Marino managed to quickly fire up a Hall of Fame career throwing to short guys Mark Clayton and Mark Duper, both 5-9.

With the draft approaching, Joe can’t help but wonder whether the unnamed “coach” Cummings quoted is, in fact, a member of the Bucs. Joe sincerely hopes this tall-receiver mindset is not shaping Mark Dominik’s draft-day war room approach.

Joe thinks 5-10 Golden Tate would be quite a score for the Bucs. It would be a shame if he wasn’t tall enough.

(For a 3,000-word, in-depth look at 15 wide receivers Bucs fans should know about in the draft, check out this piece in the JoeBucsFan.com subscription draft coverage).

One of the top receivers in the NFL, the No. 1 receiver on one of the best teams in the NFL and a Super Bowl hero, who is just 26-years old, was shopped last night for a late-fifth round pick.

The Bucs apparently decided to pass.

Joe cannot properly put into words his amazement. But Aaron Schatz, BSPN.com NFL analyst and Editor in Chief of FootballOutsiders.com, can. Twittering past midnight, he is stunned that the Bucs were seemingly not interested in pulling the trigger on Pittsburgh wide receiver Santonio Holmes for a fifth round pick, who was dealt to the Jets.

For crying out loud, Tampa’s starting receivers are Michael Clayton and Maurice friggin’ Stovall. Did Pittsburgh just not call them?

Joe believes Holmes is worth at least a third round pick and Joe would have thought long and hard about shipping the Bucs’ latter of two second round picks to Pittsburgh for Holmes.

The fact he was on the market for a fifth round pick, and Mark Dominik didn’t get it done, just blows Joe’s mind!

Yes, Joe knows about the guy’s baggage, but he is more than a proven receiver. You trying to tell Joe a fifth round pick doesn’t have question marks about making the team much less being able to start? Holmes is an elite receiver!

Programs exist that can help people put down the pipe. Catching clutch passes in the NFL (in the postseason no less) cannot easily be taught.

It’s just before midnight and Joe checked his Twitter account as he is wont to do for late-night breaking news.

Ding! The Steelers traded former first round pick, Super Bowl hero and noted weed smoker Santonio Holmes, 26, to the Jets for a fifth round pick.

That is not a typo: A fifth round pick. Fifth round!!!

Now Joe understands this guy has loads of baggage, including being accused of slapping around women, telling fans they should commit suicide, bragging about “waking and baking” and his reputation of being a left-handed cigarette smoker.

But we’re talking a fifth round pick.

For a fifth round pick, it was beyond worth the Bucs trading for Holmes. He’s better than Brandon Marshall (who Denver has trouble trading for a second round pick) and instantly would be Josh Freeman’s go-to guy.

Joe is just stunned. Holmes could have been had for a fifth round pick, and the Bucs, desperate for a wide receiver, did nothing!

Look, we’re not talking about high crimes here. Yes, Joe understands Holmes will likely start the season with a four-game suspension. His biggest problem is the dude cannot put down the bong. Surely Steelers coach Mike Tomlin tipped off Raheem the Dream that Holmes, a former first round pick from Ohio State who is from Belle Glade, could be had for cheap.

And the Bucs, who have a wide receiver corps that is not much better than Florida State’s, couldn’t cough up a fifth round pick for Holmes? Seriously?!

Joe is just aghast!

Many old school Bucs fans were Dolphins fans before Tampa Bay got a team. Joe even knows his share of locals who still secretly and outwardly love the Fins.

As far as Joe is concerned, Miami is only good for two things: Brazilian women and various other exotic women.

But in today’s daily Draft Countdown, it’s time to learn about all things Miami from “The Commish,” draft guru Justin Pawlowski. Surely, Bill Parcells will be drafting heavy on defense and the Fins are yet another team in need of a wide receiver.

Joe suggests you check out the entire buffet of in-your-face draft analysis available here. And there’s plenty more to come!

Here’s everything Dolphins:

Enjoy. {+++}

[audio:dolphinsdraft.mp3]

When Joe thinks of colossal failures of the past century, a few come quickly to mind, such as prohibition, Operation Barbarossa, the Newton and Jim Bates’ defense.

The numbers were there for all to see: Bates’ signature defense set the record for most consecutive games of coughing up 25 or more points in the sordid history of the Bucs.

Taking a break from spreading agent-driven speculation, The Mad Twitter of the St. Petersburg Times unearthed another example of why the Bates Experiment exploded in Raheem the Dream’s face:

Injuries.

It seems Bates’ fetish for obese defensive lineman led to a myriad of problems, including injuries.

In the scheme under new defensive coordinator Jim Bates, the Bucs believed their linemen would be more effective if they bulked up. But all it did was slow their development.

It also might have contributed to injuries. Moore missed the first seven games with a knee injury.

“My explosion wasn’t there,” Moore said. “I could automatically tell a difference. I started moving a little bit better with the weight. But still, it wasn’t me.”

Miller battled through ankle, knee and hamstring problems.

The Bates Experiment was a failure beyond words. Just the fact players like Chris Hovan, Miller and Moore should be in better shape and healthy, it certainly is a positive step for the Bucs.

Many Bucs fans go to bed at night dreaming of Nebraska manbeast defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh playing for the Bucs the way Joe dreams of Rachel Watson… Joe’s not going there. This is a PG-rated blog.

BSPN did a neat thing by hiring the Sports Science people to break down what makes Suh so good in this way cool video below.

If this doesn’t get you worked up for football, Joe isn’t sure what will.

Suh is a manbeast!

If for some reason the video is not loading properly, try this link.

The Bucs were disappointing in the running game last year. Even Joe could see that.

Oh, sure, they had positive spurts with Cadillac Williams. But when the Bucs ran effectively last year, it was when Derrick Ward got the rock, too.

Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune breaks down the running game for the Bucs and details that when Ward got touches, the Bucs pounded the ball.

The Bucs ran for more than 120 yards in one of the five games in which Ward ran the ball 10 times or more and ran for more than 130 yards in two of the others. Not only that, but they won one of those games – on the road at Seattle – and nearly won another – on the road at Miami.

That point hasn’t been lost on Bucs coach Raheem Morris, who along with general manager Mark Dominik expects to see a lot more of Ward this year.

“We’ve got to find ways to make Derek a more productive player this year,” Morris said recently. “We have to do a better job all around of getting him more opportunities.”

Listen, you want Ward to get more opportunities? It’s quite simple: give him the ball!

Interestingly, last week when talking to the Fabulous Sports Babe on WHBO-AM 1040, eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune said he believes the Bucs will look for a scatback in the latter rounds of next week’s draft because — in Kaufman’s words — Ward, Williams and Graham are all the same, in other words, not that fleet of foot.

For the purpose of this post, Joe’s not going to entertain the possibility that the Bucs might trade down in the first round of next week’s NFL Draft, or not have have either manbeast Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy available with their No. 3 pick.

And Joe’s going to pretend the Bucs pick one of those guys in an attempt to bring some A-level talent to their average-at-best D-line.

That written, Joe thinks Team Glazer should pay whatever it takes to hire Warren Sapp as a consultant to come in and help develop Suh or McCoy.

If the Bucs are looking for the next Sapp, then why not go out and bring Sapp in to help?

Sure, Raheem The Dream can set the parameters and timetables for Sapp’s limited tutoring, but there is no reason Joe can think of for Team Glazer not to get Sapp here to help. After all, “money will never be an issue when building [the Bucs],” Joel Glazer told Bucs fans last month.

Sapp might cost a few bills ($25,000 a day?), but he should be well worth every penny, especially if the Bucs will be forced to invest $30+ million guaranteed in the pick. Plus, Team Glazer couldn’t buy the publicity and excitement Sapp in town as a mentor would generate.

It’s quite obvious from this NFL.com video that Sapp has at least a little teacher in him, and he also could probably offer great advice to Suh or McCoy on leadership.

Sapp said, “I raised Raheem from Day 1.” So surely Raheem The Dream should trust Sapp with his new under tackle for a few days.

"I'm so glad those Dan Marino nightmares subsided."

The Seahawks have an ugly receiving corps, but it’s still better than the Bucs’. At least they have T.J. Houshmandzadeh on the roster.

Seattle, with two first round picks, is another team to watch in the NFL Draft. 

NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski, “The Commish,” has you covered on all things Seahawks right here in the daily NFL Draft countdown.

But first, Joe has to remind you that you’ll still get plenty of bang for your $10  if you buy the JoeBucsFan.com draft subscription. There’s a mountain of stuff to catch up on and much, much more to come. Check it all out here. It’s really a draft magazine like no other.

Enough of that salesmanship, here’s all things Seahawks.

Enjoy! {+++}

[audio:seahawksdraft.mp3]

It appears Raheem the Dream wants to keep veteran quarterback Byron Leftwich for another season.

The Bucs are so barren at wide receiver, it’s possible that Florida State has a deeper wide receiver corps.

Earlier this year when horny Big Ben Roethlisberger appeared to be facing a jail cell and alternative lifestyle square in the face, there were rumors the Steelers may want Bucs quarterback Byron Leftwich to return.

It was Leftwich two years ago, when many thought his NFL days were over, who came off the bench and won a road game for the Steelers at Washington for a key victory on the Steelers march to the Super Bowl in Tampa.

Joe threw out the possibility that the Steelers might give up wide receiver Limas Sweed, a lightning fast receiver who has a room deep in Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s doghouse.

That dream for Joe seems to be gone. Word is that horny Big Ben, who apparently has a nasty habit of getting too handsy with women, might just skate criminal charges in Georgia, allowing him to voluntarily take snaps from center.

Thus, there is no need for Leftwich. And per Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, Raheem the Dream really has no desire to let Leftwich go.

Leftwich is the only veteran QB on the roster and Morris seems to like his approach to the mentor’s role, which may give him a leg up on a regular-season roster spot as well.

“Byron was nothing but positive energy for us last year,” Morris said. “He did nothing but good things. He didn’t work out as a starter for us, but even when he wasn’t a starter, he was a very productive leader for us.

“He did nothing but help Josh Freeman learn how to work. He did nothing but help Josh Freeman grow along the way. There would be no shock in my mind to see Byron Leftwich on our team. I don’t have any qualms with him.”

If there’s a silver lining to this move, it’s that there’s no need for Joe to worry about fantasy football warrior Marc Bulger coming to Tampa Bay.

In recent days Bucs linebacker Barrett Ruud has been grousing that this coming season may be his last in Tampa Bay due to his contract negotiations, or lack thereof.

But there may be one man who can save Ruud from leaving the Bucs.

Nebraska defensive tackle manbeast Ndamukong Suh.

That’s what Joe learned from eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune as he talked all things Bucs last week with The Fabulous Sports Babe on WHBO-AM 1040.

Kaufman discussed the Bucs draft, specifically defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Suh who are atop the Bucs draft board when he said Ruud was lobbying for Suh.

“I’m not convinced the Bucs have McCoy rated over Suh,” Kaufman said. “Suh is more consistent. Barrett Ruud wants Suh. Suh is not a one-game wonder.”

It isn’t just because Suh played for Ruud’s alma mater, Suh is a beast up front and surely would keep traffic off of Ruud and his fellow linebackers.

Kaufman went on to talk more about the Bucs draft with some interesting comments. Kaufman said that the Bucs “putting all their eggs in one basket,” meaning placing so much emphasis on the draft and not free agency, “is dangerous.” Kaufman also noted that there is a lot of pressure on the Bucs scouting department and that no team has ever hit on 11 for 11 draft picks.

“It doesn’t happen.”

Joe admits to enjoying a couple of Caybrews last night after watching the Rays slap around the Yankmees. Joe hopes this is repeated throughout the weekend series.

But nothing brought about a chuckle to Joe more than the following piece:

In a slightly dated column by CBSSports.com’s Pete Prisco, he noted some of the best bets to be selected by the Bucs later this month in the draft, and why they would be a good fit for the Bucs.

Prisco offered the name of LSU safety Chad Jones. Why? Joe will let Prisco explain.

It would get Piscitelli off the field.

LOL! Sabby the Goat is so horrid, the only reason to draft a player isn’t that the player would make the Bucs a better team or that said player might gel in the Bucs’ defense, but the lone reason to draft a guy is to get Sabby the Goat off the field.

That’s how bad Sabby the Goat constantly shat on the field last year.