Bucs general manager Mark Dominik likes to brag how picking up free agents is the “second draft” of the spring.

That’s a pretty good analogy because there were many players Dominik picked up that others passed on including LeGarette Blount offensive lineman Ted Larsen. Last season the Bucs had 24 undrafted free agents on their roster.

In a story published in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, UFL coach Jerry Glanville stated over 10 percent of the starters in the NFL were undrafted free agents. Given the current lockout, once the draft is complete Saturday night, no team can sign any undrafted free agent.

That doesn’t mean the UFL can’t.

The NFL will draft 255 players next week. However, per lockout rules, teams will not be able to sign or contact undrafted players.

“What’s left over is 400 players who ordinarily would have gone to the NFL,” Glanville said. “Eleven percent of NFL starters are undrafted free agents. And I can’t tell you how long I’ve studied that 11 percent. We’re going to jump all over those kids.”

NFL teams build roster depth with rookie free agents. Many times, they strike gold, too. Texans running back Arian Foster, the NFL’s leading rusher last year, was a rookie free agent in 2009. Steelers linebacker James Harrison, the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, was a rookie free agent in 2002. John Randle made it from rookie free agent with the Vikings in 1990 to Pro Football Hall of Famer in 2010.

Given the fact Dominik and his staff have shown an eagle eye for talent that is floating in limbo undrafted, the UFL very well may poach these players. If you are such a player and someone is dangling cash at you with a chance to prove your worth as a player, you’d be stupid to pass up the chance.

Which makes Joe wonder, how much will the UFL this season put Dominik in a pinch and, more to the point, how will the UFL hurt the Bucs?

Rock star general manager Mark Dominik joined Mike Florio on Pro Football Talk Live this afternoon and Joe has the intriguing highlights:

Dominik said the lockout currently eliminating undrafted free agents from the equation will change the seventh round of the draft. Dominik explained that certain guys are more likely to be drafted rather than teams gambling on signing them in the hours following the draft. He gave the example of Erik Lorig taken with the team’s final seventh-round pick last year. Dominik explained Lorig was “drafted because I knew he was a West Coast man … and it would be that difficult to [get Lorig] across country and sign here.”

In response to whether he’s drafting for need or staying true to his draft board, Dominik somewhat changed his previous stance. Dominik is straddling the fence, “Quite honestly it’ll be a mixture of both of those.” He said other no general manager would be honest if he says otherwise.

Dominik politely declined comment on Aqib Talib. In response to Chris Hovan’s criticism on radio of the team’s handling of Talib, Dominik said not everyone in organization is aware of Talib’s discipline. In Joe’s eyes it was a polite way of saying Hovan doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

Backing comments by Bill Polian, Dominik said the uncertainty of free agency “opens up our boards” and the reality that all free agents have to be presumed gone as a team approaches the draft.

Dominik said he’s certainly interested in trading back if a coveted quarterback QB is there when the Bucs pick at No. 20. He said he’s “reaching out to other clubs now to guage interesting trading picks.”

Dominik’s first answer to the question of the Bucs’ top need? “I’ve always been a big believer in keeping our quarterback healthy and upright.” He followed that up with expressing a desire to put heat on Matt Ryan and Drew Brees.

Hardly lobbying for an apperance on Hard Knocks, Dominik said “Hard Knocks is still up in the air with our organization. …We’re going to still consider it,” he said.

As much as Joe is fired up about this week’s NFL Draft, Joe is absolutely pumped up for the NFL Network special that starts Saturday night and will extend for weeks. The focus of the series is the top 100 players currently in the league as voted by NFL players.

What? You don’t have the man channel, aka NFL Network? Shame on you. (Life tip: weather reports and radar are available online 24/7.)

Now Joe has learned with help from a reader and confirmation by an NFL source, that Mike Williams cracked the top 100 and will be featured on the show. Joe was told Williams checks in at No. 83.

Joe thinks it’s fabulous that a rookie like Williams, at a position with loads of talent and names, made the cut. That bodes very well for several Bucs making the top 100.

Joe suspects Aqib Talib, Josh Freeman and Donald Penn are locks. And Joe has a little hope for Kellen Winslow, Ronde Barber and LeGarrette Blount, though Joe realizes Peter King, via the link above, reported only two rookies made the cut, including Ndamukong Suh.

Are the Bucs high on Hynoski? A dad who played in the NFL is part of his solid pedigree.

Perhaps eager to cast aside the ghost of 2010 sixth-round pick Brent Bowden, rockstar general manager Mark Dominik surely is salivating over the chance work his late-round magic on Saturday. C’mon, Dominik, Bucs fans need you to be the prince of the seventh round AND the sixth round. NFL Draft guru Justin”The Commish” Pawlowski of WDAE-AM 620 explored some of Dominik’s likely options in the seventh round yesterday. And below he tackles possible sixth-round gems. In case your wondering, fifth-rounders will appear here this evening.

6th Round Picks that would get a “Commish’s High Five”

Henry Hynoski – FB – Pitt
6’0’’ – 257 lbs – DNP

Although the Bucs are using Eric Lorig as a full time FB now, I still wouldn’t mind them getting a true fullback. I’m not sure why they are so content to convert players from other positions to fullback, but Hynoski would be a great fit for the Bucs straight-ahead run scheme. He is an excellent blocker and proved to have reliable hands out of the backfield.

Ahmad Black – S – Florida
5’10’’ – 184 lbs – 4.76

Black is very small and displayed no speed this off-season. I could definitely see him dropping. The good part is that Black has good character and leadership skills. He knows how to be around the ball. If he does last this long, he represents good value.

Ugo Chinasa – DE – Oklahoma St
6’5’’ – 264 lbs – 4.71

Chinasa is a long and lean defensive end with long arms. He could project to outside linebackers in a 3-4. He lacks strength and an elite first step.  Chinasa is a good athlete though with decent movement.

Da’Rel Scott – RB – Maryland
5’1’’ – 211 lbs – 4.34

Scott might be the fastest running back in the draft. He is a big play waiting to happen. The problem with Scott is that with every big play for his offense, he gives a big play to the defense by fumbling the ball away. If Scott learns to hold onto the ball, he’ll have a successful NFL career.

Markell Carter – DE/OLB – Central Arkansas
6’4’’ – 252 lbs – 4.70

Carter is a hybrid defensive end/linebacker who presents a lot of positives when rushing the passer. He is under the radar, but the Bucs brought him in for a visit and apparently like him.

As part of his explosive appearance last week on “Happy Hour with J.P.” heard on WQYK-AM 1010 with electronic media czar J.P. Peterson, former Bucs defensive tackle Chris Hovan also tackled the subject of Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, who is rumored to be drafted by NFC South foe Carolina first overall.

Also last week heard on local radio airwaves, Mike Florio, the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com, during his regular weekly appearance with Joe’s good friend “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig, of WDAE-AM 620, said he wished he could see what was left on the cutting room floor of Chucky’s grilling of Newton in what appears to be a vacant Clearwater office turned film room for BSPN.

In Chucky’s episode with Newton, Chucky asked Newton to call a play in a huddle using some of the most complex verbiage used at Auburn.

Newton couldn’t do it, replying after thinking for a period of time, “You’re putting me on the spot.”

Few are aware that one of the people not shown in the video who was in that very  room at the time of the taping, lurking in the background, was Hovan.

Hovan described his impression of Newton from Chucky’s session.

J.P. Peterson: You were there with Gruden when he did his chalktalk, kind of in the background…

Chris Hovan: Right.

J.P.: … you said the other day that you were just not impressed with Cam’s intelligence and that he wasn’t very quick-witted which I am guessing has to be an absolute necessity for a quarterback in the NFL.

Hovan: It is. I mean, if you look at all the top flight quarterbacks, the Peyton Mannings and Tom Brady, they are so systematic when they play football. They know how to read coverages. The first and second audible or the third audible, where to go when the defense presents looks to them. And I don’t feel in a pressure situation that Cam can make those checks right now. If he was under Jon Gruden, if Jon Gruden was his head coach, he would definitely red shirt. If you are going to put him out there — first of all, Carolina’s offensive line, they pretty much only have Jordan Gross right now. He’s a left tackle and was drafted in the first round. If you put him in there with a suspect offensive line you are going to get the kid killed. Yeah, he can run…

J.P.: And he will be running.

Hovan: … but you can only run for so long. They are going to hunt this kid down. I don’t feel he is ready for the NFL level yet. Does he have the intangibles? Athletically, yes he does. But this is just a complex game when you go to the NFL level, especially at the quarterback position. You have to be ready to make those checks at the line of scrimmage. I don’t feel like he is ready for that yet.

J.P.: Now what kind of sense do you get from him as a leader? You have been in many, many locker rooms. You have played with many quarterbacks. You can name them. Some good ones and some bad ones. Did he have that quarterback intangible that you have to have where guys are going to run through the wall for you, they feel like you are the man and you will take us to the promised land. Did he have that charisma?

Hovan: No, I don’t really — he has charisma. J.P. The only thing I have a problem with was when he called himself an icon. You are not really iconic yet my man. Yes, you played one year at Auburn and won a national championship but you played one year. It’s enough to raise his draft stock but at the same time that does not make you ready for the NFL. You are not iconic yet. Peyton Manning is iconic, Tom Brady is iconic. Why? Because Tom Brady won three Super Bowls. Peyton Manning won a Super Bowl but he has always been in the hunt. For him to put himself out there and say that he is something that he is not, I do have a problem with that and he’s’ going to have a problem with that when he walks into a locker room. He’s going to have to go in there and earn the respect of his team. I just don’t think you need to be saying words before you produce.

Joe wishes Hovan would have given some other examples, but it was interesting to hear from someone in the same room as Newton and Gruden when this session was taped that sort of reinforced what others thought when Newton couldn’t answer a simply question from Chucky — didn’t even try to answer.

Newton was a sick quarterback in that dime store spread-option. The history of quarterbacks in the NFL succeeding in that spread-option is thin. Aaron Rodgers is one of the few Joe can think of (Sam Bradford is another) and how many years did Rodgers sit on the pine learning an NFL offense before the Packers got sick of Brett Favre’s drama?

Don’t miss the Easter night live draft chat right here with NFL Draft guru Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski, of WDAE-AM 620. Nothing is off limits when it comes to the NFL Draft. Fun time. See you tonight.

Don’t take your anger out on Rick Stroud and discount his bold message today, says fellow St. Pete Times beat scribe Stephen Holder.

Holder came to Stroud’s defense in the comment section of TampaBay.com after a barrage of hate was leveled at Stroud, who wrote unsourced claims today that the Bucs would have cut Aqib Talib already if not for the lockout and that Talib’s been almost completely written off by the organization.

Holder joined commenters under the story and told readers to keep it real.

Stephen Holder Apr 24, 2011 3:52 PM

Listen folks, if you don’t like the messenger, that’s got nothing to do with whether the content is true. We’re sometimes privy to things we can’t elaborate on because we’ve been asked not to. It’s one of the more difficult parts of the job. Rick has a very good basis for reporting this. Trust me. Brasho, I basically said the same thing in my chat the other day, so Rick and I are on the same page with this.

Holder went on, in a separate comment, to ascribe motives to commenters blasting Stroud. Joe hates when people ascribe motives.

“I’d just like to add that I think a lot of people are reacting emotionally to this because you don’t want to see the guy go. I get that. Unfortunately, the news isn’t reported based on what we want to hear. News simply is what it is, whether we like it or not,” Holder wrote.

Joe finds all of Holder’s comments amusing. In Joe’s world, “the news,” as Holder calls it, comes from a source, whether it be the reporter witnessing something and writing about it, or the reporter delivering the news and attributing said news to a source — anonymous or otherwise. Anything else is opinion.

As Joe wrote earlier in great detail, Joe is not buying any of this from the Times beat guys, not because they wrote it, but because it doesn’t fit Mark Dominik’s M.O.

Just what will the Bucs do in the draft? Good guy Tom Korun takes a look in this WFTS-TV video.

The tirade from Chris Hovan Thursday against the Bucs and specifically, troubled cornerback Aqib Talib, brought up the subjects of double standards in the NFL.

Even Hovan pointed out that if Talib wasn’t a stud he would be gone by now.

It seems Vic Carucci of NFL.com picks up where Hovan left off, describing double standards in the NFL.

Talib’s talent, as Hovan pointed out, “goes through the ceiling.” If the Bucs were to cut him, another team would pick him up in a blink. He might bring along his penchant for finding trouble off the field, but he also would bring along exceptional skills that can help a team win.

General manager Mark Dominik, coach Raheem Morris and the rest of the Bucs’ decision-makers undoubtedly consider that any time the notion might arise — if it ever arises — to part ways with Talib.

It looks as if he’ll just continue to be one of those guys who gets two hamburgers at lunch … until the day comes when his play no longer warrants special treatment.

While Carucci — a good guy who has taken time to help Joe from time to time — makes a lot of sense, the analogy he makes in his column is absurd. He tries to compare Talib’s sometimes criminal, always violent, acts to Buffalo Bills former star Bruce Smith skipping training camp.

Last Joe checked, one cannot get arrested or thrown in jail — or worse, sentenced to prison — for blowing off two-a-days. Nor does NFL warden commissioner Roger Goodell suspend people for dodging practice.

This is the salient point of all this Talib nonsense: No matter how talented a player can be, he sure as heck cannot help a team in any way sitting on his couch in Texas (or his luxury box at The CITS) watching games on TV while serving a multiple-game suspension.

And when other, younger Bucs players perceive the organization as looking the other way on Talib, might they also start taking liberties outside of team rules and policies as well, knowing there are minimal ramifications?

Bucs beat writer Rick Sroud, of the St. Pete Times, makes a pile of bold, unsourced statements today in a piece about the Bucs organization planning to dump Aqib Talib.

Joe is a bit skeptical — only because Stroud offers no source, not even an anonymous one. Here’s just one of Stroud’s statements that say the Bucs have written off Talib. 

As far as the Bucs are concerned, the outcome of the case won’t matter. They know Talib at the least faces a long league suspension.

The Bucs have reached a point where they believe Talib’s talent no longer justifies the trouble he generates. They believe it’s only a matter of time before he runs afoul of the rules again.

That’s why general manager Mark Dominik made it clear last week that the Bucs have altered their draft plans to include selecting a cornerback.

Joe suggests you click through above to the whole story and read all of Stroud’s assertions.

First, Joe’s not seeing where Dominik made it clear publicly that the Bucs “altered” their draft plans to grab a cornerback.  Joe’s heard Dominik say the exact oppostite.

And if Talib gets off without admitting to using a gun, an outcome that seems quite plausible, why would Roger Goodell give Talib a long suspension, as Stroud claims?

What punishment is Talib really going to get if the only thing certain is that he ran to the aid of his sister and attacked her alleged abuser without using a gun?

Joe’s just not buying Stroud’s claims yet.

Talib’s Dallas attorney Frank Perez told JoeBucsFan.com that he “expects to take the case to the grand jury and have it resolved there,” meaning Talib would not be indicted. “We’ve interviewed 17 or 19 witnesses and none of them say Aqib Talib had a gun. He wasn’t handling a gun,” Perez said.

Joe believes the Bucs will wait on the outcome of the case and Goodell’s subsequent decision before making their own call on Talib.  Mark Dominik and Raheem seem to take pride in being patient and calculating.

"Is Mistrall Raymond out of USF the next E.J. Biggers?"

Who’s the prince of the seventh round? Why it’s rockstar general manager Mark Dominik. The Bucs have two seventh-round picks this year, which means Dominik is drooling over two tries to find a future member of the Bucs’ Ring of Honor.

Draft guru/junkie Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski shares his thoughts below on possible gems for the Bucs when the draft winds down on Saturday.

7th Round Picks that would get a “Commish’s High Five”

Cortez Allen – CB – Citadel
6’1’’ – 197 lbs – 4.51

The Bucs brought Allen in for a visit to One Buc Place. Allen has a fantastic combination of size (6’1’’ 200 lbs) and speed (4.51), but he needs good coaching to learn the proper technique for a corner. He is a long corner with long arms to match up with bigger receivers.

Anthony Gaitor – CB – FIU
5’9’’ – 177 lbs – 4.48

The Bucs just recently brought Gaitor in for a visit. He is not very big or strong. However, he has excellent ball skills and reads a quarterback extremely well in coverage. Despite his size, Gaitor is tough as a tackler. Best future is as a “slot” corner and to add depth to a roster.

Mistrall Raymond – CB/S – USF
6’2’’ – 192 lbs – 4.55

I know Raymond hasn’t gotten much run this offseason, but I think he deserves a shot in the NFL. He has the ability to play safety or corner as he played both at USF. Raymond is a former walk-on that busted his ass with fantastic work ethic to become a scholarship player and the Bulls’ shutdown corner in 2010.

Josh Portis – QB – California (PA)
6’3’’ – 211 lbs – 4.61

After beginning his career at Florida and bouncing to Maryland, Portis played the last two seasons at California University in Pennsylvania. He is a big time athlete that can throw the football. He accumulated 69 touchdowns the last three seasons with just 16 interceptions. There are some serious character concerns along with poor mechanics. The Bucs met with Portis a few times this off-season, so they might just be interested.

Ron Parker – S – Newberry College
6’0’’ – 206 lbs – 4.35

I don’t think many people know a lot about Ron Parker, but the Bucs knew enough to add the Division II, 2nd Team All American to the list of guys they worked out. Parker has good size and great speed. Parker is a fantastic tackler from the strong safety position and the type of raw defensive back Raheem Morris can mold.

"Oh, Joe. I'm sweaty just thinking about all this draft coverage."

Absolute NFL Draft mayhem will soon break out on JoeBucsFan.com. Joe’s got near psychotic in-depth draft coverage coming your way.

Look for a cool draft guide tomorrow morning, and on Easter night at 8 p.m., The Commish, Justin Pawlowski of WDAE-AM 620, will bust out yet another live chat right here. Last week’s had about 300 viewers inside the live chat and all kinds of great questions.

The Commish also will serve up a written round-by-round look at the Bucs’ options, and fire off a new mock draft, Commish’s board, podcasts and more. Joe also will have The Commish’s exclusive interview with Mark Dominik after it airs on WDAE-AM 620 in two parts, Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Joe also has draft interviews lined up that you won’t want to miss.  Oh, the excitement.

Last but not least, Joe will rip off the most intense Bucs draft coverage known to man on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Looking back at 2009, Joe and legions of other Bucs fans were praying Mark Dominik wouldn’t draft presumed bust-in-waiting Josh Freeman. Thank goodness Joe and the masses were wrong.

Last year, it was obvious Gerald McCoy was going to be the pick at No. 3 overall, unless manbeast-in-waiting Ndamakong Suh was somehow there.

This year, just about every pundit is calling a defensive end for the Bucs with the No. 20 pick. Frankly, Joe’s not taking any bets that will be the case. Joe keeps hearing about how Dominik “invested” heavily in defensive tackles last year, and to maximize that investment he’ll snag defensive ends this year.

That sounds nice, but Joe believes there are variables. What if Keith Millard, the new pass rush specialist/D-line coach, has poured over tape and believes he has untapped gems in youngsters Michael Bennett and Alex Magee? Joe has heard countless times it takes D-lineman a few years to blossom. Magee, a former third-round pick, turns 24 on draft day and Bennett is 25. Former Bucs DE Steve White often expressed high hopes for Bennett and raved of Bennett’s ability.

… If I could get that kid in the lab for a week or two I guarantee you I’d turn him into a monster. Basically I’d just teach him to unleash the beast that he already has shown he has in him and he would end up destroying people.

Maybe Millard thinks Kyle Moore was just poorly coached and that Tim Crowder has the motor and desire to be a top producer?

And remember Dominik’s comment about Brian Price and defensive end.

Joe believes the Bucs will draft a defensive end. But in the first round?

Dominik has stated his No. 2 priority in building a team is protecting the quarterback. And there sit the Bucs with an injured 30-year-old at starting center with a fat salary, and Davin Joseph and Jeremy Trueblood as unrestricted free agents. There’s absolutely no guarantee those guys return.

What if Mike Pouncey is there for the Bucs at No. 20? What if Dominik is confident he can trade down a handful of slots and still grab Goliath Gabe Carimi out of Wisconsin to play right tackle for the next 10 years?

If you tune to Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski’s exclusive interview with Dominik at 7 p.m. on WDAE-AM on Tuesday, you’ll hear Dominik talk about the great strength of this offensive tackle class.

Ferocious linebacker anyone?

It’s a crap shoot this year more than ever, especially with free agency a mystery. Good luck calling the Bucs’ first-round pick, if they even draft in the first round.

We’re just days from the NFL Draft, which, as Joe’s good friend Justin Pawlowski of WDAE-AM 620, “The Commish,” likes to call it, Christmas in April, and the s(p)it being tossed by teams is amazing.

One such person from Ocala is even smelling the stuff coming out of One Buc Palace, so he asked BSPN’s Pat Yasinskas in a recent NFC South chat.

Adam (Ocala,Fl)
Hey Pat, what do you make of MD saying that DE may not be the Bucs biggest need? Somkescreen?

Pat Yasinskas
He didn’t say it wasn’t their biggest need. He said he wouldn’t disagree with that opinion, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to draft a DE in the first round. Would you expect him to say anything else?

Just about everyone will be floored if, when the Bucs pick at No. 20 Thursday night, NFL warden commissioner Roger Goodell doesn’t call out the name of a defensive end. But for whatever reason, an interview The Commish did with Bucs rock star Mark Dominik after the second round last year rings in Joe’s head. One of the reasons the Bucs selected Brian Price was that Dominik thought Price had the ability to perhaps play defensive end.

So if Dominik stuns the NFL world by passing on a defensive end in the first round, remember that little tidbit.

As Joe has stated previously, one would have an easier time breathing through the haze of Jerramy Stevens’ vehicle on a Saturday night prior to a home game than the spin putting out by NFL teams in the scant few days prior to the draft.

Sure, it’s a re-run. It’s already graced the airwaves. But it’s still fun and thought-provoking, and most of you never bothered to watch it.

So sit back and check out this cut from the JoeBucsFan TV studios. NFL Draft guru Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski gets all crazy talking about defensive ends.

Andrew Economos is injured. Most of you couldn't pick him out of a lineup, so the towel shot of him seemed appropriate here.

Joe sifted through gobs of reader email after word came out Thursday that Bucs long snapper and special teams captain Andrew Economos popped an Achilles tendon.

Some wanted Joe to hurry up and get all over that critical, breaking news.

Of course, Joe feels bad for Economos, but Joe struggles to get excited enough to write about such an insignificant happening. Joe often follows a simple rule: if it doesn’t arouse Joe, then it doesn’t appear on the blog, at least not with any urgency.

Should the Bucs be able to find another capable long snapper and part-time special teams player with months of notice? Absolutely!

If Mark Dominik can’t get that done, then he’s not the rock star some think he is.

It’s the happy Rays marriage of RaysIndex.com and JoeRaysFan.com, all smushed into one very popular website.

Check it out. And don’t forget the No Excuses Tour from Tampa to Tropicana Field, roundtrip for only $9,95.

Don Banks is convinced the Bucs are on the cusp of greatness.

The former Bucs beat writer and current Sports Illustrated NFL writer has busted out a huge story on Mark Dominik and his drafts and philosophy. It’s long, and reasonably interesting.

“It’s not too much different for us, because we’re still really young,” said Dominik, himself only 40, but a 16-year veteran of the Bucs organization. “If I could steal (Packers general manager) Ted Thompson’s words, you’ve got to put three or maybe even four draft classes together to really get the team you want to be at this level. I do feel like we’ve got two good draft classes now back to back, and I’m excited about the way we handle the draft. But I want to continue that, obviously because (Josh) Freeman is so young, and there’s a big window here that I hope is just starting to open up.

“When you have the right quarterback, you want to keep that window open as long as possible, like the Patriots and Colts have done. But this draft class is again very pivotal for us because we have some question marks on this roster that still need to be answered, and I feel like this draft has to do that.”

The Bucs’ need list starts with a search for pass rush, where they were ranked 31st in the league last season with 26 sacks. Having taken defensive tackles McCoy and Price in the first two rounds last year, Tampa Bay is desperate for a defensive end who can generate some edge rush. In another recent example of Buc Luck (which has been the fortuitous kind of late), this year’s draft is rich with quality pass-rushing defensive ends.

The premise of Banks’ story is that the Bucs have had two great draft classes in a row and three in a row usually means a team will achieve greatness.

Joe loves reading all this stuff, and Joe is hopeful but is still grounded in reality. The Bucs struggle against the run, especially without Cody Grimm on the field, and the pass rush is among the league’s worst. Yes, Joe re-watched a couple of 2010 games this week.

As far as Joe’s concerned, the jury is still out on the Bucs’ last four draft picks along the defensive line over the past two years, guys taken in Rounds 1, 2, 3 and 4. Some of these guys will have to step up in a huge way, especially if Barrett Ruud returns at middle linebacker, before Joe truly puts the “great” label on the 2009 and 2010 draft classes. 

Yes, the Bucs won 10 games with a subpar pass rush and getting gashed against the run. Amazing, really. But that’s not a good formula for success.

Joe’s got a feeling Keith Millard will have a huge say on the final grades for the Bucs’ last two draft classes.

UPDATE 9 p.m. Joe’s e-mail was clobbered with requests for free tickets. Who knew so many people were dying to see the Storm? Winners were notified and confirmed. Sorry to those who didn’t get tickets. Joe will keep your e-mail for the next time he gets Storm tickets. And Joe apologizes that he doesn’t have time to write back to everyone.

Get up to four free luxury suite tickets to Saturday night’s Tampa Bay Storm game courtesy of the great guys at Paradise Worldwide Transportation. Paradise is there for all your transportation needs, from airport transfers to party buses and corporate events. Check out their website here.

Here’s how it’s going to go.

To get the tickets you’re going to have to e-mail Joe now with the subject line “Storm Tickets.” That’s joe@joebucsfan.com.  Include whether you want 2, 3 or 4 tickets and your full name. IF, that’s IF, you are chosen as a winner, you will have to pick up the tickets in Clearwater tomorrow between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Paradise Worldwide Transportation headquarters.

Good luck. Joe will contact winners tonight via e-mail.

It’s at this point of the year, with less than a week to go for the NFL draft, Joe’s just about tapped out on mock drafts.

It seems cool cat Maoist Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports is tapped out on mock drafts year round. In what has turned out to be a tradition with Silver, he mocks the mock drafts by using a mock draft where every player in the NFL is available for selection.

In this not-so-surreal world — Joe will explain why it’s not so surreal in a moment — the Bucs go after quarterback Michael Vick.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Michael Vick, QB: The Ultimate Mock Draft has officially come full circle. In UMD I, with Vick coming off an NFC championship game appearance for the Falcons, I made him the No. 1 selection based on his raw talent, youth and potential. That looked more and more absurd as the years passed – until last season, when Vick’s resurrection with the Eagles became the NFL’s most compelling story. Granted Vick, who’ll be 31 by the start of next season, is one off-the-field mistake away from putting his career in jeopardy. However, it’s not like that will scare away the Mark Dominik/Raheem Morris regime, which drafted Aqib Talib, signed LeGarrette Blount and seems to exhibit the kind of “morally casual attitude” that Boone referenced in “Animal House.” So the Bucs bite on Vick, meaning he’ll return to the Georgia Dome on an annual basis.

Well, first, Joe has to clarify something Silver wrote. Dominik and Morris did not draft Talib, it was Chucky, who didn’t give a damn if a guy was still wearing an orange jump suit and tip-toed around in shackles so long as he could play football. Rap sheets did not exist in the eyes of Chucky.

Also, comparing Talib to Blount is simply absurd if not outrageous. The only thing Blount ever did was was drill some clown in the grill after a game, and Joe is convinced to this day said the clown something to Blount that would incite violence. Talib already had a well-documented track record prior to leaving college.

It’s a shame that someone Joe respects as much as Silver would be so reckless.

But back to what Joe mentioned earlier, that this concept Silver has is not so far-fetched. If the lawyers and the suits — not the football people — get their way with the NFL labor lockout, each and every player will be a free agent after each season.

Rather than a draft, it would be a free agency free-for-all. So Silver’s tongue-in-cheek mocking of the mock draft is much closer to reality than even he may have realized when he began mocking the mock draft.