A New York defense attorney weighs in on how Da’Quan Bowers might avoid getting sacked

Attorney Jeremy Saland, of Manhattan criminal defense firm Crotty & Saland, was kind enough to go deep with Joe into the prospects for Da’Quan Bowers in New York City court. Reports out of New York have Bowers arrested early today at a LaGuardia International Airport ticket counter. Felony criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree is the charge.

Saland spent seven years as a prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney’s office before spending the past six years in criminal defense, so Joe’s confident his information is excellent.

Saland said there’s an excellent chance Bowers could have his serious felony charge “deviated downward,” aka reduced. The following questions/factors, per Saland, will be keys to Bowers not landing in prison.

1) Was the gun legally obtained and registered properly in Bowers’ home state? Saland said the answer to those questions will be most critical in determining whether Bowers can get leniency out of the Queens district attorney’s office.

2) Was Bowers attempting to legally check the firearm? Or was he taking it through security improperly?

3) Was the gun actually loaded or only “statutorily” loaded?

4) Does Bowers have a criminal record?

Saland went on to say that “collateral consequences” for the individual can be a factor in determining a prosecutor’s willingless to lessen a charge. A school teacher, for example, whose career could be ruined by certain convictions, could have that fact taken into consideration.

Will the Queens District Attorney try to make an example out of Bowers because he’s a celebrity?

“Queens is very reasonable. They will look at this case on it merits,” Saland said. “There’s no reason to think that would happen.”

Because the charge is considered a violent crime, Saland said, it’s likely Bowers will have to physically attend all his court appearances.

Joe, like every other Bucs fan, has his fingers crossed that Bowers’ gun was obtained and registered properly. If not, he quickly could become an answer to a Bucs trivia question, rather than a menace to NFL quarterbacks.

If found guilty of the current charge, Bowers faces a 3 1/2 year minimum sentence.

How could a criminal defense lawyer assist you or a family member?

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Additional news is trickling in about the Da’Quan Bowers gun escapade in New York this morning.

In case you haven’t read, Bowers was pinched for having a not-quite loaded firearm at LaGuardia Airport this morning, which, in so many words, the long arm of the law in New York frowns upon greatly.

The firearm in question was in a carry-on bag.

Now, per USA Today’s Mike Garafalo, Bowers alerted airport security that he had the gun in his bag; it was not detected by security, Garafolo noted on Twitter.

@MikeGarafolo: Spokesman for Queens DA confirms Da’Quan Bowers’ arrest. Says he did not try to go through security with the gun. … Bowers told the folks at the counter he had a gun in his bag when he checked in, Queens DA spokeswoman said.

Joe would hope someone in Queens in authority can look at this and come to the conclusion Bowers, though misguided, meant no harm.

Look, Bowers told authorities of the firearm before it passed through security. Though Bowers was charged with a felony, Joe hopes a judge can see there was no malice intended nor implied.

More details are emerging in what has to be one of the most foolish moves by a Buccaneer in a long time.

Per the New York Post, Da’Quan Bowers’ gun arrest today was at a US Air ticket counter but the “loaded” gun wasn’t really loaded.

A muscle-bound NFL lineman was busted at LaGuardia Airport today for packing a loaded .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol.

Da’Quan Bowers – a second-year defensive end for the Tampa bay Buccaneers – was arrested at 11 a.m. at a US Air ticket counter as he was about to board a plane for North Carolina.

Sources believe Bowers arrived in New York with the gun on Friday, and was carrying the piece and a clip with eight rounds in a carry-on bag.

“The two of them were in the same bag, under the law it’s considered a loaded gun,” the source said.

Joe gets tight gun laws, but calling a weapon loaded when it’s not ridiculous. What next? Could Joe claim he fornicated with Rachel Watson when Joe and she only shook hands?

Bucs defensive end Da’Quan Bowers was detained and charged with a handgun violation at LaGuardia Airport this morning, per NBC New York.

Bowers was arrested while checking in for a flight with a loaded gun.

Da’Quan Bowers, a defensive end for the Buccaneers, was arrested at a check-in counter after he was found with a loaded .40 caliber firearm in his carry-on bag, spokesmen for the Port Authority and the Queens District Attorney’s office said. He was about to board a US Airways flight to Raleigh, North Carolina.

The former All-American player was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. A spokesman for the Buccaneers said Bowers is currently declining to comment as the organization investigates.

He’s scheduled to appear in court Monday evening.

Now Joe has dealt with Bowers many times and he’s been gracious with Joe and very kind and cooperative. Joe really believes Bowers is a smart guy.

However, forgetting you had a loaded rod with you walking into an airport — in New York, no less — is just not thinking.

Yes, the Bucs need a cornerback desperately. So much so that Joe wouldn’t be shocked if Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik selected two corners in the first two days of the draft.

Some believe the Bucs also have a hole at tight end, a pressing need. So how could the Bucs take care of both corner and tight end in the draft? This question was posed to Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune in a recent TBO Bucs Q&A.

Q. So lets say the bucs draft either Xavier Rhodes or Dee Milliner at DB. Do you see us trading back into the first round with one of our 4th round picks and our only second round pick, and take Tyler Eifert at TE?

Tee Ware, Plantation

A. I can definitely see a scenario like that playing out. It fits the pattern that GM Mark Dominik has followed in the past in terms of adding more premium picks and your selections fill what I see as the two biggest areas of need right now. The only thing I see differently than you is the order in which the Bucs might pull off such a deal. Based on the way the draft is shaping up right now, I don’t see them getting Milliner at No. 13, but I do believe they will have a shot at Eifert there. Then they can possibly work a deal to get a cornerback, possible Rhodes, either in the second or late in the first round.

Woody Cummings

Here is where it gets interesting: Today, in his must-read “Monday Morning Quarterback” on SI.com, Peter King spoke with Mike Mayock who doesn’t believe many — if any — teams will trading up in the draft because of the void of top-shelf talent. While the draft is deep at many positions, such as corner, there are few players that stand head and shoulders above the rest.

If teams are having a difficult time trying to trade down, as King believes because few teams will want to trade up, Dominik just might be able to trade back up in the latter stages of the first round (much like he did last year when he procured Doug Martin).

That is, after he drafts Xavier Rhodes.

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NFL Network was way off the mark

Joe knows many Bucs fans are outraged when the team is disrespected by national media.

Sometimes it’s hypersensitivity; sometimes not. Joe’s rarely annoyed by such things, though Joe must confess he was somewhat pissed when highlight shows across major networks, including the Man Channel, NFL Network, focused on how Cam Newton lost in Tampa last opening day, rather than on how the Bucs and the New Schiano Order burst onto the scene.

For those who track such things, NFL Network delivered a puzzling State of the NFC South segment last week. The seven-minute video completely ignored the Bucs, except for a brief graphic display (gee, thanks) and a joking reference to Mike Shula, who’s now the Panthers’ offensive coordinator.

Knowing how these features are thoroughly are scripted, Joe’s rather surprised the NFL Network producers said, essentially, screw the Bucs.

Joe wonders whether this who-cares attitude will be adopted by TV executives when it comes time to decide whether to put the Bucs on national TV in 2013.

He’s unlikely to be a Buccaneer for long, but Eric Wright isn’t acting like it. He’s certainly been talking the talk on Twitter, and also via his website.

In a recent entry titled, The Learning Curve and Having Perspective, Wright wrote about Greg Schiano being completely focused on the ways of the New Schiano Order and not the won-loss column.

It was a matter of coming in and building a culture where winning is expected, hard work is expected and the process is more important than the results. He wanted to focus on the process and not the result, and I think we took things like that into consideration as far as helping us get to where we want to be.

Joe read this and couldn’t help but remember Schiano going wild to the secondary, and specifically Anthony Gaitor, against Atlanta during the final game of the season. He was screaming various forms of “Do your job.” It was like Schiano’s end-of-the-season, last stand for the “process.”

Schiano said multiple times last season how much more he would be able to accomplish in the 2013 offseason because his team would come in knowing the “process” of the New Schiano Order, and new players — draft picks and free agents — would be able to adapt faster because most of their peers could help show them the way.

Joe can’t wait to see it, coach. Your team returns in about seven weeks.

Much to Jeremy Trueblood’s chagrin, it is highly unlikely he gets slapped with a franchise tag by Mark Dominik.

Counting down the hours until the world’s largest indoor track practice, the NFL scouting combine, means we are nearing the end of the silly season.

The NFL silly season is when fans, desperate for football news in the dead of winter and still fighting off the hunger pangs for football developed since the end of the Super Bowl, try to determine who signs who and who drafts who and who gets slapped with a franchise tag.

Enter the creator, curator and overall guru of Pro Football Talk, the great Mike Florio. The new star of NBC Sports cobbled together an exhaustive list of who may be or could be or should be hit with a franchise tag from every team in the NFL.

And yes, Florio offers a couple of suggestions for Bucs fans. A tag may/could/should be placed on either defensive end Michael Bennett or right tackle Jeremy Trueblood.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs plans to spend on keeping their own guys. When it comes to using the tag, it’s a toss-up between tackle Jeremy Trueblood and defensive end Michael Bennett, or neither.

Now knowing Florio and his sarcasm and wit, Joe thinks he was having fun with Bucs fans and was just being a wiseacre to suggest Trueblood could/should/may get hit with a franchise tag. Joe’s confident Trueblood has played his last snap in a Bucs uniform. He got Wally Pipp’ed by Demar Dotson, a cool guy, a hard worker, but not exactly the best run blocker in the NFL.

Is Dotson valuable on the bench? You know it. Is he an above average starter? Well, not really. This is why some people, including “The Godfather,” Gil Brandt, think Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik drafts a right tackle in the first round.

This video really warmed Joe’s heart. Bucs fans can take great pride in undrafted cornerback Leonard Johnson. The pride of Largo High has been busy this offseason. Alex Halsted, of Iowa State News, tells the story.

Congratulations, Leonard.

Joe’s friends at Ed Morse Auto Plaza in Port Richey are at it again with their incredible discounts on Mazdas.

This time it’s $500 off any new Mazda, now through Presidents’ Day!

You know you must shop for a vehicle this weekend, so don’t blow it by forgetting about Ed Morse Auto Plaza. Joe bought his pre-owned Ford Fusion there two years ago and it hasn’t need a repair since.

Joe likes talking about the draft (not the combine; but the draft) almost as much as he likes talking about the virtues of Rachel Watson.

But mock drafts before free agency are, in many ways, like shooting darts blindfolded. Until the siren beginning free agency blasts on the afternoon of March 12, Bucs fans won’t know every player available, and who is out there very well could determine how a team drafts a month later.

Take the Bucs and Wes Welker, for example. Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, speaking on “The Fabulous Sports Babe Show” last week on WHNS-FM 98.7, seemed to imply Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik was possibly eyeing Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert. Cummings, rightfully, acknowledged that the Bucs’ two main areas of need (right now)  are cornerback and tight end. Since the cornerback talent in the draft is three-rounds deep but not necessarily top-shelf heavy, Dominik could elect to pull the trigger on a tight end at No. 13 with Eifert.

But if Wes Welker is available as a free agent, that could change Dominik’s draft strategy, Cummings told The Sports Babe.

“Here is something to think about: I think the guy they will target is Wes Welker as a slot receiver. That’s the one thing they don’t really have,” Cummings said. “If they pitch Wes Welker as a slot receiver, a very dependable slot receiver, they can leave [Vincent] Jackson on the outside and leave Mike Williams on the outside and all of a sudden you have to worry about three very dynamic receivers on that offense. If they do that, they can probably get a tight end of lesser value who is more of a blocker who helps more in the run game and not so much as a pass target. It just opens up that area of the field more and gives you some other options. That doesn’t mean they wouldn’t bring back a Dallas Clark or draft a Tyler Eifert. I think Wes Welker is a guy they are going to look at. I may be wrong, but if you are looking at putting more weapons in Josh Freeman’s cache, I have to think that will do it. If he has that kind of a guy to throw to over the middle of the field and the other two guys working the outside, all of a sudden it gets pretty darn hard to defend the pass.”

All valid points by Cummings, but the first thing Joe thought is, ‘Just how many toys does Josh Freeman need to be successful, geez?’

Of course, all of this is moot if the Patriots and Bill Belicheat tag Welker again with the dreaded franchise label. Though it doesn’t seem as if Belicheat will tie up that much cash to a 32-year old slot receiver.

Cummings didn’t mention this, but if the Bucs do target Welker as a big-money signing, it also speaks to how there aren’t really any big fish out there among free agent corners. Some solid ones, but none to break the bank over.

In other words, cornerbacks that are available through free agency are more budget buys this winter.

This is the predicament the Bucs now face: Perhaps no team needs corners more than the Bucs, but there are few top-shelf corners available in free agency, and even less first-round talent in the draft.

The paywall is down. The paywall is down.

PewterReport.com spiritual leader and Bucs beat writer Scott Reynolds removed the pay-per-read feature from his regular “Fab 5” column yesterday. In that edition, Reynolds claimed to know an innermost thought of rockstar general manager Mark Dominik when it comes to his job security. And Reynolds was emphatic that Dominik’s job is in jeopardy without a standout Bucs season in 2013.

FAB 1. Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik knows his job is on the line. In order for him to maintain job security in 2014 and beyond, Tampa Bay likely has to make the playoffs in 2013. At least that’s what he thinks.

Reynolds goes on to speculate about the impact of new director of college scouting Eric Stokes. If the Bucs draft BYU defensive end Ezekiel Ansah in the first round, Reynolds believes, then it could be some sort of statement on Dominik’s mindset and future.

It will be interesting to see what happens if Ansah is still on the board by the time Tampa Bay picks at No. 13. If he becomes a Buccaneer it will speak volumes about how much influence Stokes now has in the war room, and how much comfort level Dominik has about his future at One Buccaneer Place.

Frankly, Joe would be surprised if Dominik told any media that he thinks his job is in jeopardy if the Bucs don’t make the playoffs in 2013. It’s possible, Joe’s not claiming funny business from Reynolds, but Joe doesn’t know why Dominik would say such a thing.

As for evaluating a GM, it’s a challenging process with a lot more layers to it when compared to grading a head coach, but it does ultimately come down to wins and losses. However, if Dominik drafts another Rookie of the Year candidate and belts a couple of home runs in free agency, it’s hard to imagine he gets canned under any circumstances after next season.

Is Dunta Robinson worthy of a Bucs paycheck?

Just thinking of the Bucs’ cornerback play last year makes Joe’s stomach turn. And no, it had nothing to do with the beers and pepperoni pizza he had last night either.

Earlier this week Joe was listening to Pat Kirwan, the former linebackers coach and NFL front office man who co-hosts “Movin’ the Chains,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio. Kirwan has a philosophy on teams trying to get over the hump and get into the playoffs looking to add a player via free agency to fill a major hole.

And with the Bucs, that hole at cornerback is bigger than the meteorite that landed in a Russian lake Thursday night.

Kirwan’s philosophy is to attempt to raid a division opponent, preferably the division champ. This plays right into Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik’s hands as the Dixie Chicks have two stud corners that are free agents.

This subject was talked about in an ESPN NFC South chat.

Darin (Louisville Ky)

Hey Pat the bucs are scary short on corners. Heard they have room to make moves in free agency and its right around the corner…. Any thoughts? Dunta Robinson? Brent Grimes?

Pat Yasinskas

Suspect they’ll sign at least one FA corner. We’ll see who comes out of Atlanta. But there are some other guys out there I like — Tracy Porter, Cary Williams, Dominique Rogers Cromartie and more guys will come available between now and start of free agency.

Per Joe’s research, neither of these guys are locks to be a Bucs shutdown corner. Grimes is nearly 30 and is coming off of a torn Achilles. That scares the hell out of Joe. Then there is Robinson, who, if the Dixie Chicks decided to keep Grimes, likely will be a cap casuality. Joe sort of likes this guy. Some teams think he’s a dirty player, but the dude can flat out hit and he gets into opponents’ heads. Joe likes that attitude.

Problem with Robinson is, he will be 31 when the season rolls around and he can be toasty at times in pass coverage.

Would Joe love to see the Bucs weaken the Dixie Chicks while addressing a major area of need? You bet. But Joe isn’t sure which of these two guys is the best fit.

Joe realizes he’s typing heresy in the church of the Bucs here. But don’t skewer Joe, it’s a controversial take from Joe’s pal Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski of 98.7 FM.

The Commish penned a piece looking at the Bucs’ needs and options entering free agency, and he s confident Ronde Barber is a weak link in the Bucs secondary. The hefty praise rockstar general manager Mark Dominik and Greg Schiano have dropped on Barber’s 2012 performance? The Commish ain’t buying it.

Bottom Line: This is pretty simple, Ronde Barber is old, about to retire, and was a liability last season. I also do not feel Ahmad Black is ready for a full-time role. I’d love to get a veteran with experience back in the secondary to help Mark Barron, but also an experienced player that can still play at a high level. Dashon Goldson would be my top target with his experience on a top defense like the 49ers. Patrick Chung would bring his experience from the Patriots and be a nice upgrade. Kenny Phillips has some injury concerns, but does have a tie to the Giants that might help him or hurt him with current Bucs coaches. No, I do not think Ed Reed would come to the Bucs, nor do I think the Bucs will go after him.

Top Free Agents: Dashon Goldson (SF), Jairus Byrd (BUF), Ed Reed (BAL), LaRon Landry (NYJ), Louis Delmas (DET), Patrick Chung (NE), William Moore (ATL), Kenny Phillips (NYJ)

Joe has to disagree. Barber isn’t a liability, though Joe doesn’t think Barber is much more than average on the field while performing a key leadership role on and off it.

Now Joe wouldn’t quibble if the Bucs brought in a better free safety and moved Barber back to cornerback to compete there and play on passing downs.

Ed Reed interests Joe on many levels. Schiano was Reed’s defensive coordinator at the University of Miami under Butch Davis, who still happens to be in the Bucs’ house. Perhaps the relationship there is strong enough to intrigue Reed.

There’s a cool site out there Joe doesn’t hit on enough. Sure, it’s a stats-heavy site, but not oppressively so.

Plus, like Joe, they try to have fun with their information and also try to work in eye-pleasing photos of lovely ladies. That never hurts. The place is called ColdHardFootballFacts.com.

A couple of weeks ago, a cat there named Ken Crippen devised a formula involving fumbling to determine not only who was the most valuable rusher in the NFL, but what teams ran the ball the best, and also what defenses were best against the run.

This formula seems to weigh heavily on fumbles and touchdowns, which is not a bad thing.

Though he had over 1,400 yards rushing, Bucs running back Doug Martin was not among the very best rushers in this ratings system. He was, instead, No. 5. While his lone fumble helped him, there were others who had more touchdowns than Martin, which seems to be why he was ranked No. 5.

Despite having one of the top runners in the NFL, the Bucs, when using the same formula to grade out team rushing, did not fare so well. This may be because the Bucs, outside of Martin, had virtually no running game.

In the team rankings, the Bucs are No. 9.

Now it starts to get a bit more interesting. The Bucs had the NFL’s best rush defense in yards allowed. But Crippen’s math came out with a far different result, ranking the Bucs rush defense No. 20. It seems the main reason for this is the Bucs tied for last in the NFL in forcing opposing running backs to fumble, just three times. In addition, the Bucs allowed 13 rushing touchdowns in 2012, a pretty high number, though nowhere near Buffalo’s 23 rushing touchdowns allowed.

What this means to Joe is that Bucs coach Greg Schiano is surely working on ways to tighten up the Bucs defense in the red zone and maybe work on creating turnovers, an area in which the old Bucs defense was so gifted.

It’s Year 2 for the New Schiano Order, but it’s the first season for many Bucs assistant coaches.

A new quarterbacks coach, wide receivers coach, linebackers coach, secondary coach and special teams coach will have prominent, influential voices in the 2013 season. That much change has left former Bucs tight end and Buccaneers Radio Network analyst Anthony Becht feeling wary.

Speaking on 98.7 FM on Sunday, Becht explained that just because Bucs coordinators are returning that doesn’t mean there will be critical continuity for Josh Freeman and others.

“As a coordinator, you’re going to preach to these [new position] coaches what you want, but it’s the nuances, the details. You know, now you’re saying different things, different stuff to these guys. That’s going to be helpful to these guys, but it’s different language. It’s different personalities. It’s approaches to the game. And it’s tough to get that fluency and continuity,” Becht said.

“You know the coordinators are only there in big-picture meetings and on the field. They’re not there teaching these guys every single day what to do. When you’re hearing [new] voices, and hearing the changeover. Sometimes that language and change … it’s gets to be a little touchy issue sometimes.

“There is a lot of turnover with the Bucs. I think as a coaching staff as an organization you really don’t want to have that, especially with the productivity that they had. You know, I’m just shocked that a lot of these coaches were either fired or let go, or they actually left. That tells me there’s something wrong with the environment maybe a little bit. Or, you know, they weren’t as committed. You just want to have that continuity. I think that’s huge when you’re talking about getting the best out of the quarterback position, making sure Freeman’s the guy, developing him, especially with the contract situation and making sure that next season everything is clean. And he comes in and the same things he heard last year he hears again. That stuff’s important. We’ll see how it goes, but I do think it could be an issue moving forward.”

Former Bucs QB Shaun King, one of only three QBs to lead the Bucs to the NFC Championship game, also has talked about the unfortunate challenge Josh Freeman will face having his fourth quarterbacks coach in five seasons. The Bucs hired former longtime NFL assistant and former Rutgers offensive coordinator John McNulty to replace the pushed out Ron Turner, and rockstar general manager has spoken of McNulty’s influential offensive mind.

Joe doesn’t know McNulty, but Joe suspects he’ll be a very strong voice, which will present another transitional challenge for Freeman.

Regardless, excuses are dried up. Freeman’s a fifth-year veteran with Grade A weapons and a familiar playbook.

A big part of the mid-1990’s sales pitch to the taxpayers of Hillsborough County for the C.I.T.S., aka Community Investment Tax Stadium, aka Raymond James Stadium, claimed that voting for the tax and building a stadium would bring valuable Super Bowls to Tampa and surrounding communities.

Super Bowls meant big and lasting economic impact, so the pitch went. Obviously, the tax passed, the stadium was built in 1998, and Tampa successfully hosted Super Bowls in 2001 and 2009.

But now Tampa has fallen completely off the Super Bowl map. They went hard after the game in 2015, with Bryan Glazer a leader in the charge, but lost out to Arizona. Tampa has since disappeared, and it has not jumped into the mix of cities — some with new stadiums — fighting for a 2018 Super Bowl.

Recently, the city of Charlotte and the Panthers, which have never hosted a Super Bowl, agreed to cough up about $200 million to upgrade their stadium, which is only two years older than Tampa’s. Part of the stated goal in Charlotte is a Super Bowl.

Voters in Miami will be called upon this spring to decide on ponying up about $200 million in public money for a $400 million upgrade to Joe Robbie/SunLife Stadium in order, you guessed it, help keep big events like the Super Bowl flowing into the region. In fact, the other day some South Florida officials talked about demanding the NFL deliver another Super Bowl, if they make the stadium upgrades.

Joe’s wondering where Tampa, and its rapidly aging 15-year-old stadium, is in all this.

There’s plenty of public chatter about building the Rays a stadium but nothing about what’s next for the Bucs and the future of Super Bowls in Tampa. Joe looks forward to learning exactly what it will take to bring Super Bowls back to town.