After Arrelious Benn’s big game tonight in Houston, most of the Bucs’ draft picks have now shined at one time or another.

The exception might be cornerback Myron Lewis. In Joe’s eyes, it seems Lewis hasn’t adjusted well to the speed of the game. Lewis was beaten badly for a touchdown tonight by Bobby Williams, a 25-year-old rookie who played at North Alabama.

That surely doesn’t mean Lewis is a bust. It is what it is. Ronde Barber rode the bench in his first season.

The Bucs’ defensive mastermind/head coach said after the game that he’s optimistic about Lewis.

“Lewis is starting to come on now. He made a couple of plays today. Gave a big play today, as well. But he’s starting to come on,” Raheem Morris said.

Looks to Joe like a very active Elbert Mack tonight will be the nickel corner on opening day, with E.J. Biggers filling in for the suspended Aqib Talib.

Some members of the Bucs fourth estate could be heard with loud whispers saying rookie wide receiver Arrelious Benn wasn’t flashing while fellow rookie wide receiver Mike Williams was.

Some Bucs fans had already given up on the stud from Illinois. It wasn’t fair. He is not Williams. Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said that from the day he was drafted.

Tonight, Benn showed why the Bucs have so much faith in him. His two touchdowns were exactly what the Bucs lack: a receiver willing to mix it up and fight with defenders.

His first touchdown, Benn wrestled away from a Houston defender to make a nice catch in the corner of the end zone. His second touchdown was pretty sweet, though not as physical.

Even Bucs coach Raheem Morris, cornered after the game, reacted with a “I told you so,” type of voice, as if to suggest to those doubted Benn, “What’s the matter with you?”

Benn will be fine. While he may not start for the Bucs this season, he will contribute.

Oh, the agony facing Mark Dominik.

Does he flush Team Glazer’s $3.5 million in guaranteed cash to Michael Clayton for 2010? Or does he keep the blocking icon around for one more dance?

Joe’s not envious of Dominik. Cutting Clayton would have to make it awfully hard to face the boss the next morning. 

But Clayton had no catches today against Houston for no yards, on the heels of sitting out last game for seemingly no good reason. How could he possibly have earned a spot?

Veteran Reggie Brown caught three balls for strong yardage but had a drop in the red zone.

Frankly, Joe wouldn’t mind seeing them both cut, keeping Micheal Spurlock and perhaps bringing in another veteran like Laverneous Coles.

Regardless, Clayton could be ending his six-year run with the Bucs in a matter of hours. Oh, the drama.

Those watching Josh Freeman’s pregame, street-clothes tosses in Houston tonight came away impressed.

John Lynch talked about it during the Bucs-Texans game broadcast, and Woody Cummings, of The Tampa Tribune, penned a story for TBO.com.

His work Thursday was an indication he’s right on target. In addition to making nearly 50 throws, most of which seemed crisp and on target, Freeman took several simulated shotgun snaps.

Joe’s happy to hear the great news, but Joe also knows Freeman has to be able to take forceful snaps under center in order to be successful against the Browns on opening day.

Still, Joe wouldn’t bet Freeman is out there. If he was really a sure thing to return, Joe suspects Josh Johnson would have gotten more playing time tonight.

Speaking on 1010 AM this morning, former Bucs quarterback Shaun King talked about how important this game would be to a backup like Johnson unless, King said, the Bucs were uncertain of Freeman’s status and would keep Johnson off the field for much of the game.

It turns out Johnson didn’t play at all.

Speaking during the Bucs-Texans preseason telecasttonight, Mark Dominik let it slip that running back Kareem Huggins will be on the opening day roster.

Dominik praised Huggins’ hard work and said dedication and effort is how guys like him can make an NFL roster “and Kareem Huggins has done that.”

Nice job for Huggins, who had more strong runs tonight behind the Bucs’ second-team line (Jerramy Zuttah), which started the game.  

It’s still uncleaer whether Huggins will be the true No. 2 running back and be active for games, but Joe’s still real happy for the young man.

Preseason Week 4
Bucs at Texans
Kickoff: 8 p.m.
TV: WFLA Ch. 8
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 161.
Weather:Because it will be played in a soulless dome, temperature will be 72 degrees throughout the game.
Odds: Per Bodog.com, Texans -3.
Outlook: Hey, we get to see a live game! Free of the shackles of a blackout, most Bucs fans will get to see the game free but Joe suspects only the hardcore, diehard will. With college football beginning tonight with real games, many football fans will be torn. Joe won’t be. In short, this is the game for the bubble players. One last shot to impress. This may be the last time Bucs fans see Michael Clayton in a Tampa Bay uniform. There are others. What of Ryan Sims, of Corey Lynch, of Elbert Mack, of Reggie Brown? Those players may also need to make a play or two. And, puh-leeze Kareem Huggins, do not get injured and you will make the Bucs.

As the Bucs are in Houston to take on the Texans tonight, Joe was sniffing around the Houston Chronicle and found an interesting nugget.

Joe wanted to publish this because he’s read so many comments from readers here stating how every NFL team is struggling in this economy.

It seems the Texans, in a TV market nearly identical in size to Tampa Bay, are having great success and setting all kinds of new records.

As of Tuesday, the Texans had sold 64,355 season tickets, an increase from 2008 when they set a season high with 64,047. … The Texans increased ticket prices after last season, but they’ve still sold a record number. Now their preseason ratings for the first three games have increased significantly, too, by about 35 percent.

Joe’s not going to play amateur economist here and start comparing unemployment figures and spending habits in Tampa and Houston. But Joe is quite certain that an unquestionably promising football team in Tampa would cure all the Bucs attendance woes.

Hammering away on his keyboard, TampaBay.com Bucs specialist Rick Stroud says the Bucs have left home starting offensive linemen Keydrick Vincent and Davin Joseph for tonight’s preseason finale in Houston.

They’re among the ranks of injured Buccaneers.

Guard Davin Joseph (hip flexor), tight end Kellen Winslow (knee, precautionary), guard Keydrick Vincent (ankle), safety Sabby Piscitelli (concussion), and receiver Maurice Stovall (ankle).

Joe’s a bit troubled about new starting left guard Vincent getting his ankle tweeked, assuming it’s not something worse.

All the O-line experts Joe has listened to always talk about the importance of continuity and familiarty on the line. Vincent is the new guy in the unit, and he has spent limited preseason time with the first team.

Plus,the Bucs were stuffed running the ball with him in there at left guard for the first half on Saturday.

Of course, Joe could ramble on about how he thinks Jeremy Zuttah should be in there anyway, but that’s irrelevant now. Joe just hopes Vincent can recover quickly, not always easy for a 10-year veteran.

Yeah, the Bucs handing Kardashian-chasing running back Derrick Ward his walking papers this week seemed to surprise Woody Cummings and Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune.

In this TBO.com Bucs vlog, Cummings and Richardson explain why they were surprised Ward was released, surprised when he was released, surprised that Bucs general manager had the “cajones” to issue the release and surprised Ward was involved with a Kardashian.

Monitor the video and tell Joe if you are surprised at their findings?

When it comes to the NFL, Joe pretty much keeps these pages related to all things Buccaneers.

But since the Bucs play the Lions this year and there was so much pre-draft hype about who was better for the Bucs, manbeasts Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy, Joe’s going to link to this NFL Network video of Warren Sapp (another Bucs connection) breaking down Suh’s preseason performances and teaching some D-line fundamentals.

Interesting stuff.

Seems like Mr. Sapp has fallen in love with Mr. Suh.

In a story that is clearly not agent-driven speculation, Rick Stroud, of the St. Pete Times, writes today about how Michael Clayton has worked extraordinarily hard since last season and can’t bear to think about getting ousted from the Buccaneers.

Joe recommends you read the whole piece.

Stroud says Clayton’s $3.5 million salary for 2010 is guaranteed. And he offered an interesting quote from the Bucs’ head coach that might give Clayton real hope of making the roster.

 “The (defensive backs) used to own the extra slots. But I’ve got some receivers on this team that are tough, that can tackle. I’ve got some receivers on this team that don’t mind blocking, that don’t mind mixing it up. They’re starting to show their skill level and development.”[Morris said.]

Well, now. If the head coach is getting excited about keep more roster spots for receivers who can deliver punishing, iconic blocks and don’t mind mixing it up, then perhaps he’s referencing Clayton.

Now Joe knows “money will never be in issue” in building the Bucs, so said Joel Glazer.

But, per Stroud’s calculations, it is less costly to keep Clayton and his guaranteed salary than to cut him and pay someone else. Perhaps money will factor in just this once, or twice if you count TJ Rives’ recent comments.

Straight from the stage where he performed with his former Bucs teammates Derrick Brooks and Warrick Dunn on that rotten Pros vs. Joes, former Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia freely admits he’s still trying to get picked up by an NFL squad.

Now toiling for Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL, Garcia tells Elizabeth Merrill of BSPN that he hopes a stint in the UFL will propel him back into the NFL.

His wife, Carmella, is eight months pregnant and needs him; football, for much of his life, has given Garcia every indication that it doesn’t want him, at least as a long-term solution. Eight teams, three leagues and 40,000 passing yards, and everywhere Garcia goes, he isn’t expected to last.

If he makes it through November in Omaha, and has a chance to move on, the good people in the corn belt will no doubt applaud him. That will mean that Garcia has made it back to the place he believes he’s always belonged.

First, he’s got to get through summer. The buses roll into the Kroc Center, the workout digs for the newest team in the United Football League. Last weekend, the Nighthawks’ facility was used to hold a cat show. Today, it holds Garcia’s “locker,” which consists of a chair covered in workout clothes that sits in a 3×3 space in a gymnasium.

Does Joe believe Garcia will ever suit up for the Bucs again? Joe very much doubts it. But hey, if Josh Freeman is slow to heal, who would you rather have as your No. 3 quarterback, Rudy Carpenter or Garcia?

Just the chance that Carmella will grace the sidelines might be worth 500 tickets sold in this tough economy. Imagine the marketing possibilities?

Just a couple of days after praising “Coach Gru” for his extraordinary innovations on both sides of the ball, Raheem Morris now explains that the heinous Jim Bates experiment was very much about him not repeating the leadership failures of Chucky.

Now that’s a great way to get kicked off the coaching tree.

As told to Roy Cummings of The Tampa Tribune, Morris says Chucky was too disconnected from the defense and Morris initially preferred a more unifying role as a head coach not bogged down by coordinator duties.

“Jon had an offensive coordinator but he pretty much did everything himself, and what I noticed was that Jon sort of lost a part of the team on the defensive side of the ball that way and I didn’t want that. I wanted to make sure I had the whole team’s attention right from the start here. I wanted my team to hear one voice that they knew controlled everything we do as a football team.”

Joe thinks it’s great that the Bucs’ defensive mastermind/head coach has it all straightened out now. He’s figured out that he can lead a team to success as a coordinator and a head coach. Just like the guy he threw under the bus.

The Bucs once did it under Rich McKay: going from worst to first.

Can that feat be replicated this season? Find out in this Yahoo! Sports video featuring the lovely Charissa Thompson, she of the Big Ten Network and Fox Sports, Maoist Michael Silver and Bucs fans’ favorite Jason Cole.

Seems as though Cole has an interesting take on the Bucs. Let’s just say it surprised Joe.

Joe has seen it. Others have seen it. When Brian Price can play, the rookie defensive tackle is a disruptive force.

Before Price’s gimpy hamstring gave out early in training camp, Price was a wild man on the practice field, even against the Bucs’ first string offense, causing havoc behind the line of scrimmage and chasing ballcarriers down from behind.

Against Jacksonville the few plays he had with fellow rookie Gerald McCoy, the Jacksonville offensive line was overwhelmed. Trying to adjust to Price, it left McCoy free to roam.

eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune noticed this as well. Posting earlier in the week on the TBO Bucs Twitter feed, Kaufman nearly salivated at the thought of what Price can do when healthy.

Bucs have a rookie DT who is exceptionally quick off the ball. No, not Gerald McCoy. Second-round pick Brian Price could be special.

Because of his hamstring, Joe doesn’t expect a whole lot from Price this year. It doesn’t help he’s also a rookie. But when healthy and with a little seasoning, this guy will be no less than a warrior for the Bucs.

Former Bucs beat writer now Sports Illustrated NFL writer Don Banks is serving up a reasoned look at the 2010 Bucs complete with a prognostication.

It seems Banks, like Joe, thinks his colleague Peter King’s 2-14 assessment is off base.

Predicted record: 6-10.

There’s at least hope this season in Tampa Bay, because young players like quarterback Josh Freeman, rookie receiver Mike Williams and the aforementioned McCoy and Price have the potential to lift a franchise that hit bottom during the midst of last year’s 3-13 finish. But the Bucs’ youth movement is far from finished, and we’re still in the process of finding out if Morris, 33, and general manager Mark Dominik, 38, have a plan that will produce incremental progress.

Joe grows weary of all these predictions and the associated catch phrases that say the Bucs are rebuilding and can’t turn out a winning season. 

As for “incremental progress,” Joe would love to know how Mark Dominik truly would define that before opening day.

About 4 p.m. yesterday, TJ Rives, the longtime Buccaneers Radio Network talking head and former local sports radio personality, explained to his Twitter followers what he knew about the release of Derrick Ward.

Gasp! Rives’ Tweet says money was an issue in the decision.

Hearing that Derrick Ward release was combo of salary (2 be backup), bad attitude and 2 other guys (Huggins/Smith) who are younger/cheaper

Joe can’t believe that money would be a consideration. After all, Joel Glazer said “money will never be an issue” when it comes to building the product the Bucs put on the field.

Apparently, Rives’ insider sources think money is, in fact, an issue.

If Bucs fans think this comment conflicts with Bucs policy, consider a crazier comment by one of Rives’ gameday colleagues earlier this year.

Joe is so confused.

Twice, as he was peppered with questions yesterday about releasing Derrick Ward, the Bucs head coach said the presence of “Insurance Graham” was among the reasons the Bucs cut Ward.

The head coach emphasized the nickname for his starting fullback, and praised his versatility. 

But Joe doesn’t fully comprehend what Graham is really insuring?

If Graham fills in for an injured Cadillac Williams, that leaves a hole at fullback. And if the Bucs sideline braintrust thought Graham was so valuable, why was he all but buried last season with just 14 carries and 14 receptions?

Good things come to those who wait, but not when it comes to 0% financing. Especially at Ed Morse Cadillac Tampa.

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