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.

Nolan Nawrocki of ProFootballWeekly suggests the Tyson Jackson will be wearing pewter and red instead of purple and yellow this fall.

Like many NFL observers, Nolan Nawrocki of ProFootballWeekly.com believes the Bucs need to upgrade their defensive line. In his mock draft, he has the Bucs selecting LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson in the first round.

With Kevin Carter entering what may be his final year, the Buccaneers have a mentor in place who could help groom Jackson into the rock they need on the left side to stop the power “0” and improve their run defense. Many league insiders have suggested the Bucs could be hesitant to ever draft another LSU defensive lineman after they had problems with Booger McFarland, but the Bucs do a good job of maintaining their poker face about their draft intentions.

Joe isn’t so sure a left defensive end is needed that much, but he wouldn’t lose sleep over it. (Joe, unlike Nawrocki, also knows Kevin Carter is a free agent).

Defensive tackle is where the Bucs need to upgrade, but Joe doesn’t want to see the Bucs make a reach for one either. If the Bucs truly feel Jackson would upgrade the defensive line, fine.

Bucs defensive coordinator Jim Bates crashed and burned in just one season leading the Broncos' defense in 2007.

We’ve all heard about Bucs new defensive coordinator Jim Bates and his great successes around the NFL.

That got Joe wondering. Why did Bates’ 2007 defense stink up the joint in Denver, where he was about to get demoted after his first and only season as Broncos’ defensive coordinator”?

Bates quit before Mike Shanahan dethroned him.

Under Bates, Denver’s defense went from average in 2006 (ninth in points allowed) to the bottom of the league in 2007 (28th in points allowed).

Here’s three names for you: Jarvis Moss, Tim Crowder and Marcus Thomas. These are the three defensive linemen the Broncos drafted in 2007.

According to the Denver Post, Bates had a huge hand in this draft. And that makes sense, since Shanahan was the offensive guru, general manager and under increased pressure to take his defense to the next level.

If Bates hasn’t been given carte blanche of the Broncos’ defense, he clearly possessed the most influential voice in the team’s draft war room last weekend. The Broncos made four picks in the draft and three were defensive linemen.

Let the Jim Bates era begin.

Bates’ picks haven’t impressed. Moss, the former Gator stud, has been a bust. He was the 17th overall pick (the Broncos traded up). Crowder (2nd round) had an encouraging season under Bates in ’07, but rode the bench for 2008. Thomas (4th round) has been a non-factor and had legal issues.

If Bates was, in fact, making the calls on defense, then he also judged Simeon Rice worthy of a $3 million deal in Denver, after the Bucs let him walk. Rice accomplished nothing and was inactive for some games.

Joe’s got a lot of respect for Bates’ record around the league. But he definitely has something to prove in Tampa. Bottom line is he got fired – quickly – in Denver, where there’s always been a fair amount of loyalty and stability.

And let Joe be the first to say Bates and the Bucs look to deal for Tim Crowder.

It appears that Donald Penn doesn't communicate well with his agent.

Depending on who you believe, Bucs restricted free agent left tackle Donald Penn is either close to a deal, or talks are not going well.

Last week, Stephen Holder of the St Petersburg Times wrote that Penn was near a deal to sign a new contract.

Just talked to Donald Penn and he is ready to strike a deal.

His thoughts in a nutshell: “Film doesn’t lie,” he said. “I think I deserve it. I want to make sure my family is financially secure. . . I’ve been the lowest-paid starting left tackle for two years and you want to be compensated.”

Penn added that the Bucs and his agent were close to a deal during the season, but things never got finalized for some reason.

A day later, Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune spoke with Penn’s agent and got a much darker prediction than Penn gave Holder.

Talks aimed at securing a new deal for Penn have not been going on for days or even weeks. They’ve been going on for months and there hasn’t been all that much progress, according to Penn’s agent.

The agent, in fact, doesn’t seem very confident at this point that a deal will get done. And while some could argue that it’s early in the process, it’s really not.

So who is yanking who? Is Penn really that out of touch to what his agent is doing, or — Joe understands this may be a shocking assertion — could Penn’s agent be using Cummings?

Seems as though the former might be more accurate. Penn told Holder last Wednesday a deal was imminent. Here it is nearing noon Monday and nothing has changed.

Speaking on Sirius NFL Radio Saturday, Bucs free agent wide receiver Antonio Bryant said he wanted to stay in Tampa.

It seems The Dream hopes Bucs free agent wide receiver Antonio Bryant continues to wear pewter and red. And it seems Bryant also wants to stay.

So what’s the hangup?

E-squared of the Tampa Tribune caught up with The Dream after he tried to motivate the Bolts (unsuccessfully) at the Ice Palace Saturday. The Dream told E-squared:

“We just want Antonio to be in a Tampa Bay Buccaneer uniform,’’ Morris said. “Anytime you can have that kind of production, be that good of a teammate, do the things he did last year, that’s pretty special. We’re just crossing our fingers right now hoping he’s a Buc. [General Manager] Mark Dominik has been doing a great job to ensure that, so we’ll in the upcoming weeks. Hopefully he’ll be in a Bucs uniform wearing No. 89 running down the field scoring touchdowns.’’

Speaking on Sirius NFL Radio Saturday, Bryant had a variety of subjects to talk about including signing with the Bucs.

In short, it doesn’t seem like Bryant thinks much of Michael Clayton, likes the fact the Bucs kept assistant coach Richard Mann and front office executive Doug Williams and likes Luke McCown and Jeff Garcia, and likes Tampa Bay.

On Chucky being fired:

“Coach Gruden took the fall for the players, for the team. If anyone complains about Gruden, then they are not team players.”

On McCown:

“People forget I caught Luke’s first two touchdown passes in Cleveland. He’s smart and he’s always prepared.”

On Garcia:

“Jeff Garcia may not be the prototypical quarterback but he also has more heart than most. He’s the first guy I would pick if I had to go into a war with. You have to be excited to play with a guy who lays it all on the line like he does.”

And when asked if he would prefer to play for the Bucs next season, Bryant responded:

“The Bucs know I want to stay.”

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com throws out some names to keep in mind when free agency signings begin in a short two weeks. Among the players Florio brought up were two that Bucs fans are talking quite a bit about: Albert Haynesworth and Antonio Bryant.

Bucs quarterback Luke McCown was a guest on Sirius NFL Radio recently with the interview rebroadcast Saturday. Sadly, Joe missed most of it but did pick up on a few interesting things McCown had to say about the Bucs offense under new offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski.

“The new offense will be a hybrid-West Coast offense with more of an emphasis on throwing the ball downfield with a lot of play action.”

Joe is somewhat glad to read this. Though Joe was hopeful the Bucs would scrap the West Coast offense, it’s good to hear the Bucs will not rely on the dink-and-dunk passing any longer.

“There will also be a lot less verbiage. The playbook is getting pared down.”

Joe doesn’t know what to make of this but he assumes there will be less delay of game penalties as a result, which of course is a good thing.

"Brian, I love you, bro. But I'm not here to love you anymore."

Joe is waiting somewhat patiently for Mark Dominik and Raheem The Dream to trade or release Brian Griese. Maybe they can get back the 2009 sixth round pick the Bucs gave the Bears for him last year.

There is absolutely no reason to have Son of Bob on the roster in 2009. None.  

And Joe is nervous and perplexed because the MSM and sports radio talking heads are acting as if Griese will return. It’s almost as if that seems OK with them.

Talk about treating the new regime with kid gloves. 

Can we not do better for a backup quarterback?  Son of Bob cost the Bucs $4.2 million in 2008, according to USA Today.

Surely, there is a No. 2 QB with at least some potential available. And one that costs as much or less than Griese.

The Bucs need a No. 2 QB with upside. If Luke McCown is the starter, absolutely nobody knows whether he is durable or not. Plus McCown likes to run the ball, which will expose him to more hits than most.

Maybe jeff Garcia would be willing to come in specifically (key word: specifically) as a backup to McCown. Garcia accepted the reserve role in Philly three years ago for $1.3 million. There’s no reason to think he wouldn’t do it again, especially at age 39.

Garcia has earned more than $37 million over the past seven years. He’s not broke and might be happy to come back to Tampa for, say, $2 million.

There’s no way Jeff Jagodzinski and The Dream are going to name Son of Bob the opening day starter, and there’s no way the Bucs go anywhere, or accomplish anything for the future, with Griese playing significant minutes. And since Son of Bob will never start, shouldn’t the Bucs bring somebody in to truly compete with McCown? Isn’t that healthy?

Let Joe be the first in 2009 to say Griese needs to be 100 percent out of town. The sooner the better.

Joe is a pimp for the NFL Network, largely because it is such a quality channel. If you happen to have some low rent cable system that doesn’t have the NFL Network (but makes sure to run a continuous loop about a swingset in Brandon city park) then you need to disable the cable right now and be a man: Get NFL Network.

The NFL Network is just outstanding, partially because of NFL Films. Here, NFL Films has a highlght package of hits from Ronde Barber.

Enjoy and get rid of your 20th Century media distribution outlet (does the term “Out House Networks” mean anything to you?).

Joe would like to wish a belated thanks to Ozzie the Sports Junkie for inviting Joe for an in-studio appearance Wednesday night. Ozzie can be heard weeknights WTMY-AM 1280 in Sarasota from 11 p.m.-1 a.m. Monday through Thursday and from 6-8 p.m. on Friday nights.

Ozzie and Joe talked Bucs for a solid two hours. It was great.

Ozzie also makes a weekly Friday night appearance on the Scott Ferrell Show heard weeknights on channel Howard 101 on Sirius.

Those outside of the reach of the signal can listen and watch Ozzie from the station’s website. No special software is needed. Just go to the site and listen and watch, it’s that simple.

Joe was geeked about the possibility of the Bucs landing Albert Haynesworth. Recent developments along with Haynesworth's past have now soured Joe on him playing for the Bucs.

There’s no question the Bucs need help at defensive tackle and have a bit of money to burn under ths salary cap. Joe was just starting to warm to the prospect of the Bucs landing Tennessee tackle Albert Haynesworth (6-6, 320). This even despite the fact Haynesworth tried to rearrange the face of Dallass Cowboys offensive lineman Andre Gurode.

Normally Joe would have screamed for Hayneswoth to be thrown out of the league for such a stunt. But he did this to a Cowboy so Joe can somewhat understand Haynesworth’s rage.

But Joe’s excitment over Haynesworth began to wane when he heard the reports about what a lazy bum he is and that he is just playing the Bucs against the Titans to max out on his contract negotiations.

Also, Joe isn’t overly excited about signing a defensive tackle who is awfully close to 30. Most defensive tackles, because they are beat on so much, really start to slip at 30.

Joe, however, became convinced Haynesworth is a dirtbag and unworthy of the Bucs when Joe began reading about his recent traffic indicents.

In short, all sorts of negatives about Haynesworth are piling up.

 Joe would rather pass.

The Bucs class of '99 had its moments but still scores a grade of D

Booger McFarland, Martin Gramatica, the good Dexter Jackson and Shaun King were all scored by the Bucs in the 1999 draft.

These guys made significant contributions, right?

Well, Justin Pawlowski, host of The Blitz on 620 WDAE-AM, The Sports Animal, gives the Bucs a grade of D for the ’99 draft in his weekly Draft Rewind series. Joe thinks that’s a little harsh (C- perhaps)  but Pawlowski makes sound arguments based on a formula.

Check out Pawlowski’s Draft Rewind. 

And remember he’ll be providing super-deep analysis of the 2009 draft exclusively on JoeBucsFan.com beginning Feb. 28.

Donald Penn is close to hitting Lotto with the Bucs. Chalk him up as a great score of the Chucky-Alllen-Bill Muir era

The Chucky-Bruce Almighty era sure got lucky with players who emerged from the shadows of the Bucs roster and practice squad. 

Sure, the Dynamic Duo get credit for signing these guys, but only fate put them in the spotlight.

Joe puts Donald Penn on top of that list, with Earnest Graham and Clifton Smith close behind.

In 2007, Penn had zero experience when he made the team as a reserve left tackle behind Luke Pettigout, who was one of the Bucs’ significant free agent signings that year and was coming off an injury-plagued season with the Giants.

Predictably, Pettigout goes down in Week 4, and Penn performed like a veteran. He did it a gain in 2008, and now the restricted free agent wants his just payday. He’s come a long way since being undrafted out of Utah State.

The Bucs and Penn, now a restricted free agent, are near a deal, reports the St. Pete Times.

“Film doesn’t lie,” Penn said. “I think I deserve it. I want to make sure my family is financially secure. . .  I’ve been the lowest-paid starting left tackle for two years and you want to be compensated.”

Joe knows it’s not exactly invigorating to re-sign an above-average,  undrafted O-lineman. But this is a very necessary move for the Bucs. Plus now Penn can afford to hang at swanky places other than the IHOP kitchen.

Joe’s hoping Jermaine Phillips and Antonio Bryant also get deals done soon.

By STEVEN ISBITTS

Isbitts is one of the Joes at JoeBucsFan.com. He has written for many publications and spent 6  1/2 years writing for The Tampa Tribune in the sports and news departments.

It sure seems that Chris Harry of the Orlando Sentinel and Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune made a friend for life in Jon Gruden. Their extra gentle exit interview of Chucky likely set him up to be a source of theirs for years to come.

Sports beat writers must consistently ask the tough questions of players, coaches and front office staff for the benefit of readers.

That’s what the job is all about.

At the same time they still have to play nice and maintain sources within the organization they cover.

It’s not easy. You don’t last long in the business as the reporter nobody will talk to.

That brings us to the rare “joint” interview of fired Bucs coach Jon Gruden last week by Tampa Tribune NFL writer Ira Kaufman and Orlando Sentinel Bucs beat writer Chris Harry, two longtime veterans of their newspapers. Stories from the interview were published this past weekend.

After reading their similar stories, thousands of Bucs fans let out a collective, “Huh?”

There were no red-meat questions of Gruden that had fans at the edge of their seats, even if the answer from Chucky was, “No comment.”

All the tough questions Bucs fans would have wanted asked were missing, it seemed, specifically the ones about personnel decisions over the past seven years, among other topics.

Harry’s story in the Sentinel was in a Q & A format, which gave a clear view of the line of questioning. These were the eight interview questions of Gruden published in the Sentinel.

Q, Right now, it looks like you’re going to take a year off

Q. People are going to think you want a college job

Q. The spread is being run high schools and colleges, is it possible it could be a base offense in the NFL one day?

Q. Most people are dismissing Tebow as a quarterback in the NFL

Q. How’d you come to terms with being fired for the first time in your life?

Q. What about the jabs taken at you? DId the comments by guys like Jeff Garcia, Michael Clayton and Simeon Rice hurt?

Q. How would you sum up the last seven years?

Q. Will you pull for the Bucs now?

One look at these questions and it sure seems that Harry and Kaufman were more concerned with keeping Gruden as a future source than providing compelling stuff for the Bucs fans who read their work.

If that’s the case, it’s unforgivable. Gruden is not a Bucs coach anymore. He should have been grilled quite a bit more. At least one question should have made him squirm or challenged his spin-spewing skills.

Thinking this interview was censored in some way by Gruden — meaning he made topics off-limits — I asked Ira Kaufman to explain the ground rules of the interview, if any, established by Chucky.

Kaufman responded with the following in an e-mail today: “Gruden set aside some time of our visit that was on-the-record and he did not designate any subjects that were off limits for that time period.”

JoeBucsFan.com readers can decide if Harry and Kaufman went softball on Chucky.

Kaufman and Harry deserve major kudos for landing the Gruden interview. But the take here is that the fans deserved a lot better.

There's a reason why this asswipe can't get a job outside of Alabama.

Before Joe really goes off on his rant (sit down and take a deep breath because it will be good) he wants to make one thing perfectly clear:

Joe has nothing against the good people of Alabama.

Now that this is out of the way, buckle up:

Sometimes when a big fish in a small pond gets stagnant in his little cove of the fishing hole, his head grows just slightly larger than its proportion. This, in a nut shell, describes the mental patient on the loose walking the streets of Birmingham that is Paul Finebaum.

Let’s face it: If Finebaum, a radio personality and amateur columnist masquerading as a journalist for a paper in Mobile, was worth two bits he would have graduated to bigger and better things than polluting the public’s airwaves in Alabama. His recent missive, which indirectly is written about two former Bucs coaches, is Exhibit-A.

(Joe is embarrassed to even link to this nonsense, but fears a lawsuit from some unemployed public defender in Montgomery if he doesn’t.)

Finebaum is a disgrace to anyone who holds a journalism degree from an unaccredited college. In simple terms, his cue ball mugshot is found next to the word “hack” in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary (Eleventh Edition). In short, six of nine of his columns basically center around the same theme: Fire (insert coach).

Fire Mike Price… Fire Mark Gottfried… Fire Mike Shula… Fire Tommy Tuberville…

His latest asinine column states emphatically that the University of Tennessee should fire Lane Kiffin after not quite three months into a six-year contract that, if Kiffin is fired before the completion of the contact, the school (read: Tennessee taxpayers and university boosters) would owe him a reported $7.5 million.

Kiffin hasn’t even presided over his first spring practice and this empty head Finebaum thinks the taxpayers of Tennessee should cough up $7.5 million to can him. Maybe Finebaum thinks this buyout money will come from Obama’s stimulus package?

But wait, this gets much, much better (or sadder, depending on your point of view).

Sure, getting rid of Kiffin now would be unprecedented and expensive. However, I’m sure even Tennessee fans with a working brain would admit his career is DOA. Besides, Alabama dumped Mike Price in 2003 before he ever coached a game. But Price’s much-publicized encounter in Pensacola now seems tame compared to what “Lame” has done.

Background: Mike Price was canned by the University of Alabama as the school’s football coach just days after he was hired because he ran up a food/bar/hooker tab on a university credit card. What made the incident worse is that Price did this with a Pensacola call girl. Can you imagine?

So Lane Kiffin, who has been a bit outspoken as the Volunteers coach — nothing even remotely as bad as the smack Steve Spurrier used to spout — is a crime worse than a high-profile state employee using state money for hookers and booze?

Joe can’t consume enough Jameson to figure out just what twisted logic Finebaum is using there.

Here comes the kicker though:

Mike Hamilton, the embattled UT athletic director, should call him in, thank him for three months of (dis)service, hand him a blank check and direct him toward the door while gently placing a pacifier in his big mouth.

Later the same day, the school should formally introduce Jon Gruden as his replacement.

BUHAHAHAHAHA!!!

So let Joe get this straight: In Finebaum’s demented mind the Vols should fire a guy who talks a little bit — which, Joe might add the recruits LOVE — and hire a guy who hasn’t coached at any level of college above a grad assistant? Really!

Tennessee has another nationally respected figure in Bruce Pearl as well.

I suggest Finebaum do a cursory Google search on the name “Deon Thomas.” Joe never knew someone could break federal wiretapping laws and be considered “respected.” Respected by who, G. Gordon Liddy or Sandy Berger?

Gruden would be the perfect replacement. He is available and anxious, having just shockingly lost his job with the Tampa Bay Bucs.

Shocking to who? Someone who doesn’t have a clue to what they are writing about perhaps?

“His résumé is spectacular… “

So being two games over .500 in Chucky’s seven years in Tampa Bay is “spectacular?” So a record of 45-51 since Chucky’s first year is “spectacular?” So being tied for first in the NFC South with four games left and then missing the playoffs with four straight losses is “spectacular?” In what world? Shouldn’t someone pretending to be a columnist have just a slightly better grasp of vocabulary than a second grade student?

Besides, if UT delays, Gruden will get snapped up by Notre Dame…

And if Joe doesn’t delay, he’ll get snapped up by Jessica Alba. Hate to break this to Finebaum, but Notre Dame ain’t biting.

Let’s not forget that one of the Alabama coaches Finebaum led the charge for in running out of Tuscaloosa, Mike Shula, was better at developing quarterbacks than Chucky. How sad is that?

Gruden also has solid Tennessee connections, having been a graduate assistant for two years under John Majors. His wife, Cindy, was a UT cheerleader.

OK, by this twisted, narcotic-induced logic, if Joe somehow dropped the hammer on Jenn Sterger or Tiffany Simons, that means Joe would be in line to succeed Bobby Bowden? Or if Joe somehow hooked up with Jenn Brown that Joe would be working for Urban Meyer?

(Please forgive Joe for a brief moment of lustful fantasies.)

[Gruden] was also reportedly Tennessee’s top choice but showed no interest, believing his future was safe in Tampa where Kiffin’s father, Monte, was his defensive coordinator.

Hey Finebaum, you got a source on that or are you just throwing feces against the wall like you normally do? Not even an “A Tennessee insider told me… ?“

Oh, Joe might add that Bruce Almighty admitted that Monte Kiffin had told the Bucs hierarchy before the season he was leaving. And why exactly would Chucky leave a gig in his hometown for $5 million a year to take a job making roughly half that?

Another provoking thought: How did Chucky’s offense work at the college level with Bill Callahan at Nebraska? Anyone? Bueller?

Look, Joe quit reading Finebaum years ago because the guy was clueless to what he was writing about. Joe suggests any reasoned, sane, literate football fan do the same.

Anyone who writes such moronic, unsourced, ill-researched tripe shouldn’t have his scalp that screams for Rogaine gracing anything above a neighborhood weekly grocery rag much less be credentialed to cover any sporting event above a preseason Little League game in Dothan, Ala.

And people wonder why newspapers are in trouble?

In short, Finebaum’s screed may be the most irresponsible column Joe has ever read.

Joe hopes The Dream can point the Bucs in the right direction. It won't be easy.

Former Bucs beat writer and current SI.com columnist Don Banks isn’t exactly jumping for joy over the Bucs hiring Raheem The Dream. Banks recently wrote a column on how he thinks each of the NFL’s 11 new coaches will fare in 2009.

Let’s just say Banks isn’t sold on The Dream. Like “The Pessimist,” Banks thinks the comparisons of The Dream to former Bucs defensive backs coach and Super Bowl-winning coach Mike Tomlin is a stretch.

And while it has been oft-mentioned that the 32-year-old Morris conjures up comparisons to Super Bowl-winning Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin, there are more than a few areas in which the similarities break down.

For starters, Tomlin took over a perennial winner with a proven personnel department, one of the finest defensive assistants in NFL history in coordinator Dick LeBeau, a young and talented Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger, and one of the most respected and successful ownership families in the Rooneys. Add in the loyal and absolutely rabid fan base of the Steelers and you have a tremendous head start on winning.

Suffice to say Morris doesn’t have quite that combination going for him. In fact, some league sources I talked to this week describe the Bucs as being in disarray at the moment, and wonder if Morris has been given much of a chance to succeed with a team that’s getting old defensively. “The problems there [in Tampa Bay] run deeper than people understand,” said one league source. “I almost feel sorry for Morris, because he’s going to be under a tremendous amount of pressure in making that transition to head coach. It won’t be easy.”

Joe wholeheartedly agrees with “The Pessimist” and Banks in that comparing The Dream to Tomlin borders on outrageous. Look, Joe is totally in The Dream’s corner and like any Bucs fan hopes he does well. Joe hopes the gamble the Glazer Boys took on The Dream pays off.

Jeff Garcia is thinking he likely signed his last autograph in a Bucs uniform

Monday’s Luke McCown signing has Jeff Garcia questioning the likelihood of his return to the Bucs, reports Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.

“It looks like they have decided to go in another direction with the signing of Luke,” Garcia said. “I’m happy for him and his family. He has worked hard and is a talented player.”

Garcia, who led the Bucs to the playoffs two years ago and was their starter in six of their nine victories last season, is slated to become a free agent at the end of the month.

Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said the Bucs are still talking with the agents for all the players slated to become unrestricted free agents but Garcia doesn’t seem confident about a return.

“We’ll see what happens in the next couple of weeks but it seems very unlikely that I will get an offer,” said Garcia, who will turn 39 before the free-agency signing period begins.

Joe has built a relationship with Garcia’s agent, San Francisco-based Steve Baker. But there is no news on that front.

Garcia is rightfully dejected. But he’s not yet out of the picture.

Steve Silverman of NBCSports.com doesn't think -- provided he is still with the Bucs -- that wide receiver Antonio Bryant's catches will lead to very many wins in 2009.

Granted, it’s still February, but Steve Silverman of NBCSports.com predicts the Bucs on are the decline and will have a subpar season in 2009, missing the playoffs.

Offseason issues: The Bucs lost their last four games and a certain spot in the playoffs went up in smoke. The good news is that divisive coach Jon Gruden is gone and the sense of relief the players feel should make new coach Raheem Morris feel quite comfortable. The defense is still strong but the Bucs need to get younger in that area. The quarterback position must be addressed. Even if the Bucs bring back Jeff Garcia, it is obvious he can’t withstand the rigors of a full season.

2009 season: The Bucs have holes at quarterback and receiver and that will put a ton of pressure on what should be a solid defense. Don’t expect the Bucs to make the playoffs in Morris’s first year. Instead, they will endure a losing record.

Joe isn’t ready to jump ship yet, specifically in February. While it’s not unlikely the Bucs miss the playoffs this year and could be in a rebuilding mode, Joe is more apt to wait until training camp to see how The Dream’s first stab at assembling a team shakes out.

Wes Bunting of the NationalFootballPost.com in his updated mock draft has the Bucs picking Ohio State running back Beanie Wells. Jim Miller of NFL Radio suggests this would be a major mistake by the Bucs.

In his updated 2009 NFL mock draft first round, Wes Bunting of the NationalFootballPost.com has the Bucs selecting Ohio State RB Chris “Beanie” Wells with the 19th pick.

The Buccaneers’ running back position has seen its fare share of injuries the past two seasons, so it’s imperative they bring in a franchise type of back this offseason. Wells is a big, well-built runner with the power and vision to create plays at the line of scrimmage and wear down defenses. He should help give the Bucs a new identity on offense under rookie coach Raheem Morris.

While Bunting’s logic makes sense and Joe has no problem with the Bucs taking a running back in the first round (though Joe prefers it be a defensive tackle), it’s ironic over the weekend Joe heard Jim Miller of NFL Radio take apart Wells.

Per Miller, who also is color analyst for Michigan State, Wells is already a beat up RB and is little more than damaged goods. Miller noted Wells has run the ball so much at Ohio State and been beat upon so much, he has limited shelf life and is already brittle.

Miller explained that last year the Spartans had a soft defense yet they pounded on Wells so much he had to leave the game. Miller went on to say, in so many words, that if someone picks Wells in the first round it will be a waste of a pick.

There is ample evidence that Big Ten running backs are so abused in their years running in a run-oriented conference with brusing linebackers and defensive lineman that they are virtually shot by the time they graduate.

Based on Miller’s information and the recent history with Big Ten running backs in the NFL, Joe hopes the Bucs pass on him.

If the Bucs consider a Big Ten running back, Joe is hopeful it would be Iowa’s Shonn Greene, who didn’t play his junior year because he didn’t like to go to class and is coming out a year early. Green hasn’t taken near the punishment Wells has and should have fresher legs and a longer shelf life.

The Dream promised QB Luke McCown a real chance to start for the Bucs in 2009

Props to Pewter Report for securing an in-depth interview with Luke McCown, who re-signed with the Bucs today.

Terms of the deal were revealed and now McCown can definitely afford to pay someone to chop wood for him.

According to league sources, the Bucs signed McCown to a two-year contract worth $7.5 million. He received a $2.5 million signing bonus and is scheduled to earn $2.5 million in base salary in 2009. McCown has playing time and playoff incentives that could make the deal worth as much as $14 million over two years.

McCown talked about Chucky, his leadership ability and many other subjects.

Joe will leave you with McCown’s words regarding his love of the Bucs organization and the Bay area.

“Well guys, I think number one we love Tampa. My wife, both of our sons, and our third son will be born here in Tampa. We love it here. We enjoy playing here. We love the organization. We love my teammates and the friends that we’ve made here. We love the community and the fans. That always comes into play. You never want to move when you’ve been here a place four years and started your family here, and established a relationship base with a lot of people – especially when you love your team and the team that you play for. That is a major factor.

“And I am really excited to play for Coach Morris. I’m really excited to play for Mark [Dominik]. The organization is on the right track this year, and for them to show that confidence in me … also to show the support this early before free agency, and they showed the confidence in me that I’ve wanted to have somebody show. That meant a lot, and for them to say ‘Look, we know you have the potential to be great.’ One of the first things that Raheem said to me was ‘You’ve got some untapped potential that we want to tap into. We are going to give you the opportunity to compete to be our starter.’ That is all I could ask for and all I was looking for. That pretty much sealed the deal for me.”