Greg Schiano wears a bracelet with the word “F.A.M.I.L.Y.” on it. Bucs players have them, too.

It’s the Barney-The-Dinosaur-style theme of the Bucs. Hell, it’s even the cheer Schiano leads in the locker room.

This family concept is very new to Darrelle Revis, who took to Instagram this week to set a fan straight on the meaning of family. It was a real New York moment for Revis.

Joe gets that Revis might need to get acclimated a bit to the New Schiano Order and the college-like team spirit that is expected. Yesterday on NFL Network, Revis said in a positive manner that the family atmosphere with the Bucs is the greatest difference between the Bucs and his last employer, the New York Jets.

Revis is a leader, and Joe’s confident that even if Revis doesn’t believe in the semantics of “F.A.M.I.L.Y.”, he does know how to be a great teammate and command respect — and roll with the “F.A.M.I.L.Y.” vibe.

Man, yesterday was a zoo at One Buc Palace. People were in a good mood as it was the first day of practice for training camp and it marked the start of football season. Yes, there is a God.

Celebrities were in the house, including Bryan Glazer, Shaun King, Prickly Pete Prisco of CBS Sports, and of course NFL Network was broadcasting live with no less than former Bucs great Warren Sapp holding court, basking in being back at a Bucs training camp for the first time in probably years.

After a long day of taping interviews, Sapp, just days from being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, talked with the assembled scribes still there and WDAE-AM 620 Bucs beat writer Tom Krasniqi jotted down some of Sapp’s thoughts on the Bucs’ defensive line.

“I want to see this [defensive] front come [step up],” Sapp said. “I’m issuing a challenge to Da’Quan Bowers. Last time I checked, if you wore pewter and red, you hunted the quarterback here.” On any possible concern regarding Gerald McCoy’s weight loss, Sapp remarked, “Looks can be deceiving. Trust me, he’s just getting himself in great shape.”

For the rest of Sapp’s sitdown yesterday, click the arrow below.

The highlight of Day 1 of the Bucs training camp 2013 clearly was Bucs wide receiver Mike Williams. The new $40 million dollar man was part of a fireworks show of a passing attack that thrilled the fans in the bleachers under the overcast skies.

On one play, Williams, covered like a blanket by Danny Gorrer, made a diving one-handed catch of a Josh Freeman pass over the middle for a 30-yard gain. It was beautiful and brought the fans to their feet.

Williams spoke about opening of training camp in this WDAE-AM 620 audio.

Tampa Bay sports electronic sports media czar J.P. Peterson and WDAE-AM 620 sports personality Ronnie Lane discuss their thoughts and observations on the first day of Bucs training camp 2013.

During a recent interview, it sure seems like former Bucs wide receiver Preston Parker, a man who was cut by the New Schiano Order and evicted from his Tampa apartment for non-payment in 2011, is taking shots at the Buccaneers and Josh Freeman. You can watch the clip below.

If anyone can tell Joe what exactly is on Parker’s head, that would be appreciated.

Warren Sapp told a national TV audience today that Mike Williams earned the $15 million guaranteed in the contract extension he signed yesterday.

NFL Network cameras caught Williams making a diving catch of a Josh Freetman bomb this morning (3:00 mark of this linked video), and that sparked the detailed Williams conversation.

Sapp called Williams a “number one and a half.” And Sapp explained that Williams is a tireless worker who overcame NFL defenses catching up to him during his sophomore season of 2011.

Joe definitely recommends the link above, especially for fans craving an extended, raw look inside the first training camp practice.

Mark Dominik talked about how players, coaches and front-office types obsess about money when they’re in contract years.

Is Josh Freeman thinking about the $100 million or so contract he could lock down with a strong season in 2013?

Rockstar general manager Mark Dominik says Freeman surely is. Players in contract years get very caught up in the business of football, Dominik explained during an interview this morning on the Ron and Ian show on WDAE-AM 620.

Yes, Freeman has said repeatedly he doesn’t think about money. So Joe enjoyed Dominik’s dose of reality.

Ian Beckles: You got Mike Williams signed and that’s awesome. … Now Josh’s contract’s up this year. How do you guys go about making a decision who’s contract gets settled? Because  I’ve been in a situation before where I was starting and I was like, ‘I want to re-up.’ And they’re like, ‘Well, wait til the end of the year.’ You ever worry about what it does to that athlete?

Mark Dominik: Yeah, I think about it. I mean let’s be honest; I’m sure Mike thinks about his contract non-stop. When you get closer to that, I know from a National Football League perspective, whether it’s a coach, whether it’s myself, when you’re contract is going to end it’s hard not to think about it, right Ian?  I mean, it consumes you. And I know that happens for every player on this football team. … That’s just how you think.

Interestingly, Dominik went on to reveal that part of the reasoning behind locking up Mike Williams early, with one year remaining on his contract, was the steadily escalating contracts for wide receivers.

Joe notes that QB contracts are skyrocketing, as well.

Dominik said he wants Mike Williams’ new contract to reverberate throughout the Bucs’ roster. “I’m hoping that the locker room sits there and thinks, ‘Look, Mike’s really produced for our football team and he’s earned that contract.’ And I’m hoping that’s the message that’s been sent,” Dominik said.

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Bucs safety Mark Barron almost seems like a rookie again. No, it’s not because he’s still learning the ropes in the NFL as he enters his second season. It’s just that it’s almost like he is playing with a new team.

Everyone around him in the secondary is new. Darrelle Revis, Dashon Goldson and likely, Johnthan Banks. Barron spoke with Joe and other reporters after practice today about how much he enjoys having two studs in the secondary joining him, Goldson and Revis.

“I am just excited to have them out there. I am excited to have their knowledge out there that can help me and can help each other. You know, last year we were last in the league [in pass defense] and that is definitely not where we want to be. It’s good to have that help and grow as a team. “I am a lot more comfortable. I am just working and trying to get better. That year of experience under my belt, I think that will help me a lot. Can’t wait to get going this season.”

Now the way the Bucs defense is currently built, Barron may be playing more up close and in the box than he did last year, sort of how Ronde Barber played last season.

On those defensive sets, Barron said he feels more at home.

“That’s what I did at Alabama, a lot,” Barron said. “I mean, I did everything [playing safety at Alabama] but I did a lot of playing in the box. I am comfortable with that so I hope that [playing the same role with the Bucs] will help the team.”

Days away from being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Bucs great Warren Sapp, working for the NFL Network, was all over One Buc Palace today One of his duties was interviewing hopefully another future Hall of Famer, cornerback Darrelle Revis.

What Sapp wanted to know, which is also what a few Bucs fans want to know, is how the Bucs are building from the back to the front on defense. Often, teams start building on the front line and add in the defensive backfield later.

Not so with the Bucs. Revis explains why in this NFL Network video.

Rockstar general manager Mark Dominik sat down for a candid chat on the Ron and Ian show this morning on WDAE-AM 620 and 95.3 FM. (Have you seen their Bucs page?)

Dominik dropped interesting takes on Mike Williams’ contract, the high hopes surrounding Tom Crabtree’s receiving skills, and how Johnthan Banks won’t have anything handed to him. Enjoy.

Bucs cornerback Darrelle Revis reflected on his first practice with the Bucs, and his first practice after ACL knee surgery. Though Revis was limited, he did do some coverage drills where wide receivers simply could not shake him. Also, Revis as well as wide receiver Mike Williams, were working with punt returners. Read into that what you wish. Audio courtesy of WDAE-AM 620.

Joe has been getting a lot of questions about this, thus the reason for this post.

“When are the Bucs going to put on pads for the first time,” Joe has been bombarded with. Well, Bucs coach Greg Schiano answered that question in his post-practice press conference this afternoon.

The pads go on under the lights this Saturday night during the Bucs practice at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway. Not only will fans get fireworks and all sorts of other fan-friendly things (including breaks on some concession prices), the Bucs will hit for real for the first time this year.

Throw in a few Oklahoma drills and it should be a fun night.

* WR Derek Hagen armwrestles with Leonard Johnson for a bomb and Hagen flagged for interference.

* Guy shows up to a Bucs practice in full Giants regalia claiming he is only here to watch Darrelle Revis. Takes all kinds.

* Cops actually had to show up as Giants fan nearly provoked a fight. Imagine?

* Doug Martin showing lightning quick burst.

* Mike Glennon threads needle to Carlton Mitchell along left sideline against Rashaan Melvin.

* Josh Freeman overthrows David Douglas as the ball glances off of Douglas’ hands, into the waiting arms of Danny Gorrer, who races to the right for a pick-six.

* Mike Williams wearing red hightops.

* Bucs working on loose ball drills. Guys are curling up with the ball like a baby in a crib with a teddy bear.

* Offense is putting on a fireworks show in the middle of the day. After a dull morning, fans are pumped.

* First Tom Crabtree sighting. Can see why he is such a good blocker. Built like an anvil. Oh, he can catch too.

* Mike Williams diving one-handed catch over middle for about 30 yards against Danny Gorrer. Sometimes a cornerback is helpless no matter how good the coverage. Just. Like. That.

* Mike Glennon overthrows Michael Smith terribly over the middle. May be worst pass Glennon has thrown as a pro.

* Play-action fake to Doug Martin (fantastic fake by Martin as he acted like he fumbled the ball) and Tom Crabtree is so alone over the middle he was an orphan.

* Wide receiver Chris Owusu picking up where he left off in OTAs and minicamp. He may be a hard guy to turn loose.

* Tight end Nate Byham looks like a fire hydrant.

* Strongside linebacker Jonathan Casillas nearly bats down pass in left flat.

* Doug Martin catches pass along left sideline.

* Josh Freeman seemed to force a pass into a crowd over the middle but Vincent Jackson wrestles the ball away from defenders for the catch.

*Freeman throws long TD to tight end Zach Miller.

* Bucs wide receivers are really playing sharp.

* Now there’s a first: NFL Network’s Warren Sapp is interviewing Bucs coach Greg Schiano live on the sidelines in the middle of practice. Joe has never seen that before in an NFL setting.

* MYRON!!! Nine Lives Myron Lew got roasted terribly by Tiquan Underwood, and Nine Lives compounded his horrible play by drilling Underwood for a pass interference penalty. Good ole, Nine Lives Myron.

* Mike Williams just schooled Danny Gorrer on down and out to right — to fans’ delight.

* Darrelle Revis working on cornerback drills on the far field and wide receivers cannot shake him.

* Playing agasint the second team, running back Brian Leonard breaks loose up the middle.

* One fan here already in midseason form hollering at refs.

* Running back Brian Leonard is decked by Mason Foster. Next play Doug Martin big gain off right tackle.

* Middle linebacker Mason Foster flies in and had there been hitting he would have taken Doug Martin’s head off.

* Heard Bucs coach Greg Schiano barking on his bullhorn for the first time in training camp. Couldn’t make out what was said.

*Bryan Glazer had big, warm bear hugs for Shaun King and Warren Sapp. Sapp refers to Glazer as “Boss.”

* There is actually a guy out here wearing a Browns Peyton Hillis jersey.

* Not sure what to make of this but Darrelle Revis and Mike Williams are in a group fielding punts.

* Days away from induction into Canton, Warren Sapp, working for NFL Network, takes his seat at set along practice field and fans erupt.

*Gary Gibson went down early in practice holding his knee but didn’t miss much time and was back with the first team.

One of three quarterbacks to lead the Bucs to the NFL Championship game, Shaun King studied Josh Freeman at Bucs training camp today and explained in Xs and Os detail what went wrong during an appearance on the Ron and Ian Show on WDAE-AM 620.

King’s assessment? Freeman “looks extremely rusty. … ball placement, which I think is one of his biggest weaknesses, has been a problem today.” King also goes much deeper into the Xs and Os of Freeman’s throwing and approach to practice. Very interesting stuff — whether you’re a Freeman fan or not.

Joe gets there a loads of Bucs fans all excited about what running back Peyton Hillis could bring as a complement to Doug Martin.

Joe’s not in that camp of giddy dreamers. Hillis has a long road to even making the Bucs’ 53-man roster, let alone the final 46 on game days. He’ll have to prove he can protect the ball — a problem through his career — and be a great teammate per New Schiano Order rules.

As for what sent Hillis from the top of the NFL three seasons ago into a freefall that landed him out of favor in Cleveland quickly and as a backup in Kansas City, Hillis said that’s a bad time and a fading-fast memory.

“You know what, if I can be completely honest with you, I’d just say I don’t know,” Hillis said today, after being asked how he explains what went wrong with his career.. “Does it feel like a million years ago or just yesterday, you know, sometimes it feels like forever ago and you really don’t remember what happened. That’s the way I kind of look at it now. I’ve been on a couple of teams since, and it just feels like it’s been forever ago.

Hopefully, Hillis can recapture his glory days. But Joe also has learned that Hillis might have an even tougher road to making the Bucs roster. He did not play special teams in Kansas City last season, and not doing that here will cut his odds.

Late in today’s opening practice at One Buc Palace, cornerback Danny Gorrer snatched a Josh Freeman somewhat-lazy-looking pass out of the air. Interception!

Gorrer is a guy the New Schiano Order has  high hopes for. And while he’s no superstar and cost the Bucs a win against the Eagles last year, Gorrer feels he’s on the rise. It’s easy to forget Gorrer joined the Bucs in midseason and was still learning the defense, a tough order for a young player.

“By getting here Week 8, I kind of didn’t know the system and the scheme and whatever, and I was thrown into the fire to do what I do,”  Gorrer said. “Finishing strong with [Leonard Johnson] like I think we did, and showing coaches they can depend on us. It’s time to step up, from the first day of camp.”

Joe’s not here to pretend Gorrer is a Pro Bowler, but Greg Schiano is a secondary coach at heart. That’s his background, and the Bucs have scouted Gorrer and believe he can be productive. He just turned 27 and has managed to survive to his fifth season, including two in Baltimore.

Another player to watch in the hopefully improved Bucs secondary.

With Roy Miller gone, the guy pegged to replace him, rookie defensive tackle Akeem Spence, is the resident strongman in the Bucs’ locker room.

But Spence is no ordinary human fire hydrant. This guy’s stronger than strong.

Joe asked Gerald McCoy to give his early impressions of Spence, who McCoy surely will be attached to in various ways. McCoy called Spence a “perfectionist” and very similar to himself in the way Spence approaches the game.

But McCoy most wanted to talk about Spence’s feats of strength in the weight room. They’ve driven McCoy to the point of embarrassment.

“He’s a worker. First off, he’s a mini-Hercules,” McCoy said. “This dude, you know, I’ve never been the strongest guy but my strength went up this offseason. So I’m in there lifting and this guy’s lifting two racks down.   I almost left the weight room, just because I didn’t want to keep watching him. My heavy weight, he was like warming up.   I was like, ‘this is not even fair.’ He’s ridiculously strong. He’s a hard worker on the field. He’s similar to me when it comes to making mistakes. He despises making mistakes. So that’s what I love about him. He’s a perfectionist.”

There have been plenty of workout warriors in the NFL, and being strong doesn’t make you a great player, or even a good one.

Joe’s more excited to hear McCoy’s impressions of Spence’s attitude and work ethic. Perfectionists often thrive in the NFL.