It’s pretty sad, no matter the player, when said player is atop his game, winning an award given to the best at his position as a senior in college and only two years is given away by the team that drafted him in the first round.

That’s what happened with Bucs offensive lineman Gabe Carimi, who the Bears gave away, figuratively, for a sixth round pick this week.

Former Bears beat writer and current National Football Post columnist Dan Pompei detailed why the Bears washed their hands of Carimi. The reasons were mostly health-related.

•In his second NFL game, Sept. 18, 2011, Carimi suffered an unusual injury. He dislocated his right knee, which previously had been dislocated, and he suffered anterior cruciate damage. Treating it would not be routine.

•Carimi lost weight in an attempt to put less stress on his knee, and in the process he lost strength. He went from about 315 pounds to about 300 pounds last offseason. Even after he started to move well around halfway through the 2012 season, he still was missing the strength that had been one of his defining traits. Early last season, Carimi still wasn’t moving well, and he got off to a poor start.

•Carimi failed to take advantage of a chance to prove himself to a new coaching staff this spring. In his absence, they moved on.

Hopefully, the Bucs’ medical staff, which is believed to be among the best in the NFL, and Carimi’s old position coach at Wisconsin, Bucs’ offensive line coach Bob Bostad, can turn Carimi’s career around.

Carimi’s knee problems are why Joe shakes his head when fans are quick to dismiss knee injuries pointing to Adrian Peterson’s miracle recovery as the new norm.

It’s not. Knee injuries are not as simple as ingrown toenail procedures. They are complex and still tricky operations.

There’s a new wide receiver in the mix for the Bucs. And he’s got experience, and he knows Mike Sullivan’s offense.

The Bucs have signed Derek Hagan, who enters his eighth season in the NFL. He spent part of 2008, and all of 2009 and 2010, with the Giants, where Sullivan was his position coach.

Tom Coughlin once called Hagan an “excellent contributor on special teams.” A Raiders blog this year characterized Hagan as hard-working and reliable, and a guy the Raiders wanted to return. Hagan has 129 career receptions, including 20 with the Raiders last season.

Greg Schiano craves competition, so this move comes as little surprise, and it shakes up the battle at the bottom of the receivers depth chart. After Vincent Jackson, Mike Williams, Kevin Ogletree and Tiquan Underwood, the Bucs have Hagan, David Douglas, Eric Page, and Chris Owusu seemingly slugging it out for one roster spot.

Joe broke word two weeks ago that WFLA-TV, Ch. 8, would be the new home for Bucs preseason TV broadcasts.

Now it’s official, per the station’s website. They’ve locked up the rights for five seasons. There’s also going to be fancy pregame shows and a new Bucs show during the regular season. (Perhaps Joe will be a special guest?)

News Channel 8 will also produce and air pregame specials prior to each preseason game and News Channel 8’s Dan Lucas will host “Bucs Bonus”, a half hour program that will air Saturday night’s at 7pm during the NFL season

There’s been no disclosure of announcers yet. Joe reported Ronde Barber was in talks to replace John Lynch, who tired of flying in from his Colorado home for the preseason schedule and the duties surrounding his game analyst role.

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It seems players at the top and bottom of the Bucs roster, and coaches and suits, are systematically wiping out every molecule of a potential excuse for poor performance in 2013.

This week, Josh Freeman verbally obliterated any chance that first-year miscommunication issues that plagued the Bucs’ passing attack last season would return, as chronicled in a video by electronic media czar J.P. Peterson of TampaBaySportsCentral.com.

“Making sure that the time that we get to the season there’s no more of those plays of indecision,” Freeman said of hard work he and players have put in this offseason. “Everbody’s going to be on the same and page, and we’re not going to hinder ourselves.”

There’s more in the video linked above, with Freeman going on about the readiness of the Bucs offense to be consistent and make strides.

All this exemplifies what Joe loves most about this coming Bucs season — no excuses.

The numbers-crunching, TV-football-watching crowd at Pro Football Focus resumes a series where they look at each NFL team’s sophomore players and try to figure out which second-year player can have a breakout season.

After pouring over the Bucs’ roster, Peter Damilatis has come to believe that Bucs cornerback Leonard Johnson could have a breakout 2013.

Despite the name of this series, it would be a bit of a stretch to say that Johnson was a true superstar last season. Aside from the large responsibilities he had, he also made mistakes that will cost him in the future if he doesn’t correct them. With 10 missed tackles on defense and special teams, he may need to bulk up his 5-foot-10, 200 pound-frame to avoid slipping off ballcarriers. But as Rahim Moore showed us this season, poor tackling is certainly correctable for young players.

To fully reach his potential this season, Johnson will have to earn back his starting spot first. Newcomer Revis will likely be on one side, but the other starting spot is there for the taking. Wright was nearly released if not for a drastic pay cut, and Johnson’s experience last season gives him a slight edge on fellow youngsters Johnthan Banks and Anthony Gaitor. A year after going undrafted, Johnson’s has shown success as a starter and could have a clear path back to that position. On a roster already brimming with young talent, don’t be surprised if he soon earns the notoriety of his 2012 classmates.

Joe can’t quibble with a lot of what Damilatis types, but here is where the proclamation runs into problem: For Johnson to have a breakout year, a lot must go wrong for the Bucs. For Johnson to shine this much, that tells Joe that either Darrelle Revis can’t come back from his knee injury, or Eric Wright stinks, or Johnthan Banks struggles mightily and/or one of the two gets hurt.

That’s not very reassuring to Joe, as much as he would love to see Johnson develop so well.

Perhaps there is something to word that Greg Schiano is making the transition from tyrant to just plain hard-nosed coach. The Bucs just announced that today’s third and final minicamp practice has been cancelled.

Joe suspects the leader of the New Schiano Order will have players in for meetings and study before dismissing them early with details of the serious conditioning test that awaits them in late July, when they return for training camp.

Never fear. Joe has all kinds of news and nuggets to serve up today.

“The premium groceries have been purchased, sir, and there’s plenty of change left over.”

Respected NFL scribe Albert Breer, now employed by NFL.com and NFL Network, broke down the power structure of every NFL team and rolled out his look at the Buccaneers yesterday.

In what might shock longtime skeptics of Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik, Breer states unequovically that Dominik has “full decision-making power over personnel.”

Who’s really in charge? The Bucs ran a coach-driven system for seven years under Jon Gruden. The end result — an aging roster in need of an overhaul — led the Glazers to make the move to Mark Dominik, who has full decision-making power over personnel and final say on the 53-man roster. Greg Schiano has control over the 46-man game-day roster and oversees his own staff.

In the end, the idea is for the two sides to work together on building the team. Gruden had a reputation in Tampa for getting upset when the club couldn’t or didn’t get a player he wanted, which, some believe, was a big part of the reason that the Glazers built a division of power into the organization. Dennis Hickey, who is considered a prospective GM candidate in league circles, has become a trusted No. 2 for Dominik, while Butch Davis, for whom Schiano worked at the University of Miami, is the second-year coach’s closest confidant.

You an click through above to read more. The article posted about noon yesterday, and to the best of Joe’s knowledge the Bucs and detail-obsessed Greg Schiano haven’t demanded a correction.

Now Joe’s not surprised that Dominik wields this kind of power. Hell, Joe openly scoffed at the wacky TampaBay.com report last year that proclaimed Schiano to be a more powerful head coach than Tom Coughlin and Mike McCarthy. And Joe knows there are many misguided fans who still believe Dominik is little more than a coffee-fetcher for Schiano.

Joe believes Dominik and Schiano work hand in hand daily and have a very healthy GM-coach relationship, which means Schiano drives his share of decisions while Dominik drives the bus.

It’s an important delineation of the team power structure as the Bucs move into a critical season, one in which the Bucs have eight Pro Bowlers on the roster — none over 30 — and no on-paper excuse for a losing record.

A great listen below on Vincent Jackson’s chat with the media after practice today, via Sports Talk Florida.

Jackson talks about how he counsels Mike Williams to come to work daily with a “workpail” and “having a beginner’s mentality.” He also calls Greg Schiano the best he’s ever seen when it comes to breaking down the game for players.

One of the most underpaid receivers in the NFL says his financial status is about ready to change.

Mike Williams told TampaBay.com today that a new contract with the Bucs is imminent. “All I can say about it is that it’s very close,’’ Williams said.

This is great news, as Williams is in the final year of his rookie contract and the Bucs absolutely can’t afford to risk losing him. Hopefully, Williams agent won’t hold things up, as it sounds like Williams likes what the Bucs are offering.

It’ll be interesting to see how much the Bucs front-load a new deal for Williams and what kind of cash he commands ($6 million annually?). Rockstar general manager Mark Dominik has about $18 million to play with under the 2013 salary cap.

Joe likes the cocky edge to the Bucs’ highly-touted rookie

Rookie Bucs cornerback Johnthan Banks has a cocky streak. Joe’s got no problem with that, and it will be awesome if the dude can back it up like he did as a stud cornerback in college.

Banks was asked about adjusting to the speed of the NFL after practice today, and Banks cranked out a gem with a straight face.

“I played in the SEC. … Speed ain’t really no different,” Banks said.

Well, what can Joe say? The Bucs open 2013 against the Jets on opening day, and they probably wouldn’t fare well in the SEC, so perhaps Banks has a point.

The Bucs have yet to release when Training Camp 2013 opens, much less the times of practices much less what days will be single-practice days and what days will be the dreaded two-a-days.

What we do know is that per NFL rules, the Bucs could open training camp July 24, said Bucs coach Greg Schiano today in his post-practice presser with the local pen and mic club.

Schiano said teams are allowed to open training camp two weeks prior to the first preseason game. The first preseason game for the Bucs is a home date with the Baltimore Crows Aug. 8. Two weeks prior would be a tentative date for the opening of training camp being July 24.

The second day of training camp is when teams hold their first training camp practice. If the above information is accurate, that would mean the first practice(s) would be held July 25.

Again, Joe stresses that these dates are tentative and speculative.

Of course, Joe realizes most Bucs fans don’t care when training camp begins. But Joe does know there is an enthusiastic gaggle of Bucs fans who take vacation days so they can watch practices.

So for those rabid few, you way want to begin to formulate a plan to attend practice July 25.

Also, Schiano noted that per NFL rules, he could have rookies report as early as July 5. He conceded he’s not quite that crazy.

As Joe’s astute and savvy readers heard Joe tell his good friend, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig yesterday on WDAE-AM 620 (you can listen to the audio here), it’s not a good thing if a football team doesn’t know who its strongside linebacker will be in early June.

That is the case with the Bucs. If one had to handicap it (and Joe is not a handicapper, but a lover), it appears to be a two-horse race between Dekoda Watson and Jonathan Casillas for the starting gig.

And if Joe can speculate further, judging by watching the first-team defensive unit work, and listening to Bucs coach Greg Schiano yesterday in his normal post-practice press conference, the job is Watson’s to lose.

This afternoon, Watson took a break from sweating after practice to talk to Joe and others about how he plans to lock down the starting SAM linebacker slot after years of stellar special teams play.

“I just want to take advantage of the opportunities and make sure I don’t get a big head,” Watson said. Just take care of the little things. Make sure I build and continue to build each day from here out.

“I just need to be a student of the game and keep my compusure. Be confident in everything I do. Coaches can [assign tasks] however they want. Whatever they want me to do I can do it. For the most part you have to make sure you contribute each and every way you can. Just make sure you make the most of your opportunity.”

Watson admits he has matured as a player since he was selected in the seventh round of the 2010 draft.

“I started being a better student in the film room,” Watson said. “Physically, shoot, just continue to lift weights. I’m doing [the off-field homework and working out] so much better now. I am doing a lot better on the mental part of [the game].”

Naturally, Watson has been trying to somehow crack the starting lineup the past three years. Before this season, he was viewed as a versatile linebacker, who could play inside or outside, strong or weak. Now he is just focused on strongside and Watson admits the focus is helping.

“It is very important,” Watson said.

More action than usual on the fields of One Buc Palace today. The Bucs ran a lot of plays for an offseason workout. Joe took in practice, thankfully in the shade, and shares various observations below from this underwear, no-contact football event.

*”Lets go, let’s go, let’s go!” Practice starts with a bit more spirit today.

*Freeman with two overthrows back-to-back to Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams in a QB-rolling-left drill.

*David Douglas makes a sliding catch of a Dan Orlovsky pass over the middle

*Williams goes low to scoop up a Freeman pass over the middle.

*There’s a lotta hollering going on, especially when the first string offense plays the first string defense.

*”Three wide, three wide! Nice tempo, men. Nice tempo!” Schiano bellows.

*Dekoda Watson is getting a lot of work with the first unit at SAM linebacker. VERY early indications are that the position is Watson’s to lose, though Jonathan Casillas is pushing Watson.

*A Freeman pass to Williams on a slant inside goes right through Williams’ hands.

*Eric Wright is now working with the first team defense.

*The coaches all but drool over Dashon Goldson but that quickly ends on one play where Goldson blasts Chris Owusu and is roundly and loudly scolded by coaches. This is supposed to be a non-contact practice after all.

*From shotgun, Freeman throws a perfect pass over the middle to Vincent Jackson.

*Bad drop by receiver hopeful Carlton Mitchell.

*Mike Glennon throws behind wide receiver Jerry Johnson. Soon after Glennon is picked by Johnthan Banks, who showed off his length on the overthrow to Zach Miller.

*Drop by WR Chris Owusu, who’s been having a strong offseason, on a short Freeman pass in tight coverage with Banks covering.

* “Third and 16, third and 16!”

*Jackson beats Anthony Gaitor for a diving catch down the left side for a first down.

*Right defensive end Aaron Morgan drops into the right flat for pass coverage, bats down a Freeman pass and nearly picks it off.

*Leonard Johnson dives for, and doesn’t quite reach, an errant Freeman pass to the right side.

*Brian Leonard catching a check down on 3rd and 16. Lots of work with the first team for Leonard.

*DE Steven Means had a two-hand bat down of a Mike Glennon pass.

*Another tipped Freeman pass.

*Tight end Nate Byham had a good catch and displayed good ball security in front of safety Sean Baker over the middle.

*Mr. Glennon, you cannot fumble good snaps in the NFL if you want playing time.

*Doug Martin hauls in a pass from Freeman over the middle for a touchdown in a goal line offense.

*Douglas is wide open on the left side for a short touchdown. Later, he just misses a diving catch near the backline for what would have been a touchdown from Glennon.

*Here comes the crowd noise…

*On a slant pass across the middle from Freeman, the pass is way behind Williams.

*Jackson drops a pass over the middle where he was wide open.

*Eric Page with a nasty case of alligator arms on a pass over the middle in traffic from Glennon.

*Freeman throws too low to Jheranie Boyd on the left side of the end zone to avoid Goldson pick.

Experience makes a hard-working player more versatile.

And for Mike Williams, that means he might be seen working the middle of the field a bit more this season.

“I can play in the slot now,” Williams told Joe and other reporters after practice today at One Buc Palace.

Williams went on to talk about how much better the returning receivers are in Year 2 of Mike Sullivan’s offense. “We know the offense. We go in there knowing where we break off, knowing what defender we got to, knowing what zone to read. It’s just basically a knowing now, instead of just going out there and reacting to things,” Williams said.

Joe loves hearing all confidence across the New Schiano Order, especially on offense. No excuses/learning curves in 2013.

As for Williams in the slot, Joe’s glad to hear he’s broadened his knowledge. That might cost the Bucs more when Williams’ contract is up after this season. Whether Williams gets much slot work remains to be seen, but Joe would like to see more slant passes thrown his way.

While professing to be a big fan of Josh Freeman, former Bucs quarterback Shaun King wonders how well Freeman can adjust to yet another new quarterbacks coach.

The former quarterback so many Bucs fans hate on — for reasons Joe doesn’t totally understand — Shaun King, one of three Bucs quarterbacks to lead the team to an NFC Championship game, appeared on the “Ron and Ian Show” Tuesday on WDAE-AM 620, and unlike many Bucs fans, professed his admiration for Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman.

“I’m a big Josh Freeman fan,” King said. “I think once you get past the elite group of quarterbacks in the NFL, Josh is in that next group, and I think Josh will surprise a lot of people this year.”

If Freeman has a hiccup this season, King believes it could be the result of yet another new quarterbacks coach Freeman will have to adapt to.

“There has to be a trust factor there with your position coach,” King said. “You have to trust a guy that is coaching you. You have to feel like you can be honest with him. When they are in the coaches meetings, you have to trust that he will be fair about how you thought about something or how you feel moving forward about certain parts of the system. That is something that Josh is going to have to build.

“It is unfortunate that he has to make that change [to another new quarterbacks coach]. I think Ron Turner helped Josh fundamentally [last season] and I don’t think [Bucs quarterback coach John] McNulty is a quarterback coach. I think he is more of a wide receivers coach and a coach that [Bucs coach Greg] Schiano wanted on staff, and that was the only opening for quarterbacks [coach]. I don’t know how much he is going to do for Josh. I know he has worked with quarterbacks in the past but at heart, he is a wide receivers coach.”

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Joe’s intrigued by what’s developing in the Bucs’ backfield.

Erik Lorig has talked about his growing versatility. Joe also believes the Bucs are going to use Doug Martin more on third down this season. (And why wouldn’t they?) And now Joe’s caught buzz about Greg Schiano’s hand-picked addition to the backfield, free agent Brian Leonard, 29, the former Rutgers great who joined the Bucs after the last four seasons with the playoff-bound Bengals.

“Brian, obviously, has some real good pass-catching ability, has real natural hands, has a good feel for the run game. Brian’s also been playing a little fullback, too,” said running backs coach Earnest Byner. “So he’s actually kind of, you know, you say a tweener type of guy, a tweener type of back who can help us in all three phases.”

Schiano said yesterday that Martin will see very limited action in preseason, so there will be loads of carries to go around in August. Joe’s eager to see if Leonard gets his share as the feature back, along with Mike James and Michael Smith.

As Joe typed this, Leonard was working with the first-team offense at minicamp practice today at One Buc Palace, catching an eight-yard checkdown of a Josh Freeman pass. Yes, that’s worthy of a smile, as the secondary had Mike Williams and Vincent Jackson well covered.