Former Bucs great Warren Sapp is a Bucs legend through and through. Those his playing days are long over, he’s trying his best to help out.

Last year much was made of Warren Sapp taking a good chunk of his time to work out with Gerald McCoy at One Buc Palace.

It looks like Sapp plans to do the same with Da’Quan Bowers. On Twitter last night, Sapp reached out to Bowers and it looks as if Sapp wants to get rolling with Bowers.

@QBKILLA: @DaQuanBowers93 Gotta a Few Things For You Young Fella!!

Joe just thinks this is cool that Sapp is still trying to help the Bucs return to their glory days, despite the fact he can’t help on the field.

Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com gives his report outside Radio City Music Hall of what he loved about Day 2 of the NFL Draft. In this FoxSports.com video, No. 1 on his list was Bucs third round draft pick Mason Foster.

Joe’s absolutely loving all this real football chatter during draft week. Joe is fired up for the season.

Here are links to videos Joe just watched to help you get fired up, too, as if you need it.

1) The “Top 100 Players of 2011” series kicks off tonight on the real-man channel: NFL Network. Here’s the preview of Mike Williams, who checks in at No. 83. If you don’t get chills, seek medical attention.

2) THE OPTIMIST, who runs the fabulous BucStop.com, has unearthed video of the 1981 draft from ESPN, when it was about sports and not shtick. It’s a great old school look at the NFL. Joe confesses his parents didn’t have cable TV when the ’81 draft aired. Joe was probably hoping Pete Rose was playing on the NBC Game of the Week.

Enjoy.

As Joe hammers out more research on linebacker Mason Foster, the Bucs’ third-round pick out of Washington, Joe keeps seeing a common thread: Foster has a high football IQ enhanced by his time switching from defense to quarterback during his senior season in high school and playing multiple linebacker spots in college.

Former Bucs coach Herm Edwards and Foster come from the same Northern California coastal neighborhood (Foster’s going to get a rude awakening from the Tampa humidity and heat) and it seems Edwards knows the kid, so he told their hometown newspaper, The Herald of Monterey County, Calif.

Foster, among his other comments, thinks he flew under scouts’ radar and his savvy can make up for his physical shortcomings.

“Honestly, I kind of got overlooked playing on the West Coast,” said Foster before the draft. “On the big stage, I raised my game to another level.”

Foster’s versatility was an attraction. The 6-foot-1, 245-pounder can play the run inside, or line up on the outside and blitz or drop back into coverage.

“You don’t have to be a big linebacker to play in that system,” Edwards said. “You have to be instinctive. That’s what Mason is. He’s going to get a shot right away.”

Foster’s stock began to rise at the Senior Bowl. During the NFL combines, he was praised for his understanding of defenses during meetings with teams. What might have hurt Foster was his 40-yard dash time, which was 4.75 at the NFL combines. He had a best of 4.65.

“Some players are workout warriors,” Foster said. “But can they play?”

Per the Seattles Times, UW coach Steve Sarkisian said [Friday] that he thinks Foster will be “a great pro.”

“He’s such a versatile guy. He’s got the ability to play in space but yet play hard-nosed football. He’s an excellent pass rusher, and he’s got ball instincts. I don’t know how many times in two years, the ball gets tipped into the air and it finds its way into No. 40’s hands. He’s just got great instincts, and in the NFL he equates to a three-down linebacker, meaning he can play first- and second-down football, but even in nickel situations, he can rush the passer or cover people – he can do that really well too.”

Joe likes Foster’s legitimate versatility. Hopefully he can light a fire under the asses of all the Bucs’ starting linebackers, assuming they’re still wearing pewter when the dust settles on free agency.

If there’s clearly an end to the lockout come next week, courtesy of the courts, it seems the NFL would have to rule immediately on what to do with all the restricted free agents who were tendered by their teams in February.

Plus, the league would have to craft operating rules for 2011 to avoid chaos, as the legal mess plays out in court and negotiation resumes between owners and players.

Popular speculation has both sides agreeing to play 2011 by 2010 rules.

If so, that means a pile of Bucs restricted free agents could have new guaranteed contracts by virtue of Mark Dominik tendering them offers before the lockout. The Tampa Tribune reported the list of Bucs in that boat back in February.

Defensive ends Stylez White and Tim Crowder were given tender thumb-ups by Dominik, and with Da’Quan Bowers, Adrian Clayborn and Michael Bennett all but locks for the roster, Joe’s sniffing the end of the Kyle Moore era. That would leave E.J. Biggers, Sammie Stroughter, Roy Miller and Josh Freeman left from the class of 2009.

Also on the tendered list, per the Tribune, were Jeremy Trueblood, Davin Joseph and James Lee. With Demar Dotson coming back from injury, Joe wouldn’t be shocked if the Bucs don’t touch an offensive lineman in Day 3 of the draft.

Joe’s good friend Derek “Old School” Fournier of WhatTheBuc.net gives his take on the Bucs first two draft picks, Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers. Dedicated that he is, he filed his video from Wheaton, Ill. You know what Wheaton, Ill. is famous for? First, it was the birth place of the Galloping Ghost, Red Grange, and it’s a friggin’ dry town… in Illinois of all places!!! A dry Friday night? Joe simply cannot fathom!

THE PESSIMIST is a diehard Bucs fan whose negative writings appear occasionally on JoeBucsFan.com. His views surely do not necessarily reflect those of Joe. However, Joe sure gets a kick out of them.

What’s amazing about this Da’Quan Bowers pick is every team, including the Bucs, passed on him obviously because of his crappy knee. This morning, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reported Bowers has a bone-on-bone condition. There’s no cure for that, folks.

The last Buccaneer with a bone-on-bone knee was Antonio Bryant. You can read about it in Joe’s archives.

But Mark Dominik calls Bowers great “value.” Nice.

So what’s Dominik trying to prove? Sure, the GM does his homework and sorted through character issues with Mike Williams and LeGarrette Blount and came up with gems, but you don’t talk to third-grade teachers and grill coaches to solve a knee. Bowers is damaged goods, and the Bucs gambled when they didn’t have to.

God forbid the Bucs went the seemingly safer route and prepared to break the bank to pay Ray Edwards, a healthy 26-year-old free agent coming off two eight-sack seasons in Minnesota.

THE PESSIMIST supposes the Bucs don’t think it’s prudent to actually pay a young proven player in his prime. Why the hell do that when you can toss a second-round pick after a busted up college dude?

THE PESSIMIST finds it comical that the Bucs say they’re building a lasting contender and they just drafted a guy unlikely to last.

The Bucs may have found the new Sack Exchange, but right now it’s rookie Bowers with a bumb knee, Brian Price with a mysterious hip/hamstring, Gerald McCoy coming off surgery, and Adrian Clayborn with one arm shorter than the other and coming off a 3 1/2-sack college season.

THE PESSIMIST can’t imagine any team will be scared of that bunch for a while.

Now Joe is not an NFL scout, though he prides himself in scoping young, tanned, skin-baring, nubile lasses at top shelf watering holes.

But just eyeballing Bucs third round draft pick outside linebacker Mason Foster, some things jump out at Joe:

1) He can shed blocks. Against damned good blocking teams as well.

2) Seems like a helluva athlete. Quick, good feet, solid hands. Here’s a look at his combine drills.

3) Has ball awareness. Just check out this video of a game-winning interception return against Arizona. Oh, one could call that clutch as well.

4) It appears Foster is a tweener. He can play in a 34 defense or as a SAM in a traditional 43. It seems hybrid defenses are not just the future of football, but the now. So Bucs rock star general manager Dominik is playing this one smart.

Here are some plays that Bucs third round draft pick, outside linebacker Mason Foster made against Nebraska this past winter. Joe likes how he is able to shed blockers, and Nebraska can friggin’ block. Joe’s good friend Justin Pawlowski of WDAE-AM 620 will be happy to learn this.

Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik has decided to go back to the PAC-10 to mine some more help on the defensive side of the ball, tagging Washington outside linebacker Mason Foster.

Foster is a tackling machine, second in the nation in tackles per game.

Joe doesn’t believe Dominik will spend a draft pick on a guy on the offensive side of the ball. Nor should he. Time to load up on linebackers and secondary help.

Hey, Joe’s all for any ballhawk linebacker. Dude that averages nine tackles a game can’t be too shabby.

In this less than quality St. Petersburg Times video, Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik discusses why he pulled the trigger on defensive end Da’Quan Bowers and speaks at length to this issue of Bowers’ unstable knee.

One of the greatest truisms in football is that a good defensive line can make a mediocre secondary look good.

Now Joe’s not about to suggest the Bucs secondary is mediocre. Until this evening, it was the strongest unit on the team, sans Josh Freeman. Now Joe is convinced that the Falcons going out and getting Julio Jones will make no difference in Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik’s decision on whether to jettison troubled cornerback Aqib Talib.

Joe is of the opinion there won’t be much of a drop off if any at all if Talib is an ex-Bucs player in the coming weeks. Some suggested that the Dixie Chicks acquiring Jones sealed Talib’s job security with the Bucs.

With the selection of Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers, defensive ends each, along with current tackles Gerald McCoy and Brian Price, potentially the Bucs have the strongest, youngest defensive front in football.

The way these guy should torment opposing quarterbacks, Joe expects the secondary to explode, with or without Talib.

So you didn’t think Joe could find some video highlights of new defensive end Da’Quan Bowers? What’s the matter with you?

In this NFL Network video, a variety of highlights and description of Bowers’ talents are provided.

Next up is Mike Mayock’s report from Bowers’ Pro Day at Clemson. Mayock says something very telling: “If you love the tape on Bowers, you’ll still love the kid. Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik is a big tape guy.

In yet another NFL Network video, Bowers talks about what gets his motor in gear and about where he grew up.

After Bucs second round pick, Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers has his next knee surgery, he can pass the time away with his other gift, guitar. Now he can double-dip, getting paid by the Bucs and making some cash at a Ybor City night club.

As the men who frequent this site probably saw already, former Bucs great John Lynch introduced the masses to the newest addition to the Tampa Bay Bucs, Clemson defensive end Du’Auan Bowers.

Fans can relive the scene in this NFL Network video and watch it over and over again tonight.

If Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik hits a home run on this one, Joe cannot think of a more powerful defensive front since the Bucs glory days.

The staff of CBS College Sports breaks down Da’Quan Bowers in this CBSSports.com video.

In a roll of the dice, Mark Dominik may have gotten one of the best defensive ends in the draft. Da’Quan Bowers of Clemson, who apparently has a severe knee issue reported to be bone-on-bone,  had a freefall all the way to the Bucs at the 19th slot of the second round.

Just this morning, Peter King suggested that Bowers was still on Dominik’s radar as Dominik lusted over Bowers at the combine but was sullen in the realization that Bowers would never fall to the Bucs.

Then came the news of his knee ailment.

This is a great gamble by the Bucs and reminds Joe exactly of what happened last year. The Bucs, woeful on the defensive front, loaded up on tackles in the first two rounds with Gerald McCoy and Brian Price.

Now, after drafting Adrian Clayborn yesterday, Dominik goes out and gets perhaps when healthy, the best defensive end in the draft, Bowers.

If both Clayborn and Bowers can play average football, the Bucs will have a monster defensive front not seen since, well, Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice prowled the turf of The CITS if not the old Steel Curtain of the Steelers.

Joe is happy to have covered some stud players as a sports journalist. Locally, that includes Dexter McCluster, Michael Jenkins, D’Qwell Jackson and Riley Cooper — NFL players all — spring to mind for Joe.

Maybe tonight, certainly tomorrow, former Clearwater Central Catholic and University of Miami linebacker Colin McCarthy should join that list.

A clutch player at CCC in his high school days, McCarthy, a bruising, hard-hitting linebacker, has experience playing all three linebacker positions in a 43 defensive front and called the players for the Hurricanes on defense. McCarthy was voted by his teammates as one of the Hurricanes captains this past season.

McCarthy was kind enough to give Joe a few brief moments to discuss visiting the Bucs at One Buc Palace, potentially playing for the Bucs and his soon-to-begin NFL career.

JoeBucsFan.com: Did the Bucs talk to you at all about character issues and if that is a big issue with players they interview?

Colin McCarthy: No, that wasn’t an issue. I just got the opportunity to visit and meet the head coach and then the defensive assistants. I got to speak with the general manager and got a tour around the facility and worked out a little bit. We just talked football and expectations and what they have and how I can fit into their system.

Joe: If the Bucs draft you, what kind of player are they expecting?

McCarthy: If they draft me, they are going to get a hard-nosed football player who can play any of the linebacker positions in the 43 system. They gave me the opportunity at Miami to make all the calls on defense and get the defense lined up so I’m ready to make that move to the next level. At the end of the day, no matter where I end up, I am going to keep pushing forward.

Joe: Tell Joe about being a captain for the Canes.

McCarthy: That wasn’t the biggest thing with Miami, to get voted on by the players and to get their respect. Fellow teammates look up to you whether it’s in a game or in the locker room or of the field for guidance and making decisions. I’m always looking out for [others] to set a good example.

Joe: What do you think about the possibility of playing for your hometown team?

McCarthy: It would be a great opportunity obviously. The Bucs are an up-and-coming team. They got snubbed last year for a playoff game but there is a lot of young talent there. Given the opportunity to help get them to be a playoff team and use my athletism and my passion for the game of football… I really think I could help them get to the playoffs and hopefully win another Super Bowl.

Joe: What was your take on Dominik? Did he grill you about anything in particular? What did he say he liked about you?

McCarthy: The one thing was, since I have played all three linebacker positions, it increased my value and how I can help the team. He also said he liked the way I carry myself on and off the field and the passion I play with and the mentality I play with and how I get to the football and make plays. Overall, there is no character issue and they are willing to let a football player approach the game as a professional and take full advantage of the opportunity to play for the organization.

Joe: What did you think of Raheem Morris?

McCarthy: I met a few coaches along the way during this period and [Morris] seems like a player’s coach. From the first minute I met him at the Bucs facility, I knew right away he was going he was going to be very easy to talk to. I got a chance to watch film with him and we were going over plays. It would be a great opportunity to play for Raheem.

Joe: What did he like about you?

McCarthy: He told me I was a hard-nosed football player that will do what it takes to make a play, that I have a true passion for the game and he likes the way I lead and how I take control of the defense. I make most of the calls and he said I was smart enough to handle all of that as a rookie in the NFL, that I was more than capable of doing that.

BSPN draft analyst Todd McShay — who in his seven-round mock draft did not have the Bucs taking any defensive ends — discusses the Adrian Clayborn selection.

Joe listened live to the Adrian Clayborn news conference at One Buc Palace this afternoon, and Clayborn didn’t say much of anything outside of general-speak and cliches, so Joe stopped transcribing.

However, Clayborn repeated his “I kick ass” philosophy, as Joe documented last night.

And he also said he met with Brian Price today at One Buc Palace. Joe thought it was awesome to learn that Price, a west coast guy, was in town and at the team facility, presumably drooling at the thought of getting back to work.

Clayborn reiterated that Gerald McCoy called him last night, and said Josh Freeman called him today. Damn, Joe would have loved to hear what the Bucs’ leader had to say to the newest rookie.

Clayborn will wear No. 94, worn by Kyle Moore the past two seasons. Let the Moore speculation begin.