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.

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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.

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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.

Might Joe have to retire the popular gameday Blackout Tour from Paradise Worldwide Transportation?

Maybe. Maybe not.

Per Tampa Tribune scribe eye-RAH! Kaufman, Team Glazer is fired up about 2011 ticket sales but isn’t yet counting on all local home games being televised. Kaufman enjoyed some rare, on-the-record face time with Joel Glazer at the NFL owners meetings Monday.

“I am so excited about where our team is at and where we’re headed,” Glazer said. “Ticket sales have been strong. They were strong in January, strong in February and they haven’t stopped. There’s going to be a 2011 season and our fans are excited about the Bucs. To top it off, we’ve got the youngest team in the NFL and people want to be part of it from the beginning and enjoy the ride.”

Glazer stopped short of guaranteeing an end to the blackouts that prevented each of Tampa Bay’s home games to be televised in the home market.

“Unemployment in Florida is first or second highest in the NFL,” he said, “and the economy is not what it’s been. I’ll never be embarrassed about our fans and their support. Tickets generate revenue, but we’re proceeding with our plan to build a championship football team. If we keep working hard and have continued success on the field, the problem will be rectified.”

Joe suggests you read the whole story linked above.

Of course, it’s great to hear Bucs ticket sales being characterized as “strong” by the big boss. Though Joe’s not getting his hopes up regarding blackouts. The Bucs have a ton of ticket-sales ground to make up.

Remember, critical December Bucs games had 20,000+ empty seats last year, and even the December prime time Maurice Stovall chokefest matchup against Atlanta had reams of unsold tickets.

Joe’s hoping for the best, but not expecting miracles given the still troubled local economy.

In a story unrelated to a hair stylist, Disney NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas claims the Bucs are on the short list to be the next team featured on the HBO football reality show Hard Knocks.

And Yasinskas seems to think this could be a good thing for the Bucs organization, so he wrote on ESPN.com.

That, of course, comes only if there is a labor agreement and teams go to training camp in July or August. But the Bucs have been involved in talks, although no deal has been finalized.

This would make plenty of sense for the Bucs. They’re a team that struggled with attendance last season. Not a single game sold out at Raymond James Stadium and segments of the team’s fan base have not been positive about ownership.

As owner of the most popular Bucs-only website on planet earth, Joe would love nothing better than to see a profanity-laced, behind-the-scenes reality look at the team.

What freakin’ theater.

Raheem eating fruit and sharing core beliefs. Donald Penn bitching about weigh-ins. Aqib Talib squawking in his funny voice about his swag and life lessons learned in anger management.  The film room giggles of Barrett Ruud getting steamrolled by no-name running backs. Eric Yarber vibing on camera. … Oh, Joe would have great fun.

But Joe the fan yearing for a Super Bowl title doesn’t want to see the Bucs on the show.

The potential for team chemistry to be ripped apart is way too great. Spin it however you want, football teams are too big and fragmented for Hard Knocks not to cause disruption.  

Joe knows it absolutely galled Bucs fans to watch the putrid Seahawks host a home game in the opening round of the playoffs, against the Saints no less.

Seattle was horrible and its division, the NFC West, was worse. But because the NFL covets divisions and more so division winners, the Seahawks got to host a playoff game.

The Bucs slapped around the Seahawks rather easily just a few short weeks before the playoff game and, of course, a week later the Bucs handed the defending Super Bowl champion Saints a loss at the Superdome to end the regular season.

The Bucs lost a playoff tiebreaker to the Packers, which eventually won the Super Bowl.

Good guy Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times reports that the NFL is not about to expand the playoffs or see to it that a rotten team like the Seahawks host a playoff game.

Falcons president Rich McKay, chair of the league’s Competition Committee, said that there won’t be any discussion about changes to playoff seeding at [the] NFL meetings in New Orleans. A number of proposed rule changes are debated and voted on each year at the meetings, but the playoff reseeding issue never even made it onto the agenda based on feedback from individual clubs, McKay said.

“It was something we talked about, it was something we put in the survey,” he said. But he added, “It is something that we feel like (teams) did not have an appetite for right now. It is a topic that I am sure we will continue to discuss downstream, but not something there will be any proposal about this year.”

Joe can live with that a whole lot better than Richie McKay doing his best to change the fabric of the NFL. If people wanted to watch flag football, these high school seven-on-seven tournaments would play before thousands of fans, not just a scattering of parents, coaches and media types.

People want football. Physical football. Punishing football. Don’t kill the golden goose, Richie. People like kickoff returns. People like guys who aren’t paying attention to get leveled. This is football!

As for reseeding the playoffs, Joe’s on McKay’s side here. What’s the point of having divisions if you are not going to reward division winners? As for the Bucs missing out on a tiebreaker, maybe they should have beaten the Lions at home?

Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik has said as much.

Buzzing around the NFL owners meetings and likely holding clandestine meetings with high-ranking NFL operatives, eye-RAH Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune has Twittered an official death bell of the Tiki Barber-to-the-Bucs rumors.

Ira: You can put those Tiki Barber to the Bucs rumors officially to rest. If Tiki returns to the NFL, it won’t be with Ronde in Tampa Bay.

Joe’s glad this is over (hopefully).

A running back that’s been on his couch for four seasons, not to mention 35 years old, is a gigantic longshot that the Bucs don’t need gamble on. In Joe’s gut, he believes a Tiki signing would have taken too many carries away from LeGarrette Blount and possibly delayed his maturation.

Now the Bucs can focus on the more important backfield task — re-signing Cadillac Williams.

Readers under 30 might not get some of the irony in this post, since they may not fully comprehend the defensive end manbeast greatness that was Ed “Too Tall” Jones, who played in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

Just think of a 6-9 dude with a giant wingspan who was fast, athletic and exceptionally huge — quit football for a year to box — and was damn good.

Too Tall, a likely Hall of Famer one day, hooked up with Raheem Morris recently and hit it off, per a story on Buccaneers.com. And Too Tall then was invited to One Buc Palace for a grand tour and some quiet time with Raheem and general manager Mark Dominik.

In the story, Dominik gushed over the greatness of Too Tall and quoted Too Tall’s three Pro Bowls and other accolades from his memories of the great Dallas Doomsday Defense.

This made Joe smile.

Joe can’t resist pointing out that Too Tall, if he were, say, a 2011 free agent in the middle of his career, would be exactly the type of player Mark Dominik’s would be completely disinterested in publicly. Too Tall wouldn’t fit the plan. He’d be too old, far too costly, and take the Bucs down the satanic path of free agency.

In his 30s, and just after returning to football from boxing, is when Too Tall had those three Pro Bowl years Dominik referenced in the story.

Joe understands the Bucs’ plan of building through the draft, but Joe also understands the Bucs are yearning for a defensive end, have a pile of money to spend, and there is DE talent out there in the biggest free agent class in history.

Joe wonders whether 60-year-old Too Tall will be the best free agent DE to visit One Buc Palace this year.

Tiki Barber wants to play football again (now that he’s broke).

Tiki Barber wouldn’t mind playing football with his twin brother, Ronde, who recently re-upped for another season with the Bucs.

Raheem Morris hasn’t exactly closed the door on the possibility. But Brad Briggs of the NationalFootballPost.com scoffs at the notion. He believes Tiki is a better fit elsewhere.

The Bucs have made an impressive turnaround with young general manager Mark Dominik by going the young route. Quarterback Josh Freeman, wide receiver Mike Williams and running back LeGarrette Blount were key pieces for a 10-win team last season. There are young building blocks on the defensive side of the ball too. It’s not like the franchise owes Ronde a huge favor, the kind it would take to sign his brother, who hasn’t played football since 2006.

Brett Favres comebacks made more sense than the one Barber is attempting. Yes, the Bucs want to pair Blount with a veteran back, one with skills suited for third down. It’s something Barber did well in his prime. It’s also something Cadillac Williams does well. The Bucs’ former first-round draft pick will be an unrestricted free agent, but Tampa would like him back. Re-signing Williams makes infinite more sense than entertaining the idea of signing Barber.

Joe could understand signing Barber, but like Briggs, Joe is of the mind that the Bucs should re-sign Caddy rather than taking a flyer on Tiki.

Second only to the Bucs missing the playoffs last year for Joe on the sickening scale was when rookie wide receiver Arrelioius Benn went down late in the season with a knee injury. Joe was nearly sick to his stomach.

Benn played in one of those damned, gimmick spread-option offenses in college, which have zero comparison to an NFL offense. Hateful Bucs fans mocked Benn early because the guy was learning a brand new offense, much like learning a new language.

Once Benn began grasping an NFL offense, he turned into First-and-Benn. He lit up Arizona, lit up Washington and was about to become a force as a wide receiver, pulling attention off of fellow rookie wide receiver Mike Williams to compose a lethal air attack when Kellen Winslow was thrown in.

An alleged Bucs fan decided to pepper Disney blogger Pat Yasinskas, typing for the Stalinist outfit BSPN, all but claiming Benn is a bust and the Bucs need to look to add a receiver in the draft.

Calvin (Newport News, VA)
Hey Pat. Do you feel like the Bucs should consider looking at another receiver? I feel like Williams came along fine, but Benn didn’t have a great rookie season (2nd round pick, 395 yards 2 TD’s). I’m not saying replace Benn because he still has time to prove himself, but I wouldn’t say he’s above having some competition come in.

Pat Yasinskas
Maybe take a shot on a WR later in the draft. But I’m not down on Benn all that much. He was starting to come on a little before he got hurt. Coaches still like him and they’ve got a few other guys there as well. I wouldn’t panic and draft WR early, but wouldn’t hurt to add another a bit later in draft.

Good Lord, does this guy in Virginia not have NFL Sunday Ticket? Did he not watch any Bucs games? The absolute only reason Benn may not develop is because of his knee, not because he’s a bust.

This is a perfect example of someone looking at stats and not putting the numbers in any context or perspective.

Draft guru Justin Pawlowski, The Commish of WDAE-AM 620, is a huge fan of the NFL Scouting combine. Oh yes, The Commish considers it an extraordinarily valuable exercise.

But pro days? Well, The Commish isn’t sold.

In today’s draft podcast, The Commish explains in great detail why pro days are stupid. Some great points, for sure. He also shares takes on pro days and Martez Wilson from the astute Chris Landry of FOX Sports.

Click the arrow below to listen, or download here.

[audio: 32011podcast.mp3]

Don’t forget to follow The Commish on Facebook, and shoot him your draft questions for Wednesday’s “inbox,” commish@620wdae.com.