Former Bucs quarterback Jeff Carlson trains QBs of all ages with his company, America’s Best Quarterback. You can hear him as host of The Game on ESPN 1040AM, Sundays at 11 a.m. He’s a regular contributor to JoeBucsFan.com.

By Jeff Carlson
JoeBucsFan.com analyst

Looks like the Bucs’ new management is filled with avid readers of JoeBucsFan.com. And they take my opinions pretty seriously.

It’s no secret that I have been a big fan of giving the best athlete on the team a chance at quarterback and they brought back Luke McCown as a top priority.

In a posting from January 16 following Jon Gruden’s firing I wrote about the following about the talent level on the Bucs:

Earnest Graham is the only running back with potential. Antonio Bryant is the only quality receiver on the team – and he’s a free agent. The defensive front is questionable. Barrett Ruud is a stud, but Cato June is a question and Derrick Brooks should be a reserve. Ronde Barber is going to the Pro Bowl, but should be a situational nickel-back. Most of the role players don’t have upside (future starter) potential.

Those are opinions based on performance on the field, not memories of the good ‘ol days of yesteryear.

With that basis in mind, is today’s news of the Bucs releasing Derrick Brooks, Cato June, Warrick Dunn, Ike Hilliard and Joey Galloway really that surprising?

Mark Dominik made it pretty clear they didn’t want to see Brooks standing on the sideline in a ball cap, but for all the fans that want to get caught up in his history of greatness (and that is what it is, history) and his sure-fire Hall of Fame future, Brooks isn’t playing at that level anymore and he isn’t going to be running down on kick-offs or punt coverage.

Raheem Morris could not continue to show the individual favoritism to the likes of Joey Galloway’s prima donna practice schedule, if he wants to take this team back to an elite level.

Nothing tears apart a football team more than preferential treatment, no matter how good you are.

The good news is the GM and the coach aren’t making emotional fan-like decisions, but good solid football decisions. Go back to the earlier quote above from January and see if Ronde Barber’s role doesn’t get redefined before the season, as well.

I don’t know that we have seen the last of this group of ex-Bucs, but just keep reading my posts and you’ll be able to prepare yourself for the next move by the Bucs’ brass.

Warrick Dunn's forced exit from the Bucs makes as little sense as Derrick Brooks' departure.

One of the things that has Joe still shaking his head from Black Wednesday is what happened to Warrick Dunn. By most accounts, the Bucs are shorthanded at the running back position. Earnest Graham was dinged last year. Cadillac Williams is far from a certain return.

So why make the backfield even weaker and thinner? It’s not like Dunn wasn’t productive. As a part-time back, he got over 1,000 yards offense including 300-plus yards receiving, averaging seven yards a carry. How many part-time backs that diverse are walking the streets looking for work?

Again, like Derrick Brooks getting the pink slip, Dunn is a local if not statewide icon whose releast had nothing to do with salary cap concerns.

Some suggest the Bucs wanted to work Clifton Smith in the mix, which is OK. Anyone want to take a guess why Smith didn’t get too many chances under Chucky? Here’s a valid reason.

Half — literally, half — the attempts Smith had at running back he fumbled. Joe constantly rags on Son of Bob for his turnovers and will continue to do so so long as that stiff with a famous dad is wearing a Bucs jersey (unless he’s sitting in the stands and bought a ticket like Joe).

So a guy fumbling the ball half the time he touches it, well, Joe totally understands why Smith didn’t get many chances. So it’s even harder for Joe to swallow the fact a good man who is still a good player got cut so a guy who fumbles half the time can get more carries.

So this is The Dream’s “plan?”

Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune obtained a transcript of Joey Galloway’s interview on Sirius NFL Radio’s “The Red Zone” with Solomon Wilcots and Gil Brandt.

Because Chucky couldn’t figure out how to use both him and Antonio Bryant at the same time (yet this is the same coach who someone figured out how to use Jerry Rice, Tim Brown and Jerry Porter at the same time), Galloway took the field only a scant few times. As a result, he hasn’t been dinged up and he’s healthy.

Because of this, Galloway is geeked about playing for whatever team will sign the graybeard.

“I came out probably as healthy as I’ve been in my 14 year career. So I’m pretty excited about what happens next. I’ve started working out, preparing myself, which I always do at this time of year. So I’m looking forward to it and I feel great physically, mentally. I’m looking forward to the new challenge.”

Like Galloway, Joe was not surprised with Galloway getting shown the door. Galloway is good people. Joe only hopes he has some good success and few injuries wherever he lands.

Bucs fans who are angry at the Glazer Boys, Mark Dominik and The Dream this morning, you have a friend in Adam Schein.

The co-host of Sirius NFL Radio’s “The Blitz,” (Justin, what about the NFL thieving your radio show name?) Schein is absolutely unloading this morning on the Bucs front office. And his co-host John Riggins is in agreement.

In short, Schein is beyond outraged at Derrick Brooks being let loose.

“If you want to talk Cato June being cut, OK. Ike Hilliard? I can understand. Joey Galloway, sure. Warrick Dunn, though he’s still productive, well, OK.

“But how the hell do you cut Derrick Brooks? This to me is one of the worst moves I have ever seen an NFL team make. This isn’t a Marvin Harrison situation with a salary cap issue. The Bucs are well under the cap. Brooks had a very good season. Yeah, he got hurt late, OK. That’s fine. He’s still a very good player. He still the linebacker who not only will beat you with his skills, with his ability, but he will beat you with his brains.

“He’s one of the smartest players we’ve seen on defense in the last 25 years. He’s a leader on the ballclub, a leader off the field. I have no idea what the hell the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are doing.”

Riggins wasn’t quite as vocal (or loud) as Schein but he didn’t disagree.

“I’m stunned,” Riggins said. “Who is there new general manager? Is this really a youth movement? They are rumored to be after [Albert] Haynesworth. There must be something more to it than it looks from the outside. [Brooks is] still a productive player. This is a headscratcher.”

Schein then resumed his emotional rant.

“How do you rationalize this? This is Derrick Brooks. DERRICK BROOKS! This s not just a Hall of Famer just hanging on. He’s still a productive NFL player.

“This is just asinine. We will let Bucs fans vent today. This just doesn’t make any sense. This just floored me. It had me dizzy yesterday. I can’t believe what happened to Derrick Brooks. If I was a fan I would be livid. If I was a season ticket holder, I’d be livid.”

Riggins then suggested a gloomy future for the Bucs.

“What happened down in Tampa is like a roundhouse. This not only caught Gruden and Allen by surprise but all the fans. It’s pretty obvious the Tampa Bay Bucs want to go in a different direction. Well, I can tell you, they are definitely going in a different direction. I’m not sure it’s the direction they may want.”

Phillips could wear a Saints uniform this year, said ESPN NFC South reporter Pat "Vacation Man" Yasinskas

With free agency less than a day away, Joe is sweating out the fate of safety Jermaine Phillips.

Heck, Phillips turns 30 in a few weeks, which probably signals the end of his Bucs career.

For Joe’s money, Phillips is the leader of the secondary and played at a Pro Bowl level for most of 2008, forearm injuries aside.

Lost in the drama of Black Wednesday, Pat “Vacation Man” Yasinskas, who covers the NFC South for ESPN.com, told 1040AM host Nanci Donnellan that Phillips is highly coveted by the New Orleans Saints and the Bucs may not shell out the cash to sign him.

“The Bucs wants him, but that’s a tough one. …The Saints are desperate for safety help,” Yasinskas said.

Joe’s lessening faith in The Dream regime will take a nose dive if Phillips doesn’t return. He is one of the Bucs core young players who came through the system, from a fifth-round pick to a standout performer.

In talking about The Dream, Sirius NFL Radio host Randy Cross suggested The Dream may face the same fate as another former Bucs defensive backs coach.

Speaking about the Bucs on Sirius NFL Radio’s “The Opening Drive” this morning, co-hosts Randy Cross and Bob Papa didn’t paint a very rosy picture for the Bucs this season.

“New isn’t always good unless you know what you are doing. Youth isn’t always better but it’s cheaper,” Cross said of the Bucs new regime and alleged youth moment on the field.

Cross went on to predict that the Bucs “won’t be anywhere near” the salary cap when free agency ends, despite having his figures way off (Cross said the Bucs were $50 million under the cap).

Papa concurred saying, “Why would you [spend like a drunken sailor] when you’ve done what they just did? Generally teams that are rebuilding or going to a youth moment don’t overspend on free agents.

“Look, in 2007 they had a lackluster effort in the playoffs and they stunk the last four games last season. Why would you want to bring that back?”

Cross also had a dire prediction for The Dream.

“I wish Raheem Morris all the luck in the world. The last coach to take over a team that was rebuilding was Herm Edwards.”

Even if the Bucs kept Cato June and the other Black Wednesday victims, the Bucs still would have had plenty of cap room to sign "Face Stomper."

The only reason Joe knows who Gregg Rosenthal of NBCSports.com is is that he happens to share a TV stage with the gorgeous Tiffany Simons. If Joe didn’t enjoy gawking at Ms. Simons so much (who wouldn’t?), he’d never know about Rosenthal.

After reading his recent blog item about Black Wednesday, Joe now understands why GE stock is slightly above garbage right now.

Check out this take from Rosenthal:

The Bucs don’t have logical replacements at wideout or linebacker on the roster; Maurice Stovall at WR? Quincy Black at LB? Eh. But Tampa is smart to get younger, cheaper, leaner. This could also open up salary cap space to make a run at Albert Haynesworth.

You idiot! The Bucs were $55 million below the cap before Black Wednesday. The Bucs had oodles of cash to play with. If Mark Dominik and the Glazer Boys wanted Face Stomper, there would have been little if any salary cap issues.

Trust Joe, the only time he will ever read or see anything from Rosenthal again is if he is still working with Simons.

The Professor, John Clayton of BSPN, claims Bucs legend Derrick Brooks was not cut because he can’t play. Rather, Clayton suggests Brooks was cut because new defensive coordinator Jim Bates doesn’t like speed.

The Bucs’ release of linebackers Derrick Brooks and Cato June signifies the end of the Cover 2 defense in Tampa Bay. With Monte Kiffin gone as defensive coordinator, the Bucs are going to a different scheme. Defensive coordinator Jim Bates plans to install a bigger, more physical defense. The Cover 2 relies more on quickness than bulk. Bates likes big linebackers and big defensive linemen. Brooks was considered the best weakside linebacker to play the Cover 2.

As Joe pointed out earlier, former NFL coach Jim Mora scoffed at such a suggestion. Personally, Joe thinks Brooks is so tough that Jack Bauer and Chuck Norris break out in a sweat when Brooks’ name is mentioned.

To tell any reasonable football fan in the state of Florida that Derrick Brooks had an impact on the game isn’t a tough sell. Afterall, Brooks dominated high school football at Pensacola Booker T. Washington where his team won a state title and Brooks was selected to the Florida High School Athletic Association’s All Century team, among the state’s greatest 100 high school players.

Later, Brooks helped Bobby Bowden win his first national championship at Florida State. With the Bucs, Brooks scored the biggest touchdown in Bucs’ history to seal the franchise’s lone Super Bowl win.

One could argue Brooks is Mr. Football for the Sunshine State. He has only played football for Florida teams at every level and won championships at every level. In short, Brooks is a winner.

But a non-Florida resident also sees how important Brooks has been to the game of football. Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com claims Brooks “revolutionized” the position of linebacker.

He redefined the way a position was played.

When Brooks came into the league in 1995, small, fast linebackers were being bulked up to play safety, which many teams wanted Brooks to do. He was 210 pounds coming out of Florida State, and bigger safeties were in vogue to go with the bigger linebackers.

Brooks said no. He insisted he was a linebacker.

It’s a decision that proved to be right. He is on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, one of the classiest players to put on an NFL uniform.

The thought of Brooks no longer in a Bucs uniform is enough for Joe to begin crying in his No. 55 jersey. Where’s Carmella when you need her?

Highlights of the 2002 season, replete with Derrick Brooks’ greatest play.

Former Bucs wide receiver Joey Galloway said on Sirius NFL Radio Wednesday he's healthy and ready to roll.

As Joe is wont to do, he was listening to Sirius NFL Radio when he heard the bombshell of Black Wednesday. Upon hearing the news, Joe quickly turned to local radio and heard the Big Dog, Steve Duemig logging extra time.

As a result, Joe missed Joey Galloway’s interview on the NFL’s 24/7/365 radio network. But Vacation Man didn’t.

In a nutshell, Galloway says he’s ready to catch some touchdowns. Sadly, no longer with the Bucs.

“I feel great,” Galloway said. “Physically, at the end of last season, because I didn’t play a lot during that season, I came out probably as healthy as I’ve been in my 14-year career. I’m pretty excited about what happens next. I’ve started working out, preparing myself, which I always do at this time of year. I’m looking forward to the new challenge, so we’ll see what happens.”

Joe always admired Galloway. Great guy, never complained even when he had the right to.

Joe firmly believes wherever Galloway winds up, his coach won’t have any problems getting him on the field with the team’s No. 1 receiver.

It warms Joe’s heart to see a sports reporter bang away on the keyboards straight from his heart. And Vacation Man, aka Pat Yasinskas of BSPN.com did just that.

Writing about linebacker Derrick Brooks being cut, Vacation Man wastes little time in raking the Bucs front office over the coals.{+++}

You don’t simply cut the best player in franchise history, a first-ballot Hall of Famer, the greatest diplomat ever in the state of Florida. Do you?

The Bucs did.

“We want to let our players know that they’re important to us, but this is a decision we had to make and a direction we had to go,” general manager Mark Dominik said.

No, here’s the direction you go with Brooks: You give him whatever he wants — a spiffy retirement party, lifetime contract to be a coach, broadcaster or the executive vice president in charge of sitting on the beach. Or you convince him to take some minor/reduced role as a player to help ease the transition to a new regime.

You don’t just show the guy the door, and it’s certainly looking like the Bucs, who once terribly botched the end of icon John Lynch’s time with the team, threw Brooks out on the street.

Standing-O. Standing-O. Bravo Vacation Man, bravo. For a guy who skips to London in the middle of an NFL season with his family and fails to obtain game tape of the teams he’s supposed to cover, this is outstanding stuff!

Joe hopes to read more missives like this from Vacation Man.

Donald Penn will start zone-blocking school with all his 2008 linemates soon

Apparently the Bucs won’t be shopping for a starting left tackle when free agency starts this week.

Today rags-to-riches story Donald Penn was given what some call a maximum tender offer for a restricted free agent, reports the St. Pete Times.

Penn will earn roughly $2.8-million if he ends up playing for the tendered offer. He stood to make more on the open market. The way things stand, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent in 2010.

For another team to acquire Penn this year, it would have to give the Bucs a first and third round draft pick, and beat the $2.8 million salary. The Bucs could always match the deal and keep him.

Joe is all in favor of keeping the Bucs young offensive line together. Now they just need a beast of a running back to team with Earnest Graham. Joe is mourning the reports on NFL.com that Brandon Jacobs has re-signed with the Giants.

Speaking on NFL Network’s Total Access Wednesday evening, Hall of Famer Rod Woodson and former NFL coach Jim Mora roasted the Bucs front office for not only cutting Derrick Brooks, but also for the rest of the players cut during Black Wednesday.

Of course, most of the attention and talk was on Brooks. But Woodson in particular was upset with letting Cato June go. The two scoffed at the Bucs suggestion that the Bucs will use a new defense and Brooks wouldn’t fit into “the plan.”

Mora waved his hand in disgust at the thought, saying Brooks could play in any defense. Woodson called the inference of Brooks not fitting in the new plan “a crock!”

In the video, the NFL Network crowd also had an interview with Joey Galloway who said he spoke with Brooks and that the all-time great Bucs linebacker was “upbeat.” Galloway also said he was not surprised he was cut but he was very much surprised at Brooks getting the pink slip.

Buccaneers.com also has the video of Mark Dominik and Raheem The Dream’s press conference today.

The Dream said the Bucs are a big, close family. Yet today he kicked the wise old uncles out of the house.

Day 1 of the Raheem The Dream administration saw the new leader field a simple question at his introductory news conference.

Amid many smiles, and more smiles, and a few more smiles, The Dream was asked his plans for the direction of the Bucs. He confidently replied the Bucs would “Stay The Course.”

That was the only answer. He also threw in how he loved the Bucs family and its players.

“Stay The Course.”

Five weeks later The Dream and GM Mark Dominik have abandoned ship, jumped in a helicopter and gone way off course. Captains Jeff Garcia and Pro Bowler Derrick Brooks have been sent packing. Warrick Dunn, Ike Hilliard, Cato June and Joey Galloway, too.

The team now has more gaping holes than a busy night at Mons Venus.

At today’s farewell news conference for Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn and the other Bucs stars — one in which the Bucs’ family-loving brass dedicated a whopping 30 minutes or so — The Dream spoke of a plan. A grand plan. “To get young, fast and aggressive” was his the only insight offered.

Joe wants to be a Dream believer. He really does.

Joe wants The Dream to bring a real running game back to Tampa and hard-hitting defense that gets to the quarterback and continues the legacy of Monte Kiffin’s secondary.

But Joe has to question why The Dream is all over the map since Day 1. Joe finds it suspect that a 32-year-old first-time head coach ditched his core of accomplished, savvy veterans. Somewhere Kevin Carter is calling moving companies.

And Joe finds it disgraceful that neither Dream nor Dominik were prepared to explain how the Bucs organization is better without Brooks on the team in 2009.

Yes, Joe looks forward to the new crop of “young, fast and aggressive” players who will fill the Bucs roster in ’09. That is unless The Dream changes direction again next month.

Joe is not an accountant, an economist, an NFL general manager or a stat geek. In fact, numbers bore Joe.

So Joe leaves it to others to play with figures. One such person is Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. His calculator tells him that with the purge today — heretofore known as Black Wednesday — the Bucs have slashed over $12 million from their budget.

That means the Bucs are $67 million under the salary cap as the dawn of the 2009 free agent shopping spree nears.

Joe can hear Stu Sternberg screaming all the way from Port Charlotte.

If what Mark Dominik told Peter King is correct, and that the Bucs aren’t going to land any big-monied free agent players, Dominik could virtually buy an entire new team, sans offensive line and secondary, which the Bucs don’t need.

[UPDATE: Per Adam Schefter of NFL.com, the salary cap has been raised $3 million. That means the Bucs have roughly $70 million to play with!]

Failed 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry spoke in more specifics than Raheem the Dream.

A couple of things jumped out at Joe listening to this press conference about the release of Derrick Brooks and others.

1) Raheem the Dream is trying to take control. Problem is, he’s not saying anything.

2) What the hell is this plan The Dream continues to talk about? The Dream said, “We want to be a fast, tough, disciplined team?”

Who the hell doesn’t? Like Brooks isn’t fast? Like Brooks isn’t tough? Like Brooks isn’t disciplined?

Give Joe a friggin’ break! If you are going to cut a state icon like Brooks (high school All American at Pensacola, national champion at Florida State, Super Bowl winner in Tampa Bay) you better be able to specifically explain why he doesn’t fit in your plans.

The loyal Bucs fans, not to mention season ticket holders, deserve as much. Hey Dream, if you can’t face the music, just pull a Chucky and hide.

The only way The Dream didn’t sound like John Kerry is that he didn’t tell people to check out his website.

Joe will appear soon on “Happy Hour with J.P. Peterson” in the 4 o’clock hour. The show can be heard locally in the Tampa Bay area on WQYK-AM 1010. It also can be heard on the Internet via streaming from the station’s website.

Joe is stumped, however. He can’t imagine what J.P. (and his co-host/producer Dave Ortiz) would ever want to talk about on such a slow news day?

Please tune in.

Joe just can’t think of proper words to describe what is going on right now and, in fact, is a bit bewildered.

Normally, Joe would be outraged about cutting Derrick Brooks. But so many others have been cut, and the timing of the cut just blows Joe’s mind.

In short, everything Joe has read, researched,  and heard about free agency and the draft is totally thrown out the window.

The Bucs need a quarterback.

The Bucs need a running back.

The Bucs need linebackers.

The Bucs need wide receivers.

The Bucs need defensive tackles.

Good grief. Joe could start throwing darts at the wall ,and if the darts hit anything but offensive line, punter or kicker you’d have just as good of a chance of being correct as the next guy; just as accurate as Mel Kiper or Mike Mayock or the drunk sitting at the end of the bar.

Joe thought Brooks was safe. Clearly defensive coordinator Jim Bates wanted to clean house. The first thing that went through Joe’s mind was how did Brooks, Dunn, Galloway and June not find a way to hang on yet Ronde Barber avoided the Grim Reaper?

Until he got hurt late in the season Brooks was getting the job done. June was OK. Barber wasn’t, and Bates has made no secret he wants more bump-and-run coverage and not zone coverage, at which Barber is not proficient.

Joe feels like he’s been drinking Jameson and Becks all day. Problem is, he hasn’t.

Joe does have one question: How much do the Bucs have under the salary cap now, $60 million?

Joe has just heard on Sirius NFL Radio that Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn and Joey Galloway have all been cut as have Cato June and Ike Hilliard.

In short, Joe says, “WOW!”

Solomon Wilcots claims the cuts were due to salary cap reasons. Joe calls bullspit on that. The Bucs are $55 million under the cap.

Gil Brandt, speaking on “The Red Zone,” claims the fact Brooks was cut tells him that the Bucs will be moving away from the Cover-2 scheme. If that is the case, Joe has to ask how Ronde Barber survived the purge?

Much more to come throughout the day on JoeBucsFan.com.