The worst part of new Bucs running back Derrick Ward's appearance on "THE BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW PERIOD" was that co-host Charissa Thompson was not on the set.

Recently, new Bucs running back Derrick Ward (what was it about the Glazers Boys not signing free agents exactly?) sat down for a chat on the set of “THE WORST DAMN SPORTS SHOW SEMICOLON UNLESS IT INVOLVES STUART SCOTT OR CHRIS BERMAN PERIOD.”

Wise beyond his years, Ward said he signed with the Bucs due to a lack of state income tax in Florida. He also admitted the Bucs came late to the party and he just bought a house here.

After watching the video, Joe has one question: Where was Charissa Thompson?

Florida State defensive end Everett Brown, so says Mike Lombardi of the NationalFootballPost.com.

Like so many others, Lombardi believes the Bucs are in a terrible need for players up front, hence his guess that Brown becomes a Bucs defender.

The Bucs need a rusher from the edge to play wide in their new defense.

Joe would love for Brown to somehow fall to the Bucs. At times last year against big offensive lines such as Wisconsin, Brown manhandled opponents like they were children. Brown is also quick as some think he could play linebacker in a 34-defensive front.

But if the Bucs pick Brown, doesn’t that pretty much suggest they whiffed on Gaines Adams?

Grab a 12-pack and catch up on the stellar draft coverage at JoeBucsFan.com. Full breakdowns of cornerbacks and safeties are coming Saturday.

The popular Wednesday podcast returns with NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski answering your draft questions.

Get your questions in for next week by sending them to justinpawlowski@620wdae.com . No nude pictures attached, please.

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Tonight, all Joe wants you to do is strongly consider subscribing to the best NFL draft coverage for Bucs fans anywhere. Click here to see what you’re missing every day.

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Tampa Tribune reporter Anwar Richardson says the Bucs have spread the word to players that Luke McCown has two years to prove himself

It now seems like the Bucs will be completely avoiding a quarterback in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Speaking this morning on ESPN 1040 AM, Bucs beat writer Anwar Richardson, who cashes a paycheck from The Tampa Tribune, gave a brief preview of his upcoming Sunday feature story on Luke McCown.

Richardson said McCown has been told he has “a two-year window” to be the starting quarterback.

Other members of the offense also were  advised McCown will get that time to develop, Richardson said.

Richardson said running back Derrick Ward is quoted in his Sunday feature story talking about how there was a similar edict in New York Giants camp early on in Eli Manning’s career.

Now Joe believes Richardson and knows he’s a sound reporter.

However, Joe does not believe for a second that the Bucs would not deal for Jay Cutler if the price is right.

Though Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com loves Davin Joesph, he's not overly impressed with the Bucs' offseason moves thus far.

Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com was a guest on Sirius NFL Radio’s “The Blitz” today with Adam Schein and Solomon Wilcots and he had quite a bit to say about the Bucs.

To suggest Marvez, a longtime NFL writer, has modest reservations about the Bucs this upcoming season is to suggest Obama is open-minded to cutting checks to incompetent white collar types.

Marvez said, in short, the Bucs do not have the horses for defensive coordinator Jim Bates to piece together a decent defense nor do the Bucs have a quarterback worthy of leading a team to a playoff push.

After pretty much unloading on the defensive front-seven Marvez said, “The defensive tackles… I don’t think [the Bucs] have the personnel to run a Bates system.”

Then, Marvez took aim at the offense.

“If they think a fifth round pick from last season has a chance to be the starting quarterback… that’s a major drawback. They’ve always said they wanted someone to compete [at quarterback] which to me, my guess is Brian Griese is the odd man out.

“They did add a lot of talent on the offensive side. I love the run blocking strength of the offensive line. I think Davin Joseph is a beast. They even have good depth there. Jeremy Zuttah will push people.

“You look at the talent there on offense, it’s the most they’ve ever had. They have a lot of weapons to work with if they had a quarterback.

“But they don’t have a quarterback.”

Marvez suggested whoever the Bucs select in the first round in April’s NFL draft will tell fans if the Bucs are actually rebuilding or consider themselves a contender.

“If [the Bucs] take a quarterback, that’s an indication that are a year or two away. But how much patience do you have? The standards are extremely high in Tampa. But are the Bucs willing to give [general manager Mark] Dominik and [head coach Raheem The Dream] time?”

In short, Marvez doesn’t expect the Bucs to do much this season.

“There are too many question marks with Tampa Bay.”

Steve Wyche of NFL.com claims former Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks would be a good fit for the Saints in 2009

Joe is still peeved at Bucs general manager Mark Dominik for kicking one of the greatest Bucs of all time and still a productive player, Derrick Brooks, to the curb.

And this nightmare of seeing Brooks suit up for another team just might get downright ugly if Steve Wyche of NFL.com is correct.

Brooks, so Wyche claims, could again suit up at the CITS in front of Bucs fans.

But in the black and gold colors of the New Orleans Saints.

THE SAINTS!!!???

Brooks, (35 next month), said he would like to play at least one more year and that he is exploring his options, which include retirement. Brooks would have to find the ideal system where he could continue to play an effective role off the line of scrimmage. With more teams switching to a 3-4 scheme, his options could be limited. As horrible as it would be for Buccaneers followers, NFC South rival New Orleans might be a solid fit.

This would be a outrage beyond words, like rubbing salt in an open wound, or worse, like being forced to listen to those dime store has-been chicken wing waitresses on local radio in the afternoon without the aid of a bottle of Bushmills.

C’mon Dominik, do the right thing: Swallow your pride and get Brooks back for his final NFL year.

If Brooks does take the field in Tampa for the Saints and does anything at all against the Bucs, Joe will NEVER forgive Dominik.

Broncos coach Josh McDaniels is of the belief former Secretary of State Condi Rice is not a Bucs fan. As a result, he's not trading quarterback Jay Cutler to the Bucs, so claims SI.com columnist Peter King via the NFL Network.

If the Bucs do not end up with disgruntled and almost-Bucs quarterback Jay Cutler barking signals at the CITS, Bucs fans can blame Condi Rice.

The former Secretary of State and admitted NFLaholic, Rice spoke at the owners meetings this week in California and told the assembled they should not react to blaring headlines of the day.

Hearing Rice, Broncos coach Josh McDaniels believes she was speaking to him, in so many words. SI.com columnist Peter King revealed this via the NFL Network.

King describes the séance Rice put McDaniels in with great detail.

Via CollegeFootballTalk.com, Joe learned the Dayton Daily News reports Chucky nearly took a job at — with apologies to T.K. Wetherell — some dipshit school.

A higher institute of learning in Ohio known as Central State University nearly landed Chucky as its head coach.

Yeah, and Joe woke up this morning with Marisa Miller draped all over him.

The school’s athletic director, Kellen Winslow, Sr. (that’s right, Sgt. Winslow’s old man), claims he first offered the job to Chucky before finally settling on former All-Pro and Alabama stud E.J. Junior.

Winslow said his first phone call about the job opening went to former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden, the former University of Dayton quarterback, who Winslow said seriously considered the opportunity. Afterward, Winslow searched through about 80 submitted resumes.

If true, Joe finds it interesting the two leading candidates were Chucky and a guy who did time for coke.

Bucs owner Joel Glazer refers to free agency as a dangerous 'dark path' of evil. Joe is confused. Is this not the same guy who gave the green light to sign Albert Haynesworth?

The Glazer Boys emerged for their annual state-of-the-Bucs sitdown with the local MSM at the NFL owners’ meetings in California today.

It seems Joel Glazer wants a return to the Bucs’ glory days, back when they were allegedly building the team through the draft.

Though Glazer seems to forget the Bucs won a Super Bowl, in part by trading two No. 1 picks for Keyshawn Johnson and two No. 1 picks for Jon Gruden, and kicking aside the quarterbacks they drafted in favor of Brad Johnson. 

Joe is offering up these quotes and you can read Rick Stroud’s long version at TampaBay.com.

“Our core belief is you’ve got to be patient. You’ve got to draft well,” Glazer said. “It all starts there. If you don’t draft well, you’re just going to be piecing it together every year. If you look at the teams that have had success the last several years, Super Bowl teams, they aren’t huge, splash free agency teams. They draft, develop and exercise patience.    

“That is definitely a focus of ours. When we take a step back and we look at our franchise, that’s something we had for many years. I think a little of that was lost. But the only way you get that is to be patient, draft, identify young players, watch them grow and people will go on the path with the player together. It’s just a natural process and I know it’s also our core belief in winning. I think they go hand in hand.”

Joe is scratching his head. Then why trade for Sgt. Kellen Winslow?

Surely it would have been more of a “natural process” to let Alex Smith play a bigger role.

Glazer continues:

We have a plan. We’re going to be disciplined and we’re going to be patient. We’re going to stick to it and do what we think is in the best interest of long-term, sustainable success. I come back to the draft. You’ve got to succeed in the draft. Free agency is not going to solve all our problems. You have to always be in the position that once we’ve identified good players, that we’re in a position not to lose those good players and that’s the key. Winning in March in free agency, very rarely do you see those teams in the headlines in January. You have to be disciplined to resist what can lead you down a dark path.

How about that for phony drama. Free agency is a “dark path.”

This is the same guy who clearly gave the go-ahead just weeks ago for the Bucs to make a run at Albert Hayenesworth.

Or was that just a show for the fans, with no intent to sign Haynesworth?

Joe despises all this spin and non-football blabbering. It’s downright painful to know that training camp is four long months away.

Today's daily in-depth draft coverage at JoeBucsFan.com analyzes the next moves for Bill Parcells and Bill Belicheat

Now that Bill Parcells’ sleazy courtship of Antonio Bryant appears to be on hold, The Tuna can get on with the business of the NFL Draft.

And when it comes to the draft, The Tuna reigns supreme.

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Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com has a video feature on how newly annointed — until the Bucs get a new quarterback — starting QB Luke McCown is handling being the team’s No. 1 signal caller.

Joe is pretty much convinced that unless the Bucs work out a three-team deal for Jay Cutler (with Cleveland or Arizona perhaps?) there’s no way Cutler finds himself in Tampa Bay, unless he’s chasing hottie spring breakers on Clearwater Beach.

Joe can think of worse ways to kill time on a sunny spring day.

Denver Post columnist Woody Paige gives a good inside look at a potential Cutler trade in this video, including saying trading Jay Cutler for a No. 1 and No 3 pick wouldn’t be so bad for Denver.

Paige also talks about the ineptitude and arrogance of Josh McDaniels.

Count WFTS-TV sportscaster Al Keck as one who is not in the tank at all costs for disgruntled Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler.

Writing on his station’s website, Keck admits he’s love to see Cutler wearing Pewter and Red, but within reason. Keck doesn’t believe in giving up the farm for the almost-Bucs quarterback.

I can understand a first and a third. Even that is stretching it. If your scouting department is doing its job, a first and third should translate to a dominant starter and a solid regular.

But a pair of first rounders? The Buccaneers are just starting to recover from giving up 2 first-round picks to the Jets for Keyshawn Johnson and two #1’s and 2 #2’s for Jon Gruden.

That’s upwards of 6 starters. Obviously, nobody would expect the Buccaneers to hit on all six, but if three panned out think about how much better this team would be.

Joe is likeminded with Keck. Sure, Joe would love to have Cutler. But giving up two first round picks (at least) is crazy for a quarterback who is a glorified spoiled brat who hasn’t logged time in a playoff game yet.

Can anyone say “Jeff George?”

Sure the Bucs gave up two first round picks for Chucky. But the Bucs were banging on the Super Bowl door and needed a push to knock it through. The Bucs are a far cry from a Super Bowl contender, even with Cutler.

The Jets' confidence in Kellen Clemens will help shape the first round for the Bucs

NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski begins his team-by-team analysis. First up is the AFC East, specifically the Jets and Bills.

The Bills have more issues on defense than the Bucs, specifically a horrid pass rush and a hole at outside linebacker.

Decisions at the quarterback position will shape the Jets’ draft, but they do have pressing needs on defense.

Enjoy the stellar breakdown, part of the daily draft coverage on JoeBucsFan.com.

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Either Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman has the best hype agent this side of Drew Rosenhaus, or the guy is legitimately turning NFL scouts heads.

Freeman, who wasn’t even mentioned as one of the top tier quarterbacks in a conference that largely was a collective sieve of defensive play, continues to have his name bounced around as a first round draft choice.

And all too often Joe reads of the paper-thin connection of Freeman to newly ordained Bucs coach Raheem the Dream, only because The Dream was an assistant there for one year when Freeman was an underclassman.

Still, the rumors from insiders persist Freeman will be selected in the first round. Add Pat Kirwan of NFL.com to the list of people who think the Bucs may draft Freeman in Kirwan’s latest mock draft.

Players under consideration include Evander Hood and Rey Maualuga. The Buccaneers have been active in free agency, signing players such as Derrick Ward, trading for Kellen Winslow and letting older defensive players go. They need help on defense, but if Freeman grades out as a first-round quarterback and they only have McCown under contract, they may have to pull Freeman’s name down off the board and turn it in.

Joe finds it difficult to believe that a quarterback who couldn’t master the ole’ defenses of the Big XII would all of a sudden be an NFL first round draft choice.

Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times appears on NFL Network Monday to discuss the offseason moves of the Bucs thus far and what the Bucs may be looking to do at the NFL owners meetings this week and a peek into the Bucs plans for the upcoming draft.

For some odd reason, people, including Stroud, seem to think just because Raheem the Dream coached at Kansas State that the Bucs will pick Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman in the first round.

Former Bucs wide receiver Joey Galloway was a guest on Sirius NFL Radio’s “The Blitz” Monday with co-hosts Adam Schein and Solomon Wilcots. While most of the questions were about Galloway’s new team the New England Patriots, Schein and Wilcots did pepper Galloway with questions about his stay with the Bucs and the circumstances leading to his departure.

Adam Schein: What was your relationship like with Jon Gruden?

Joey Galloway: My relationship with Gruden was the least of the [issues] with the Bucs. Things were looking good for us and [the playoffs] didn’t happen. Everyone was disappointed. I never focused on what was going on with me and coach Gruden. I was focused on getting one more win to get to the playoffs.

The relationship with me and coach Gruden and the organization, it seemed like everything was falling apart around us and it all ended badly. Guys lost their jobs. Guys are not with the organization any longer. That’s where things ended badly.

AS: Were there distractions?

JG: Yeah, there were distractions. I truly think we were the same team (as 2007) but there were issues. When we were winning, well, winning makes things better. You can look past problems and issues. I think when we got to the last four games and the problems and issues that were there all along became magnified. They surfaced.

Yeah, there were problems in Week 2, Week 3, Week 6 but it was in Week 12 and 13 and 14 when the wheels fell off.

There were quarterback issues and not with Jeff Garcia.

A lot of guys felt they were not handled the right way and that is one of the MO’s with coach Gruden. People were complaining about the way they were handled and that was one issue that came back to bite us.

A lot of people were disgruntled and when we needed to come together as a team there were guys who didn’t trust guys and that makes the transition to be able to pull together tough.

Solomon Wilcots: Were you surprised you were let go?

JG: No, but I was more surprised with Derrick Brooks being let go. I was more surprised at other moves.

[The Bucs] would not call my agent back. With my productivity last year, it’s not surprising they let me go. I think it worked out well for both of us.

AS: Will Gruden coach in the NFL again?

JG: I think he will. He is a great offensive mind. Guys get fired and things go bad but they resurface. He has way too much knowledge and way too much experience not to coach again.

SW: Who should have been quarterback?

JG: Depends which week. Depends on what week. That was one area that was very interesting. Not any one guy was happy with what happened.

SW: How did the huddle respond?

JG: I think it will always be difficult to play with three different quarterbacks. Part of being a professional is no matter who is the quarterback you have to do your job to the best of your ability whether it’s coaching decisions or injuries, there will always be change. You never have the same 11 week to week.

AS: Are you surprised Garcia is still available?

JG: He is dealing with the same situation with age and people will be wondering if you can still play. Teams think they can get a different guy in the draft. He is a tremendous competitor. Things will work out.

SW: Will Derrick Brooks find work?

JG: That’s another situation which will take time to get done. I don’t know where he will play but he will play. There’s a guy who has way too much knowledge not to play. I think he will surprise people with how much he has left.

AS: Are you surprised Michael Clayton re-signed with the Bucs?

JG: I’m not surprised. He is a guy who will compete and will do whatever he is asked to do. He didn’t have good numbers but anyone around him will tell you what kind of a competitor he is and he is by far the most physical receiver in the running game I have ever played for.

AS: What is Antonio Bryant like?

JG: He is a tremendous talent. I have played with him in Dallas and in Tampa. He is tremendously talented and a high energy guy on game day. You love the way he wants to compete and brings it on game day.

If NFL.com’s Vic Carucci is to be believed, the Bucs are one of the leading teams to play the Bills in Toronto this season. If true, it would make the second game of the 2009 that the Bucs will play on foreign soil.

The Bucs will also play New England in London.

On his NFL.com blog, Carucci writes that the Bucs and Saints are the leading contenders to play the Bills in Toronto.

The Colts clearly were one of the biggest-drawing cards on the Bills’ schedule because of their marquee quarterback, Peyton Manning, and consistent success. However, the NFL appears to be leaning more strongly in the direction of choosing an NFC team, such as the Buccaneers (who have yet to settle on a starting quarterback) or perhaps the New Orleans Saints, who have Pro Bowler Drew Brees under center. At least one other unknown team is believed to be on the short list.

Most fans who regularly attend games at Ralph Wilson Stadium aren’t at all happy about any regular-season Bills games being played elsewhere, but based on sports-talk radio chatter and other feedback, they would be less bothered if that game involved a non-conference opponent. The prevailing feeling in Western New York was that facing the Miami Dolphins last season in Toronto’s Rogers Centre, which has a retractable roof that was closed, nullified the Bills’ bad-weather advantage in December. And there has been plenty of buzz among Buffalo fans that the Colts, as an indoor team, would also feel too cozy in the Rogers Centre.

Though playing in Toronto (in a dome) will be better than potentially playing in Buffalo in December, Joe still considers it an outrage that the NFL took away a Bucs home game to be played in the NFL hotbed that is London, England.

In his weekly “Monday Morning Quarterback” column on SI.com, Peter King suggests the Bucs won’t get the quarterback they nearly acquired a few weeks ago: Denver signal-caller Jay Cutler.

Why? Because, King states, Cutler won’t be traded.

That’s my feeling after talking to the involved parties for a (insert shameless plug here) Sports Illustrated story this week. Now, I can’t say with conviction that Cutler’s going to be the Broncos’ opening day starter, but I do think coach Josh McDaniels will exhaust every avenue to try to get Cutler to stay, and I do think nothing’s going to happen here. Funny thing is, around the lobby and meeting rooms, I couldn’t find any coach who thought the Broncos should even think of trading Cutler.

“Say you’re the Broncos, and Tampa Bay offers you two ones [two first-round picks] plus [second-year quarterback] Josh Johnson for Cutler,” one NFC coach told me. “Denver makes the deal and picks a quarterback with one of the ones. You’ve traded the best young quarterback in football for two guys who might have a chance, but might be washouts too. Denver’s problem is they could never get fair value for him.”

Joe’s contention is that, unless the Bucs find a third partner, the Bucs don’t have enough collateral to trade for Cutler. If Josh Johnson was all that (so Bucs insiders claim) then what’s the need for Cutler? If Luke McCown is so talented (as so many Bucs suggest) then what’s the need for Cutler?

Or is the hype machine for McCown and Johnson more of a con job?

Negotiating with this man is a bad omen, writes JoeBucsFan.com analyst Bob Fox

By BOB FOX
JoeBucsFan.com analyst

A seasoned, professional football writer, Bob Fox sounds off at JoeBucsFan.com on all things Bucs and NFL.

As someone who has covered the Green Bay Packers for years, let me warn the Bucs: Do not acquire quarterback Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos.

The reason? Cutler’s agent, Bus Cook.
 
There is no question that Cutler has a ton of ability. However, he also has only a 17-20 record in the NFL as a starter, and he and the Broncos had a monumental collapse last season. Sound familiar Bucs fans? Surely you recall the Bucs’ late season fade in 2008.
 
Cutler has a great arm and he led a very productive offense. But he has displayed lapses of judgment and immaturity. And, like Brett Favre, Cutler has allowed the presence of Cook to overshadow so much of his on-field achievements.
 
The Packers and Favre had poor communication through the last few years Favre was with the team.

The Favre camp tried to assign blame to general manager Ted Thompson. But for me, a much bigger factor to me was the meddling presence of Cook.

Don’t believe me? Look at the recent blog entry by Greg A. Bedard from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Somewhere Bus Cook’s ears are ringing.

 “I understand Jay (Cutler)’s feelings got hurt, but it’s too bad it has got to where it is,” John Elway said. “I wish Jay would have got some better advice from whoever he was getting advice from.”  And several people at 1265 Lombardi are saying, ‘Amen, brother.’

Bedard also references SI.com columnist Don Banks, who wrote about how Bus Cook also was front and center in high-profile controversies surrounding clients Steve McNair and Brett Favre.

Another echo from the past that has reminded some of Favre’s stance last summer has been Cutler’s refusal to meet with his new head coach, McDaniels, without Cook in the room, or on the phone, at the same time. Packers general manager Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy have privately maintained that they felt Cook poisoned the relationship between Favre and the Packers decision-makers. Broncos sources say the same dynamic is in place regarding how Cutler feels about the new power structure of McDaniels and Xanders in Denver.

Again, there is no question about Cutler’s ability. But with Cutler, comes Cook. 

And I saw how badly that movie ended once before.

North Carolina receiver Hakeem Nicks is two parts Anquan Boldin and one part Keyshawn Johnson, reports NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski.

No wide receiver was selected in Round 1 of the 2008 NFL Draft.

This year will be much, much different, says NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski, of 620 WDAE-AM.

In today’s daily podcast, Pawlowski gives an overview of his complete receivers and tight ends breakdown published exclusively here  at JoeBucsFan.com.

It’s simply the best NFL draft coverage anywhere!

The heck with Jay Cutler, Son of Bob says he wants the damn ball.

Hold on Luke lovers and Cutler dreamers.

Don’t forget about Brian “Son of Bob” Griese. Sir Pickedalot wants to run the Bucs’ show in 2009.

Offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski is looking for a pocket passer to lead a vertical game and, well, Son of Bob can stand firm in the pocket with the best of them. Heck, he won’t even move.

Now Joe is not here to take another round of shots at Son of Bob. That’s getting old.

But Son of Bob is speaking out. In a truly well done story in today’s Denver Post, Griese talks about the Jay Cutler controversy and himself.

His contract with Tampa Bay runs for two more years. “I don’t want to just hang around the game. I want to be a leader on the field and in the locker room,” Griese said. “I want to be the starter. I saw (Arizona quarterback) Kurt Warner at a charity event two weeks ago, and said, ‘Thanks from all the older guys for what you did for us.’ “

While Son of Bob tries to channel his youth, Joe would much rather see the Bucs trade him for the 2009 sixth round pick they gave up for him last year.

Surely, the Bucs are fielding offers every day.