Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said on Sirius NFL Radio Friday afternoon that Cadillac Williams might still be available this season.

It was Bucs Lunch on Sirius NFL Radio today.

Shortly after Raheem The Dream made an appearance on “The Sirius Blitz” with Adam Schein and Solomon Wilcots broadcasting live from Indianapolis at the NFL Combine, Bucs general manager Mark Dominik stepped to the microphone.

When asked if the Bucs were looking to add to their running back stable, Dominik didn’t deny it, saying, in as many words, the Bucs are always looking to upgrade that position. Dominik didn’t rule out Cadillac Williams for 2009.

Dominik noted that Earnest Graham “is fine, he’s OK,” and began to rave about Williams.

“He’s making remarkable progress,” Dominik said. “Come June or July, we’ll have a better idea about how he’s coming along.” Until then, Dominik said, the Bucs cannot now rule him out for the upcoming season.

Dominik did say the Bucs offensive staff will be trying to work in Clifton Smith more in game plans.

The Dream says Antonio Bryant brings passion to the locker room, not a me-first disruptive presence

In between leaving open a possible Jeff Garcia return during his aforementioned interview on NFL Radio today, Raheem The Dream was asked about newly franchise-tagged Antonio Bryant.

The Dream made it clear that he wants “passionate” players like Bryant on his team. And referring to Bryant he said the wide receiver is “not disruptive” but “passionate.”

The Dream went on to say he he’d like Bryant signed to a long term deal.

If ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio really believes the Bucs will select California center Alex Mack in the first round, Florio really needs a nap or a health evaluation.

Joe loves Mike Florio’s ProFootballTalk.com and goes there several times a day. Joe was fortunate to run into Florio at Super Bowl Media Day and he was as kind as can be to Joe, which only reinforced Joe’s opinion of him.

Sometimes, however, Florio is so far out there Joe has to take exception. For example, Florio is still beating the drum that Chucky will wind up at Notre Dame if not Tennessee.

When Joe reads this, he’s convinced Florio needs more sleep. Joe has noticed at times Florio posting past 1 a.m. and then posting again at 6 a.m. And Florio also has a law practice.

(Sure, Joe too posts in the wee hours of the morning, but at least he’s not posting again until at least 7 a.m.).

This morning, Florio posted his own mock draft. Joe is of two minds about mock drafts: he will never have one or participate in one but Joe also confesses to enjoy reading them.

That written, Florio’s pick for the Bucs with the 19th selection is…

California center Alex Mack.

Hey Mike, far be it from you to take advice from Joe. After all, Joe has only taken a couple of law classes (and passed both if you can imagine). Joe doesn’t pretend to be a physician or play one on TV. But Mike, you really, really, really need to take some time off and get some sleep.

Of all the needs the Bucs have they should draft a player for their strongest unit, offensive line? Shoot, Mel Kiper’s prediction of drafting Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman makes more sense than this.

THE PESSIMIST says Antonio Bryant's me-first attitude should have the Bucs thinking trade

Antonio Bryant is already unhappy and his new Lotto ticket hasn’t even cleared the bank.

What a piece of work.

The Bucs gave Bryant a chance to return to the NFL last year. He delivered. Then on Wednesday they gave him a nearly $10 million windfall in the form of the franchise tag for 2009. Now Bryant wants financial “security” in the form of a long term deal, he told the Tampa Tribune. And his agent gave the St. Pete Times an earful about Bryant’s disappointment.

The dude needs to shut his mouth.

Bryant should be grateful he landed on a team so devoid of receiving talent it had to franchise an unstable personality who hasn’t made a Pro Bowl. Joe has already guided you to read between the lines of Doug Williams’ comments, which reveal Bryant is a head case in need of a good shrink, even in good times.

The Bucs don’t really need Bryant. They just need talent under 37 years old at wide receiver.

Face it, Bryant doesn’t get the franchise tag if Michael Clayton could catch the damn ball and if Chucky had stopped punishing Joey Galloway last year long enough to get the old guy 50+ catches.

The Bucs tagged Bryant out of desperation. That’s no way to operate.

Would anybody bet Bryant is all smiles for Jeff Jagodzinski or the Bucs new starting quarterback? Is he really a lock to get along with two new coaches in a row under the pressure of another contract year? THE PESSIMIST surely wouldn’t lay money on either.

Bryant was flapping his arms and whining on the field last year when he didn’t get the ball. And that was all happening with a coach who loved him dearly in the middle of what likely was a career year. 

Anquan Boldin can be had. The Cardinals can’t realistically afford him and Larry Fitzgerald and free agent Kurt Warner. Boldin’s done it longer and better than Bryant, and he’s a Florida guy who wants out. His agent is even on the record saying he wants to play in Florida.

The Bucs should find a way to acquire Boldin, trade Bryant and pick up a free agent receiver whose name doesn’t end with Clayton.

From the Edmonton Eskimos to the Buccaneers comes Kelly Campbell. Yes, the Eskimos look like the Packers.

Kelly Campbell has bounced around the NFL, as well as jail cells and court rooms.

Now the top receiver for the Edmonton Eskimos is a Bucs wide receiver, says Pewter Report.

Campbell is a little guy known for his speed. He was an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech signed by the Minnesota Vikings in 2002. In 2008, he led the CFL in yards per catch (22.6) and also returned kickoffs. 

It sure seems to Joe that the new Bucs regime has zero hopes for Dexter Jackson.

The lovely Tiffany Simons and somebody named Gregg Rosenthal of NBCSports.com have a two-part series of something rather vapid called “The Fixies.” Joe isn’t really sure what purpose this serves, but in the opening seconds to the video posted below, Ms. Simons utters the phrase, “Off the field fantasies.”

Ah, Tiffany, if you could only read Joe’s mind.

In Part One of the series, Ms. Simons drops the names “Mike Alstott” and “Antonio Bryant.”

Joe wishes Tiffany would drop something else, but Joe has to remind himself this is a PG-rated blog.

Justin Pawlowski revisits the steep price paid by the Bucs for Keyshawn Johnson

Justin Pawlowski, host of The Blitz on 620 AM, The Sports Animal, has entered the new millenium with his Draft Rewind Series (scrowl down slightly on his page).

Pawlowski reminds us how the Bucs dealt two first round picks for Keyshawn Johnson, and how one should look at the success of the deal in evaluating the draft. Thought-provoking stuff.

From where Joe sits, Keyshawn helped push the Bucs over the edge into the promised land. He’d make the trade again.

Joe is now just nine days away from the debut of Pawlowski’s exclusive NFL draft coverage debuts on JoeBucsFan.com.

It will be can’t-miss coverage!

Pat “Vacation Man” Yasinskas is reporting the Bucs have re-signed Ryan Sims. This is not exactly big news, but Yasinskas speculates it could be an indication the Bucs will jump into the Albert Haynesworth sweepstakes.

Joe doesn’t necessary follow Vacation Man’s logic, but it seems he thinks Jovan Haye is a goner.

Defensive coordinator Jim Bates likes monsters in the middle of his defensive line, and Sims is about 6′ 4″, 320 lbs. But there’s no reason to believe Sims will become a good player.

Big doesn’t always mean much, Yinka Dare and Georghe Muresan come to mind. Yes, Joe watched a couple of NBA games last night.

The fact that new Bucs defensive coordinator Jim Bates refused to comment on the status of Ronde Barber is unsettling to Joe.

So the Bucs braintrust rolled out new defensive coordinator Jim Bates to swap stories with the local pen and mic club yesterday. There were two related elements Bates discussed that intrigued Joe. Specifically, one of the elements that Bates didn’t speak of raised Joe’s antennae. (Coincidentally, this photo of Carmella raised something else, but Joe won’t get into that.)

Earlier this week Joe posted a nugget from ProFootballWeekly.com that the Bucs have placed a high priority on signing cornerback Philip Buchanon because of the declining play of Ronde Barber. Bates intends to have his cornerbacks play more bump-and-run and, so insiders say, this is not Barber’s forte.

Wednesday, Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune noted what Joe terms as eye-opening.

Bates still is in the process of evaluating players on the team and could not give his opinions on every individual, including whether he thought CB Ronde Barber and LB Derrick Brooks could still be key players this season. He will leave for the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday and continue to figure out what Tampa Bay’s biggest needs are.

To Joe, this is not comforting. Though Joe fully expects Brooks to return, the fact that Bates wouldn’t comment on Barber’s status speaks volumes. It’s not like Barber is some scrub that might fly under the radar of some coaches. Barber’s a longtime stud and deserves sober consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Surely Bates knows all about him.

In Joe’s eyes, if Bates had any desire whatsoever of keeping Barber around, or at least in the starting lineup, he would have said something empty or transparent to pacify the fourth estate like, “Ronde is a true professional and his body of work speaks for itself.” Per Richardson, Bates refused any comment on Barber.

Sometimes, silence is quite loud.

Antonio Bryant has officially gone from his couch to a near eight-figure income in 18 months. Joe should be so fortunate.

Joe is a man. Therefore Joe regularly watches NFL Network.

At 7 p.m. tonight, resident NFL.com and NFL Network know-it-all Adam Schefter announced the Bucs have named Antonio Bryant their franchise player. Bryant will cash a 2009 Lotto ticket worth likely just under $10 million

So the Bucs have officially done the smart thing, making Bryant happy in the short term, but forcing him to prove himself in 2009, in order to earn a longterm payday.

So now that leaves about $35 million in cap room.

Joe hopes the next loose end to tie up quickly is safety Jermaine Phillips, one of The Dream’s favorite students. The Bucs struggled mightily without him last year and can’t afford to let him go. 

It would be awfully sweet to keep him alongside Tanard Jackson for at least a few years. Sabby Piscatelli is not an equivalent replacement for Phillips.

Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times reports free agent wide receiver Antonio Bryant will remain with the Bucs.

Bucs free agent wide receiver Antonio Bryant wants to stay with the Bucs. Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times writes that Bryant will be granted his wish.

Stroud reports that, provided the Bucs don’t sign Bryant, they will tag him.

The Bucs will make receiver Antonio Bryant their franchise player if they’re unable to reach a deal by Thursday’s deadline to apply the designation.

That means if Bryant subsequently signs the offer, the Bucs would be obligated to pay him $9.884-million for 2009. That’s the average of the league’s top five highest-paid receivers.

This would be the first smart move by Dominik. The next smart move would be to rid the team of the odor of Son of Bob. This would make Joe a happy man.

Chucky's new job will force him to don a suit and provide analysis of the NFL combine for the NFL Network.

Seems as though Chucky was gettting scared that the stench of arena ball was starting to rub off on him at his new office (or was it the Bolts’ miserable offense?) so he got out and found a job.

Chucky will be the NFL Network’s new analyst, at least part-time. He’ll be working the glorified high school track meet in Indianapolis otherwise known as the NFL combine, so reports Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times.

Gruden will join the network’s Total Access show each night at 7 p.m. from Thursday through Monday, and also offer analysis specifically about quarterbacks and wide receivers throughout the weekend.

“We just think he’s going to have an interesting perspective because he is so passionate about the combine, the draft and building a football team,” NFL Network executive producer Eric Weinberger said. “He doesn’t seem like a guy who is going to hold back and he will be able to fully evaluate the process.”

Joe absolutely loves the NFL Network and rarely a day goes by that he doesn’t watch the network. But the combine is one of those made-for-TV events that Joe is totally bored with. If the NFL Network has a decent interview (likely) during the combine, OK. Otherwise, isn’t TNT still running a 24/7 loop of Law and Order? There’s always the Food Network too.

(BTW, isn’t over-the-air network programming rotten to the core? DirecTV could remove those channels and Joe would barely notice until March Madness begins. Besides, Joe can watch commercial-free episodes of 24 online).

Per Jones, the NFL Network is hoping to pair Chucky with current NFL Network analyst and former Bucs great Warren Sapp. Joe would pay to hear Chucky’s answer when Sapp asks him why it’s taken lo’ these many years to return a phone call.

Joe hopes the NFL Network honchos don’t ask Chucky to weigh in on quarterback prospects.

Dan Parr of ProFootballWeekly.com claims, after doing some research on all big name free agents, that Bucs wideout Antonio Bryant is a "moderate" risk.

It’s been some time since Joe browsed regularly through ProFootballWeekly.com’s website. Ever since Joel Buchsbaum died, Joe rarely had reason to return.

In recent days trying to scrape up whatever Bucs news he can find, Joe is warming back to ProFootballWeekly.com. Part of it is the reason below.

ProFootballWeekly.com has a scouting report on the top free agents this winter. Among them of course is a detailed look at Bucs wide receiver Antionio Bryant.

Among the many elements in the analysis, Dan Parr suggests Bryant is a “moderate” risk to resign.

Risk factor: Moderate. Bryant re-molded his image last season as an elite receiver and he has grown up quite a bit in a short amount of time. Some teams, though, will be leery of his past problems.

Joe is on record several times that the Bucs absolutely must retain Bryant’s services. Bryant already has said he wants to stay. If the Bucs let him walk, that tells Joe the Glazer Boys are only trying to save cash.

Clifton Smith's "shake" has impressed the new offensive coordinator

New Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski met the local MSM today. (Joe was home crying over Carmella.)

Jagodzinski basically said a whole lot of nothing new and exciting, although he was extremely non-committal about the quarterback position and had very lukewarm (Joe couldn’t skip that one) comments about Luke McCown.

Joe was very pleased by Jagodzinski’s interest in Clifton Smith’s possibilities in the new Bucs offense. The quote below comes from an edited Q&A published by Pewter Report.

The little guy walking underneath the table here, [Clifton Smith], from what I saw of him I think you can use him in one-on-one routes and get him in open space and get him in some mismatches. I’ve seen him do some things, and he’s got a lot of shake. I think we can use him in some spots. 

Smith has major potential. The kid fumbled in his first four or five games, sure, but he seemed to kick the habit. Yes, he dropped a pass or two, as well, which had Chucky boiling on the sidelines. However, Joe wants him to get another shot at contributing.

Smith reminds Joe a little bit of Dave Meggett. Regardless, you’ve got to try to put the ball in the hands of your most talented players.

Let’s see what he can do in the preseason with short passes in open space.

ProFootballWeekly.com suggests Son of Bob will be looking for a new job shortly. Washing dishes at Don Shula's perhaps?

The following words are virtual music to Joe’s ears: Son of Bob’s days in Tampa Bay may be numbered.

A glorified interception machine who has been living off of his old man’s name for far too long, Son of Bob may not be with the Bucs this fall suggests ProFootballWeekly.com’s Dan Parr.

In a recent segment titled “The Way We Hear It,” Parr, in detailing how the Bucs are looking to add another QB via free agency, noted that new Bucs general manager Mark Dominik is no fan of Son of Bob.

Dominik can look past Son of Bob’s famous last name to see a quarterback who has been stealing money from NFL owners and padding defensive backs’ salaries for years. Dominik also sees a QB who couldn’t beat out future Hall of Fame signal-callers like Jay Fieldler, Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton, yet Son of Bob pulled in $4 million last season.

As Joe pointed out recently, Dominik too sees Son of Bob’s salary to be grossly over the market value for such a stiff, which on the street, Son of Bob might be worth a couple of nickels.

Sources in Tampa say the team will bring in another quarterback, either through the draft or more likely in free agency, to challenge McCown in training camp. Signing McCown signaled the end of Garcia’s run with the Bucs, leaving Brian Griese and Josh Johnson, who is viewed as a long-term project, as Tampa Bay’s other quarterbacks under contract for ’09. Griese, though, was a favorite of former head coach Jon Gruden and is not held in the same high esteem with the new regime. GM Mark Dominik is expected to have his eye on another free-agent veteran — Byron Leftwich has been mentioned as a possibility — and Griese would be slotted as the third quarterback, if he isn’t released, when another signalcaller is locked up.

Joe screamed bloody murder when Chucky signed Son of Bob — both times. And Joe still can’t figure out what photos his agent had on Bruce Almighty to land a $4 million a year contract.

In Joe’s eyes, Son of Bob cannot be run out of the CITS quick enough.

Joe understands there are openings in the UFL.

Pat Kirwan of NFL.com would not franchise Bucs free agent wide receiver Antonio Bryant.

The deadline to get deals done or franchise players is quicly approaching. Bucs fans are waiting anxiously to see if Mark Dominik signs wide receiver Antonio Bryant to a contract, or slaps the franchise tag on him.

Not everyone is convinced Bryant should get a franchise tag. Pat Kirwan of NFL.com is one of those critics. In fact, Kirwan thinks another Bucs player should be hit with the franchise tag.

Everyone says the team should tag wide receiver Antonio Bryant. Not so fast. The Bucs need to sign tackle Donald Penn first and then talk about Bryant. If Penn gets locked up, I would talk about a transition tag for Bryant. He had a great year in 2008, but he has a history that suggests some risk, and I’m not sure the market for him is so great. Thanks to former general manager Bruce Allen, the Bucs have lots of cap space and could match any offer that Bryant would receive on the open market. I suspect the other 31 teams will paint a different picture of Bryant’s true value.

Interesting that Kirwan would put Bryant under a transition tag and not a franchise tag. Joe’s OK with that. Whatever it takes to get Bryant to sign on the dotted line.

ProFootballWeekly.com suggests because Ronde Barbers play slipped last season, the Bucs are determined to resign Phillip Buchanon.

In it’s “Whispers” segment, ProFootballWeekly.com has some interesting Bucs tidbits.

In short, the site states the Bucs are determined to resign free agent cornerback Phillip Buchanon and that Aqib Talib will likely get more playing time while Ronde Barber may see his playing time decrease.

We hear the Bucs are very interested in re-signing soon-to-be free-agent CB Phillip Buchanon. He was arguably the team’s best corner last season, and with 2008 first-round pick CB Aqib Talib still developing, locking up Buchanon has become a high priority for new GM Mark Dominik. Tampa watched as the performance of the team’s other starting corner, Ronde Barber, declined last season, and sources say Barber, a 12-year veteran, is likely headed for a lesser role this year.

Aside from the offensive line, the Bucs’ secondary was its strongest unit, despite Barber’s sketchy play last season. Hey, Father Time waits for no one and sooner or later he was going to tap Barber on the shoulder.

Look, Joe loves Barber. He’s hoping Barber bounces back next year to regain his normal stellar form. But if he doesn’t, Joe hopes the Bucs can resign Buchanon to give the Bucs some depth in the secondary.

Wes Bunting on the NationalFootballPost.com has the Bucs selecting Auburn defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks in the second round. Not only is Marks a stud football player, it appears he plays a mean game of hoops too.

“… Sen’Derrick Marks.”

So says Wes Bunting of the NationalFootballPost.com.

Yesterday Joe linked to Bunting’s weeikly updated first round mock draft, but not sure how many caught Bunting’s pick for the Bucs in the second round. Marks is a defensive tackle from Auburn.

The 6-2, 296-pound junior was a pretty good high school basketball player, according to former Tampa Tribune scribe and current SI.com columnist Andy Staples. In fact, fomer Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville offered Marks a scholarship after watching him practice on the basketball floor, and before seeing him play a down of football.

In December 2004, Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville traveled to the Mobile area to check in on some prospects. An assistant suggested Tuberville head to Vigor High (Prichard, Ala.), where Coach Kerry Stevenson wanted to show him a player. Tuberville wasn’t interested in anyone at Vigor, but a little “P.R. work” never hurt. A coach never knows where the next hot prospect will emerge, so a few hours’ detour wouldn’t hurt if it kept Tuberville on a high school coach’s good side.

When Tuberville arrived, Stevenson brought him to the gym, where the boys’ basketball team was practicing. As the men made small talk, the basketball players lined up for a three-man weave drill.

“Coach,” Stevenson said. “Let’s see if you can pick him out.”

Seconds later, Vigor’s 260-pound power forward tore down the floor and unleashed a vicious dunk. Tuberville turned to Stevenson. “Who was that?” he asked. “That,” Stevenson said, “is Sen’Derrick Marks.” Tuberville offered Marks a scholarship on the spot, Stevenson said.

This story tells Joe that Marks is a helluva athlete with good footwork. If the Bucs can land him in the second round, Joe would be content.

Wes Bunting of the NationalFootballPost.com points to the Bucs taking Knowshon Moreno in the first round in his updated mock draft

Wes Bunting of the NationalFootballPost.com has updated his first round mock draft. This week he has the Bucs choosing Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno.

The Bucs’ running back position has seen a fair share of injuries the past two seasons, so it’s imperative they bring in a franchise type of back. Moreno is a naturally gifted runner with ideal instincts and suddenness at the line of scrimmage. He should go a long way toward giving the Bucs a new identity on offense under new coach Raheem Morris.

Though Joe has documented on several occasions he hopes the Bucs draft a defensive lineman, specifically a tackle, in the first round. Joe wouldn’t lose an ounce of sleep if the Bucs drafted Moreno.

Joe would prefer the Bucs stay away from a running back in the first round every year. Running backs are just too expensive and have too short of a shelf life. Solid RBs can be found off the scrap heap. Look at Earnest Graham: he was a free agent. Look at Willie Parker of the Steelers. He has been a starting tailback on two Super Bowl-winning teams and he couldn’t start for his college team (North Carolina).

But if the Bucs must draft a running back in the first round, you will find few better than Moreno.

The thought of having no good reason to post this picture has Joe in tears.

Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times is reporting that Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia’s agent was told by Bucs general manager Mark Dominik that Garcia’s services are no longer needed at the CITS.

“My time in Tampa has come to an end,” Garcia said.

Joe is chagrin over this. But the worst thing about this news? No more Carmella!!!

Joe sometimes has a habit of declaring his lust for certain women. That’s why you see references to Carmella, Jenn Sterger, Tiffany Simons and Jenn Brown. At the risk of not sounding like a man, Joe has to confess he has a mancrush on Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji. Joe would go crazy if somehow the stud would fall to the Bucs with the 19th pick.

But if Todd McShay of BSPN is to be believed, the only way the Bucs get their hands on Raji would be via a trade. McShay talks about some players in the NFL draft who see their stock rising and falling. Raji’s is rising.