Week 6
Panthers at Bucs
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
TV: WTVT Ch. 13, DirecTV 711
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 129.
Weather: Per AccuWeather.com, good football weather. Highs in the upper 60’s throughout the game with breezy double-digit winds.
Odds: Per Bodog.com, Carolina -3.
Outlook: If the Bucs are going to win a game before the bye, this game is it. Carolina, like the Bucs, has bottomed out. Like the Bucs, the Panthers aren’t getting any blocking. Like the Bucs, the defense stinks. Unlike the Bucs, Carolina was able to beat the Redskins. Simply put, the team who runs the best will win. That’s not a shock but each team wanted to run the ball before the season and neither has. So expect each team to try to impose its will on the opposing defense, neither of which has been solid this year. Also expect the Panthers to bring the kitchen sink in blitzes just like the Eagles last week. The Bucs were clueless in how to handle those blitzes. If they haven’t learned, it may get ugly.
Fun facts: Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith own the Bucs. Delhomme is 8-2 against Tampa Bay and no receiver in the game has a better average for yards per game receiving than Steve Smith does against the Bucs. … The Panthers have lesbians for their cheerleaders.

Of course NFL Network previews the Panthers-Bucs.

Of course brings them to you.

First up is the NFL Films preview of the game. Next is Raheem the Dream talking about Josh Freeman and the state of the Bucs.

Naturally AccuWeather has a weather forecast. And Scott Smith of Buccaneers Insider reports how the Panthers stink at rush defense.

No one has more inside information than Jay Glazer when it comes to the NFL. No one. Not Maoist Mike Silver. Not coffeehead/hotel critic Peter King. Not prettyboy Adam Schefter. Not the great Mike Florio.

Jay Glazer is on the mountaintop with confidential NFL info and everyone else is jealous.

So it was curious for Joe to hear Glazer thinks the Bears got a bit of “luck” that the Bucs became fed up with Gaines Adams. Glazer also said several other teams were in talks with the Bucs to acquire Adams, digging into his background to see if there was some character flaw or something else that was causing Adams to be unproductive.

You can see and hear the rest for yourself in this FoxSports.com video.

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&#038;playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:65ee7d53-d952-4df4-b44b-34a40d2d2baf&#038;showPlaylist=true&#038;from=IV2_en-us_foxsports_videosearch&#038;fg=everyzing" target="_new" title="Glazer: Bears make big Gaines">Video: Glazer: Bears make big Gaines</a>

Not seeing many carries at all this season and with offensive coordinator Greg Olson scrapping the 2-2-1 rotation Raheem the Dream so often boasted about using, Earnest Graham is moving to fullback.

As a result, he will start tomorrow against the Panthers reports Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune.

“Earnest will be the starting fullback in B.J.’s place,” coach Raheem Morris said. “Earnest has done that role before. He’s thrived in that role before. We’re going to go out this weekend and give him some more touches, more carries and more blocking opportunities.”

Graham played fullback last season when Askew and backup Byron Storer were injured. Graham volunteered to play fullback when Storer was hurt against Carolina in mid-October. As a result, Warrick Dunn rushed for 115 yards on 22 carries during a 27-3 victory.

Part of the reason is that B.J. Askew will not play tomorrow still suffering from an injury received in a car wreck earlier in the week.

Earlier this week, Joe listened to the Sabby Piscitelli Show heard on the “J.P.’s Happy Hour” broadcast on WQYK-AM 1010. The show was broadcast from a live remote when Joe heard an unusual question.

A young lady in the audience asked Piscitelli,”Why doesn’t he wrap up?”

Piscitelli responded, “I don’t remember [not].”

Immediately Joe wondered who this lass was, what she looked like and how or why she was privy to such intimate details of Piscitelli’s personal life.

Then it dawned on Joe: She was asking about tackling.

Piscitelli later mentioned how Raheem the Dream was “hard on us, real hard on us and he was right” in practice this week. Piscitelli said he and his teammates didn’t have a problem with the criticism from Raheem the Dream because, “he’s right.” Piscitelli claims players appreciate honesty from their coach.

“He wasn’t positive,” Piscitelli said. “He didn’t try the positive approach. All of us as individuals I’m sure looked in the mirror and said, ‘He’s right.’

“Hey, he got on me about a play that didn’t show up on TV but was on the film. I appreciate that and a lot of players do.”

(Audio courtesy of WQYK-AM 1010. Tip of the hat to Big Papi.)

As Joe thinks more about Mark Dominik stealing a second round pick from the Bears for Gaines Adams, Joe can’t help but wonder where the bidding started.

It’s quite possible Dominik was trying to negotiate an even bigger score for Adams and the Bears and Bucs settled on a second round pick in 2010.

Did Dominik have the sack to actually initially demand a first round pick for one of the biggest draft busts in Bucs history? Joe couldn’t pull that off with a straight face or without skepticism in his voice.

Of course, it’s possible the Bears offered a third-round pick and Dominik held firm in his demand for a second rounder.

Regardless, the trade was finally a big notch on Dominik’s belt.

Sooner or later, Josh Freeman will start for the Bucs. Joe hopes it is more later than sooner.  Vacation Man of BSPN says in this video that “Josh Johnson gives [the Bucs] the best chance to win right now.” Vacation Man hinted that the Green Bay game may be the first start for Freeman.

Sometimes, Joe likes to relax with a cold Caybrew and think like a Glazer.

Sometimes, to get further into the moment, Joe even withdraws all the cash in his checking account and sits with it on his couch. Smoke from Joe’s fat Bucanero fills the room.

Now knowing the Glazers’ aversion to getting their payroll anywhere near the NFL salary cap, Joe has to wonder whether Brian or Joel have put the word out to Mark Dominik that as long as he’s in a trading mood, he’s encouraged (wink) to package the Bucs’ 2010 first round pick before Tuesday’s trade deadline.

As the Bucs march toward a top 3 pick in the draft, there’s no reason to think the Glazers have any interest in paying the fat signing bonus and salary it would cost to sign that player.

Joe has to believe that if the Bucs can get a player they like before Tuesday’s deadline, plus a second and third round pick in 2010, then they’d have no problem parting with their No. 1 pick.

After all, remember Joel Glazer’s in depth comments about patience and building through the draft.

Surely, Joe knows the Glazers might be wise to hold their No. 1 pick. There’s plenty of time for a good trade. But don’t be surprised if it’s gone by Tuesday.

Listed at 6-5, 305 lbs., on the Bucs roster (he’s probably more like 325), Donald Penn is hardly a symbol of fitness.

He’s a tough, gifted, smooth-footed left tackle, but he hardly looks capable of running the floor in NBA. 

Penn, however, disagrees.

A former All-State high school basketball player in California, Penn said he could score a long term contract in the NBA right now. He made this ridiculous proclamation on Thursday’s edition of Total Access, a Buccaneers Radio Network show on 620 WDAE-AM.

Penn spoke of how he credits his basketball footwork and skills for preparing him for a football career and he grew up believing he was an NBA star in the making.

Apparently, that dream hasn’t died.

“I played power forward, center, but I was always one of those power forward/centers that liked to get the ball at the top of the key and take somebody to the hole. I think that if I got a 10-day NBA contract, it would turn into a long term deal. I think so,” Penn said. “I had two schools come to my high school [basketball games] and after the game they both offered me scholarships to play football.”

Joe will take the bait, considering the NBA preseason is in full swing.

“I think you have to play everything with confidence,” Penn said Thursday. “That’s one of the things that makes me as good as a player as I am. Because I go in every game with a big swagger, and I think nobody’s going to be able to beat me even though it does happen sometimes. I do get beat sometimes but I still, if somebody beats me one play they ain’t going to beat me again. I go back and forth. I just have that confidence about myself. And it’s been like that forever. A lot of people told me I couldn’t do things growing up and, you know, I overcame a lot. I lot of people didn’t think I was going to make it to the NFL. Because growing up I always thought NBA. But it’s just been a confidence thing that I go with.”

Joe is glad Penn has no prayer of sniffing the NBA. The Bucs need him here too badly. It’s time to give the man six-year deal.

Will Michael Clayton be sent packing?

So Mark Dominik pulled the trigger and stole a second round pick from the Bears for Gaines Adams. Well done Mr. Dominik, well done.

Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune suggests there may be more trades to come before Tuesday’s trade deadline.

With the NFL trade deadline coming up on Tuesday there’s a chance the Bucs will work quickly to fill the hole they created at right defensive end by dealing the ever-disappointing Adams.

Though it may be wiser to wait and what’s available to them in the draft, the Bucs could try to work a deal for one of the notable defensive ends who are expected to hit free agency next spring.

You have to give up something to get something. So who might be the Bucs dangling?

Michael Clayton is too obvious. A change of scenery just might help him but Joe wonders if Dominik would be so willing to admit a (costly) mistake by unloading him? And just what team would willingly eat his contract?

Ronde Barber also springs to mind. Joe loves Barber but imagine what he can do for a Super Bowl contender?

The Bucs have quite a stable of running backs so someone could easily be sent packing there. Cadillac Williams perhaps? 

The next few days could be quite interesting.

Former Bucs DE Steve White

Bucs nation is rightfully ecstatic about the Gaines Adams trade. Count former Bucs defensive end Steve White among the excited Bucs faithful. 

White is a blogger and author who writes the stellar Bull Rush column for JoeBucsFan.com. In his last column, White explained that Jimmy Wilkerson should get more chances to rush from the left side, where Adams spent most downs.

With Adams gone, Wilkerson is now free to play to his strengths.

Tonight, White wrote that he sees the trade as good for both the Bears and the Bucs.

I personally think that Gaines will thrive in Chicago being coached by my old defensive line coach, Rod Marinelli (he better at least or Rod will crush him). On the other hand I can see the Bucs having some addition by subtraction. Now Greg White can take over as a starter on the right side bringing good pressure even on early downs. Jimmy Wilkerson will also get more opportunites to rush from left end as well. And finally now that Kyle Moore is healthy he can get some looks as a rush guy inside on 3rd downs.

White also told Joe that he expects Adams will need a full offseason with Marinelli to reach his potential. For now, Gaines will be “a rotation guy at best” behind the Bears’ starting ends.

Now that the Bucs have absolutely robbed the Bears of a second round pick in 2010, sending them Gaines Adams and his massive salary and even bigger wasted potential, Bucs fans and management can turn more of their attention to another overpaid underachiever: Michael Clayton.

Joe can’t help but think that the Adams trade turns up the heat on Clayton, the league’s first blocking-only receiver with an eight-figure salary.

The trade deadline is Tuesday.

If the Bucs are aggressively looking to purge the roster of solid waste, Clayton is the next place to start. Joe can’t imagine any Bucs fans would complain.

Perhaps the Bucs get lucky and move Clayton and a lifetime supply of Stickum for a third round pick.

Standing ovation to Mark Dominik and Raheem The Dream for finding a taker for Gaines Adams, who was well on his way to becoming one of the biggest draft busts in Bucs history.

Lovie Smith and Rod Marinelli apparently see something in Adams that nobody else does. Their Bears traded for Adams today and gave the Bucs a second round pick in 2010.

That’s right a second round pick!  Great news for Bucs fans.

Joe is freaking pumped. Nothing like some uplifting news in the midsts of this crappy season.

Now Joe has no idea whether the Bears pick up Adams’ fat salary for the rest of the season. But if so, the Glazers surely will be dancing into the wee hours tonight.

Joe will have more through the night on this stunning development.

While co-hosting “The Red Zone” with Ross Tucker on Sirius NFL Radio Friday afternoon, former Bucs great linebacker and current BSPN analyst Derrick Brooks has some interesting things to say.

First, he confessed he was in talks with the Patriots since New England is playing more of a 43 defense. Brooks claims it came down to him and Junior Seau and the Pats picked Seau only because of his history with the Patriots.

Brooks got into a long discussion about the Bucs when a Bucs fan called asking, “They let go of you and now look at that franchise. What’s going on?”

Brooks said he wasn’t sure.

“If I knew, I’d pass it along so they can right the ship.

“They are struggling with inconsistency. Raheem is frustrated. You can hear it in his voice. You can see it in his press conferences. One week it’s the offense. The next week it’s the defense. The next game it’s special teams. Then his defense plays well and they let up a couple of big plays.

“He’s trying to get through the first year as a head coach. There will be frustrations. Coach Morris is trying to simplify things and trying to get everyone to play consistently. Everyone has to look in the mirror and correct what they are doing.”

Porter than asked Brooks if he had an idea he was going to be cut when the Bucs turned him loose earlier this year.

“Not quite. I wanted to be communicated with better. If the process was better, than I’d be OK with the decision. Hey, I knew the nature of this business. I worked every day to earn my right to be with [the Bucs]. I knew the nature of this business. I never woke up and assumed my position was solidified.

“But in the communication, I wish we had a discussion beforehand. What direction do we want to go in?

“Also from the PR standpoint, they could have put it in my hands and then walk away.

“I’m past the personal feelings. Yes, I was disappointed and yes I was fairly angry. But at the end of the day, I compared myself to the people of the world and I am blessed. I played as if every snap was my last snap. I tried to develop relationships that when I retired, I would transition into other things. So I don’t hold any hard feelings to the Bucs. They paid me well. Relationships [are] what it’s all about.”

Tucker was taken aback by Brooks’ putting his exit from the Bucs behind him.

“Well, I’ll never get over how [the Bucs] offered contract extensions to guys like Kellen Winslow and not to Donald Penn or Barrett Ruud. I don’t know what they are doing down there.”

Later, when Brooks picked the Bucs to beat the Panthers, Tucker said, “How could you pick the Bucs the way they treated you?”

Brooks even got some love from current NFL players who appeared as guests, like Ryan Clark of the Steelers who seemed like a kid on Christmas morning finding his new bike.

“This is special for me,” Clark said. “I’m on the air with Derrick Brooks! This is an honor.”

The best way to build a good team is to build through the draft. So it’s no surprise to Joe that the Bucs have had rotten drafts the past decade.

eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune pours through the Bucs drafts in recent years and it’s brutal. Joe will let eye-RAH! tell the story:

While it is premature to judge the past few draft classes, Tampa Bay’s recent legacy is not encouraging.

From 1998-2008, encompassing six drafts with Rich McKay as general manager and five under Bruce Allen, the Bucs selected only two players who went on to earn Pro Bowl berths.

Kicker Martin Gramatica (third round, 1999) made the Pro Bowl following the 2000 season, and right guard Davin Joseph (first round, 2006) was added to last year’s Pro Bowl roster as a first alternate.

Two players! And one is a kicker for crying out loud! So for all intents and purposes, the Bucs have drafted one Pro Bowl player — ONE! — the past 10 years.

In Joe’s eyes, general manager Mark Dominik wouldn’t be making a mistake by cleaning out the entire scouting department.

Programming note Joe just stumbled upon:

Former Bucs linebacker great and current BSPN NFL analyst Derrick Brooks is co-hosting “The Red Zone” this afternoon from 1-3 p.m. on Sirius NFL Radio with Ross Tucker. It can be heard on Sirius Channel 124.

Joe has heard Brooks on local radio for years. Joe’s not sure if he’s been coached up by the people at BSPN or if Tucker knows what buttons to push on Brooks, but Joe has never heard Brooks as enthusiastic as this.

It’s good radio. Brooks is not holding back on criticism like Chucky does on BSPN.

Another week, another round of Power Rankings.

Things are looking grim for the Bucs and national reporters reflect the grim showing.

Mike Sando of BSPN.com has the Bucs at No. 31.

The team that stood by Jerramy Stevens might add Matt Jones to the locker room? Not sure that’s the right way to go.

Former Bucs beat writer and current SI.com columnist Don Banks has a slightly more favorable look at the Bucs at No. 29.

It’s nine consecutive losses for the Bucs since they marched into Carolina in Week 14 last December with first place in the NFC South on the line. The Bucs got their butts kicked by the Panthers that Monday night, and it could unfold roughly the same way when they face Carolina again this week.

Adrian Hasenmayer of FoxSports.com isn’t too fond of the Bucs either ranking them at No. 31.

THE BRIGHT SIDE: The Bucs are showing signs of life, despite getting blown out in nearly every game. More than anything, it’s been big plays that have crushed this team — with these game-changing plays surrounding solid stretches when they’ve handled Philly and Dallas fairly well. Young QB Josh Johnson is raw, but has shown a lot of spunk, fire and escapability in the pocket.

THE FLIP SIDE: The Bucs may very well go 0-16 with arguably the toughest schedule in the NFL this season.

Clifton Smith of SportingNews.com believes the Bucs are slightly better at No. 29.

Few bright spots, other than Josh Johnson showing flashes and gaining experience.

Cap Rooney of TheBigLead.com has the Bucs at No. 31.

The Bucs ran 75 offensive plays to the Eagles’ 48, won the T.O.P. battle 35 minutes to 25 minutes, and even benefited from 110 Eagles’ penalty yards. They lost by 19 points.

It’s a jam-packed sports weekend in the Tampa Bay area. There’s a full slate of solid, compelling college football games Saturday, several with national championship implications.

The Lightning travel to the Steel City to face the Stanley Cup champions Saturday night as well. Beer and hockey go together better than Joe and the Lightning girls.

And of course the Bucs have their best chance for their first win by hosting the toothless Panthers  Sunday. As bad as these two teams are, you’ll need to numb yourself with plenty of Caybrew.

What, you’ve never had Caybrew? What’s the matter with you?

In short, for this busy sports weekend, you’ll need to stock the fridge with plenty of brew.

Your brew.

Caybrew!

Forgive Joe for not providing exact quotes here. When Joe recently heard safety Will Allen talk briefly on 1040 AM about the Bucs fighting for a playoff spot this season, Joe nearly flipped his Taurus in traffic.

So Joe’s trusty notebook and recorder couldn’t be put to work to provide precise quotes here.

That said, Will Allen spoke about the Bucs still having a chance to win all their division games, which would leave them primed for a playoff spot. Allen, in essence, said that fact presented an uplifting opportunity and he and the rest of the Bucs need to get that message and bring that understanding and motivation to Sunday’s Carolina game.

Bravo, Mr. Allen. Bravo!

It’s about time someone on the Bucs — players and coaches — started talking publicly and seriously about winning. Not just eventually winning a game. But winning on Sunday and getting on a roll.

Joe’s played on a lot of teams. And one thing is constant. Whether it’s high school, college, or the elbow-throwing 40-and-under basketball leagues around the Bay area,  if team members are staring at their schedules and not thinking about how they can run the table with their remaining games, then there is a serious problem on the squad.

Joe expects every Bucs player to be consumed with getting a win against Carolina and clawing their way to play a meaningful game in December.

That’s just how Michael Clayton players with the right attitude behave.

Charley Casserly has been around the NFL for some time. He knows the ups and downs. And for first-year coaches, there are more downs than ups usually.

Casserly, writing for CBSSports.com, detailed all the pitfalls a first-year coach much overcome.  One is often the quarterback position and Casserly, a former NFL executive, talks about what Raheem the Dream should do with Josh Freeman.

Tampa Bay is facing the question of when to play Josh Freeman. I would wait as long as possible. I thought he needed a lot of work coming out of college in the pro style passing game. I would play Josh Johnson as long as you can.

Joe pretty much has offered the same take. There is no good reason to play Freeman now, unless you want to risk the kid turning into David Carr. Freeman isn’t going to magically turn this season around.