One of the top receivers in the NFL, the No. 1 receiver on one of the best teams in the NFL and a Super Bowl hero, who is just 26-years old, was shopped last night for a late-fifth round pick.

The Bucs apparently decided to pass.

Joe cannot properly put into words his amazement. But Aaron Schatz, BSPN.com NFL analyst and Editor in Chief of FootballOutsiders.com, can. Twittering past midnight, he is stunned that the Bucs were seemingly not interested in pulling the trigger on Pittsburgh wide receiver Santonio Holmes for a fifth round pick, who was dealt to the Jets.

For crying out loud, Tampa’s starting receivers are Michael Clayton and Maurice friggin’ Stovall. Did Pittsburgh just not call them?

Joe believes Holmes is worth at least a third round pick and Joe would have thought long and hard about shipping the Bucs’ latter of two second round picks to Pittsburgh for Holmes.

The fact he was on the market for a fifth round pick, and Mark Dominik didn’t get it done, just blows Joe’s mind!

Yes, Joe knows about the guy’s baggage, but he is more than a proven receiver. You trying to tell Joe a fifth round pick doesn’t have question marks about making the team much less being able to start? Holmes is an elite receiver!

Programs exist that can help people put down the pipe. Catching clutch passes in the NFL (in the postseason no less) cannot easily be taught.

It’s just before midnight and Joe checked his Twitter account as he is wont to do for late-night breaking news.

Ding! The Steelers traded former first round pick, Super Bowl hero and noted weed smoker Santonio Holmes, 26, to the Jets for a fifth round pick.

That is not a typo: A fifth round pick. Fifth round!!!

Now Joe understands this guy has loads of baggage, including being accused of slapping around women, telling fans they should commit suicide, bragging about “waking and baking” and his reputation of being a left-handed cigarette smoker.

But we’re talking a fifth round pick.

For a fifth round pick, it was beyond worth the Bucs trading for Holmes. He’s better than Brandon Marshall (who Denver has trouble trading for a second round pick) and instantly would be Josh Freeman’s go-to guy.

Joe is just stunned. Holmes could have been had for a fifth round pick, and the Bucs, desperate for a wide receiver, did nothing!

Look, we’re not talking about high crimes here. Yes, Joe understands Holmes will likely start the season with a four-game suspension. His biggest problem is the dude cannot put down the bong. Surely Steelers coach Mike Tomlin tipped off Raheem the Dream that Holmes, a former first round pick from Ohio State who is from Belle Glade, could be had for cheap.

And the Bucs, who have a wide receiver corps that is not much better than Florida State’s, couldn’t cough up a fifth round pick for Holmes? Seriously?!

Joe is just aghast!

Many old school Bucs fans were Dolphins fans before Tampa Bay got a team. Joe even knows his share of locals who still secretly and outwardly love the Fins.

As far as Joe is concerned, Miami is only good for two things: Brazilian women and various other exotic women.

But in today’s daily Draft Countdown, it’s time to learn about all things Miami from “The Commish,” draft guru Justin Pawlowski. Surely, Bill Parcells will be drafting heavy on defense and the Fins are yet another team in need of a wide receiver.

Joe suggests you check out the entire buffet of in-your-face draft analysis available here. And there’s plenty more to come!

Here’s everything Dolphins:

Enjoy. {+++}

[audio:dolphinsdraft.mp3]

When Joe thinks of colossal failures of the past century, a few come quickly to mind, such as prohibition, Operation Barbarossa, the Newton and Jim Bates’ defense.

The numbers were there for all to see: Bates’ signature defense set the record for most consecutive games of coughing up 25 or more points in the sordid history of the Bucs.

Taking a break from spreading agent-driven speculation, The Mad Twitter of the St. Petersburg Times unearthed another example of why the Bates Experiment exploded in Raheem the Dream’s face:

Injuries.

It seems Bates’ fetish for obese defensive lineman led to a myriad of problems, including injuries.

In the scheme under new defensive coordinator Jim Bates, the Bucs believed their linemen would be more effective if they bulked up. But all it did was slow their development.

It also might have contributed to injuries. Moore missed the first seven games with a knee injury.

“My explosion wasn’t there,” Moore said. “I could automatically tell a difference. I started moving a little bit better with the weight. But still, it wasn’t me.”

Miller battled through ankle, knee and hamstring problems.

The Bates Experiment was a failure beyond words. Just the fact players like Chris Hovan, Miller and Moore should be in better shape and healthy, it certainly is a positive step for the Bucs.

Many Bucs fans go to bed at night dreaming of Nebraska manbeast defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh playing for the Bucs the way Joe dreams of Rachel Watson… Joe’s not going there. This is a PG-rated blog.

BSPN did a neat thing by hiring the Sports Science people to break down what makes Suh so good in this way cool video below.

If this doesn’t get you worked up for football, Joe isn’t sure what will.

Suh is a manbeast!

If for some reason the video is not loading properly, try this link.

The Bucs were disappointing in the running game last year. Even Joe could see that.

Oh, sure, they had positive spurts with Cadillac Williams. But when the Bucs ran effectively last year, it was when Derrick Ward got the rock, too.

Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune breaks down the running game for the Bucs and details that when Ward got touches, the Bucs pounded the ball.

The Bucs ran for more than 120 yards in one of the five games in which Ward ran the ball 10 times or more and ran for more than 130 yards in two of the others. Not only that, but they won one of those games – on the road at Seattle – and nearly won another – on the road at Miami.

That point hasn’t been lost on Bucs coach Raheem Morris, who along with general manager Mark Dominik expects to see a lot more of Ward this year.

“We’ve got to find ways to make Derek a more productive player this year,” Morris said recently. “We have to do a better job all around of getting him more opportunities.”

Listen, you want Ward to get more opportunities? It’s quite simple: give him the ball!

Interestingly, last week when talking to the Fabulous Sports Babe on WHBO-AM 1040, eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune said he believes the Bucs will look for a scatback in the latter rounds of next week’s draft because — in Kaufman’s words — Ward, Williams and Graham are all the same, in other words, not that fleet of foot.

For the purpose of this post, Joe’s not going to entertain the possibility that the Bucs might trade down in the first round of next week’s NFL Draft, or not have have either manbeast Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy available with their No. 3 pick.

And Joe’s going to pretend the Bucs pick one of those guys in an attempt to bring some A-level talent to their average-at-best D-line.

That written, Joe thinks Team Glazer should pay whatever it takes to hire Warren Sapp as a consultant to come in and help develop Suh or McCoy.

If the Bucs are looking for the next Sapp, then why not go out and bring Sapp in to help?

Sure, Raheem The Dream can set the parameters and timetables for Sapp’s limited tutoring, but there is no reason Joe can think of for Team Glazer not to get Sapp here to help. After all, “money will never be an issue when building [the Bucs],” Joel Glazer told Bucs fans last month.

Sapp might cost a few bills ($25,000 a day?), but he should be well worth every penny, especially if the Bucs will be forced to invest $30+ million guaranteed in the pick. Plus, Team Glazer couldn’t buy the publicity and excitement Sapp in town as a mentor would generate.

It’s quite obvious from this NFL.com video that Sapp has at least a little teacher in him, and he also could probably offer great advice to Suh or McCoy on leadership.

Sapp said, “I raised Raheem from Day 1.” So surely Raheem The Dream should trust Sapp with his new under tackle for a few days.

"I'm so glad those Dan Marino nightmares subsided."

The Seahawks have an ugly receiving corps, but it’s still better than the Bucs’. At least they have T.J. Houshmandzadeh on the roster.

Seattle, with two first round picks, is another team to watch in the NFL Draft. 

NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski, “The Commish,” has you covered on all things Seahawks right here in the daily NFL Draft countdown.

But first, Joe has to remind you that you’ll still get plenty of bang for your $10  if you buy the JoeBucsFan.com draft subscription. There’s a mountain of stuff to catch up on and much, much more to come. Check it all out here. It’s really a draft magazine like no other.

Enough of that salesmanship, here’s all things Seahawks.

Enjoy! {+++}

[audio:seahawksdraft.mp3]

It appears Raheem the Dream wants to keep veteran quarterback Byron Leftwich for another season.

The Bucs are so barren at wide receiver, it’s possible that Florida State has a deeper wide receiver corps.

Earlier this year when horny Big Ben Roethlisberger appeared to be facing a jail cell and alternative lifestyle square in the face, there were rumors the Steelers may want Bucs quarterback Byron Leftwich to return.

It was Leftwich two years ago, when many thought his NFL days were over, who came off the bench and won a road game for the Steelers at Washington for a key victory on the Steelers march to the Super Bowl in Tampa.

Joe threw out the possibility that the Steelers might give up wide receiver Limas Sweed, a lightning fast receiver who has a room deep in Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s doghouse.

That dream for Joe seems to be gone. Word is that horny Big Ben, who apparently has a nasty habit of getting too handsy with women, might just skate criminal charges in Georgia, allowing him to voluntarily take snaps from center.

Thus, there is no need for Leftwich. And per Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, Raheem the Dream really has no desire to let Leftwich go.

Leftwich is the only veteran QB on the roster and Morris seems to like his approach to the mentor’s role, which may give him a leg up on a regular-season roster spot as well.

“Byron was nothing but positive energy for us last year,” Morris said. “He did nothing but good things. He didn’t work out as a starter for us, but even when he wasn’t a starter, he was a very productive leader for us.

“He did nothing but help Josh Freeman learn how to work. He did nothing but help Josh Freeman grow along the way. There would be no shock in my mind to see Byron Leftwich on our team. I don’t have any qualms with him.”

If there’s a silver lining to this move, it’s that there’s no need for Joe to worry about fantasy football warrior Marc Bulger coming to Tampa Bay.

In recent days Bucs linebacker Barrett Ruud has been grousing that this coming season may be his last in Tampa Bay due to his contract negotiations, or lack thereof.

But there may be one man who can save Ruud from leaving the Bucs.

Nebraska defensive tackle manbeast Ndamukong Suh.

That’s what Joe learned from eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune as he talked all things Bucs last week with The Fabulous Sports Babe on WHBO-AM 1040.

Kaufman discussed the Bucs draft, specifically defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Suh who are atop the Bucs draft board when he said Ruud was lobbying for Suh.

“I’m not convinced the Bucs have McCoy rated over Suh,” Kaufman said. “Suh is more consistent. Barrett Ruud wants Suh. Suh is not a one-game wonder.”

It isn’t just because Suh played for Ruud’s alma mater, Suh is a beast up front and surely would keep traffic off of Ruud and his fellow linebackers.

Kaufman went on to talk more about the Bucs draft with some interesting comments. Kaufman said that the Bucs “putting all their eggs in one basket,” meaning placing so much emphasis on the draft and not free agency, “is dangerous.” Kaufman also noted that there is a lot of pressure on the Bucs scouting department and that no team has ever hit on 11 for 11 draft picks.

“It doesn’t happen.”

Joe admits to enjoying a couple of Caybrews last night after watching the Rays slap around the Yankmees. Joe hopes this is repeated throughout the weekend series.

But nothing brought about a chuckle to Joe more than the following piece:

In a slightly dated column by CBSSports.com’s Pete Prisco, he noted some of the best bets to be selected by the Bucs later this month in the draft, and why they would be a good fit for the Bucs.

Prisco offered the name of LSU safety Chad Jones. Why? Joe will let Prisco explain.

It would get Piscitelli off the field.

LOL! Sabby the Goat is so horrid, the only reason to draft a player isn’t that the player would make the Bucs a better team or that said player might gel in the Bucs’ defense, but the lone reason to draft a guy is to get Sabby the Goat off the field.

That’s how bad Sabby the Goat constantly shat on the field last year.

In two weeks the 2010 NFL draft will be winding down its third and final day. And surely at that time troubled yet talented Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall will be under the employ of another team.

That’s the word from Peter King of SI.com. Fielding questions from fans on Twitter, King flatly claimed Marshall will be gone from the Broncos in the coming days leading to the draft.

@Anthony_Aveyard: U thnk by Draft Weeknd McDaniels will cave and move B MARSHALL 4 a 2nd?

@SI_PeterKing  Absolutely.

Joe brings you this because he understands many Bucs fans are pining for Marshall, and that the dearth of wide receiver talent on the Bucs is troubling to any sober Bucs fan.

Now Joe’s not totally advocating Bucs general manager Mark Dominik cough up a second round pick this year for Marshall. Let’s be honest: there’s a reason why Marshall hasn’t been traded yet. The guy has nearly as much baggage as Santa on Christmas Eve, only without the presents.

Would Marshall be an upgrade for the Bucs? No question. But what price is worth the risk? Remember, Marshall was benched for the final game of the 2009 season when the Broncos needed a win for a playoff berth.

That’s not counting how trouble seems to find Marshall during the offseason.

Those wacky Manchester United fans no doubt lost sleep last night after new reports surfaced that Team Glazer won’t spend the roughly $60 million asking price for a superstar scorer in Spain, David Villa, who wants to play for them.

Villa, one of the most revered forwards in the world during five prolific years at Valencia, is to leave the Mestalla in the summer and, after initially stating that he wanted to stay in Spain and move to either Barcelona or Real Madrid, has changed his position with information reaching United in the last few weeks that they are his preferred destination.

Ferguson is a long-time admirer of the 28-year-old but Valencia want around £35m to £40m and United’s position is that the fee will have to be lowered otherwise it will be financially prohibitive at a time when the club has accrued debts in excess of £700m. This is despite Ferguson’s repeated insistence that the balance from the £80m sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid last summer is available, United having already spent £20m.

Instead, Manchester United announced it would sign cheap labor a promising, young Mexican forward for an undisclosed fee. In the world of English soccer, young North American players are low-budget signings.

One of the greatest public relations challenges for Team Glazer in England is that star players from all over the world want to play for Manchester United. It’s arguably the premier destination in the world. So Team Glazer, if they’re counting their nickels, inevitably will have to turn down players. And shooting down Villa represents a real we’re-low-on-cash response that will ignite fans.

Team Glazer really needs to win that fourth straight championship over there, otherwise the pack of wolves circling them will get bigger.

Bucs fans, however, can rest easy knowing that Joel Glazer told them last month that “money will never be an issue when building [the Bucs].”

The $100,000 Distance Classic Stakes final will cap a night of 10 $500 cash giveaways and a high-energy crowd that’ll make you wonder why you don’t go to Derby Lane every Saturday.

And the day of fun kicks off early with 99-cent concessions during Saturday’s matinee races.

As for Saturday night’s big race. Flying Coal City, winner of eight in a row, will be the favorite against last year’s Distance Classic champ TMC’s Remedy and the field of eight greyhounds.

Flying Coal City and TMC’s Remedy had a thrilling 1-2 finish in Wednesday’s semifinal at the 660-yard distance. You can watch the replay here. 

Joe will offer some wagering assistance for you here later this evening. For now, Derby Lane is open so head on over. You might even see Joe playing Texas Hold’em in the Bay area’s best card room.

Might Todd Wash have two new tackles to groom?

NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski has identified a smart third-round nose tackle for the Bucs, and he’s not the PAC-10 Chris Hovan clone that will probably be taken a little earlier.

In this 2,000-word position breakdown for draft subscribers, Pawlowski goes very deep into 10 defensive to watch, including how each could impact the Bucs’ roster. No chance you find this kind of Bucs-focused, detailed draft coverage anywhere else.

Enjoy.  {+++}

Defensive Tackles

1. Gerald McCoy – DT – Oklahoma
6’4’’ –295 lbs – 5.07
Top 5 pick

Why I’m taking him: McCoy’s best strength is the fact that he lives in opposing offense’s backfields. His burst off the ball, quickness, and athleticism is second-to-none for defensive tackles in this draft. He has a great mix of pass rushing moves and constantly puts pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Although his personal numbers are not where Suh’s are, anyone who watches McCoy closely knows he creates as many sacks and tackles for a loss as he gets himself. McCoy is the type of defensive tackle that makes an entire defense better.

Why I’m staying away: The biggest difference between Suh and McCoy is that Suh has the strength and McCoy has the speed and quickness. McCoy lacks elite strength which might hurt him at times against double teams. McCoy is much more suited for a “Tampa 2” defense which features more of a one-gap system. This could limit the teams that look at him.

Impact on the Bucs: Lets get one thing straight, McCoy isn’t Warren Sapp, and neither is anyone else. Sapp is a once-in-a-generation player. That being said, McCoy is the best fit the Bucs could have at the under tackle position since Sapp manned that position. McCoy would make the defensive ends better by not allowing opposing quarterbacks to step up in the pocket. McCoy would disrupt opposing teams running games because of his penetrating skills, which would force runs meant to go up the middle to then bounce outside. This helps the speedy linebackers to use their speed to their advantage. Finally, McCoy makes the defensive backfield better because his penetration will force opposing quarterbacks to throw the ball before they are ready, which will lead to more interceptions and incompletions.

NFL Comparison:   Tommie Harris – Chicago Bears

 2. Ndamukong Suh – DT – Nebraska
6’4’’ – 307 lbs – 5.03
Top 5 pick

Why I’m taking him: There was no more dominant and productive player in college in 2009 than Suh.  Suh’s strength is his biggest asset. There was many times where Suh would simply throw an offensive lineman out of the way to get to the quarterback.  Suh ended 2009 with 24 tackles for a loss and 12 sacks.  His elite strength makes him a force against the run.  His 12 sacks show that he can get after the quarterback as well. Suh also has versatility to play in any type of defense. 

Why I’m staying away: As stated in this section for McCoy, Suh’s weaknesses are McCoy’s strengths, and vice versa. Suh doesn’t have the speed or quickness of an elite defensive tackle.  I’m also concerned about Suh just having one move.  Suh will grab an offensive lineman and look for the ball. Once the ball is spotted, Suh then throws said offensive lineman the opposite way and attacks the ball carrier. The problem is that offensive linemen are much stronger in the NFL. I think you acquire strength, but you can’t teach speed.

Impact on the Bucs: Like McCoy, Suh would be the best defensive tackle since Warren Sapp for the Bucs. If Suh could be as dominant for the Bucs as he was in college, the Bucs’ defense could see an early return on their investment.  Suh’s strength and power would help the Bucs run defense, which has been one of the worst in the NFL over the past couple years.  Suh isn’t an ideal fit for the “Tampa 2” defense, but he’s better than anything the Bucs currently have.

NFL Comparison:   Kevin Williams – Minnesota Vikings

3. Jared Odrick – DT – Penn St.
6’5’’ – 304 lbs – 5.06
Top 20 pick

Why I’m taking him: I love the size and frame to get bigger on Odrick. He’s already very strong and powerful, but his frame will allow him to add 20 more pounds.  He’s a very hard worker with a motor that never stops.  Odrick can get good penetration with his strength, while also being able to take on multiple blockers.  He has excellent instincts and football smarts. Odrick has the versatility to play in either a 4-3 or 3-4 defense, but his best fit is as an end in the 3-4 defense.

Why I’m staying away: I’m not sold that Odrick can be as useful in a 4-3 defense as he would in a 3-4 defense, which would really limit him. Also, I haven’t seen Odrick be dominant enough or disruptive enough. His speed and quickness are only average. He can take up space, but sometimes struggles to get off blockers.

Impact on the Bucs: Odrick is not a great fit for the Bucs.  I see him as a prototypical end in a 3-4 defense with the ability to play in a 2-gap 4-3 defense.  The Bucs play neither.  However, much like Tyson Jackson last year, I would not be surprised if Odrick’s name gets hot as we near the draft and he goes much sooner than projected.  This was why I gave him a “Top 20” grade.  Teams like the Browns, Bills, and Broncos will be interesting to watch.

NFL Comparison:   Richard Seymour – Oakland Raiders

4. Dan Williams – DT – Tennessee
6’2’’ – 327 lbs – 5.16
1st Round

Why I’m taking him: Williams is an excellent run stopper, but also very active while doing it. For a bigger defensive tackle, he has very good quickness and athleticism.  Williams has also proved to very durable during his career at Tennessee. He is very strong and provides good push in the middle of the defensive line.

Why I’m staying away: Williams doesn’t bring much as a pass rusher. He also has had issues with effort and his weight that are concerning. Those weight issues have led to worries about his conditioning and stamina.  As a typical nose tackle, Williams can take on multiple blocks, but struggles to get off of them.

Impact on the Bucs: Williams is not the greatest fit for the Bucs at this time.  At a time when the Bucs need an under tackle, Williams plays the nose and is a run stopper and space filler.

NFL Comparison:   Pat Williams – Minnesota Vikings
5. Brian Price – DT – UCLA
6’1’’ – 303 lbs – 5.15
1st – 2nd Round

Why I’m taking him: The first thing I think of when I think of Brian Price is his active hands.  Hand use is huge for the battle between offensive and defensive linemen.  Price has good explosion and strength, while playing with a nastiness about him.  He’s a tough player with excellent awareness.

Why I’m staying away: It’s a little troublesome after Price seemed sluggish and out of shape for his pro day. Price is excellent with his hands but has a limited array of pass rush moves and is not an elite pass rusher.  He also struggles with balance as he tends to lunge on tape. 

Impact on the Bucs: For me, Price’s stock seems to be slipping a tad.  He could be a fit for the Bucs at under tackle, but I view him more of a Booger McFarland than a Warren Sapp.  If the Bucs pass on a defensive tackle in the 1st round, Price will be on their radar early in Round 2.

NFL Comparison:   Sedrick Ellis – New Orleans Saints

6. Terrance Cody – DT – Alabama
6’4’’ – 354 lbs – 5.73
1st – 2nd Round

Why I’m taking him: They don’t call him “Mount Cody” for nothing.  This guy is a mountain of a man, and can single-handedly take away an opposing offense’s run game. To go with Cody’s big frame and strength, he’s got long arms that allow him to keep good leverage with offensive linemen.  Also, Cody obviously is able to take on multiple blockers.

Why I’m staying away: Weight might always be a concern with Cody. Despite being down to 345 lbs, it was just a few weeks ago when he was up to 370 lbs. This fluctuation will be frowned upon by some team, and stamina will be a concern because of it. Cody is not much of a pass rusher and might be limited to being a 2-down lineman. Another concern is that he tends to stand straight up at times, losing all his leverage. This might happen due to lack of conditioning.

Impact on the Bucs: Cody might be limited to a 3-4 nose tackle or a 4-3 defense that runs 2-gap with their defensive linemen.  Neither of these defenses match what the Bucs run.

NFL Comparison:   Jamaal Williams – Denver Broncos

7. Tyson Alualu – DT – Cal
6’2’’ – 295 lbs – 4.93
2nd Round

Why I’m taking him:  The first thing that stands out when watching Alualu play is his nonstop motor and how active he is up to the whistle.  Like Brian Price, I also think Alualu is very active with his hands and uses them well.  Alualu possesses all the top intangibles including durability, leadership, work ethic, and versatility.

Why I’m staying away: Alualu had very good production at Cal, but I just don’t see the elite talent to make him great in the NFL.  He lacks in size and struggles to get off blocks, and can be blocked one-on-one.  Alualu also lacks ideal explosiveness.

Impact on the Bucs: I’m not a big fan of Alualu. He does give good effort, but the Bucs already have players who try hard.  It’s time for the Bucs to draft talented players who can make an impact.  I have my doubts that Alualu will be an impactful player.

NFL Comparison:   Chris Hovan – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8. Cam Thomas – DT – North Carolina
6’4’’ – 330 lbs – 5.28
2nd Round

Why I’m taking him: Thomas’ best strength is stopping the run.  He has an outstanding frame with long arms and good strength.  He’s also pretty explosive and athletic for his size.  He can take up multiple blockers and penetrate the pocket with a strong bull rush.

Why I’m staying away: Thomas gives you next to nothing in terms of a pass rush.  He has close to zero moves, and was an underachiever throughout a majority of his collegiate career.  Conditioning and stamina will be issues along with giving top effort on every play.

Impact on the Bucs: Like Cody, Thomas isn’t a fit for the Bucs defense.

NFL Comparison:   Ron Brace – New England Patriots
9. Linval Joseph – DT – East Carolina
6’5’’ – 328 lbs – 5.11
2nd – 3rd Round

Why I’m taking him: I love Joseph’s frame, size, strength, and long arms.  He’s a player on the rise with tons of potential and upside.  Joseph also displayed tremendous leadership skills at ECU. 

Why I’m staying away: Like most tackles this size, Joseph deals with fluctuating weight.  He actually got up to 371 lbs at one point while at ECU.  He’s also not an elite pass rusher.  Joseph doesn’t have much of a mean streak.

Impact on the Bucs: Of all the nose tackles, I feel Joseph might be the best fit for the Bucs.  I’m intrigued by his potential.  If available in the 3rd round, I think Joseph could add some outstanding depth to the Bucs defensive line.

NFL Comparison:   John Henderson – Jacksonville Jaguars

10. Lamarr Houston – DT – Texas
6’3’’ – 305 lbs – 4.85
2nd – 3rd Round

Why I’m taking him: Houston might have the best blend of size, speed, and strength on this list.  He has a variety of moves and plays with a mean streak.  Houston is a hard worker and leader.  Also, you can not ignore the massive amount of experience against top-notch competition.

Why I’m staying away: With all his talent, Houston was not overly productive at Texas.  He tends to get pushed around a lot and can be way too aggressive at times and over run plays.  Houston also struggles to shed blocks.  Houston has some character (DUI) and durability concerns.

Impact on the Bucs: Houston is far from elite in this draft, but still a good player.  I believe defensive tackle is too big a priority for the Bucs to wait until the 3rd round to address it.  Ironically, the earliest I’d draft Houston for the Bucs is the 3rd round.

NFL Comparison:   Shawn Cody – Houston Texans

Joe still hasn’t quite recovered from the news last year that Rachel Watson would not return to the sidelines as a Bucs cheerleader.

But it seems Evan Longoria Matt Joyce may have an interesting evening tonight. Jaime Hanna will return as a Bucs cheerleader as the Bucs announced the cheerleading roster for this season today in this video.

Other cheerleaders of note who will return are Holly Sanders, Cynthia Bastos, Tiffany Jimenez, Marlana Aref, Milly Figeuro and Nina Stauffer. The video also features some impressive rookies.

What better way to prepare you for the weekend than that?

Fresh reports keeps saying the Bucs are negotiating with starting free agent left end Jimmy Wilkerson to return, such as this new one from Jason La Canfora of NFL.com, but Joe can’t understand what’s taking so long if the Bucs really want him back.

However, Joe has obtained and transcribed some secret audio from deep in the dark bowels of One Buc Palace. The audio was scratchy but has been authenticated.

Mark Dominik: So Jimmy, we like you, but you’re 29 and just a few months off ACL surgery. Sure, you’re a locker room guy and a hard worker, but you’ve now been classified in what I’ve labeled Crowell Country. How about the veteran minimum with no guarantees?

Jimmy Wilkerson: You’ve got my cell number, right?

La Canfora reports Wilkerson is on his way to visit the Saints and is “recovering ahead of schedule.”

Joe’s really not sure why the Bucs would want to have Wilkerson return if they really want to see what they have in Tim Crowder and Kyle Moore. This is allegedly a youth movement.

Perhaps the Bucs are considering Wilkerson at tackle, as former Bucs DE Steve White explored in his assessment of Wilkerson’s 2009 season.

On gamedays, Bucs opponents don’t want to shake Raheem The Dream’s hand and they are surely not yearning to play for him.

The venerable scribe eye-RAH! Kaufman, of the Tampa Tribune, served up this information during a Thursday interview on The Fabulous Sports Babe Show on 1040 AM.

For context, Kaufman was talking about how the Bucs struggle to lure free agents despite having a designated recruiter.

“That’s why Doug Williams is here [to attract] free agents,” Kaufman said. “You see it. Down on the field, they don’t want to shake Raheem’s hand, they want to shake Doug Williams’ hand. They know his legacy. …But [the Bucs] can’t attract anybody.

Perhaps that’s why the Bucs radically changed their free agency philosophy after allegedly offering Albert Haynesworth gazillions of dollars, pursuing Jonathan Vilma, and giving fat contracts to guys like Derrick Ward, Michael Clayton and Mike Nugent last year. 

Maybe interest in playing for the Bucs has simply dried up.

There’s no question the Bucs need to load up on defense in the draft, specifically on the line.

It seems helmet hair Mel Kiper, of BSPN, seems to have found a defensive end for the Bucs with a third round pick. That would be Northwestern’s Corey Wootton, so reports Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune.

Tampa Bay has been searching for a consistent pass rusher since the team released Simeon Rice in 2007. Kiper believes Wooten (6-foot-6, 270 pounds) would give the Bucs someone who can regularly attack opposing quarterbacks.

“He came back quickly after a knee injury and wasn’t the player this year he had been, but two years now being removed from the knee injury, he has first-round value in Round 3,” Kiper said. “You get a defensive end and defensive tackle, meaning you’ve restructured your defensive line.”

If Kiper is accurate, that Wootton actually has first round talent, Joe doesn’t know how he would slide to early in the third round. But if this has that kind of special talent, them maybe Dominik should be all over this guy.

Since he has a Northwestern degree, he should be able to pick up Raheem the Dream’s defense quickly.

(For all things defensive ends, including a detailed analysis of Wootton, check out Justin Pawlowski’s position breakdown.)

Perhaps the Giants' fantasy at No. 15.

The Giants are one team that must be analyzed with a sharp eye to the preferences its head coach, explains NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski.

Disciplined, high character players are what Coughlin is all about.

The Giants are an interesting study because of their draft position and needs, and The Commish does not disappoint in this breakdown. (Later today, check back for Pawlowski’s in-depth look at 10 defensive tackles you need to know about! You can find all the position breakdowns here.)

Enjoy. {+++}

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eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune told The Fabulous Sports Babe that with two second round picks, Bucs general manager "Mark Dominik has a chance to make a dynamic move."

Thursday afternoon, the eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune decided to phone in and visit with The Fabulous Sports Babe on WHBO-AM 1040 and talked all things Bucs.

Joe, like many Bucs fans as well as Sirius NFL Radio’s Rich Gannon, is frightened about what currently passes for the Bucs wide receivers.

Count Kaufman in the camp. He told The Fabulous Sports Babe that wide receiver better be a priority of Mark Dominik in two weeks when the NFL will hold its annual draft.

“What worries me about [Josh] Freeman is the weapons around him,” Kaufman said. “Two wide receivers in the second round would be a good call. They have to address receiver. If you add up all the touchdowns of the [returning] Bucs receivers, they may have 12 career touchdowns. That’s half a season for Randy Moss.”

Kaufman also predicted if somone high on the Bucs draft board slips “and there is always someone who slides down” Kaufman said that with the Bucs holding two second round draft choices, “Mark Dominik has a chance to make a dynamic move.”

It just blows Joe’s mind how the Bucs hierarchy expects Freeman to develop or progress much this season before the wide receiver position is beefed up.