Darrelle Revis isn’t completely back to his Revis Island self yet, but he’s having a strong season and is sure to return to Hawaii in February.

But Revis doesn’t just impress opponents. Veterans in the Bucs locker room steadily are learning more about what it means to be one of the all-time greats. Bucs backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky, a nine-year veteran of four teams, is a true student of the game and is a guy some consider future coaching material.

Orlovsky said yesterday he’s never seen any player’s professionalism top that of Revis.

“I go against him on the scout team and our receivers will come back [to the huddle] and be like, ‘he knows our route.’ You know, and that’s on a Wednesday, it’s impressive, because that means on Monday and Tuesday he’s really taking his job seriously,” Orlovsky said. “I’m telling you; it’s impressive. It’s as impressive as any player I’ve been around as far as doing their job.”

(To translate a bit, scout team players come out on Wednesday and run plays that week’s opposition are likely to run in order to prepare the first-team defense. Revis knowing routes means he’s put in the advance homework to school himself.)

Joe’s waiting to see when Revis will fully assert himself as a leader on the Bucs defense. Joe suspects Revis has been giving more attention to perfecting his knee and adjusting to his new team. He was a leader with the Jets, and look for Revis to grab more of that role here, especially when he can participate completely in the Bucs’ offseason training.

Anwar Richardson of Yahoo! Sports explains why Greg Schiano is atop his coaching hot seat in this Yahoo! Sports video.

Plenty of Bucs icons were in town Monday for Warren Sapp night. One was John Lynch, now a FOX NFL analyst, who took time to talk to Dolphins players and get the pulse of the team in the face of their hazing scandal.

It seems Lynch found a bunch of “mentally exhausted” men facing the Bucs. Lynch explains in the video below, in which it seems his FOXSports1 colleague, Brian Urlacher, doesn’t buy the excuse for the Dolphins’ struggles against Tampa Bay.

There is always pressure for all employees in the NFL — pressure to win, pressure to make the team, pressure to put players in position to play well, pressure to coach players up.

It is all about winning. It’s why there is a scoreboard. It’s why there are standings. It’s why some coaches are held to lofty heights while others are eviscerated for losing.

With the Bucs this season, loss followed a loss followed another loss followed yet another loss. Week after week after week. Eight weeks in a row, in fact. Each week, Bucs coach Greg Schiano suggested, the noose got tighter, the blood pressure ratcheted up, the blood sugar rose. Headaches never left.

So the biggest thing that happened for the Bucs, in Schiano’s eyes, following the win over the Dolphins on Monday Night Football is the extreme pressure has widely evaporated for the team.Schiano spoke about this while appearing on “Late Hits,” co-hosted by Alex Marvez and Gil Brandt, heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio Wednesday night.

Alex Marvez: Nice win over the Miami Dolphins, you are in the win column, finally. What does a victory like that do for the team as you prepare to play the Atlanta Falcons?

Greg Schiano: Well, I think it was important, as the season goes on and you continue not to have a win, that pressure mounts on the players and coaches alike. You get that one off of your back and it frees them up a little bit and you just go play. We have a ton of injuries on offense but on defense we are relatively healthy, so, if you are going to have injuries, I always believed it’s better to have them all on one side. We had some guys step up in a big way so going into Atlanta, we are a little short-handed offensively but we have some young kids who are finding their way.

Another thing that worked in Schiano’s favor, speaking of freedom, was allowing Bucs pass rush specialists on the defensive line to, you know, actually rush the passer. Imagine! And look at the result on the final defensive stand: two sacks and a pick. That’s old school Bucs defense.

It will be interesting to see how this relief of pressure helps the Bucs, as Joe believes Sunday’s Dixie Chicks game, despite their record, is hardly a slam dunk.

Joe was able to confirm that the Bucs have not and will not practice in pads this week in preparation for the Falcons on Sunday. Playing on a short week after Monday Night Football led to the decision.

NFL labor laws crafted in 2011 prohibit hitting each other in practice every week during the regular season — something unthinkable years ago. Nowadays, coaches are forced to pick and choose when they’ll get physical. Typically, teams will burn their “padded” practices early and go soft in December when most NFL bodies can use the extra rest.

This is noteworthy because Greg Schiano spoke openly before the Seattle game and last week about how the Bucs were having their best practices of the 2013 season.

Hopefully, a soft week won’t upset that rhythm.

It has been awfully quiet recently over at One Buc Palace. Quiet in that there has been little to no drama.

This welcome change came right about the time leaky, sleepy former franchise quarterback Josh Freeman was thrown off the team. Joe has stated many times this is no coincidence.

Joe remembers all the vile and nasty things allegedly sprouting out of One Buc Palace, often dealing with Freeman, whose camp instantly would Twitter how the Bucs were leaking information to sully the reputation of their prized client and that there will be hell to pay with the NFLPA (nevermind that Freeman’s play would ever stain his reputation. #Sarcasm).

Well, the cat is out of the bag. While making his weekly appearance with the one and only Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on the show that bears his name, “Mad Dog Unleashed,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM Radio, Tampa Tribune NFL writer eye-RAH! Kaufman assured Russo that the leaks about Freeman were not coming from Enigma-like coded messages at One Buc Palace.

When discussing the Dolphins/Richie Incognito/Jonathan Martin issue and how so many NFL investigations whither and die on the vine without finding any information, Kaufman segued into the NFLPA study as to who was leaking Freeman’s confidential information to the fourth estate.

eye-RAH! Kaufman: Some of these investigations, Chris, it’s amazing how they dissolve into nothing. I’m going to give you an example: Remember when [Chris] Mortensen reported about six weeks ago about Josh Freeman and he was in that drug program? Chris, the next thing you know [NFLPA director] DeMaurice Smith is on the next flight down here to Tampa. There’s a big grandstand in front of the cameras. “We are going to conduct a thorough investigation! We will find out who leaked this information, this private information.”

Chris, you’re going to never going to hear one further word about that. And I’m going to tell you why: My information — and it’s pretty solid — is the Bucs didn’t release that. It didn’t come from One Buc Place. I think it came from Freeman’s own camp. …

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo: I agree, I agree.

Kaufman: And as a result of that Chris, the union doesn’t like where that leads and [the leaks] might have come with Freeman’s expressed knowledge. And you are never going to hear anything about it.

Now Joe has to confess he has heard strong rumors to this effect, but could never get anyone to go on record with this so Joe just tucked the information under his cap. Now that eye-RAH! has spilled the beans, Joe feels compelled to share that he gathered similar information and understands the Bucs were furious at the accusations and eagerly welcomed an NFLPA investigation to clear everyone’s name at One Buc Palace.

And as eye-RAH! suggested, if the NFLPA finds it was Freeman and/or his camp who were planting stories, they are not going to out one of their own and drag one of their members through the mud. That just won’t happen.

Sometimes, silence is deafening.

Enjoy Joe’s must-listen, high-octane weekly Wednesday hour with the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, Steve Duemig, of WDAE-AM 620.

Eric Page is the NFL’s 10th-ranked punt returner, among those with 10 or more attempts.

Monday Night Football cameras captured Greg Schiano in the face of punt returner Eric Page after his needless, seemingly stupid unnecessary roughness foul that came after he hit a Dolphins player following a punt he waved off bounced out of bounds.

It was a fourth-quarter mistake that could have been critical.

Page told Joe today that his screwup was uglier than it appeared. When the ball bounced, Page immediately broke to the Dolphins player to block him in order to prevent the guy from downing the ball inside the 10.

“It went out of bounds and it was too late for me. I kind of already went and hit him. I mean, you know, I just got to be smarter than that,” Page said.

“It just looked a lot worse than what it was because [the Dolphins player] stopped running. If he continues to run, he kind of can shield his way off. But, you know, he stopped, when the ball bounced he just stopped. And I kept going because I thought the ball was going to be in bounds, so I think that made it a little bit worse. … I saw it bounce in front of me and I kind of just took my eyes off it and went for him.”

Page said Schiano lectured him on playing smarter.

Joe hopes Schiano stays confident in Page. Joe sees a ton of upside there. He only recently turned 22 years old, and Page ranks 10th in the NFL among punt returners with 10 or more attempts. Page has returned 18 punts for 202 yards, an 11.2-yards-per-return average. He’s got one fumble, but so do eight of the nine guys ranked ahead him.

The development of Page is a feather in the cap of the New Schiano Order, and it should continue.

Bucs defensive tackle Akeem Spence was happy Bucs coaches turned the defensive line loose late in the game to seal the Bucs’ first win of the year.

Much has been made, going on two seasons, about how Bucs coaches seem to believe defensive linemen dancing around in choreographed if not silly stunts will somehow bring a quarterback to his knees.

But it seems as though the defensive line of the Bucs, as a whole, has gone to its knees enough times this season that perhaps Bucs defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan has seen the light?

A lot has been written of how Bucs coaches told the defensive line on Monday night, “Go get” the quarterback in the final defensive stand, a stand that resulted in two sacks of Ryan Tannehill and an interception by Darrelle Revis.

That move to let the defensive line pin their ears back for a change was not so much a revelation as it was finally coaches bowing to the wishes of the defensive line, so Bucs defensive tackle Akeem Spence told Joe today at One Buc Palace.

“That was fun. That was what we have been asking for all year and coach let us have it,” Spence said of getting to rush the quarterback. “We showed we could go out and do it. So, that’s what people expect. Come to the fourth quarter and get the job done.”

Even rookie defensive lineman William Gholston remarked about keying on the signal-caller.

“Man, that is so good when you don’t have to worry about any other adjustments,” Gholston said with a smile as wide as Tampa Bay. “Just go get him. It was fun. The way we closed out the game, I don’t see why we can’t play like that.”

Veteran Bucs running back Brian Leonard has been with the team all through training camp and the offseason, and he’s been a reliable third-down back and solid in diverse action.

Consider that on the Bucs’ game-winning scoring drive Monday night, it opened with five consecutive runs by Leonard (8, 11, 3, 6, and 2 yards) for 30 yards — six yards a carry. That came before new backup RB Bobby Rainey finished off the drive with a breakout run and a TD.

Leonard had 20 carries against the Dolphins, an all-time high in his seven year career.

So Leonard is surely the No. 1 back against the Falcons, right? Maybe.

Joe asked offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan today if Leonard would be the main man on Sunday and to talk about what he offers. Sullivan told Joe he was asking the wrong guy.

“I think any of the [discussions] as far as who’s the starter and who plays, you know, that’s above my pay grade, you know, in terms of who the starter is. That’s something you have to go check with Coach Schiano about,” Sullivan said. “I do know that there is a great confidence that we have in [Leonard] and I think the fact that he’s done so much on third down for us throughout the year, and that versatility is going to be a important to us to keep him on the field.”

Frankly, Joe found this answer slightly somewhat odd. Really, Coach Sullivan, you’re a second-year offensive coordinator and its above your pay grade to talk about who plays?

Sullivan often speaks openly about guys who are starting or moving into starting roles, or getting specific guys more involved, or potential matchups. Rainey has only been with the Bucs three weeks and has very little NFL experience. The other running back is an undrafted rookie signed today. Isn’t it a no-brainer that Leonard will carry the load as the next man up?

When Bucs rookie Mike Glennon connected with known pass-catching weapon and JumboTron star Donald Penn for a touchdown on the first drive Monday night, Glennon tied the immortal Bruce Gradkowski for the second-most franchise touchdowns thrown in a season with nine.

Sleepy, leaky Josh Freeman holds the team mark at 10. Glennon has seven more games to play, so barring an injury or a complete and total meltdown, Glennon will become the Bucs’ rookie leader in touchdowns thrown by season’s end.

Now Joe has already touched on something today, if there is a new Bucs coach (no, Joe isn’t yet ready to bet his house that Bucs commander Greg Schiano will be fired), and that coach is an offensive dude, he more than likely will be allowed to pick his own quarterback. And Joe somewhat doubts said choice would be Glennon. Nothing against Glennon, but he is Schiano’s guy through and through.

Now Glennon, aside from sporadic throws, hasn’t yet shown an ability to throw downfield consistently, to stretch the field. His average per completion is less than 10 yards a reception, which smells more like a West Coast quarterback then a downfield thrower.

There’s lots of love for Mike Glennon from NFL Network analyst and longtime general manager Charley Casserly. Speaking on WDAE-AM 620 today on his view of Glennon, and how the Bucs evaluate their quarterback, Casserly said, “I think we got one” and Glennon looks worthy of building around.

However, if the Bucs land in the very top tier of the NFL Draft, Casserly said, then it would be wise to draft a QB because of the critical nature of the position and the restrictions of the rookie salary cap. Twelve Glennon starts in 2013, Casserly said, just won’t be enough to thoroughly make a call on whether he’s a franchise QB.

Joe is encouraged by what Glennon has been able to accomplish as a third-round pick thrust into a mess, but Joe’s got to see a whole heck of a lot more to not draft a QB come May. There’s just two much QB talent in this draft. (Enjoy the full Casserly interview below.)

Rockstar general manager Mark Dominik has gone practice squad shopping and purchased rookie running back Michael Hill, the Bucs announced today.

Hill was an undrafted free agent who was on the Chargers practice squad, was signed away to the Packers active roster, and then landed back on the Packers practice squad.

Hill (5-10, 210) entered the league as a college free agent with San Diego this past offseason. He opened the season on the Chargers’ practice squad before being signed to the Packers’ active roster and playing in two games. He was placed on Green Bay’s practice squad on October 22.

A native of St. Joseph, Mo., Hill played collegiately at Missouri Western State and is the school’s all-time leading rusher, finishing his career with 828 carries for 4,969 yards and 35 touchdowns. He earned first-team Associated Press Little All-America and Daktronics All-America honors. As a senior Hill led the entire NCAA with 2,168 rushing yards.

It’s presumed that Hill immediately will become the Bucs’ No. 3 running back behind Brian Leonard and Bobby Rainey.

Joe hopes Hill proves better than the last Packers running back in Tampa, The Great Lumpkin.

The Bucs have an organization-changing decision coming in May (Yes, it’s May) when the NFL Draft bell rings. Do they draft a quarterback in the first round?

As of right now, the answer is easy. Yes, the Bucs will have a new head coach and Mike Glennon won’t be able to do enough this fall to convince a new regime he’s a franchise QB worthy of passing on a high pick in what’s considered a great quarterbacks class of 20’14.

But the looming X-factor is Greg Schiano winning enough to get Team Glazer to grant him a third season. And that generates a second X-factor: the only way the Bucs win, say, four or their final seven games to save Schiano’s job is if Glennon plays great football. Then what?

Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud and columnist Tom Jones do a great job diving into the debate in the WDAE-AM 620 audio cut below. Stroud believes Schiano might survive with a 5-11 record and a lot of “asterisks,” seemingly referring to MRSA, Josh Freeman, brutally tight games, and the usual excuses/reasons.

Two weeks ago, Joe wrote about Schiano’s magic number, and Joe still stands firm on that. But loads of other media have been jumping into the debate in a big way. It’s a discussion that likely will rage on for weeks. (Enjoy the audio below.)

Lost in the jubilation that embattled defensive end Da’Quan Bowers not only got his foot on the field Monday night but also recorded his first half-sack of the season was the fact that rookie defensive lineman Will Gholston got the other half of Bowers’ sack, which set the tone on the Bucs’ final defensive stop to win the game.

Gholston was another one of those third-day draft picks last spring by Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik, two of which have played major roles this season in starting defensive tackle Akeem Spence and running back Mike James.

Gholston had a chequered career at Michigan State, at times showing brilliance, at times being invisible. Often this season Gholston has found himself on the inactive list for games but that could be changing listening to Bucs commander Greg Schiano yesterday.

“Well, in the week we made a decision that there was certain things we felt – you know, [defensive lineman William] Gholston’s growing up, and he’s getting more and more prepared, and we said, ‘OK, this is going to be your package,’” Schiano said. “So I thought he handled what we asked him to do well. And some of it was a sacrificial role, too. Some of it he was just taking [Miami center Mike] Pouncey out of the mix, but he did what we asked him to do well.”

The Bucs need all the help they can get putting quarterbacks on the ground. If Gholston is finally becoming the man some thought him to be, then that’s even better for the Bucs.

It just gets Joe chuckling and shaking his head at times. Joe doesn’t know of many teams that for years have spent so much time and effort in drafting, coaching (?) and acquiring talent for the defensive line and are still so starved for any defensive lineman to just breathe on an opposing quarterback.

It was 3rd-and-16 on the Dolphins’ opening drive at Miami’s 14 yard line, a big set-the-tone play for the Bucs defense, and off ran Adrian Clayborn to the sidelines.

Yes, Joe realizes the Bucs added an extra defender in pass coverage, but Joe finds it very telling that Clayborn was not among the D-lineman chosen to rush the passer on the opening set of downs. Surely, he wasn’t tired. Clayborn’s allegedly Tampa Bay’s best defensive end and he was a first-round pick in 2011.

Just how far has Clayborn fallen?

He’s got five sacks in his last 16 starts, dating back to 2011. Keep in mind the guy he was drafted to replace, Stylez White, had 4 1/2 sacks in his last 16 games.

Joe’s got a close eye on Clayborn. These aren’t meaningless games coming up for No. 94. If Clayborn can’t produce, alongside a superstar defensive tackle in Gerald McCoy, then Joe can’t see how the Bucs avoid chasing a top pass rusher in free agency come March. When you fail in the draft, you have to make up for it when the free agency bell rings.

Donald Penn scoring on a touchdown pass from Mike Glennon was cool because you don’t often see an offensive tackle catch a pass.

The touchdown against the Dolphins on Monday night almost didn’t happen. Penn, who already caught a TDpass in his career, nearly didn’t get the chance thanks to the JumboTron at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway.

The pass play was in the Bucs’ game plan and they were ready to call it, but Bucs commander Greg Schiano noticed something that spooked him, reports eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune.

“We’d already called the play when Mike goes down,’’ Schiano said Tuesday. “During that stoppage, I knew we were going to recognize Donald because his 100th (consecutive) start came on the road. I was great with that, but then (quarterbacks coach) John McNulty says, ‘They’re playing it on the board.’ ”

As a video of of Penn’s previous scoring catch against the 49ers was displayed for all to see in front of a sold-out crowd at Raymond James Stadium — and any attentive Dolphins — Bucs coaches couldn’t believe their eyes.

“The conversation on the headset, you wouldn’t believe it,’’ Schiano said. “You can’t make this stuff up. But cooler minds prevailed. One of our coaches said we can’t let the JumboTron make our decisions.’’

Good thing Schiano was caught up in a moment of common sense. With coaches spending hours and hours and hours and days and days and days pouring over film, and with the Dolphins having 10 days of prep work since they last played on a Thursday night, Joe just cannot imagine a coaching staff seeing a three-year-old highlight on a JumboTron, and then canceling the play.

That would just be being paranoid, no other easy way of looking at it.

Want to experience the rare happy Bucs postgame locker room? Joe has that for you, along with his friends at WDAE-AM 620 and the Buccaneers Radio Network.

Here the voices of victorious rejoicing from defensive end Da’Quan Bowers, safety Dashon Goldson, running back Bobby Rainey, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, linebacker Lavonte David, center Jeremy Zuttah, running back Brian Leonard, linebacker Adam Heyward, cornerback Darrelle Revis, quarterback Mike Glennon and offensive tackle Donald Penn.

Additionally, there is a chat with Bucs commander Greg Schiano.

As always, audio is courtesy of Joe’s good friends at WDAE-AM 620 and the Buccaneers Radio Network.