After 1,000+ votes, Joe’s Sunday poll asking readers to name the the Bucs’ top priority in free agency revealed a clear winner: Davin Joseph with about 59 percent of the vote.

Nnamdi Asomugha checked in with about 26 percent (Joe is shaking his head). And Barrett Ruud took third with 7 percent, doubling Cadillac Williams and leaving Quincy Black as a forgotten man (1.9 percent).

Esteemed Tampa Tribune beat writer Roy Cummings agrees with Joe’s readers on Joseph being top priority, but Cummings’ next choices don’t match up to the poll. 

“I think the Bucs have to re-sign Davin Joseph No. 1, Barrett Ruud No. 2, and Quincy Black No. 3,” Cummings said last week during an interview on WDAE-AM 620. “If they don’t do it, I have a hard time believing that their real game plan is to draft guys, develop them, and then re-sign them, because I think those guys are critical.

“You’ve heard Davin Joseph even talk about, ‘If they don’t bring back Barrett Ruud and maybe a Jeremy Trueblood, I got to wonder if I want to come back.’ So I got to think the players all feel those guys are just as important as we do.”

Joe’s on board with Joseph as top priority. There’s no reason to mess with the depth of the Bucs’ offensive line, and Joseph is a top flight guard when healthy. For Joe, health is a legitimate question mark with Joseph.

Ruud’s value increases daily as the asinine lockout presses on threatening to eliminate a significant training camp.

But Joe has to disagree with Cummings on Quincy Black. Joe’s not sure the Bucs have really developed him, and Joe questions his value.

Black started just 10 games last year and was off the field for some of the Bucs’ best defensive efforts. He’s not a standout in pass coverage, and the run defense has been woeful in the two years Black has been starting. And Joe keeps coming back to Mark Dominik paying Angelo Crowell handsomely in free agency to play Black’s position in 2009.

If Joe had to pick between Cadillac and Black, Joe would take Caddy.

Regardless, Dominik can’t pay everyone and extend the contracts of some of the young Buccaneers. Bucs fans should brace themselves to lose a handful of familiar faces.

Joe highly recommends the superior service and value you’ll experience at Ed Morse dealerships. Joe bought his used car at Ed Morse Auto Plaza in New Port Richey, and it’s been a stellar experience all the way around.

And now the good news is the great Bay area Ed Morse dealerships are all open July 4 until 3 p.m. Car shop all weekend long, or right now online, with Ed Morse.

While Joe was awash in beer and baseball Saturday night — Joe’s adopted team the Rays were hosting the team Joe grew up with, the Cardinals — Joe was sifting through Twitter and saw a cool post from Bucs first round draft pick Adrian Clayborn.

Chillen at the Rays game with @GK_McCoy and his Sis.

Now Joe knows the Cardinals are Clayborn’s team — for now. Joe chatted with Clayborn last week at Josh Freeman’s three-day minicamp at IMG Academies in Bradenton and Clayborn confirmed with Joe he’s a Cardinals fan, which is natural given the fact Clayborn is from St. Louis.

But what Joe thought was cool was that very clearly last week Gerald McCoy took Clayborn under his wing being both big brother and coach to the Bucs rookie.

GMC went so far as to voice his admiration for how Freeman has molded the offense into a tightknit group and GMC strives to be to the defense what Freeman is to the offense.

That’s also the Warren Sapp influence on GMC as well.

The fact Clayborn and GMC went to the Rays game together — and you just know the two talked football between innings — suggests to Joe these two just very well may be terrors to offenses, big brother GMC and little brother Clayborn.

Joe also knows Da’Quan Bowers was at the same Rays game but Joe cannot confirm if he was with GMC and Clayborn.

Still, Joe believes the way Clayborn is bonding with GMC — he soaked in every word GMC had last week — simply rocks and can be nothing but a positive for the Bucs this coming season and beyond.

Joe sends his sincere wishes for everyone to have a blast celebrating Uncle Sam’s 235th birthday.

The Fourth of July for Joe is like Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year’s Day and Super Bowl Sunday all rolled into one. The Fourth of July embodies all that Joe loves: summer, scantily clad, nubile young lasses frolicking at the beach and, of course, copious amounts of cold adult beverages.

The only thing missing is football.

Have fun today folks! Joe will.

The Bucs have college football’s top defensive end in 2010 on their roster, Da’Quan Bowers. Exciting stuff whether you’re an optimist or pessimist.

Whether Bowers is healthy is a question hopefully answered soon, but it’s still damn exciting to have grabbed this guy. During his extensive exclusive interview with Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski on WDAE-AM 620 this weekend, Bowers explained his versatility and why fans shouldn’t confuse him with the late Gaines Adams, even though they were close and wore the same number at Clemson.

Bowers: I have the speed that Gaines [Adams] had but I’m a lot stronger than he was. I very strong. I can normally run by you but I can run through you if necessary. And As far as the running game, I can hold my own. I’m not going to get tossed around by anyone in the running game, offensive tackle or tight end.

The Commish: Do you prefer the left side or the right side? … As a defensive end, does that matter which side of the line you’re on? 

Bowers: I’ve played both my entire life. I have no preference. … Some guys won’t put their left hand down, some guys won’t put their right hand down. But me, I’ve done it so long it comes naturally to me. It doesn’t matter what side I’m on.

Joe can’t wait to see what this guy’s got, and what Keith Millard can do with him. Imagine if he really is a versatile manbeast churning out double-digit sacks?

If Joe’s going to fantasize, and Rachel Watson is not involved, then Joe’s imagining a healthy Bowers with a massive chip on his shoulder.

When troubled Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib was pinched for allegedly firing shots at a fleeing man, many, many people jumped to conclusions. Some even suggested Talib would soon be an ex-Bucs cornerback.

But Talib’s lawyer, predictably, is upset by this notion. He had an interesting comment to Howard Altman of the Tampa Tribune that, “There is a presumption of innocence. It should not affect him at all.”

Of course, in the court of law this is correct. Sadly, in such a public position as Talib is in, he also has to fight the court of public opionion.

Then, there is an even more severe juror Joe can name: The court of NFL honcho Roger Goodell.

Apparently, one of the sticking points in the current NFL labor hassle is that Goodell should not have jurisdiction over punishing players for unseemly behavior since it was the NFL owners’ decision to shut down the league, now in its longest labor stoppage, all under the watchful gaze of Goodell.

Now, Talib’s trial is scheduled for next spring, if the case actually goes to trial. So the question now is, when the NFL returns to business, will Goodell have the opportunity to suspend Talib, or will he wait until after this mess is complete?

Joe enjoys hearing about bubble players on the Buccaneers doing everything they can to work to succeed in the NFL.

Yesterday it was Tyrone McKenzie flying to Nebraska to watch film in a hotel with Barrett Ruud. No wonder Josh Freeman called him a “different kind of dude.” And now NFL.com Bucs blogger Jenna Laine shares a feature about safety Larry Asante’s work ethic and commitment to character. 

He watches film daily. “The Redskins all the way down. I got all that film,” he says. “I try to critique what I would be looking for if I was back in Tampa with my teammates in the film room, breaking down opponents.”

He studies quarterbacks closely, noting where their eyes wander. He pays close attention to the way they square their shoulders, and how they plant their feet. He’s careful not to overanalyze, noting that anticipation can work against an eager defensive back.

“Coach Raheem says you have to be the most patient person out there on the field,” Asante says. “You have to see it. You have to be 100-percent sure before you shoot your trigger. If you think you saw something, which it may not be, and you shoot your trigger, that’s a touchdown.”

Laine also delves into Asante’s spiritual side and reveals what Bucs teammates he counsels.

Good luck making the team, Mr. Asante.

As Joe wrote earlier, Bucs second-round pick Da’Quan Bowers, the guy who dropped in the draft because of a suspect knee, had a candid interview with Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski of WDAE-AM 620 yesterday. It was his first extensive local interview.

Of course, The Commish hit Bowers with the question of why he didn’t attend the Bucs’ minicamp this week. Bowers was clear with his answer.

“I didn’t want to miss rehab and training. I thought that this was a crucial point coming that the lockout may end in the next couple of weeks.  I didn’t want to put myself behind for my great rehab program that I have going for myself,” Bowers said. “So I decided to skip the [rookie] symposium and the minicamp they had.”

Bowers went on to say he understood that getting hurt at minicamp would render him or any player without a contract worthless, and he didn’t want to run that risk. Bowers explained he was in regular touch with Gerald McCoy and said his future teammates understand his absence and just want him to show up healthy when the lockout is over.

Joe gets Bowers’ explanation. However, previously in the interview Bowers said his knee is in “playing shape.”

“I’m running, cutting, jumping. Everthing is full-go,” Bowers said.  

If this is the case, then why is he so concerned about missing a couple of days of “rehab?”

Something smells fishy to Joe. Surely Bowers wouldn’t have hurt himself by attending the symposium for a day and merely shaking hands with his soon-to-be teammates.

Joe doesn’t fault any NFL player who is worried about injury before signing a contract. For most players, signing that rookie contract is the equivalent of winning the lottery, and Joe understands any guy who wants to protect his health.

But to say you’re 100 percent and concerned about missing rehab time in the same breath just doesn’t fit. Joe’s raising a cold beer hoping Bowers is healthy and just extremely cautious.

Finally!

Da’Quan Bowers has opened up for his first local interview since being drafted by the Bucs in April. The manbeast defensive end with the bad knee opened up for about 20 minutes yesterday to The Commish, Justin Pawlowski on WDAE-AM 620 radio. Props to the The Commish, who has a small write-up on his website, CommishOnline.com.

The full interview will air again during The Commish’s show today about 2 p.m. on WDAE. Pawlowski drives The Sports Animal Saturday bus on the air from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Those chained to a computer can listen online at 620wdae.com.

Joe will carve up key points of the interview this morning and through the weekend.

It’s more than fair to say that Joe has his finger on the pulse of the Bucs fan base. Joe interacts with fans daily and spends far too much of his life pounding out Bucs news and commentary on these pages.

So Joe was taken back a bit by the harsh words from NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas in regards to the ongoing Aqib Talib saga. (Joe wrote about the latest on Talib earlier.)

Yasinskas is clear that he thinks the Bucs organization has absorbed a beating from its fans because of displays of bad character off the field.

Talib is one of their most talented players when he’s focused on football. But the Bucs have had a series of off-field problems over the past year or so and that’s led to them taking a beating from their fans about character. They could make a big statement in that area by releasing or trading Talib. But, if the legal system and the NFL aren’t going to sideline Talib, the Bucs might be hesitant to take any action.

Joe has to disagree. The Bucs have taken a beating about character from many in the media — Joe included when it came to King of Turds Jerramy Stevens — but hardly from fans. Now one could make the argument that fans have shown their alleged frustration about the team’s character at the box office, but Joe thinks that would be ridiculously misguided.

But Joe will ask his readers: Have you, the fan, issued the Bucs “a beating” for the character of players and staff in the organization?

Esteemed Bucs beat writer Roy Cummings joins beat comrade Anwar Richardson with a few takes on Bucs minicamp this week. One in particular has Gerald McCoy watching the unity of the O-linemen and wishing his linemates had their chemistry.

In addition to delving into Barrett Ruud’s absence at the Bucs players-only minicamp, Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski, of WDAE-AM 620, gives his hands-on take of camp and offers his priorities for the Bucs in free agency.

Yes, it’s another edition of JoeBucsFan TV, taped at minicamp.

In this exclusive JoeBucsFan TV video, you can hear — and watch — Josh Freeman say that little known linebacker Tyrone McKenzie “is a different kind of dude.”

Freeman responds to a question from Tampa Tribune beat writer Anwar Richardson, who essentially asks Freeman if it’s surprising that McKenzie has taken on such an offseason leadership role given his newness and status on the team.

Joe has wondered the same thing about McKenzie, who was on the practice squad last year, then shined on special teams late in the season and earned a spot on Raheem Morris’ goal line defense. All reports had the guy as a Mr. 1a alongside Freeman organizing offseason workouts and coordinating the big minicamp this week.

Now comes a stunning report from the St. Pete Times yesterday that McKenzie flew to Nebraska to track down Barrett Ruud recently to watch film. Apparently, Ruud said he would be happy to help the young player review film and prepare for 2011. So McKenzie hopped a plane to Omaha to study with Ruud, who he surely hopes to replace.

McKenzie is also a guy Raheem spoke highly of last year on WDAE-AM 620. You can read that here.

Joe’s impressed. The reality is McKenzie might not even make the Bucs roster next year. Hats off the to the kid for his work ethic.

Hey Rays fans in Tampa, take advantage of the the $9.95 roundtrip luxury bus to Tropicana Field!

Wake the heck up! Gas is nearly $4.00 a gallon. Parking is expensive. This is a stunning freaking deal!

It’s the No Excuses Tour to Tropicana Field, which takes Rays fans via luxury bus from Lee Roy Selmon’s restaurants in New Tampa and South Tampa to home Rays games. And you can bring your own food and beer, and travel in style courtesy of Paradise Worldwide Transportation.

It’s only $9.95 per person, and the chauffeured bus is sticking around for the Aug. 6 Goo Goo Dolls concert.

Visit NoExcusesTour.com to get ALL the details and buy tickets. And don’t forget to watch the No Excuses Tour video while you’re there.

Joe’s never believed that lockout organizer Roger Goodell would suspend Aqib Talib for his latest trouble in Texas until the court system played out the case.

Sure, Goodell could step in when the the lockout is over and lob a pre-emptive strike against the Bucs and Talib, but Joe can’t see that happening given the flimsy, he-said-she-said-he-said evidence in the aggravated assault case against Talib.

Joe sees Goodell following the same path as he did following Talib’s cabbie-slugging escapade; Goodell waited for a court resolution (pre-trial intervention/guilty plea) and then reviewed the case and suspended Talib for a game.

Goodell won’t even have access to the all the evidence until the matter is resolved — standard in a criminal case — so why would he feel compelled to make a decision without knowing the facts? It’s not like there’s an injured victim and the public is clamoring for justice.

So for Joe, news yesterday of the State of Texas scheduling a trial date for Talib in March of 2012 means only one thing: Talib will be Buccaneer in 2011. The odds of anything developing in the case before the end of the 2011 football season are extraordinarily slim.

And no, Joe doesn’t believe for a moment the St. Pete Times report of the Bucs already deciding to cut Talib when the lockout ends is accurate. Joe’s been on the record with that from Day 1.

Mark Dominik runs the club based on what he believes is in the best interest of team. Surely, Dominik is smart enough to know that cutting Talib immediately would be foolish, if not irresponsible. Trade Talib? Maybe.

Philosophical Brian Price checks in with JoeBucsFan TV and hardly paints an optimistic picture of his future. Sarah Tyson grabbed Price on the sidelines at the players-only minicamp in Bradenton.

Joe knows that Sabby the Goat moved on to a new farm some time ago but whenever Joe hears about him, Joe just has to share, especially when it’s a funny anecdote.

A Jets fan chimed in to the “Opening Drive” this morning, co-hosted by Ross Tucker and Solomon Wilcots, heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, and the fan claimed the Jets are soft at safety. He thought he had the answer to the Jets’ ills at safety: Sabby the Goat.

Wilcots and Tucker had a prolonged pregnant pause, apparently thinking they were being punked by Captain Janks when Wilcots finally responded, “(sigh), I’m going to be honest with you: Sabby Piscatelli is no Jim Leonhard.”

Then Tucker confessed, “Sabby got benched by the Bucs and then he got cut by the Bucs. What’s that tell you?”

And while Joe is on the subject of horrible sports radio calls, Joe yesterday heard a caller to “Movin’ the Chains,” co-hosted by Pat Kirwan and Tim Ryan, claim he wanted his team (Joe didn’t catch it) to switch to a 34-defense from a 43-defense because when this caller would switch defenses on Madden to 34 from 43 he got more points.

The suggestion left Kirwan speechless.

Esteemed Tampa Tribune beat writer Roy Cummings took time out of his suddenly busy schedule to chat all things Bucs with Darek Sharp this morning on WDAE-AM 620.

Cummings shared a some of his chat yesterday with Bucs rookie Luke Stocker, who had attended the rookie symposium run by the disbanded players association in Bradenton. Per Cummings, Stocker said he has heard of the possibility of a rookie minicamp of up to five days before teams convene for a full squad training camp when the lockout ends.

Cummings speculated that all rookies might have gotten this heads up at the official rookie event and it could be a sign of an imminent resolution to the lockout.

After all, Cummings said, if there’s going to be enough time for a rookie minicamp, then that would mean the lockout ends sooner rather than later in July.

Joe doesn’t know what to think. But Joe’s happy to jump on any shreds of hope.