Yeah, Joe went for a playful headline as happy hour awaits this Friday evening.

Per TBO.com, today the Bucs were awarded the 237th pick in the 2011 draft, a seventh-round compensatory selection for losing Will Allen and Jimmy Wilkerson to free agency after the 2009 debacle season.

Somewhere, the unofficial wizard of the seventh round, rock star general manager Mark Dominik, is staring at his draft board like Wile E. Coyote seeing the Road Runner napping.

If you don’t know those characters, well, then Joe doesn’t know what to say.

Is Dominik's next stroke of brilliance letting Barrett Ruud walk? A top NFL.com expert says that's in the cards.

The way Bucs general manager Mark Dominik has handled his first two drafts with the Bucs and the way he has taken to the national media, both with the looks and mannerisms and natural quips of a TV anchorman, Joe dubbed Dominik the rock star of general managers.

Seems someone well-connected and well-respected in NFL circles agrees with Joe.

In a recent article detailing the draft motives of the NFC South teams, NFL.com analyst, Sirius NFL Radio talking head and CBSSports.com expert Pat Kirwan both waxed poetic about Dominik, and indirectly dropped a mini-bomb shell that will likely provoke many shallow-minded Bucs fans to race to Ybor City to tilt a few bottles.

GM Mark Dominik has done a brilliant job in his first two drafts and needs to put another class together. The team got 52 starts from its rookie class a year ago and quickly developed WR Mike Williams, WR Arrelious Benn, S Cody Grimm, DT Gerald McCoy and RB LeGarrette Blount.

It’s no secret a pass rushing defensive end is missing, and should be available with the 20th overall pick. I also hear middle linebacker Barrett Ruud will not be brought back, so a signal-caller who can play the Tampa 2 defense is important. CB Ronde Barber re-signed, but the team must find and develop the 14-year veteran’s eventual replacement.

Whoa, so the Bucs won’t be bringing back Barrett Ruud? This comes as a surprise to Joe. Kirwan kindly gave Joe a few minutes of his precious time at Super Bowl Media Day last month where Ruud was the lone subject Joe discussed with Kirwan and this never came up in conversation.

Joe knows Kirwan is very plugged in with the Bucs — he lives in Naples. Now the puzzle is trying to figure out where Kirwan got his information, from Ruud, from Raheem Morris or perhaps from Dominik himself?

Kirwan does a considerable amount of draft prep and general research by buttonholing general managers and scouts.

Knowing the vast amount of high-level contacts Kirwan has and the amount of insiders he speaks to on a daily basis, this isn’t like some unnamed blogger in Charlotte throwing out wishful thinking.

As for Dominik, if his draft next month is anything close to what he raked in last year, Dominik, to the absolute gall of a few haters, will be around for quite some time.

Back in 2009, Earnest Graham estimated 30 percent of the NFL was using HGH.

For those not bored to tears by the ongoing NFL labor mess, the latest juicy negotiation nugget has the NFL insisting that any new agreement with players include testing for human growth hormone, better known as HGH.

Alex Marvez, of FOX Sports, was on the story yesterday.

HGH is known to help players recover faster. In theory, that faster recovery helps maximize workouts and increase performance, which leads to them getting, bigger, stronger and faster. It’s a wonder drug — not allowed and hard to detect.

Now pundits can argue all day long whether a prolonged lockout would be an edge or a detriment for a young team like the Bucs, compared to other NFL clubs. But if HGH testing hits the NFL, there should be no debate that the Bucs would have an edge with all that youth on their side.

Remember, it was Earnest Graham, in a story Joe sent national, who said 30 percent of NFL players are using HGH.

” …I don’t think a guy would think it’s cheating. No. I mean they know it [is cheating]. But I don’t think it registers. …I would say 30 percent [are using HGH]. I have no idea how to come across it. Not that I’m looking for it. I don’t know anybody. It’s not something that a guy would just, unless you really trust a guy, to open up and talk about. You know what I mean. …I’ve heard a guy talk about HGH but not [that he’s doing it].”Graham went on to say he doesn’t believe  any NFL player would admit to using HGH.

“A lot of guys are kind of proud guys and don’t want to feel like they were cheating. Me, myself. I would feel like I’m cheating,” Graham said.

Joking about his all-but-eliminated role in the Bucs running game Graham joked, “Maybe I’d cover punts better if I was on HGH.”

While Joe’s in favor of HGH testing, Joe finds it interesting that talk of testing comes just as a rookie salary scale might hit the league. Pay the young guys less and take the HGH from the old guys, and you’ve just cut payroll.

Get four tickets to Sunday’s home opener courtesy of Paradise Worldwide Transportation. Click the logo below to find out how.

In recent days, the man’s channel, better known as the NFL Network, has looked at what the Bucs will do in the draft.

In the first video, Charles Davis has a hunch the Bucs will pick up J.J. Watt of Wisconsin, among others, to play defensive end. Davis also offers a sleeper for the Bucs. Joe suggests you monitor the video to find out who that is.

Also, Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times appears with Stacy Dales to discuss the Bucs overall draft plans for next month.

Is this the second manbeast the Bucs snag in the 2011 draft?

It’s a manbeast of a mock draft, and it’s intelligent, focused and full of great insight.

Here’s draft guru Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski’s latest mock draft — 4,500 words for the draft lover in need of a fix. All part of the exclusive draft coverage on JoeBucsFan.com.

1st Round

1. Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton – QB – Auburn
6’5’’ – 248 lbs – 4.59
Needs: CB, DT, DE, WR, QB

Commish’s Take: Despite how great Blaine Gabbert’s scripted pro day was, I’m ok sticking with Newton for the 1st overall pick. The Panthers have been rumored to be choosing among eight prospects for the No.1 pick, but I think it will ultimately come down to Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert, Marcel Dareus, or trading down. Right now, the Panthers might be the most unpredictable team in this draft.

2. Denver Broncos – Marcell Dareus – DT – Alabama
6’3’’ – 319 lbs – 4.92
Needs: DT, DE, CB, S

Commish’s Take: Mike Mayock said that scouts “everywhere” would consider it an upset if the Broncos passed on Marcell Dareus. I would have to agree with that. First, the Broncos seem ok with their defensive ends. Also, John Fox tends to like bigger defensive tackles in the middle of his defense.

3. Buffalo Bills – Von Miller – OLB – Texas A&M
6’3’’ – 246 lbs – 4.49
Needs: DE, QB, WR, LB

Commish’s Take: Recent criticism of Aaron Maybin by head coach Chan Gailey might be foreshadowing what the Bills will do. I think quarterback and defensive end could also be under consideration, but Von Miller could be the terror off the edge that the Bills thought they had in Maybin.

4. Cincinnati Bengals – Julio Jones – WR – Alabama
6’3’’ – 220 lbs – 4.39
Needs: WR, QB, DT

Commish’s Take: Peter King has recently reported that the Bengals have Julio Jones rated higher on their board than AJ Green. This rumor has since been echoed by many others. The real question will be whether the Bengals take a receiver or a quarterback. I’m of the opinion that the quarterbacks in this draft have way more questions than the receivers. With the Bengals going to a Gruden-run west-coast offense, I think they could eye a Ponder, Kaepernick, or Andy Daulton in the 2nd round and get any of those QBs a receiver to throw to in the 1st.

5. Arizona Cardinals – Blaine Gabbert – QB – Missouri
6’4’’ – 234 lbs – 4.62
Needs: OLB, CB, OT, QB

Commish’s Take: I’ve never seen such an overreaction on Twitter than when Gabbert had his pro day. I think Gabbert is a good quarterback, but to say that his pro day was one of the best pro days ever and that he was a future elite QB because he threw to receivers without a defense is a little ridiculous. Gabbert was best at Missouri with a spread out offense and underneath passes. I see a lot of Missouri’s offense in Arizona’s offense. Downfield accuracy and handling the pressure of a defensive line are Gabbert’s two biggest weaknesses.

6. Cleveland Browns – AJ Green – WR – Georgia
6’4’’ – 211 lbs – 4.50
Needs: WR, DE, OLB, TE, NT

Commish’s Take: There have been a lot of rumblings of the Browns looking to a defensive lineman here because of their shift back to a 4-3 defense with defensive coordinator Dick Jauron. That said, how could two offensive-minded guys in Mike Holmgren and Pat Shurmur pass on a player many believe to be the top offensive player in the entire draft. Green can be an elite receiver very early in his career. As much as the Browns might need a defensive lineman, they could use a big time threat on offense as well.

7. San Francisco 49ers – Patrick Peterson – CB – LSU
6’0’’ – 219 lbs – 4.34
Needs: QB, DE, OLB, CB, S

Commish’s Take: As much as I think Peterson should go before this pick, every time I write out mock draft, I always have him falling to the 49ers lap. I don’t think corners are quite as valuable as they once were in the NFL as they are only involved in about 12-15 plays max a game. The 49ers have a need at corner, so I just can’t see any way that Peterson would get past this pick.

8. Tennessee Titans – Nick Fairley – DT – Auburn
6’4’’ – 291 – 4.87
Needs: DT, CB, QB, OG

Commish’s Take: After grabbing Derrick Morgan last year, the Titans need to address their interior defensive line this year. Fairley is now being labeled as a boom-or-bust prospect. I definitely think Fairley is worth a shot if he falls to the Titans here. If Fairley becomes a “boom,” he could have a similar impact that Albert Haynesworth had on the Titans defense a few years back.

9. Dallas Cowboys – Tyron Smith – OT – USC
6’5’’ – 307 lbs – DNP
Needs: DE, OT, OG, CB, S

Commish’s Take: I thought real hard about a defensive player with this pick, but with Jason Garrett as the head coach and Jerry Jones wanting excitement, I figured the Cowboys would look to protect Tony Romo and give this offense a chance to explode. Smith is a top tackle in this draft and should be able to step in right away and improve the Cowboys poor offensive line.

10. Washington Redskins – Robert Quinn – DE – North Carolina
6’4’’ – 265 lbs – 4.70
Needs: QB, WR, DE, OLB

Commish’s Take: The popular pick for the Redskins has been either a receiver or a quarterback, but the thought of Robert Quinn and Brian Orakpo coming off opposite corners is pretty exciting. Quinn is an outstanding pass rusher and is an immediate upgrade over the departed Andre Carter. There have been reports that some teams are scared of a benign tumor on Quinn’s brain. If both top receivers are off the board, I do think this pick comes down to reaching on a QB or picking a defensive lineman.

11. Houston Texans – Prince Amukamara – CB – Nebraska
6’0’’ – 206 lbs – 4.43
Needs: OLB, DE, CB, WR

Commish’s Take: When I consider options for the Texans, I just continuously go back to how poor their pass defense was in 2010 and the decision becomes quite clear. Sure, a pass rusher would be great, but at this point, Quinn and Miller are gone and one of the top corners is still on the board. Amukamara should be able to step in and start opposite of Kareem Jackson for years to come.

12. Minnesota Vikings – Jake Locker – QB – Washington
6’2’’ – 231 lbs – 4.59
Needs: QB, DE, OT, OG

Commish’s Take: I’m starting to think the Vikings have dug themselves into a little bit of a desperate mess with the 12th pick. I think they are starved for a quarterback, and unless they trade up for Newton or Gabbert, they’ll probably be reaching with the 12th pick. I think the decision comes down to Locker or Mallett. Really, the question is a lack of accuracy vs. bad character. With character being so important in the NFL, I have the Vikings leaning to Locker right now. In the end, I think Mallett might be a better fit for what new Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave wants to do on offense.

13. Detroit Lions – Da’Quan Bowers – DE – Clemson
6’3’’ – 280 lbs – DNP
Needs: OT, CB, OLB, DE

Commish’s Take: Defensive end isn’t a big need at all for the Lions, but if one of the top players in the draft falls to you with the 13th pick, you have to consider him. Rumors continue to swirl about Bowers’ knee and how he played through injury at the end of last year and was favoring the knee at time. I still point to Bowers’ pro day on April 1st as one of the most important pro days this year. A good and healthy pro day could vault Bowers back into the top 5. For now, I don’t think the Lions would mind putting Bowers on the same defensive line as Ndamukong Suh.

14 St. Louis Rams – Aldon Smith – DE – Missouri
6’4’’ – 263 lbs – 4.78
Needs: WR, TE, DE, DT

Commish’s Take: With the top 2 WRs off the board, I think the Rams will look to improve their defensive line. Corey Liuget or Muhammad Wilkerson make a lot of sense for the defensive tackle position. I have them taking Aldon Smith as a local product who really fits the type of defensive lineman Steve Spagnuolo seeks. If the receivers are gone, I do think this pick could come down to Aldon Smith at end vs. Muhammad Wilkerson inside.

15. Miami Dolphins – Mark Ingram – RB – Alabama
5’9’’ – 215 lbs – 4.62
Needs: RB, OT, NT, QB

Commish’s Take: I would’ve liked the idea of drafting an offensive tackle and moving Vernon Carey inside to guard, but the Dolphins have squashed that idea. Mike Pouncey could be a legitimate option to address the interior of the Dolphins offensive line, but with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams as free agents, the Dolphins might not be able to wait to address their need at running back. Ingram would bring fresh legs, a great work ethic, and leadership to the Dolphins offense. Remember, the Dolphins do not have a 2nd round pick in this year’s draft.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars – JJ Watt – DE – Wisconsin
6’5’’ – 290 lbs – 4.82
Needs: DE, OLB, S, WR, OG

Commish’s Take: I think that Jack Del Rio has fallen into a trap in the past of taking defensive ends with potential as pass rushers rather than just taking the solid player. I think JJ Watt could be very good in the NFL. He is big, strong, and very athletic. I think Watt is a good fit for anyone’s defense, and I’d probably be pretty surprised if he lasted this long, but you never know.

17. N. E. Patriots (via OAK) – Mike Pouncey – OG – Florida
6’5’’ – 303 lbs – 5.28
Needs: DE, OLB, WR, RB, OL

Commish’s Take: You can never discount the connection between Bill Belichick and Urban Meyer. The Patriots have taken a lot of Gators the past few years, what’s one more? The Patriots have needs along their offensive line and Pouncey could help them at guard or center. There aren’t many players right now with more hype than Mike Pouncey.

18. San Diego Chargers – Ryan Kerrigan – DE – Purdue
6’4’’ – 267 lbs – 4.71
Needs: LB, DE, RT, WR

Commish’s Take: Supposedly, the Chargers are in love with Ryan Kerrigan. AJ Smith, their general manager, has only gone to three pro days so far, and Kerrigan’s was one of them. The Chargers have big needs at the linebacker positions, and all signs point to Kerrigan coming in and playing outside linebacker in the Chargers 3-4 defense.

19. New York Giants – Anthony Castonzo – OT – Boston College
6’7’’ – 311 lbs – 5.23
Needs: OT, MLB, OG, DT

Commish’s Take: Tom Coughlin loves his boys from Boston College. Castonzo has tremendous potential as a left tackle in the NFL. He has outstanding body movement and technique. He needs to get his legs stronger, but his work ethic will never be a question, so I have no doubt he’ll improve that strength. The Giants have to find a way to protect Eli Manning.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Cameron Jordan – DE – Cal.
6’4’’ – 287 lbs – 4.78
Needs: DE, LB, OT, OG, speed on offense

Commish’s Take: I think with the 20th pick, the Bucs are at a spot where they just need, and will probably get, one guy to fall to them. The way this mock draft fell out, Cameron Jordan ended up being that guy. What I like about Jordan is that he is big enough to play left defensive end and quick enough off the edge to play right end. The Bucs have always liked versatile defensive linemen and I think Jordan would be one of the ideal picks for the Bucs in this draft. The Bucs say that they aren’t locked into a defensive end, but it would be tough not to be in this draft and with how their ends played last year. With Quinn and Bowers slipping a bit, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Bucs targeted one of those guys, and traded up to ensure they get him. Who knows, Jordan might be that target and he fell right into the Bucs lap in this mock draft.

21. Kansas City Chiefs – Phil Taylor – NT – Baylor
6’3’’ – 334 lbs – 5.20
Needs: OLB, NT, OT, WR, OG

Commish’s Take: The Chiefs have really done a good job of piecing together their team. I love the additions they have made through the draft the past couple years. I think one main need the Chiefs need to address is at nose tackle for their 3-4 defense. They need their Casey Hampton in the middle. Phil Taylor is a mammoth defensive tackle who is also very athletic for his size. I was surprised when people said his stock might fall because he’s mean. I don’t know about you, but I want my 6-3, 334-pound nose tackle to be the meanest player on any field.

22. Indianapolis Colts – Derek Sherrod – OT – Miss. St.
6’5’’ – 321 lbs – 5.21
Needs: OL, CB, LB

Commish’s Take: The Colts have admitted to regretting on passing on an offensive tackle in last year’s draft. I can’t see them making that same mistake twice. The Colts need to do a better job of protecting Peyton Manning and opening holes in the run game. I think Sherrod could come in and start at left tackle for the Colts right away. Sherrod is big and physical, and also equally good in run blocking as he is in pass protection.

23. Philadelphia Eagles – Jimmy Smith – CB – Colorado
6’2’’ – 211 lbs – 4.46
Needs: CB, OT, OG, OLB

Commish’s Take: If we’re speaking of just talent, Jimmy Smith is a top 10 pick. Smith’s character will drop him a bit, but a team with a big need at corner like the Eagles will have to think long and hard about passing on him. Smith and Asante Samuel would give the Eagles a very nice pair of corners.

24. New Orleans Saints – Martez Wilson – LB – Illinois
6’4’’ – 250 lbs – 4.49
Needs: DE, OLB

Commish’s Take: Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams loves to blitz and attack with his linebackers. Martez Wilson might be at his best when asked to blitz. I think the first few rounds will be all about upgrading the defensive front-7 for the Saints. Wilson can play inside or outside linebacker for the Saints with Jonathon Vilma being able to do the same.

25. Seattle Seahawks – Christian Ponder – QB – FSU
6’2’’ – 229 lbs – 4.65
Needs: QB, OG, DE, DT, CB

Commish’s Take: The more I’ve thought about this pick for the Seahawks, the more I’ve realized that if they were to select a quarterback, the best fit would be Christian Ponder. Darrell Bevell has come in as the new offensive coordinator and is installing a west-coast style of offense. Even if Locker was available, I think the Seahawks might pass on the local product and turn towards Ponder. Ponder might be the best fit for a west-coast offense in this draft. He has above average arm strength and outstanding accuracy. He has command of the huddle, and should be able to step in right away and play for the Seahawks.

26. Baltimore Ravens – Justin Houston – DE – Georgia
6’3’’ – 270 lbs – 4.68
Needs: CB, WR(speed), OC, S

Commish’s Take: Sure, the Ravens don’t need a hybrid end/linebacker, but this is what makes the Ravens great. If anyone in this draft compares to Terrell Suggs, it’s Justin Houston. Sergio Kindle has been a problem since they drafted him last year, so why not move on with the big and athletic Houston instead. I think the corners, receivers, and safeties left here would all be reaches. Houston would just add another dynamic talent to the Ravens defense. The biggest concern with Houston is that he needs teachers to get the most out of his potential. I love the Ravens coaches, and what better coaches to have than Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs?

27. Atlanta Falcons – Muhammad Wilkerson – DE – Temple
6’4’’ – 315 lbs – 4.96
Needs: DT, DE, WR, TE

Commish’s Take: I still view Wilkerson as somewhat of a project, but he has been gaining some steam as of late. I think he might just be one of those names that will go a lot earlier than most people think. For now, I have the Falcons finally getting their big body in the middle. Head coach Mike Smith had his best defense in Jacksonville when he had Marcus Stroud and John Henderson in their primes in the middle of his defensive line. I think Wilkerson compares to those players and would really give the Falcons a presence in the middle of their defensive line.

28. New England Patriots – Akeem Ayers – OLB – UCLA
6’2’’ – 254 lbs – 4.80
Needs: see above

Commish’s Take: The Patriots need to find a better rush off the edge. Akeem Ayers isn’t the fastest linebacker in the draft, but he was extremely productive at UCLA and really fits the Patriots 3-4 defense. I think Ayers could be a really solid outside linebacker and leader in the NFL. This is a great value pick for the Patriots at the end of the 1st round after already getting Pouncey earlier.

29. Chicago Bears – Gabe Carimi – OT – Wisconsin
6’7’’ – 314 lbs – 5.27
Needs: OT, OG, WR, DT

Commish’s Take: Is there any worse secret than the Bears needing an offensive tackle? Hell, they need any offensive lineman. Another one of my favorites is Gabe Carimi. The way this draft played out has Carimi falling to the team that could probably use him most. Carimi could step in right away at left or right tackle and be an upgrade for the Bears. I think Carimi will have a very solid career and reminds me a lot of Jon Runyan.

30. New York Jets – Corey Liuget – DT – Illinois
6’2’’ – 298 lbs – 4.99
Needs: NT, DE, CB, WR

Commish’s Take: I think the Jets approach their 1st round pick by trying to address their front 7 on defense. With Phil Taylor and most of the hybrid linebackers gone, this is a good slot for the Jets to bring in Luiget as an end in their 3-4 defense. Rex Ryan was present at Illinois’ pro day and showed a lot of attention to Martez Wilson and Luiget.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers – Danny Watkins – OG – Baylor
6’3’’ – 310 lbs – 5.40
Needs: CB, OT, OG

Commish’s Take: After hoping to reunite the Pouncey brothers, the Steelers still need to upgrade the interior of their offensive line. Danny Watkins is a great story. He was a firefighter who decided late to play football. He filled in for Jason Smith at left tackle after he was drafted and never lost his starting job. Watkins is 27, which might scare some teams off, but he is also ready to come in and contribute right away.

32. Green Bay Packers – Nate Solder – OT – Colorado
6’8’’ – 307 lbs – 5.05
Needs: OT, DE, OLB

Commish’s Take: Last year the Packers got Bryan Bulaga in the first round. With Nate Solder slipping, the Packers could have their two offensive tackles for the next 10 years in back to back drafts. Solder is a converted tight end who should be able to play right or left tackle in the NFL.

Round 2:
1 (33). N. E. Patriots (via CAR) – Mikel Leshoure – RB – Illinois
6’0’’ – 227 lbs – 4.59

Commish’s Take: Benjarvis Green-Ellis was nice last year, but the Patriots need a feature back. Leshoure can carry the ball 20-25 times a game. No more platoon.

2 (34). Buffalo Bills – Ryan Mallett – QB – Arkansas
6’7’’ – 253 lbs – 5.30

Commish’s Take: If the Bills pass ona quarterback in the 1st round, I like Mallett for them in the 2nd. Mallett’s strong arm can throw through the weather and there is nothing in Buffalo that can get him in trouble.

3 (35). Cincinnati Bengals – Colin Kaepernick – QB – Nevada
6’5’’ – 233 lbs – 4.53

Commish’s Take: Jay Gruden gets his quarterback. Gruden should love Kaepernick’s size and athletic ability. If Jay is anything like his brother, Kaepernick will be high on his list.

4 (36). Denver Broncos – Kyle Rudolph – TE – Notre Dame
6’6’’ – 259 lbs – DNP

Commish’s Take: It seemed like John Fox could never find his tight end in Carolina. He addresses that need immediately with Rudolph. Rudolph is a big tight end with great receiving ability.

5 (37). Cleveland Browns – Adrian Clayborn – DE – Iowa
6’4’’ – 281 lbs – 4.83

Commish’s Take: There are a lot of question marks with Clayborn, but he is still a good player with a great work ethic and great leadership skills.

6 (38). Arizona Cardinals – Brooks Reed – OLB – Arizona
6’2’’ – 263 lbs – 4.68

Commish’s Take: Reed has gotten a lot of hype as of late, but I still have him in the 2nd round. The Cardinals miss out on Miller in the 1st round, but still get a threat off the edge here.

7 (39). Tennessee Titans – Andy Daulton – QB – TCU
6’2’’ – 215 lbs – 4.83

Commish’s Take: Daulton might not be the flashiest quarterback, but he could fit just what Mike Munchak wants to do. Daulton could be a very solid pick for a Titans team that needs a quarterback.

8 (40). Dallas Cowboys – Cameron Heyward – DE – Ohio St.
6’5’’ – 294 lbs – DNP

Commish’s Take: Heyward has some injury concerns, but when healthy can be great. He is a perfect fit for a Cowboys defense that might lose Marcus Spears to free agency.

9 (41). Washington Redskins – Jonathon Baldwin – WR – Pitt.
6’4’’ – 228 lbs – 4.50

Commish’s Take: The Redskins miss out on all the top quarterbacks, but still get their big receiver. Baldwin becomes Mike Shanahan’s next Brandon Marshall.

10 (42). Houston Texans – Rahim Moore – S – UCLA
6’0’’ – 202 lbs – 4.62

Commish’s Take: The Texans finish off their secondary with the draft’s top safety. Moore has good instincts and is good in coverage.

11 (43). Minnesota Vikings – Marvin Austin – DT – North Carolina
6’2’’ – 309 lbs – 4.90

Commish’s Take: With Pat Williams on the way out, I think Austin could step right in and the Vikings might not skip a beat on defense.

12 (44). Detroit Lions – Benjamin Ijalana – OT – Villanova
6’4’’ – 317 lbs – DNP

Commish’s Take: With a need at both tackle positions, Ijalana has a good opportunity to step in and play right away for the Lions.

13(45). San Francisco 49ers – Leonard Hankerson – WR – Miami
6’2’’ – 209 lbs – 4.43

Commish’s Take: After missing on the QBs, I think the 49ers would like to get a bigger receiver opposite of Michael Crabtree. Hankerson is big with speed.

14 (46). Denver Broncos (via MIA) – Aaron Williams – CB – Texas
6’0’’ – 204 lbs – 4.52

Commish’s Take: Williams has been mentioned as a corner and a safety. With the Broncos having a need for both positions, Williams would be a nice fit.

15 (47). St. Louis Rams – Torrey Smith – WR – Maryland
6’1’’ – 204 lbs – 4.43

Commish’s Take: The Rams get their receiver in the speedy Torrey Smith. Smith has all the qualities to progress into a true number one receiver.

16 (48). Oakland Raiders – Dontay Moch – LB – Nevada
6’1’’ – 248 lbs – 4.44

Commish’s Take: The Raiders have a need at outside linebacker, and let’s face it, they’d love an outside linebacker at 248 lbs who runs a 4.4 40-yard dash.

17 (49). Jacksonville Jaguars – Stefan Wisniewski – OC/OG – Penn St.
6’3’’ – 313 lbs – 5.35

Commish’s Take: The Jaguars could use a leader at the center position. Wisniewski has the skill set to step in and solidify the Jaguars interior offensive line.

18 (50). San Diego Chargers – Christian Ballard – DE – Iowa
6’4’’ – 283 lbs – 4.80

Commish’s Take: Ballard was unblockable at the senior bowl and a solid late 2nd round pick. Ballard is a good fit at end in a 3-4 defense.

19 (51). Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jabaal Sheard – DE – Pitt
6’3’’ – 264 lbs – 4.69

Commish’s Take: Following their lead from 2010, the Bucs go back-to-back defensive linemen again. A combination of Jordan and Sheard could be fun to watch. If they decide to grab another end later like Greg Romeus, the Bucs could look to address linebacker or get someone with speed for their offense. You’ll notice a run on speed receivers here to end the 2nd round.

20 52). New York Giants – Bruce Carter – LB – North Carolina
6’2’’ – 241 lbs – DNP

Commish’s Take: Carter’s health is a big worry right now. Some say he might have to start his NFL career on the PUP list. When healthy, Carter is a top notch linebacker, but not many teams want damaged goods.

21 53). Indianapolis Colts – Brandon Harris – CB – Miami
5’9’’ – 191 lbs – 4.51

Commish’s Take: Harris is an excellent fit for a “Tampa 2” type defense. He is excellent in zone coverage and a very good tackler.

22 54). Philadelphia Eagles – Jason Pinkston – OT/OG – Pitt.
6’3’’ – 317 lbs – 5.47

Commish’s Take: You know Andy Reid is getting an offensive lineman, so why not someone close to home. Pinkston can play guard or tackle.

23 55). Kansas City Chiefs – Marcus Cannon – OT – TCU
6’5’’ – 358 lbs – 5.26

Commish’s Take: The Chiefs were one of the best teams running the football last year behind a patchwork offensive line. Cannon is a massive lineman that can play guard or tackle.

24 (56). New Orleans Saints – Stephen Paea – DT – Oregon St.
6’1’’ – 303 lbs – DNP

Commish’s Take: Paea was the strongest player at the combine and would pair up nice with Sedrick Ellis.

25 (57). Seattle Seahawks – Ryan Williams – RB – Va. Tech
5’9’’ – 212 lbs – 4.53

Commish’s Take: Williams is a special back that, when healthy, is as talented as any back in this draft. He should be an excellent fit for the Seahawks west coast offense.

26 (58). Baltimore Ravens – Titus Young – WR – Boise St.
5’11’’ – 174 lbs – 4.53

Commish’s Take: The Ravens patience pays off. Recent reports have Young slipping. The Ravens need speed on offense and Young has plenty of that.

27 (59). Atlanta Falcons – Jerrel Jernigan – WR – Troy
5’9’’ – 185 lbs – 4.46

Commish’s Take: Harry Douglas has been a disappointment so the Falcons need an answer. The Falcons have shown extra attention to Troy university, so Jernigan seems to be a natural target.

28 (60). New England Patriots – Randall Cobb – WR – Kentucky
5’10’’ – 191 lbs – 4.46

Commish’s Take: Cobb’s a good fit for the Patriots with his good route running, shiftiness, and speed.

29 (61). San Diego Chargers (via NYJ) – Jordan Cameron – TE – USC
6’5’’ – 254 lbs – 4.59

Commish’s Take: I think the Chargers need some insurance in case Antonio Gates gets injured again. Cameron is a receiving tight end in the Gates mold.

30 (62). Chicago Bears – Greg Little – WR – North Carolina
6’3’’ – 231 lbs – 4.53

Commish’s Take: Reports have Little dropping to the 4th round because of his attitude and character concerns, but he has a lot of talent. If teams saw what the Bucs got with Mike Williams in the 4th round last year, these teams might be more willing to take a chance earlier this year.

31 (63). Pittsburgh Steelers – Curtis Marsh – CB – Utah St.
6’0’’ – 197 lbs – 4.52

Commish’s Take: Curtis Marsh is a solid corner who could thrive in man coverage with the Steelers.

32 (64). Green Bay Packers – Drake Nevis – DT – LSU
6’1’’ – 294 lbs – 5.07

Commish’s Take: Justin Harrell never worked out and Cullin Jenkins is a free agent. Nevis is an underrated prospect that I think would be a very nice selection to close out the 2nd round.

Joe can’t recall how many times he had a temper tantrum last season when the Bucs didn’t give LeGarrette Blount the rock consistently.

The man single-handedly turned the then dreadful Bucs running game into arguably a top-5 unit in the NFL, helped make the offensive line look better than it was and, arguably, pushed Cadillac Williams into a role that likely saved his career. But for Joe’s taste, the Bucs got away from Blount far too often.

Now, the data obsessed number crunchers at ProFootballFocus.com have declared Blount the most elusive running back in the NFL — by a mile.

The Elusive Rating itself

But that’s enough of the raw numbers. On to the magic formula. The Elusive Rating formula begins by combining carries and receptions to give a ‘ball-handling opportunities’ figure. We then combine forced missed tackles in both the run and pass game to find a total number for forced missed tackles, which is then divided by the ball-handling opportunities. This number is then multiplied by a player’s yards per carry after first contact figure (x100) to get our final number. Confused yet?
 
The magic formula: (MTrush+MTrec)/(Rec+Att)*(YCo/Att*100)
 
Last season, Seattle’s Justin Forsett set the benchmark in our first Elusive Rating study. Forsett’s ER of 70.19 narrowly edged Jonathan Stewart for the best rating of that season. As you might have gathered from some of the numbers we have already discussed, this season’s competition wasn’t as close. Posting a fairly ridiculous ER of 89.8 was Tampa Bay’s LaGarrette Blount.
 
There are a few things that need to be said about that. Firstly, Blount was a rookie! Secondly, his ER was more than 30 points in front of the next best mark (Fred Jackson’s 58.5,) and thirdly, Blount went undrafted just months before.

Joe’s not a stats geek, but some of the stuff from ProFootballFocus.com is intriguing. Sure, Joe heard the voices of those who say Blount fumbles too much. Frankly, Joe doesn’t buy that, and Blount should improve in that area with experience regardless.

Just give the guy the damn ball until a team shows it can stop him.

Joe knows Barrett Ruud is anything but a fan favorite. There are mobs of Bucs fans marching the streets with lit torches ready to run him out of town.

Joe himself has speculated that union-first Jeff Faine, with his hefty salary and unsettling number of missed games that has grown in the past two years (along with his age), may be a candidate to go bye-bye.

But Joe has yet to hear anyone suggest the Bucs wash their hands of tight end Kellen Winslow, yet this is the claim of video star Anwar Richardson and Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. Both state they have heard this crazy rumor about Winslow from some uneducated if not inebriated folks who claim to be Bucs fans.

The Media General duo discuss the (un)likelihood of Ruud, Faine and Winslow not being on the Bucs roster whenever the NFL opens its doors again in this TBO Bucs vlog.

Joe suspects it’s a pretty safe bet Winslow will be starting at tight end this season so long as his knee holds up.

[UPDATE: Just to be clear,  Cummings and Richardson were not pulling something out of their backsides with people speculating the Bucs will cut Winslow. Consider this post Joe had earlier this year.]

There may not be many Bucs rookies this season celebrating after making stud plays if the current NFL labor war creeps into fall.

The hits Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik made in the draft last year, Joe doesn’t know where to begin.

Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy was starting to come on and play well when he got hurt.

The same with receiver Arrelious Benn who was beginning to make a major impact when he went down with a knee injury that sickened Joe.

When was the last time a  rookie receiver made as much of a splash than Mike Williams? (Yes, Joe remembers the Blocking Icon.)

And who could forget Cody Grimm all but making Bucs fans forget about unreliable and suspended Tanard Jackson?

Then there was LeGarrette Blount hurdling over would-be tacklers on his way to 1,000 yards rushing.

Well, Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times suggests Bucs fans should keep those memories fresh because it won’t be repeated this season (if there is a season).

Stroud notes that with the NFL owners and the NFLPA/trade association at labor war, it appears short of a court order to return to normal duties, this could get very lengthly if not ugly for some months.

As a result, rookies won’t have much of an impact Stroud suggests.

But what impact would those players have had if they weren’t allowed to participate in a rookie minicamp or OTAs? What if they weren’t even given a playbook to study following the draft?

That’s essentially what could happen to this year’s crop of rookies because of the NFL lockout.

NFL Comissioner Roger Goodell made it clear that after teams draft a college player, they can no longer have contact with them until there is a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. In fact, players cannot receive playbooks.

Stroud makes a good point but let’s take it a step further. Sure the drafted players aren’t allowed to receive a playbook… from the team. What is to stop a current player from going to Kinkos and making a copy of his own playbook to give to a rookie teammate?

But Stroud makes a very valid point: With limited to no time working in a team environment, a rookie would have to be some special kind of player to have an impact during what would be a shortened season — and most certainly an abbreviated offseason.

The finest limousine and transportation company in the country, Paradise Worldwide Transportation, is hooking up JoeBucsFan.com readers again with free luxury suite tickets!!!

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On Friday afternoon, Paradise Worldwide Transportation will give away three sets of four luxury suite tickets to Sunday’s Tampa Bay Storm home opener at the St. Pete Times forum.

That right. You can win four tickets on Friday! There will be three winners.

All you have to do is “Like” Paradise Worldwide Transportation on Facebook, and they’ll choose winners from their Facebook followers on Friday. Click the link above.

Joe will announce winners here. Winners also will get a Facebook message, and they’ll be announced on the Paradise Facebook page.

How sweet is this! Good luck.

Joe has already written that the new kickoff rule, which will have the ball spotted at the 35-yard line and increase touchbacks, will hurt if not neuter Michael Spurlock.

Seems as though good guy Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times believes it will hurt the Bucs as a whole.

Holder decided to do a bit of research and found just how the Bucs will be impaired by Richie McKay’s latest attempt to turn football into seven-on-seven flag football.

On the surface, this would seem to have a negative impact on the Bucs. They tied for seventh in kickoff returns with 24.3 yards per attempt, led by Micheal Spurlock (25.7 yards per attempt).

Joe was not aware the Bucs were that proficient in kickoff returns last season. But this boils down to the all important field position. It isn’t so much where the ball will be kicked off from. What many fans seem to pass over is that this new kickoff rule gives the kick coverage team less ground to cover in order to defend a return.

In other words, a kick coverage team will get downfield much quicker.

Might Jacquizz Rodgers be a spark the Bucs are seeking?

Will Cadillac Williams return? Is Kregg Lumpkin a stud-in-waiting? Or do the Bucs need to snatch a running back in the draft to groom behind LeGarrette Blount?

NFL Draft guru Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski, of WDAE-AM. breaks down and ranks running backs below, and includes how the Bucs might consider these guys. It’s all part of the best Bucs-focused draft coverage around. Come back later for The Commish’s inbox podcast. And a new manbeast mock draft is lurking. 

Running Backs:

By JUSTIN PAWLOWSKI

Mark Ingram – Alabama
5’9’’ – 215 lbs – 4.62
1st Round

Why The Commish would draft him:  Patience and vision are Ingram’s two best qualities.  He has proven to be a reliable back that can carry a full workload and be a leader on the offensive side of the ball.  Ingram also has a compact build and runs low to the ground which helps him to break tackles.

Why The Commish would stay away:  This is more about where I wouldn’t draft him than me just not wanting to draft Ingram.  I say that because I think Ingram has been a great college player and could very well be a very good player in the NFL, but I just don’t think Ingram is flashy enough to be a 1st round draft pick as a running back.  He does not have elite speed or elusiveness to warrant a 1st round selection when there have been numerous backs go undrafted who have gone on to lead the entire league in rushing.  Unless you’re Adrian Peterson or Chris Johnson, I just don’t see the value in drafting any running back in the 1st round.

Impact on the Bucs: The only way this happens is if Ingram falls to the Bucs pick in the 2nd round and they select him.  I think Ingram would be an awesome complement to LeGarrette Blount.  Blount proved he can carry a full work load, but Ingram has the leadership and understanding of an offense to provide the Bucs with a good 1-2 punch.  I also think Ingram could be an upgrade in blocking and receiving out of the backfield.

Comparison: Ray Rice – Baltimore Ravens

Mikel Leshoure – Illinois
6’0’’ – 227 lbs – 4.59
1st/2nd Round

Why The Commish would draft him:  Leshoure’s biggest strengths are power and vision.  I love a back that can find a crease and then plow his way through.  He’s also very patient for a big back as he allows his blocks to set up in front of him before hitting a hole.  Although Leshoure doesn’t have elite speed, he can hit another gear when he comes to daylight.

Why The Commish would stay away:  I like Leshoure, but he’s not a complete back.  He does lack elite speed.  He is also developing as a pass blocker, but is no where near where he needs to be.  He’s also not a real big threat in the passing game.

Impact on the Bucs:  Leshoure’s skill set reminds me a lot of Legarrette Blount.  I don’t think the Bucs are looking for that type of back again.  They need some speed to pair with Blount’s power.

Comparison:  Chris “Beanie” Wells – Arizona Cardinals

Ryan Williams – Virginia Tech
5’9’’ – 212 lbs – 4.61
2nd Round

Why The Commish would draft him:  The best way to describe Williams’ running style is violent.  His cuts are violent, his yards after contact are violent, and his acceleration is violent.  Williams might end up having the most overall talent of any running back in this draft.

Why The Commish would stay away:  For as violent and flashy as Williams is, his speed is only just average.  Also, I’m weary of any player, but RBs particular, with hamstring issues, and that’s what Williams had last year.  His down year in 2010 due to injuries would probably push me in the direction of drafting another player if there was a debate.

Impact on the Bucs: I’ve actually seen a couple mock drafts that have the Bucs selecting Williams in the 2nd round.  I’m not sure that’s the approach the Bucs would want to take in the 2nd round, but Williams is a very talented back.  If drafted, Williams would be an excellent complement to Blount.  Also, with Williams’ violent running style, he would give the Bucs a legitimate short-yardage back if Blount can’t learn how to get 2 yards!!

Comparison: Joseph Addai – Indianapolis Colts

Shane Vereen – Cal
5’10’’ – 210 lbs – 4.50
3rd Round

Why The Commish would draft him:  Vereen is in the smaller and shiftier category of running backs, but has the toughness to run between the tackles.  From what I’ve seen, Vereen can be a real threat as a receiver out of the backfield.  He has great elusiveness which also makes him a threat in the return game and on screen passes.

Why The Commish would stay away:  Although Vereen has the toughness to run between the tackles, he does not really have the power or strength to carry the full load and break tackles.  He can also be a liability in the pass game as he’ll need a good coach to teach him proper technique in pass protection.

Impact on the Bucs: I think Vereen could be a legitimate candidate for the Buccaneers’ backfield.  He seems like the type of back the Bucs want and need.  Vereen will need to learn to be a better pass protector, but he can immediately add elusiveness in the backfield and become a threat as a returner for the Bucs.

Comparison: Leon Washington – Seattle Seahawks

Kendall Hunter – Oklahoma St.
5’7’’ – 199 lbs – 4.53
3rd Round

Why The Commish would draft him:  What impresses me most about Hunter is that he is always moving forward.  Whether he takes a pitch outside or is making a cut between the tackles, Hunter is always moving towards the end zone.  Hunter also has tremendous character as he received numerous accolades academically and was a leader on his team.

Why The Commish would stay away:  I don’t think Hunter would be able to be a feature back in the NFL.  Sure, many teams run a 2-back system, but I view Hunter as more of a complement to a bigger feature back.  Hunter is also average as a blocker and needs to improve if he’ll become an elite 3rd down back.

Impact on the Bucs: This is the exact type of back the Bucs are looking for.  Hunter would be a great fit in Greg Olsen’s offense and present the Bucs with a very good 1-2 punch at running back when paired with Blount.  Hunter is elusive and a very good receiver out of the backfield.

Comparison: Lesean McCoy – Philadelphia Eagles

Daniel Thomas – Kansas St.
6’0’’ – 230 lbs – DNP
3rd/4th Round

Why The Commish would draft him:  Thomas is a big back with a lot of power, but he is also very nimble with excellent balance.  Thomas is a classic between-the-tackles runner who excels in short-yardage and goal line situations.  Thomas is also a very good receiver out of the backfield and an excellent pass protector.

Why The Commish would stay away:  What worries me most of Thomas is that when I watch him run, I often see him holding the ball away from his body which will lead to many fumbles.  He also lacks elite speed.

Impact on the Bucs: As much as the Bucs want speed at the running back position, Thomas might not have that speed, but he does things well that Blount does not do well.  Thomas is a very good pass protector, has soft hands in the passing game, and is excellent in short-yardage situations.  With that said, I think the Bucs want a back with some speed and elusiveness, and that’s not Thomas.

Comparison:  Matt Forte – Chicago Bears

DeMarco Murray – Oklahoma
6’0’’ – 213 lbs – 4.41
3rd/4th Round

Why The Commish would draft him:  There is a lot to like about Murray.  I like his combination of size and speed.  I also like his vision and ability to work his way through a defense.  He is a very good receiver out of the backfield and could give an offense mismatches when split out wide like a receiver.  Going back to his speed, Murray can bust a long run at any time.  I love a threat like that.  I’ll end with Murray being as determined as any back in this class, having tremendous work ethic, and being a leader.

Why The Commish would stay away:  Before I get into his run style or durability concerns, what worries me most about Murray is that he doesn’t break near the amount of tackles as he should.  I can’t stand a running back that constantly gets tripped up on shoelace tackles.  Murray also has durability issues which might be caused by him running so tall and leaving himself vulnerable to big hits.

Impact on the Bucs: I do think Murray is a talented back and should be under consideration for the Bucs.  He has the speed they’re looking for while also being able to catch the ball and pass protect.  I think Murray is probably as good as any back for the Bucs in this draft.  With having Blount already, the Bucs just need a backup that can come in and do the things that Murray does do well.

Comparison: Jahvid Best – Detroit Lions

Jacquizz Rodgers – Oregon St.
5’6’’ – 196 lbs – 4.64
3rd/4th Round

Why The Commish would draft him:  Rodgers is more quick than he is fast, but his shifty moves prevent him from taking big hits.  Rodgers is also a gifted receiver out of the backfield.

Why The Commish would stay away:  Rodgers lacks the size, bulk, and power to run between the tackles in the NFL.  His lack of strength with also hurt him in pass protection.  I’m also not thrilled about a back his size lacking the elite straight-line speed like he does.  Sure, I know that Dexter McCluster was the same way, but I’m just not sold that Rodgers is in the same category when it comes to shiftiness and playmaking ability.

Impact on the Bucs: Rodgers does fit the mold of the type of back the Bucs supposedly want.  He’s a smaller shiftier back who would complement the bigger Blount well.  The one thing that does concern me about Rodgers and the Bucs is that I don’t think he could shoulder the load if Blount were to go down with an injury.  Other backs like Vereen, Murray, and Hunter will be able to shoulder that load, while Rodgers seems to be a situational back only.

Comparison: Darren Sproles – San Diego Chargers

Delone Carter – Syracuse
5’9’’ – 222 lbs – 4.56
4th Round

Why The Commish would draft him:  I’ve been on the Carter train for a while now.  I view him as Mr. Consistency.  He has good size and runs with good power between the tackles.  He also runs with good leverage and balance.  As a receiver out of the backfield, Carter has displayed soft hands, and with his patience, could be great in the screen game.

Why The Commish would stay away:  Carter is not the flashiest of backs in this draft.  He’s not the biggest, the fastest, or the quickest.  Carter also comes with some character issues including being suspended for spring practice in 2010 for punching a student over a snowball incident.

Impact on the Bucs: Although not what the Bucs are particularly looking for, I like Carter as a running back.  I don’t think he’ll be a target of the Bucs, but if he was drafted by them, Carter would be a very nice backup to Blount.

Comparison: Curtis Martin – New York Jets

Jordan Todman – UConn
5’9’’ – 203 lbs – 4.40
4th Round

Why The Commish would draft him:  I really like Todman’s running style.  He has very good straight-line speed with the elusiveness and quickness to go with it.  He has good vision and does a good job with cut back runs.  Todman has good balance and runs low to the ground.

Why The Commish would stay away:  As much as I like Todman’s running style, I just wish he was a couple inches taller and about 10-15 lbs heavier.  He just doesn’t have the bulk or strength to be a feature back in the NFL.  I also have questions about his ability to be a good 3rd down back because he slightly above average catching the football and, again, doesn’t have good strength for pass protection.

Impact on the Bucs: Todman’s running style and speed are good, but he might not be the ideal fit for a 3rd down back.  As much as the Bucs would like speed at the running back position, I’m sure they’d love a good blocker and receiver there too.

Comparison: Ahmad Bradshaw – New York Giants

"Dear Mom, Easter is coming and I want to buy a violent, run-stuffing beast of a linebacker."

The day after the 2010 season ended, Raheem Morris essentially said free agency is the wrong way to build a team and the Bucs were only interested in make the right calls in the NFL draft and then re-signing those players.

Joe took detailed notes.

And since then, rock star general manager Mark Dominik also has been firm in saying that he believes a lasting contender is built through the draft and that diving into free agency was not the Bucs way.

Well, now it seems the song has changed.

Tampa Tribune scribe eye-RAH! Kaufman caught up to Raheem at the NFL owners meetings Tuesday and the head coach/defensive mastermind talked in detail about how the Bucs master plan includes scoring targeted talent in free agency.

And (gasp), that checkbook-busting day may be here right now.

“We wanted to accumulate talent throughout the draft and it was no different in 2002 and 2001, when our ownership went out and got a Simeon Rice, a Brad Johnson or a Keenan McCardell in order to push that team over the top and help the draft classes of Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, John Lynch and Ronde Barber,” Morris said. “We may be nearing that plateau. As soon as the free agency season is able to be open, some of those discussions will be more realistic.

“You’re talking about adding components, getting the right guy, a good fit, and a lot of it is having the guys in your program to make guys fall in place. You watch a Rodney Harrison go to the Patriots a few years ago and really be a part of their system, I watch great organizations and how they are run. You’ve got a bunch of different examples. You’ve got a Darren Sharper going to the Saints two years ago.

“You’ve got a good idea who you want to target. You can’t close the door on free agency. (Safety) Sean Jones worked out great for us last year. Derrick Ward was not a great fit for us. You get a certain value on a player and you evaluate. You’ll never hit 100 percent in free agency, the draft or in life … you just want to be more right than wrong.”

Joe has to confess. There’s disagreement at the JoeBucsFan.com headquarters regarding the Bucs going after a big time free agent.

This “Joe” thinks it’s time to go for it. The Bucs were 10-6 last season with a pile of young, emerging players. If that doesn’t represent the window of opportunity to push your chips all in and buy a couple of key upgrades to the team, then when the hell is the right time?

The “other Joe” would prefer to see the Bucs stay much closer to the build-through-the draft path executed so well by the Steelers and Packers, for example.

Of course, there’s no perfect answer. But the offseason just got a lot more interesting.

So yesterday — all in the name of trying to stem injuries — the NFL, at the urging of Richie McKay, decided to move kickoffs back to the 35-yard line. That’s all but taken kickoff returns out of the game.

What once was a weapon is now useless. This may have nailed few players worse than Bucs return man Michael Spurlock.

Run Michael Run was a lethal weapon for the Bucs on kickoff returns. If he didn’t bring one to the house, he certainly put the fear of doing so on opposing special teams coaches. Now a free agent, Spurlock undoubtedly was banking of hitting the bank as a result.

Now, nearly half his game has been taken away. Sure, he can still return punts, but 40 percent of his game was kickoff returns (40 percent punt returns and 20 percent as a receiver).

The Bucs simply are not going to throw big cash at a guy who is now a one-trick pony. Joe believes Spurlock still has a spot on the roster as a punt return man and as a reserve wide receiver.

But his value and stock sure took a hit yesterday.

Joe wonders what Spurlock thinks of McKay about now?

There’s plenty of buzz from NFL pundits purporting that the court system will lift the lockout next month, meaning the NFL offseason would resume as normal and players would play under their previous deals via the labor agreement in place last season. 

While that happens, if it happens, the labor mess would then press on in the courts and in negotiations.

And if that’s the scenario, that means the Bucs would have Stylez White back playing defensive end with a guaranteed contract.

Though he’s 31, Stylez has completed only four seasons in the NFL, which means he’d be an unrestricted free agent. However, the Bucs have already slapped a tender on him so they don’t lose him.

Speaking last night on 1010 AM, when he had some candid messages for fans, Stylez said the 2011 tender would pay him a little more than he earned in 2010 — about $1 million — and he said “I’m down for that.”

For those who need translation, that means Stylez would be happy to come back.

Joe knows fans like to point to Stylez’s sack totals and then point him to the nearest Greyhound bus out of town, but Joe can’t go there. A veteran who has proven to be extremely durable (one missed game in four years) and extremely effective as a role player, Stylez has value.

Joe prefers Stylez’s 24 sacks in four years over Kyle Moore’s zero sacks in two years.

Get all the details at NoExcusesTour.com.

But first listen to Joe tell you all about the No Excuses Tour.

Man, Joel Glazer seems to be one super happy dude strolling around the NFL owners meetings in New Orleans.

And why shouldn’t he be strutting his stuff around his billionaire peers?

Glazer’s Bucs have a pile of young talent, won 10 games, spent peanuts to do it, and have one of the best stadium deals in all of sports.

Life is good for Team Glazer. Even Manchester United is cruising toward another title.

Disney NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas had some warm and fuzzy time with Glazer on Monday and shared some of Glazer’s gushing love for his team.  

The Glazers get labeled as being detached owners because they’re not as visible as some others in the league. But I think that’s a huge misconception. While you don’t see the Glazers on the sidelines like some others, they’re far from absentee owners. It’s not unusual to run into them at One Buccaneer Place or see them roaming Raymond James Stadium. Back when Malcolm Glazer, the father of Joel, Bryan and Ed first bought the team, one of the reasons he cited for making the move was his sons’ love of the game.

“I love football,’’ Joel Glazer said. “I haven’t missed a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game since we’ve owned the team and gone all the way to Japan. I live for Sundays. I live for the wins and can’t stand the losses. Anybody who knows myself or knows my family knows this is a true love. To have a young team that you know is going to get better and to compete for the ultimate prize, that’s what you’re in this for and that’s why it’s so exciting.’’

In the full story linked above, Glazer made numerous references to the Bucs sticking to the “plan” they crafted that ushered in the Raheem Morris era. All the fuzzy history of the “plan” implementation aside, Joe wonders what’s honestly next.

When does Team Glazer plan to adopt a right-now mentality and go all-in for the Lombardi Trophy?

Joe brought word yesterday of a Disney blogger’s report that the Bucs are among the top teams in contention to be featured in HBO’s vaunted “Hard Knocks” series.

Joe thinks this would be so cool and Joe would be forced to break down and purchase HBO, a service he canceled the very moment “The Sopranos” went dark.

But color Joe skeptical. Joe decided to take off his Bucs cap and replace it with the fedora of a New York television executive who doesn’t give a crap about sports; only eyeballs.

Joe has learned long ago that programming, whether it be for TV or radio, cannot target the facepainters unless it’s Sirius NFL Radio. That’s because NFL Radio is a niche market (and is subscription-based).

The facepainters are a niche demographic of a niche demographic. Just go to a Bucs game for evidence. This is why you hear announcers in sports playoff games dumb down the talk as they are targeting non-sports fans or the casual sports fan.

Now let’s look at HBO and the Bucs. Generally, a TV executive is going to look at a compelling figure or a nationally known personality to highlight. Just who on the Bucs fits that bill? Joe suggests no one.

This is not the Bucs team of yore with bigger than life personalities like Warren Sapp, Simeon Rice, Meshaun Johnson, Chucky and other compelling players like John Lynch and Derrick Brooks.

Generally, HBO’s target audience is not just hardcore sports fans — who would watch “Hard Knocks” no matter the team — but hausfraus and the type of person who hosts Oscar parties serving wine coolers and spinach dip. Would any Bucs player or coach even raise an eyebrow with this demographic?

Joe suspects the answer would be, “no.” Let’s be honest, would Donald Penn or Davin Joseph, stud players that they are, ring a bell with commonfolk the way Sapp or Johnson would have years ago?

Yeah, maybe Kellen Winslow is nationally known. Maybe. But even Kellen will admit he’s not that much of an extrovert.

Color Joe suspicious that HBO would want to highlight a team that wasn’t even on Sunday or Monday or Thursday night football, and when given a chance, NBC even passed on flexing a Bucs-Saints game to televise instead the putrid Seahawks -Lambs.

Sure, Joe wants to see the Bucs on “Hard Knocks.” He just has a difficult time believing it will happen.

Not this year.

"Jimminy Fuc*ing Christmas! You want numbness, Glazer? Fans weren't numb. I was numb trying to win fuc*ing hardware with my defensive coordinator quitting, no running game, Dexter Jackson and a defensive line that couldn't stop a three-legged show pony."

It seems Joel Glazer thinks a cold chill of indifference gripped Bucs fans during the later years of the Chucky era, so he told Gary Shelton of the St. Pete Times yesterday at NFL owners meetings in New Orleans.

In what likely was a very revealing quote, Glazer served up a somewhat bizarre word choice.

“We needed to connect with the fans. We needed to put together a team the fans could grow with. We need a team the fans could fall in love with. I sense that excitement coming back. The numbness that was there for several years is starting to thaw.”

A “numbness that was there for several years?”

Really?

Now Joe remembers the intensity and excitement surround the 9-3 Buccaneers as they prepared for a Monday Night Football clash at Carolina back in December 2008. Trust Joe; there was no “numbness” around town. Fans were hot for the Bucs.

Before that, after the 2007 season, Glazer rewarded Chucky and Bruce Allen with fat new contract extensions. The Bucs had made the playoffs, and entering the 2008 season Tampa Bay was the talk of the NFL as Brett Favre was inches from wearing pewter and red.

So when exactly did this “numbness that was there for several years” Glazer refers to take hold?

Strange choice of words, for sure. Clearly, Glazer’s memories of the Chucky era were clouded by something yesterday. Joe can only guess he’s so smitten with the current Bucs that he mis-spoke.

Yesterday, Bucs defensive end Stylez White decided to be a co-host for something called “The Sports Explosion” with someone called “Heavyweight,” which Joe learned was broadcast on WQYK-AM at 6 p.m. Monday.

(What happened to Bobby Fenton?)

Strangely, the majority of the show dealt with college wrestling and “Heavyweight’s” Boston connections.

(Memo to local sports radio wannabes: No one gives a spit that you are from Boston, or insert another city. Newsflash: This is not Boston. Pay for airtime on a Boston radio station if you want to impress listeners of your Boston roots. This is Tampa Bay. Impress people with your connections to local teams.)

For some odd reason that Joe cannot explain, people who don’t watch games but are behind a mic in this market enjoy talking not about games, but about people who don’t go to games. This seems to be a favorite topic on numerous radio shows on a sports radio station with studios in St. Petersburg. It’s nearly as riveting as listening to someone spout poetically about a third baseman’s OBGYN numbers.

But set up with the opportunity, White spanked Bucs fans for what he perceived as a lack of support for the team in 2010.

“Fans call me out; so I will call them out,” White said. “I know how many sacks I had. I had 4.5 sacks. I don’t like it. I was disappointed. But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t contributing.”

Home games “were tough. We’re supposed to have a home field advantage. It was disappointing that the stadium was not filled up with Bucs fans. It was discouraging.

“I understand [residents] come from up north. Why not support Tampa? I eat here. I live here. Why not support it? This is your home. It irritates me when teams from up north come here and there are more fans from the team up north. It’s discouraging as a player that you are working hard to represent the Bucs.

“The love [for teams up north], emotionally, that bothers me.”

Joe understands where Stylez is coming from but comparing this market to Pittsburgh or Chicago or even Buffalo is folly.

None of those areas has the number of transplants that this area has; not even remotely close. And let’s be honest, for many, turning your back on a team you and your family grew up with is akin to slapping your mother in the face after she cooked you a nice dinner.

Then you factor in this area’s demographics and economy. There are far, far more retirees than in virtually any other market. Retirees generally do not go to games no matter what the sport. Go to any game in any part of the country and count how many senior citizens you see compared to those in their 30s and 20s.

And anyone discounting the local economy as to why people aren’t going to games simply has their head up their arse. The vast majority of homes are underwater. The unemployment rate is horrid. Just do some homework on Google if you don’t believe Joe. So does any reasonable person believe or expect someone to shell out dough for season tickets as opposed to paying their mortgage, really?

Throw in the unemployment rate, and it’s a toxic storm for local sports teams.

Joe can see where Stylez’s frustration comes from. If people had the cash to spend on games, they would go to games. It’s no more complex than that.