Maybe Taiwan Jones is the speedster the bucs are seeking ... if they're seeking.

Don’t be left scratching your head when the third round of the NFL Draft kicks off on Saturday. NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski, of WDAE-AM 620 has you covered. Just sit back and enjoy all his amazing draft coverage on JoeBucsFan.com right here. And there’s still more to come all day and tomorrow! Below are Pawlowski’s possible targets for the Bucs in the third round.

Kendall Hunter – RB – Oklahoma St
5’7’’ – 199 lbs – 4.43

I view Hunter as the top running back after the top 3 (Mikel Leshoure, Mark Ingram, and Ryan Williams) are selected. He doesn’t have the best size, but he has the ability to do anything. He can run inside or outside, block, and is a very good receiver. I view Hunter as a slight sleeper and good value in the 3rd round.

Greg Romeus – DE – Pitt
6’5’’ – 264 lbs – DNP

I’ve been on the Romeus bandwagon since before the draft process even started.  I’ve seen Romeus dominate games for Pitt when he was healthy. He dealt with a herniated disk in his back in the first two games of 2010 before he had to have surgery on it. In his first game back from the surgery in November, Romeus tore his right ACL in a game against UCONN. When I spoke to then head coach Dave Wannstedt before USF played Pitt on Nov. 20, he told me that Romeus deserved better then what he was dealt and that Romeus was one of the best players on and off the field that he had ever coached.

Chris Carter – OLB – Fresno St
6’1’’ – 248 lbs – 4.62

Carter is one of the many hybrid outside linebacker/defensive ends that the Bucs have shown interest in this offseason. After playing end at Fresno St, Carter projects to a rush linebacker in the NFL. The Bucs brought him in for a visit and have shown him a good amount of attention early on in this process.

Dontay Moch – OLB – Nevada
6’1’’ – 248 lbs – 4.44

Like Carter, Moch played end at Nevada, but projects as a rush linebacker in the NFL. Moch gained a sort of a cult following for rumors that he ran as fast as a 4.25 40-yard dash while at Nevada. There’s no doubt he has the straight-line speed, but there is question as to whether he has the quickness or athleticism to play linebacker in the NFL. Moch’s raw talents would be very attractive if he fell to the Bucs’ pick in the 3rd round. I wouldn’t be surprised if they at least considered him in the 2nd round.

Taiwan Jones – RB – Eastern Washington
6’0’’ – 194 lbs – 4.32

After his pro day, Jones earned the title as the fastest running back in the draft. Jones is coming from a smaller school, but one thing we’ve learned with guys like Jamaal Charles and Chris Johnson is that you can’t teach speed in the NFL. I do question Jones’ vision to find a hole and ability to hold up physically in the NFL. Jones would be a great complement to LeGarrette Blount.

Yesterday when NFL facilities were unlocked to players by court order, not one player showed up at One Buc Palace.

Joe thought for sure Bucs team leader Josh Freeman would be at the facility at the crack of dawn. He was not. And for good reason.

It seems Freeman has been working out behind the guarded fences of IMG in Bradenton on a daily basis with former Bucs wide receiver and blocking icon Michael Clayton, so reports video star Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune.

Freeman has worked out daily with Bucs running back Cadillac Williams and former Bucs receiver Michael Clayton, currently with the New York Giants, at the IMG Academy in Bradenton. While confusion about the lockout is being sorted out, Freeman continues to organize team and individual workouts as he tries to prepare teammates for the upcoming season.

“As a young group of guys, it’s really important that we keep our momentum from last season going regardless of the state of the lockout,” Freeman said.

Last week, Freeman organized a workout for all of Tampa Bay’s skill position players, which he said had 100 percent attendance. Freeman said he and the players worked out at the University of South Florida for a week, running routes and working on plays.

Notice how Richardson qualified the 100 percent attendance: skill position players.

For whatever reason when Richardson’s colleague, Woody Cummings, reached out to union-first Jeff Faine, the Bucs NFLPA rep stated he had no intention of working out.

Joe's been known to dream about what Keith Millard could do with Aldon Smith. It's ok for Bucs fans to dream.

NFL Draft guru Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski continues to share everything in his personal NFL Draft war room. Today, it’s his big board. Remember to catch “The Commish” live on WDAE-AM 620 starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday night from the Raymond James Stadium draft party. He’ll be on air through the first round, which will end about 1 a.m. Friday. And you can expect to hear the Bucs’ first round pick interviewed, and Raheem Morris and/or Mark Dominik join The Commish for a post-pick chat.

1. Patrick Peterson – CB – LSU
6’1’’ – 219 lbs – 4.32

Commish’s Take: I can’t remember another cornerback with Peterson’s combination of size and speed. Peterson’s also a huge contributor on special teams.

2. Von Miller – OLB – Texas A&M
6’3’’ – 246 lbs – 4.53

Commish’s Take: Miller is the best pure pass rusher in this draft. Miller’s best fit is at outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

3. AJ Green – WR – Georgia
6’4’’ – 211 lbs – 4.50

Commish’s Take: Green’s great hands, route running, and big play ability makes him the top receiver to come out of college since Calvin Johnson.

4. Marcell Dareus – DT – Alabama
6’3’’ – 319 lbs – 4.91

Commish’s Take: Massive defensive tackle with a lot of athletic ability. I don’t think Dareus is at Ndamukong Suh’s level though.

5. Robert Quinn – DE – North Carolina
6’4’’ – 265 lbs – 4.70

Commish’s Take: Even though he missed the 2010 season, Quinn is still the premier rush end in this draft. Can play end or outside linebacker in a 3-4.

6. Julio Jones – WR – Alabama
6’3’’ – 220 lbs – 4.39

Commish’s Take: Jones is a physical freak with the potential to dominate in the NFL.  Lapses in concentration and dropped balls are only worry.

7. Prince Amukamara – CB – Nebraska
6’0’’ – 206 lbs – 4.43

Commish’s Take: Great pure corner with good size and speed.

8. Nick Fairley – DT – Auburn
6’4’’ – 291 lbs – 4.87

Commish’s Take: Fairley can dominate at times, but his character has come into question.  His attitude could resemble Albert Haynesworth.

9. Aldon Smith – DE – Missouri
6’4’’ – 263 lbs – 4.78

Commish’s Take: Smith has some of the best natural raw rush skills in the draft.  Could be a terror off the edge in the NFL.

10. JJ Watt – DE – Wisconsin
6’5’’ – 290 lbs – 4.83

Commish’s Take: Watt is a phenomenal athlete for someone his size. Probably fits best as a 5-technique in a 3-4 defense.

11. Cameron Jordan – DE – Cal
6’4’’ – 287 lbs – 4.78

Commish’s Take: Jordan has tremendous bloodlines with a history of the NFL.  He’s a balanced defensive end that plays the run well, but can still get after the quarterback.

12. Anthony Castonzo – OT – Boston College
6’7’’ – 311 lbs – 5.23

Commish’s Take: Castonzo’s valuable experience makes him ready to step in and start right away in the NFL.

13. Da’Quan Bowers – DE – Clemson
6’3’’ – 280 lbs – 4.85

Commish’s Take: When healthy, Bowers might be the top player in the draft. Knee issues will drop him.

14. Jimmy Smith – CB – Colorado
6’2’’ – 211 lbs – 4.46

Commish’s Take: Smith might be as talented as any player in this draft, but his questionable character will drop him on draft day. Very similar to Aqib Talib.

15. Mike Pouncey – OG – Florida
6’5’’ – 303 lbs – 5.28

Commish’s Take: After what his brother did in the NFL last year, I bet teams would love to have their own Pouncey. If he’s like his brother, Mike could be headed to many pro bowls.

16. Ryan Kerrigan – DE – Purdue
6’4’’ – 267 lbs – 4.71

Commish’s Take: Kerrigan was as productive as any player in college football over the last four years. He isn’t very flashy, but gets the job done.

17. Tyron Smith – OT – USC
6’5’’ – 307 lbs – DNP

Commish’s Take: Smith has long arms and great technique, but at only 20 years old, he might have a learning curve in the NFL.

18. Corey Liuget – DT – Illinois
6’2’’ – 298 lbs – 4.99

Commish’s Take: Liuget is a one-gap penetrating defensive tackle. He’s got a good first step and compares to Gerald McCoy.

19. Cam Newton – QB – Auburn
6’5’’ – 248 lbs – 4.56

Commish’s Take: Most talented quarterback in this draft, but like all the other quarterbacks, Newton has many question marks.

20. Gabe Carimi – OT – Wisconsin
6’7’’ – 314 lbs – 5.27

Commish’s Take: Carimi is big, strong, ad physical. His best fit is at right tackle and has the potential to be a 10-year starter.

21. Kyle Rudolph – TE – Notre Dame
6’6’’ – 260 lbs – 4.78

Commish’s Take: Top tight end in the draft, Rudolph compares favorably to Rob Gronkowski or Heath Miller.  He’s a very balanced tight end that’s also a threat vertically.

22. Akeem Ayers – OLB – UCLA
6’2’’ – 254 lbs – 4.69

Commish’s Take: Ayers has a lot of natural raw talent with the potential to be great. His size and speed make him a great fit for a 3-4 defense.

23. Phil Taylor – DT – Baylor
6’3’’ – 334 lbs – 5.20

Commish’s Take: Taylor is the top nose tackle in the draft. He has the potential to take away an opponent’s inside run game. As a nose tackle, Taylor is exactly what I want; big, strong, and mean.

24. Cameron Heyward – DE – Ohio St.
6’5’’ – 294 lbs – 4.95

Commish’s Take: After dealing with an ankle injury in 2010, Heyward got healthy and was dominant in the Sugar Bowl against Arkansas. Heyward is a physical defensive lineman who does a good job against the run and taking on multiple blockers.

25. Mikel Leshoure – RB – Illinois
6’0’’ – 227 lbs – 4.59

Commish’s Take: Leshoure is a big and physical back who has great vision.

26. Blaine Gabbert – QB – Missouri
6’4’’ – 234 lbs – 4.62

Commish’s Take: Gabbert could be great, but I just have some questions on him.  Gabbert struggles with accuracy down the field. He also does not handle a rush well and tends to panic.

27. Derek Sherrod – OT – Mississippi St.
6’5’’ – 321 lbs – 5.28

Commish’s Take: Sherrod’s a balanced offensive tackle that can play on the left or right side of the line. Sherrod is much better in pass protection than he is in opening holes in the run game.

28. Justin Houston – DE/OLB – Georgia
6’3’’ – 270 lbs – 4.68

Commish’s Take: Houston has a ton of raw pass rush talent, but must get good coaching in the NFL or he could end up as a bust. Boom or bust player.

29. Muhammad Wilkerson – DT – Temple
6’4’’ – 315 lbs – 4.95

Commish’s Take: Wilkerson has the type of raw talent and potential that Jason Pierre-Paul had a year ago. He should fit into any type of defense.

30. Brooks Reed – OLB – Arizona
6’3’’ – 263 lbs – 4.68

Commish’s Take: Reed has seen his stock continue to rise throughout this whole process.  His best fit is as a 3-4 outside linebacker with his incredibly quick first steps.

31. Marvin Austin – DT – North Carolina
6’2’’ – 309 lbs – 4.91

Commish’s Take: Austin missed the entire 2010 season, but he is as talented as any defensive tackle in this draft. He could be a steal in this draft.

32. Adrian Clayborn – DE – Iowa
6’3’’ – 281 lbs – 4.83

Commish’s Take: There are a lot of questions surrounding Clayborn, but you can’t ignore his production and impact throughout his entire career at Iowa.

Just Missed:

Mark Ingram – RB – Alabama
Ryan Mallett – QB – Arkansas
Danny Watkins – OG – Baylor
Stephen Paea – DT – Oregon St
Jabaal Sheard – DE – Pitt
Benjamin Ijalana – OT – Villanova
James Carpenter – OT – Alabama

At this rate, Joe wonders when agents are going to start producing — and airing — their own infomercials for soon-to-be-drafted clients.

Sure, there’s plenty of game film on these players, but what about seeing the player read books to children, talk to his mommy, and get grilled by coaches paid to spend time with him. Maybe even play other sports to showcase his athleticism.

Per Bucs general manager Mark Dominik, speaking during an exclusive interview with draft guru Justin Pawlowski on WDAE-AM 620 tonight, all that peripheral stuff really does matter. Dominik said the Jon Gruden quarterbacks special is part of his evaluation process. 

Justin Pawlowski: Do GMs put an emphasis in a TV show like [Gruden’s quarterback camp]?

Mark Dominik: The bottom line is it’s part of the evaluation. Jon makes it hard on those guys, puts them in a little bit of a grinder. Having been around Coach Gruden, he’s really good with those quarterbacks in how he kinda challenges them mentally. He knows how to just trick’em enough where, you know, they get in a comfort zone and Jon left hooks you real fast and he wants to see how they can handle it. So I think it’s a good show to watch, certainly. I watch it. And I think it’s interesting to just see how a player interacts with another person — anytime. Just like I watch the NFL Network and their Path To The Draft. I watch those because they bring players in and you see how he interacts in a social setting. … It’s just another piece of what I call the big puzzle.

Hey, if Joe were a GM, he’d watch everything, too. But Joe’s just leery of taking the edited, made-for-TV fluff that is the Chucky special too seriously.

Again, let Joe be the first to say that homemade prospect infomercials will be seen sooner rather than later. With a little product placement, advertisements and the magic of YouTube, it could even be a moneymaker.

Some Lightning for Blount's thunder?

NFL Draft guru Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski continues to break down the draft for Bucs fans like no other. Remember to tune in to WDAE-AM 620 at 7 p.m. tonight to hear Part I of Pawlowski’s interview with Mark Dominik. And be sure to come back to JoeBucsFan.com all day for more of Pawlowski’s breakdowns. Feel free to shoot him your draft questions and he’ll answer them right here, commish@620wdae.com.

4th Round options for the Bucs

By JUSTIN PAWLOWSKI

Nate Irving – LB – North Carolina State
6’1’’ – 240 lbs – 4.76

Despite his lack of elite speed, Irving seems like a nice fit for the Bucs. After a horrific car accident left him with a collapsed lung, separated shoulder, and a broken leg, Irving battled back to play in all 13 games for N.C. St. last year accumulating 92 tackles, 21.5 for a loss, and seven sacks. His work ethic and leadership will be his most valuable trait for a 4th round selection.

DJ Williams – TE – Arkansas
6’2’’ – 245 lbs – 4.67

I know the Bucs have shown DJ Williams a lot of interest this off-season which included a visit to their facility. Williams is the vertical type of tight end the Bucs are seeking. In addition, Williams has tremendous character and is great in the community. He won the Disney Spirit Award in 2010 which goes to the most inspirational figure in college football.

Jordan Cameron – TE – USC
6’5’’ – 254 lbs – 4.59

Cameron is another tight end that fits what the Bucs need and another TE that they have brought in for a visit. Cameron is another former basketball player that has transitioned to tight end. He is a great athlete with very good speed and soft hands. His technique will need refining, but he has great natural talent.

Jacquizz Rodgers – RB – Oregon St
5’6’’ – 196 lbs – 4.46

If the Bucs pass on a running back in the first three rounds, Rodgers would be an excellent selection here to counter the power of Blount. Rodgers was extremely productive at Oregon St, but he will not be able to be a feature back in the NFL. He is small, quick, and fast. Rodgers also has good hands out of the backfield.

Greg Jones – LB – Michigan St
6’0’’ – 242 lbs – 4.76

I haven’t seen the Bucs showing much interest in Jones, but if the are looking for linebackers, it’s tough to find a more productive LB over the past three years than Jones. He’s had over 100 tackles and more than 10 tackles for a loss in each of those years, and sacked the quarterback nine times in 2009. He is a great leader with a great work ethic, but his lack of ideal size will drop him.

Catch up on all of The Commish’s savage exclusive draft coverage for JoeBucsFan.com right here. Check out 60+ breakdowns, podcasts, stories and more. It’s a draft lover’s orgasm. And there’s a lot more to come tonight, Wednesday and Thursday.

Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik explains to Mike Florio, the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk, how character is a paramount in this NBCSports.com video.

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

Could Miami's Brandon Harris land on the Bucs roster?

Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik seemed to take a page out of Richie McKay’s book recently when he said you can never have enough corners.

McKay had the same philosophy and often drafted a cornerback each year. So when Dominik bluntly talked about the need for adding to the Bucs secondary, Joe sort of put two-and-two together and expected Dominik to draft one. It may be more.

Speaking on “The Blitz” this afternoon with co-hosts Adam Schein and Rich Gannon, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert spoke about the draft and was specifically asked what he thought of the current draft crop of cornerbacks.

“I think the cornerback class is very deep,” Colbert said.

This is significant for Joe. Colbert is arguably the best general manager in the NFL. His eye for talent is simply uncanny and the past success of the Steelers is largely a result of Colbert being able to pick the best fruit off the tree.

There is no one Joe repsects more in an NFL front office than Colbert. So if you add up Dominik’s comments about cornerbacks, the uncertain status of troubled cornerback Aqib Talib, and Colbert’s comments about how deep the cornerback position is, Joe can easily see Dominik selecting two cornerbacks in the draft.

Why is cornerback so deep this year? Colbert had an interesting take.

“I think with so many spread offenses in college, it has forced defenses to play more cover corners out of necessity. And I’ve always believed a cornerback covers first and supports second.”

Former Bucs and Colts head coach Father Dungy is the first guy to counsel and help a troubled man.

He also doesn’t hesitate to red flag a college player who might be trouble.

Dungy explained this during an interview with Shaun King today on The King David Show on WQYK-AM 1010.

“Character is what wins championships for you,” said Dungy, who explained that talented players make plays and win games, but teams need the locker room right to win consistently and a be a champion.

“We had a category when I was in Tampa: ‘Do not draft because of character,”‘ Dungy said. “If you have red flags on a player, it ends up saving you a lot in the long run if you don’t draft him.”

Dungy weighed in on Aqib Talib saying that once a player with Talib’s episodes is in the team family, a guy like Talib will get a lot of patience and counseling from the Bucs, but the Bucs are probably assessing now whether Talib is worth the effort.

Joe always thought defense wins championships, along with a good quarterback. But Joe gets Dungy’s point. Long term, a team is much better off with the good guys. There are plenty of them who can play damn good football.

"Do the Bucs roll the dice on Romeus?

Go get a cold beverage and a pile of awesome wings from Mugs Grill & Bar and sit back and enjoy this 2,000+ word breakdown of defensive ends by NFL Draft guru Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski. There’s pretty damn good odds one of these guys (two?) is a Buccaneers on Thursday night. And don’t forget to tune into WDAE-AM 620 tonight at 7 p.m. for Part I of the Commish’s interview with Mark Dominik.

Defensive Ends:

By JUSTIN PAWLOWSKI

1. Robert Quinn – North Carolina
6’4’’ – 265 lbs – 4.59
Top 15

Why The Commish would take him: Quinn is one of the best pure pass rushers in the draft. He fits well into either a 4-3 or a 4-3 defense. Quinn has a nice large frame with long arms that help him to keep leverage against offensive tackles. Quinn has shown a very good work ethic and has no glaring character issues.

Why The Commish would stay away: Quinn was one of many North Carolina players to accept benefits from an agent in 2010, which forced him to miss the entire season. I always wonder how a player will come back after being away from football for an entire season. Quinn could stand to get stronger and use more power on the field. A benign brain tumor is also a concern for Quinn.

Commish’s Final Say: Quinn was on the verge of what could’ve been a great year in 2010 before being suspended for the entire 2010 season. Quinn is a premier pass rusher who shouldn’t fall too far past the top 10 if he falls that far.

Comparison: John Abraham – DE – Atlanta Falcons

2. Aldon Smith – Missouri
6’4’’ – 263 lbs – 4.78
1st Round

Why The Commish would take him: Smith has a ton of natural pass rush ability.  He’s one of the youngest players in the draft as a redshirt sophomore, so his potential has yet to be reached.  He is a smooth athlete with long arms and a frame to grow even bigger. Smith also plays with some violence and will lay a big hit on a ball carrier.

Why The Commish would stay away: With Smith being so young, I am always concerned about drafting potential that high in the draft. Smith is much better against the pass than the run, which might make him a liability in the run game. He was also playing injured throughout 2010, so health might be a concern.

Commish’s Final Say: Smith is a raw pass rusher with the potential to be great.  I always hesitate to take a player with this much potential, but not much experience, as high as Smith will go. He’ll fit into a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense. 

Comparison: DeMarcus Ware – OLB – Dallas Cowboys

3. JJ Watt – Wisconsin
6’5’’ – 290 lbs – 4.84
1st Round

Why The Commish would take him: Watt has a fantastic blend of size, speed, and athleticism. Watt is very competitive and will work as hard as he can to win. Watt stood out against top competition and rushes the passer just about as good as he plays the run.

Why The Commish would stay away: Watt lacks the elite quickness and burst I like from a pass rusher. He might be limited to being a 5-technique in a 3-4 defense, although he could play LDE in a 4-3. Watt might not have much upside to grow into.

Commish’s Final Say: Watt began his career at Central Michigan as a tight end before transferring to Wisconsin and being a walk on there. He worked his way up to a scholarship and then became one of the top defensive ends in the country. I think Watt’s best fit will be as an end in a 3-4 defense, but he’s a very intriguing prospect.

Comparison: Vonnie Holiday – Washinton Redskins

4. Cameron Jordan – Cal
6’4’’ – 287 lbs – 4.78
1st Round

Why The Commish would take him:  I have viewed Jordan as an under-the-radar prospect during this whole process.  After Tyson Alualu was the surprise pick last year, it’s hard to ignore another top defensive lineman coming from the same school.  Jordan has great bloodlines with his father playing 13 years with the Vikings, so Cameron knows the NFL game.  Jordan plays with excellent technique, has natural instincts, and always has good leverage.  Jordan also displays a multitude of moves to get to the quarterback.

Why The Commish would stay away: Despite his multiple moves, Jordan lacks the burst and quickness to get off the line and be an elite pass rusher.  Jordan also does not play well in space, so keeping him near the line of scrimmage is important.  A DUI in 2008 is also a concern in the hard nosed NFL.

Commish’s Final Say: I like Jordan a lot and think he might be one of the safer defensive ends in this draft.  He is a balanced defensive end that plays with good technique and gets the job done.  His best fit might be in a 3-4 defense, but I think he could be successful in a 4-3 defense as a LDE.  I still like a Bucs 3-4 defense consisting of Cameron Jordan, Brian Price, and Gerald McCoy along the line on passing situations.

Comparison:   Derrick Morgan – Tennessee Titans

5. Da’Quan Bowers – Clemson
6’3’’ – 280 lbs – 4.80
1st Round

Why The Commish would take him:  Bowers was one of the most dominant players in college football in 2010. He plays the run and pass equally, and racked up 15.5 sacks last season. His power and strength are his biggest assets. There is no doubt that Bowers would be willing to deliver a knock out hit to a ball carrier.  He really matured into having an excellent work ethic after struggling with that in his first couple years at Clemson.

Why The Commish would stay away: Obviously, the major concern with Bowers is his knee. Only the teams in the NFL know the truth about his knee which might have degenerative arthritis. If the rumors are true and it could hinder his career, you will see Bowers plummet on draft day. 

Commish’s Final Say: When healthy, Bowers should get consideration for the top pick in this draft. He was completely dominant throughout the 2010 season.  However, his knee is a major concern and now has him as one of the biggest “boom or bust” prospects in the draft.

Comparison: Will Smith – New Orleans Saints

6. Ryan Kerrigan – Purdue
6’4’’ – 267 lbs – 4.71
1st Round

Why The Commish would take him: It’s hard to argue with the productivity that Kerrian has had over the last four years.  He accumulated 37.5 sacks and 55.5 tackles for a loss in those four years.  Kerrigan has a great work ethic, great character, and was a tremendous leader. On a defense where he was the focal point for other offenses, Kerrigan still went on to produce and dominate.  Where he lacks with elite athleticism, Kerrigan makes up for with great technique and effort.

Why The Commish would stay away: I wonder if Kerrigan can become an elite player in the NFL without elite athleticism, quickness, and speed.  Kerrigan might also not have a lot of room to grow as his potential might be near to being maxed out.

Commish’s Final Say: It’s tough to dispute Kerrigan’s production over his career. He has his flaws, but you can be sure that he will work extremely hard and strive to be a leader. Kerrigan has been a popular pick by analysts to go to the Bucs and if they drafted him, I think we’d all have a smile on our face.

Comparison: Ray Edwards – Minnesota Vikings

7. Cameron Heyward – Ohio St
6’5’’ – 294 lbs – 4.95
1st/2nd Round

Why The Commish would take him: It’s hard not to like the size Heyward possesses with a big frame and long arms. Heyward is extremely strong and is masterful with his bull rush. He was a big time leader for Ohio St.’s defense and displayed a will to be great. Heyward has also had a ton of valuable experience against top competition.

Why The Commish would stay away: Heyward is limited as a pass rusher as he lacks the burst and speed to get to the quarterback. Durability was also a concern last season.

Commish’s Final Say: Looking back at Heyward’s 2010 season, I think it was pretty apparent that he dealt with a nagging ankle injury for a majority of the season.  When he got healthy before the Sugar Bowl, he dominated against Arkansas.  He is at his best when he can use his strength to take on multiple blockers or bull rush.

Comparison:   Richard Seymour – Oakland Raiders

8. Adrian Clayborn – Iowa
6’3’’ – 281 lbs – 4.83
1st/2nd Round

Why The Commish would take him: I think you take Clayborn because of how well-rounded he is and how good he is in multiple areas. Clayborn has been a 3-year starter for Iowa, a captain, had a great work ethic, been productive, and has shown fantastic instincts. He has excellent technique against the run and in getting to the quarterback. Clayborn can be very good with the bull rush, but also shows many different moves to get to the quarterback.

Why The Commish would stay away: There are a few concerns with Clayborn.  First, it’s been reported that he has one arm shorter than the other arm which has forced him to only play RDE in his collegiate career. It’s also been reported that he has Erb’s Palsy that some teams are concerned about. In 2010, Clayborn saw his production really fall off after a great 2009 season.  I’ve heard people say that opposing offenses were keying on him, but you could say the same for Ryan Kerrigan and JJ Watt, and they were both very productive.  There are also some character concerns as Adrian Clayborn was arrested for assaulting a taxicab driver.

Commish’s Final Say: There are obviously many positives and negatives with Clayborn. I do think the Bucs have a good amount interest in him and he could end up being the pick. I do think there is risk, but Clayborn does have the talent to end up being very good in the NFL.

Comparison: Charles Grant – New Orleans Saints

9. Jabaal Sheard – Pitt
6’3’’ – 264 lbs – 4.69
1st/2nd Round

Why The Commish would take him: I like Sheard most because he is a pure pass rusher who plays with a nasty demeanor. He is tough, intense, and incredibly competitive.  He has great technique and displays many different pass rush moves in getting to the quarterback.

Why The Commish would stay away: As determined as Sheard is in getting to the quarterback, he does not have elite quickness, athleticism, or an elite burst.  Sheard is also not stout enough against the run and can get pushed back. He was arrested in 2010 for throwing a man through a glass door.

Commish’s Final Say: Sheard was arrested in 2010, but has also received a bravery award for helping an elderly women out of a burning building.  Sheard came on strong once Greg Romeus went down for Pitt.  Sheard became their sack master and was very good. I still think Sheard would be a solid 2nd round selection.

Comparison:  Greg Hardy – Carolina Panthers

10. Allen Bailey – Miami
6’3’’ – 285 lbs – 4.77
2nd Round

Why The Commish would take him: This one’s simple. I’m taking Bailey because men that big should not be ripped, but he is. Alright, just kidding, but Bailey is a great athlete with nice long arms. Bailey displays some outstanding strength and can be dominant with his bull rush. Bailey also plays with a mean streak.  Bailey has a ton of potential and upside he can still reach with good coaching.

Why The Commish would stay away: Bailey is a raw prospect who does not have very good technique.  He still needs to develop more pass rush moves as well.  Most of Bailey’s weaknesses stem from poor technique.

Commish’s Final Say: I’ll tell you, a lot of people have pegged Bailey as a 2nd round pick, but Bailey could end up being one of the more intriguing prospects in this draft. He is loaded with talent, but someone needs to bust it out of him. I know the Bucs have shown him a lot of attention this off-season.

Comparison: Kyle Vanden Bosch – Detroit Lions

11. Greg Romeus – Pitt
6’5’’ – 264 lbs – DNP
3rd/4th Round

Why The Commish would take him: Romeus was the center of Pitt’s defense. He was equally good against the run as he was as a pass rusher. Romeus was also an outstanding leader with a great work ethic. He has all the attributes of a dominant defensive end.

Why The Commish would stay away: Obviously, health is the major concern with Romeus. He was sidelined at the beginning of the 2010 season with a herniated disk in his back which required surgery. In his first game back after surgery, Romeus tore his ACL which ended his collegiate career.

Commish’s Final Say: I spoke with Dave Wannstedt after Romeus tore his ACL and he was devastated.  He told me how important Romeus was to their defense and how Romeus didn’t deserve to go through that. My conversation with Wannstedt really told me a lot of how Romeus was portrayed by his coaches and teammates.  I think Romeus is the type of player you want in your locker room.

Comparison: Justin Tuck – New York Giants

Last night and this morning, as Joe is wont to do, he surfed various football sites, monitored his Twitter and Facebook feeds of respected journalists, NFL players and teams.

Listening to Sirius NFL Radio today, co-hosts of “The Opening Drive,” Bob Papa and Solomon Wilcots, Joe heard reports of players showing up at several team facilities.

The Bucs, whose management has lauded the work ethic of its players, had a grand total of zero players show up this morning to work out. That’s the word from Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune who has staked out the Bucs headquarters.

The NFL lockout has been lifted but it doesn’t seem like it at One Buc Place.

No Tampa Bay Buccaneers players have reported to work there yet this morning, according to team spokesman Jonathan Grella, and we’re not sure if any will.

“I am not personally encouraging or discouraging players to show,” Bucs center and player representative Jeff Faine told the Tribune in a text message Tuesday morning.

Cummings added that Faine told him he had no intention of showing up this morning. Neither Cummings nor Faine elaborated.

For some odd reason, this bums Joe out. Joe thought sure that Josh Freeman and a few receivers were be at One Buc Palace at the crack of dawn.

Perhaps all the of the players are out of town?

Back in September, Joe recalls Mike Williams telling him what an impact Aqib Talib and Ronde Barber had on his development. Simply put, going against arguably the most talented cornerback tandem in the NFL in practice and training camp forces a guy to raise his game to new heights. 

Weeks later on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Saltines lover Jeff Faine raved about Talib’s positive impact on Williams and pther young receivers.

“It’s healthy competition for our young wide receivers. During training camp it was actually pretty chippy. It was great. It was fantastic. And it helped our young wide receivers grow up fast. Because this guy was in their face, was jumpin’ them, was covering them, was talking trash, was giving them everything that they were going to see this year,” Faine said. “For a guy like Mike Williams to have the opportunity to go up against Aqib Talib every single day two times a day during camp, it’s priceless.  Because now the guys Mike Williams is going up against are not as good. I really feel that Aqib is on the threshold of becoming the guy in this league at cornerback.”

Now Joe would understand if the Bucs never want to rely on Talib to be a cornerstone of their team again. The guy is thoroughly unreliable.

But regardless, why would the Bucs not want to hold on to Talib through preseason if for no other reason than to cover Arrelious Benn, Dezmon Briscoe, Williams and the other young receivers in practice, and to drive up his potential trade value. 

Unless he’s in jail, Talib has value to the organization, even if he gets a significant suspension from Roger Goodell for the situation in Texas.  If suspended, he’d still get to be a part of team activities outside of regular season games, much like sleazy Ben Roethlisberger was last year.

Cutting Talib instantly is highly unlikely to be in the best interest of the Bucs. If Talib returns to the Bucs and behaves somewhat, surely rockstar Dominik can find someone to cough up a late-round pick for Talib.

Joe touched upon this yesterday, the UFL planning to go after the many undrafted free agents come Saturday night — provided the 8th Circuit Appellate Court grants a stay for the NFL resuming the lockout.

Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik spoke about how to handle this issue while appearing on ProFootballTalk Live yesterday.

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

The Tampa Bay area is still buzzing over the bold pronouncement by Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times that troubled Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib is as good as gone when this labor mess is resolved.

Given the fact the NFL is — tentatively, barring further legal action — open for business, this would mean that Talib’s tenure as a Bucs player is in its final hours if Stroud is accurate.

Many Bucs fans erupted in outrage with Stroud, largely because he never quoted a source, not even a confidential source in the story. Fans were so enraged, Stroud’s colleague good guy Stephen Holder even had to come to Stroud’s defense.

It seems as if Holder will have reinforcements of sorts.

BSPN NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas has come to Stroud’s aid as well. Typing for the Disney syndicate, Yasinskas explains that no matter what a judge or jury may find in Texas, Talib has already been sentenced at One Buc Palace.

Rick Stroud writes that troubled cornerback Aqib Talib is all but gone from Tampa Bay. I agree and have been saying that since Talib was charged with a crime in a March incident in Texas. Yes, the legal system hasn’t played out and there is the chance Talib can be exonerated. But the mere fact Talib, who has a long history of off-field problems, was even involved in an incident with a gun didn’t exactly flatter the NFL or the Bucs. The only thing remaining is sorting out the exit strategy. The Bucs can’t do anything until after the lockout. If they don’t cut or trade Talib right away, the NFL could beat them to the punch and suspend Talib.

Now Joe knows there is a segment of Bucs fans upon reading the previous paragraph will slam their cups of coffee on the breakfast table so hard they will have to change their wardrobe for the workday. But here is an element many Bucs fans either don’t know or tend to forget:

In the court of NFL warden commissioner Roger Goodell, evidence or guilt are not factors in any way. Just the fact that Talib was present where gunfire was discharged and a man was (allegedly) pistol whipped is enough for Goodell to hammer Talib with an ugly suspension, which is largely expected.

Remember that Tanard Jackson was never charged and never found guilty by any Florida police agency or legal authorities. Yet his NFL career is hanging by a razor-thin string after multiple suspensions.

If Talib is jettisoned by the Bucs, there is no need to blame Team Glazer or Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik nor coach Raheem Morris.

The blame, in the end, should lay at the feet of Talib.

NFL Draft guru Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski continues to break down the draft for Bucs fans like no other. Remember to tune in to WDAE-AM 620 at 7 p.m. tonight to hear Part I of Pawlowski’s interview with Mark Dominik. And be sure to come back to JoeBucsFan.com all day for more of Pawlowski’s breakdowns. Feel free to shoot him your draft questions and he’ll answer them right here, commish@620wdae.com.

5th Round Options for Bucs

Julius Thomas – TE – Portland St
6’5’’ – 246 lbs – 4.68

The Bucs have a need for a tight end and Thomas might be a nice sleeper in the 5th round. He is a small-school prospect, but has a nice balance of size and speed. Thomas is a former basketball player who played just one year of collegiate football. His athleticism and potential would be very appealing in the 5th round.

Ricardo Lockette – WR – Fort Valley St
6’2’’ – 211 lbs – 4.37

My thought on 5th-7th round picks is that you want to draft players that have a distinct possibility of making your roster and contributing on special teams.  Lockette is a small school prospect with a great combination of size and speed for the receiver position. Although receiver isn’t a huge need for the Bucs, Lockette’s combination of skills might be intriguing enough to grab in the 5th round.

Rob Housler – TE – FAU
6’5’’ – 248 lbs – 4.55

Like Thomas above, the Bucs have a need for a tight end and Housler is another one of the sleeper tight ends in the middle rounds of this draft. He certainly has good speed at the positon.  With just Kellen Winslow and Ryan Purvis on the roster at that position, I think the Bucs will be adding a tight end somewhere in this draft.

Akeem Dent – LB – Georgia
6’1’’ – 242 lbs – 4.78

The Bucs have shown interest in Dent this offseason including a visit to One Buc Place. Mark Dominik told me that a successful draft this year means drafting great players with great character and leadership skills. Dent was a great leader and captain for Georgia. He is very good against the run, but a liability in coverage.

Owen Marecic – FB – Stanford
6’0’’ – 248 lbs – 4.91

I’m not sure why the Bucs don’t like true fullbacks, but if they decide Eric Lorig isn’t the answer, Marecic is one of the top fullbacks available this year. He comes from an offense at Stanford that knew how to run the football.  He has been the lead back and one of the main reasons for the success they’ve had on the ground.

Is this bye-bye Talib?

Exciting news on the NFL lockout front, if there is such a thing. The fancy federal judge presiding over the case has lifted the lockout this evening, essentially ruling in favor of the players, so reports Mike Florio, of ProFootballTalk.com.

The NFL reportedly will seek an immediate stay of the implementation of the decision.

If the stay is granted, the lockout would not be lifted until, at the earliest, after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issues a ruling in the case.  The players surely would request expedited consideration of the appeal.

If Judge Nelson refuses to grant the stay, the NFL surely would seek a stay from the appeals court.

If neither court gives the league the stay, the doors will be forced open, soon.

Joe has no clue how long it might take for a stay to take effect. Does this mean free agency starts now?

So if Rick Stroud and Stephen Holder of the St. Pete Times are to be believed, is Aqib Talib getting cut tonight?

Will Barrett Ruud have another team?

UPDATE: 7:31 p.m. – Heartwarming and exciting news for fans, per ProFootballTalk.com. Read a great paragraph from the judge’s ruling here. Maybe this mess really will be settled sooner rather than later.

UPDATE 9:35 p.m.: For the legal types out there, here is the 89-page decision by Judge Nelson.

Longtime JoeBucsFan.com readers know the famous draft bust this image represents

Chucky and Bruce Almighty often used the Manute Bol approach on draft day. They fell in love and reached higher than all other mortals.

Mark Dominik, Bucs fans hope, will never go that route.

In this exclusive podcast, NFL Draft guru Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski, of WDAE-AM 620, explains value in the draft. Click the arrow below or download here.

[audio: valuepodcast.mp3]

Joe hopes you’re enjoying the relentless free draft coverage on JoeBucsFan.com. It’s all archived here. Come tonight for Commish’s fifth-round gems.

And shoot Commish your draft questions at commish@620wdae.com or via Facebook. He’ll answer them here Wednesday.

The Bucs released the dates and kickoff times for each of its 2011 preseason games. Times are eastern daylight time.

Provided there is a preseason.

Fri., Aug. 12 @ Kansas City, 8 p.m., FOX
Thurs., Aug. 18 New England, 7:30 p.m.*
Sat., Aug. 27 Miami, 7:30 p.m.*
Thurs. Sept. 1 @ Washington, 7:30 p.m.*

Joe just knows there are hardcore fans out there who are already icing up their coolers.

* — Bucs preseason games do not have a local television affiliate as the TV contract for the flagship broadcast station is up for bid.

Bucs general manager Mark Dominik likes to brag how picking up free agents is the “second draft” of the spring.

That’s a pretty good analogy because there were many players Dominik picked up that others passed on including LeGarette Blount offensive lineman Ted Larsen. Last season the Bucs had 24 undrafted free agents on their roster.

In a story published in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, UFL coach Jerry Glanville stated over 10 percent of the starters in the NFL were undrafted free agents. Given the current lockout, once the draft is complete Saturday night, no team can sign any undrafted free agent.

That doesn’t mean the UFL can’t.

The NFL will draft 255 players next week. However, per lockout rules, teams will not be able to sign or contact undrafted players.

“What’s left over is 400 players who ordinarily would have gone to the NFL,” Glanville said. “Eleven percent of NFL starters are undrafted free agents. And I can’t tell you how long I’ve studied that 11 percent. We’re going to jump all over those kids.”

NFL teams build roster depth with rookie free agents. Many times, they strike gold, too. Texans running back Arian Foster, the NFL’s leading rusher last year, was a rookie free agent in 2009. Steelers linebacker James Harrison, the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, was a rookie free agent in 2002. John Randle made it from rookie free agent with the Vikings in 1990 to Pro Football Hall of Famer in 2010.

Given the fact Dominik and his staff have shown an eagle eye for talent that is floating in limbo undrafted, the UFL very well may poach these players. If you are such a player and someone is dangling cash at you with a chance to prove your worth as a player, you’d be stupid to pass up the chance.

Which makes Joe wonder, how much will the UFL this season put Dominik in a pinch and, more to the point, how will the UFL hurt the Bucs?