Popcorn-shoveling, oatmeal-guzzling Peter King, of Sports Illustrated fame, is back on the record again with his trademark season predictions.

Last year, he drew the wrath of nearly everyone associated with the Bucs by saying they’d win two games in 2010. Nostradamus he is not. In this SI.com video, King explains gives his impressions of the Bucs’ chances.

New Bucs tight end Zack Pianalto

The Bucs snagged an undrafted tight end and named their practice squad today in what could be the final roster moves before opening day.

First, the two guys booted from the roster are cornerback D.J. Johnson and defensive George Johnson. Tough break, fellas. Joe feels for you. The new TE is rookie Zack Pianalto, per Buccaneers.com.

The 6-4, 250-pound Pianalto is a rookie who signed with the Bills as an undrafted free agent in July out of the University of North Carolina.  In three preseason games this summer he caught six passes for 59 yards, with a long of 23.  The Bills originally retained Pianalto on their 53-man roster during Saturday’s cut-down, but then released him on Sunday, and the Buccaneers put in a successful claim.

You can see Pianalto make a big catch in the Bills’ final preseason game against the Lions in this video from NFL.com.  It’s late in the video, after some guy named Megatron catches a deep ball and Maurice Stovall scores the Lions’ opening touchdown.

Bucs seventh round pick in 2011, TE Daniel Hardy, will hang around on the practice squad. 

In addition, Tampa Bay formed its first practice squad of the 2011 season, signing eight players, all of whom were with the team in training camp.  Though the practice squad remains fluid throughout the season and could change at any time, the first iteration includes the following players: safety Ahmad Black, tackle Will Barker, quarterback Rudy Carpenter, tight end Collin Franklin, wide receiver Ed Gant, tight end Daniel Hardy, running back Mossis Madu and linebacker Derrell Smith.

No real new names there. And if Mark Dominik is finished, on paper that’s not much of a “second draft.” Though Joe would hardly wager that Dominik is through now and for the rest the season.

Before the Bucs had a chance to release the members of their practice squad as the team prepares for the season opener against Detroit, Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune had word that backup quarterback Rudy Carpenter and rookie safety Ahmad Black passed waivers and are back with the Bucs on the practice squad.

@RoyECummings: QB Rudy Carpenter is backl with the Bucs – as a member of their practice squad. Same for WR Ed Gant, TE Daniel Hardy and S Ahmad Black

Good to see Black, who was injured much of preseason, return to his hometown team to be given a second chance of sorts.

Joe knows Bucs fans will be happy that fan favorite Ed Gant is still in Tampa, and Joe was sort of impressed with the limited play he saw from Daniel Hardy, also a Bucs draft pick this spring.

As word spreads of Peyton Manning now listed as doubtful for opening day and not practicing this week, Bucs icon Ronde Barber can prepare for a new honor.

Barber would take over as the NFL’s king of longevity if Manning sits out. Barber has made 179 consecutive starts, second only to Manning. NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas took time to point this out today.

Barber has started every regular-season game since 1998. He holds a healthy lead over Washington linebacker London Fletcher, who is third with 163 consecutive starts.

What can one say about Barber? Consdering he plays on the defensive side of the ball and isn’t protected by Roger Goodell’s rules, Barber’s streak already is more impressive than Manning’s.

But the streak does illustrate a concept few Bucs fans want to consider: life without Barber. He can’t take the pounding forever. The odds of him being part of the lasting contender in 2012 are slim, and Myron Lewis being injury prone isn’t a comfort.

As for Manning, Joe wonders whether the Bucs would catch a major break and have Manning miss the Colts-at-Bucs Monday Night Football game at the C.I.T.S. on Oct. 3. Though it would be so much sweeter — and better for attendance — if the Bucs could beat the Colts with Manning under center.

Team Glazer took to the WDAE-AM 620 airwaves Friday for an exclusive sit down with host Steve Duemig and part of that chat was about ticket sales.

Bryan Glazer told fans to keep an eye on TicketMaster.com because the Bucs and Ticketmaster would be working to release a new round of $35 tickets for opening day. Well, Joe has been monitoring TicketMaster to see what would happen.

It seems that about 250 $35 tickets (including service charge) were released Sunday morning, and as of 10:30 a.m. Monday, about 40 remain in section 339. Unfortunately, there are still 2,000 or so end zone tickets available in the $105 class, per Tickemaster, and many in other price ranges.

Joe will continue monitoring the $35 ticket availability. And there’s always The Blackout Tour with free beer and wings if you can’t afford or physically handle attending opening day.

It’s a lousy looking beach and barbecue day, so head on over to Derby Lane in St. Petersburg for spectacular live greyhound racing and 99-cent hamburgers, hot dogs and ice cream, and FREE cash!

Gates open at 11:30 a.m. and racing starts at 12:30 p.m.

After races No. 1 thru No. 10, Derby Lane will randomly draw a $250 cash prize winner! How sweet would that be in your pocket? You must be present to win.

Don’t forget. Derby Lane has the best poker room in the Tampa Bay area and, in simulcast wagering, today is the final day of racing at the legendary Saratoga Race Course. Watch and wager on 2012 Kentucky Derby hopefuls in the Three Chimeys stakes. That race goes off about 4:50 p.m.

It’s a great day of action at Derby Lane, one of Joe’s favorite places.

Last week Bucs officials all but stated the season opener against the Lions this coming Sunday would be blacked out.

This news was hardly a revelation. The Lions are not a team that draws in fans like the Cowboys, for example.

Bucs officials noted that at normal sales rates, it would take something unforeseen to see 10,000+ tickets to an early, steamy September game gobbled up in less than a week, to meet the Thursday, 1 p.m. deadline to avoid an NFL mandated blackout.

Could that unforeseen event be Lee Roy Selmon’s passing?

Surely with the game being on Sept. 11, the 10th anniversary of demented animals flying planes kamikaze-style into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and a cornfield in Pennsylvania, murdering thousands and leaving countless innocents maimed, the victims and their families will be honored and remembered leaguewide at games.

But with yesterday’s passing of Bucs great Selmon, a beloved figure throughout the Tampa Bay community, the Bucs will almost assuredly honor the man prior to kickoff. A moment of silence will certainly be in order.

Sunday’s game will likely be a very public memorial service of sorts for Selmon.

Joe was a guest on Rays Rev Radio podcast last night (after a few adult beverages no less), produced by Raysheads Matt Sinn and Mike Weber, both producers at Joe’s proud media partner, WTSP-TV Channel 10. During the podcast, Sinn wondered aloud if fans wanting to pay tribute to Selmon will buy up the remaining tickets to not just sell the game out, but avoid a blackout?

It’s an interesting thought that Joe admitted right away to Sinn he never thought of.

It is a salient point by Sinn. It will be an emotional day, not just because of the memories of a dark day for America 10 years ago, but to honor a fallen man that meant so much to both the Bucs, and the Tampa Bay area in so many ways.

Will Selmon’s death motivate Bucs fans to pay homage to the man, despite all the reasons fans cite for not going to games?

We shall see in just a handful of days.

This time it is all too accurate.

Lee Roy Selmon, Mr. Buccaneer, the lone player from the Bucs who has his bust enshrined in Canton, the very first player drafted by the Bucs in team history, the man who started the football program at USF, has passed away.

Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune has the sad details.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Hall of Fame defensive end Lee Roy Selmon died this afternoon, two days after suffering a massive stroke.

Selmon, 56, was admitted to St. Joseph’s Hospital Friday. A steady stream of family and former teammates have been visiting Selmon over the weekend to offer support for the first player indicted into Tampa Bay’s Ring of Honor and to his family members.

Selmon’s teammates are being notified now of his death.

To paraphrase Doug Williams, Selmon’s teammate with the Bucs, who was quoted  by Kaufman today, Joe doesn’t know what to say.

Perhaps, a humble “thank you” is in order?

Condolences to the Selmon family.

Nicole Darin, of Joe’s partner WTSP-TV Channel 10, has quoted via Twitter a statement of Selmon’s passing from his family.

“It is with very heavy hearts that the Selmon Family announces the passing of our beloved husband, father and brother, Lee Roy Selmon.”

The Glazer Family, owners of the Bucs, also released a statement on Selmon’s passing.

“Tampa Bay has lost another giant. This is an incredibly somber day for Buccaneer fans, Sooner fans, and all football fans. Lee Roy’s standing as the first Buc in the Hall of Fame surely distinguished him, but his stature off the field as the consummate gentleman put him in another stratosphere. Put simply, he was first class. He was the real deal. We are so blessed to have known this fine man and to have called him one of our own, yet so sad to have lost him so soon. Our hearts go out to the Selmon family at this time of their loss.”

The Bucs moved quickly to add a sixth linebacker to the roster today, as Joe projected this morning. There was just no way the Bucs would only have five entering the season.

The newest Buccaneer is veteran LB Zac Diles, per ProFootballTalk.com via the Twittering of agent Jim Thomas.

Diles, 26, started 30 games for the Texans over the past three seasons at weakside and strongside linebacker. He was signed as a free agent by the Rams this offseason and cut after St. Louis’ final preseason game.

Joe wonders what Buccaneer will be sent home sobbing to make room for Diles.

Sniffing around the Detroit area newspapers, Joe found season predictions from four Lions columnists and beat writers at the Detriot Free Press.

Not a one picks the Bucs to make the playoffs.

Joe’s read a lot of predictions across the country, and it seems the pundits are united on the Bucs being an emerging, exciting young team. But few, if any, are buying that the Bucs are ready to step forward in the wins column. Joe suspects Raheem Morris is elated that the media are non-believers when it comes to the Bucs’ goal of winning the NFC South.

Joe doesn’t care either way, but it’s always interesting to hear what is being said about the team around the country.

For those seeking an uplifiting moment, Lions beat writer Dave Birkett is on record writing that the Bucs will beat the Lions on opening day. And Chucky thinks the Lions will win six or less all season, so he blabbered on BSPN this week.

There’s no question that rockstar Bucs general manager Mark Dominik worked through the night scouring the overflowing NFL trash bin after yesterday’s leaguewide cuts.

Joe’s not about to sit here and predict any specific player acquisition, other than Dominik is sure to make at least a couple of plays and the Bucs seem certain to grab a linebacker very soon. There are only five on the roster.

Stephen Holder, of the St. Pete Times, offered up his take on Dominik’s cuts and next moves, some of which Joe disagrees with, such as this one on running backs.

RBs Allen Bradford/Mossis Madu: The Bucs kept sixth-round pick Bradford but released Madu, which seems a bit curious based on preseason performance. The Bucs have a group of backs who are very similar in that none of them possesses the quickness or elusiveness of Madu. LeGarrette Blount, Earnest Graham, Kregg Lumpkin and Bradford are all on the bigger side and run with power — not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Madu will be on the practice squad, which will give him additional opportunity to show his talents to the Bucs’ coaches. But, for now, the Bucs have opted to go without Madu’s skill set, which differs from the other backs who remain on the roster.

Madu had a nothing-special college career that included a drunk driving charge with a very high blood alcohol level. Dominik clearly has little, if any, interest in a scatback type, so Joe never saw any chance for Madu over Bradford. Feel free to read all of Holder’s thoughts by clicking through above.

Bradford, recruited to Southern California as a linebacker, was a special teams ace in college and seemed to embrace the role with the Bucs. John Lynch even gushed over his touchdown saving tackle and hustle in Washington.

This afternoon, the Glazer Family, which owns the Bucs, issued a release concerning the lone former Bucs player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Lee Roy Selmon.

From the very start, Lee Roy Selmon has been there for his team and community. Now, he and the whole Selmon family should know that our family and the entire Buccaneer organization is thinking of and praying for him.

For those waking from a deep sleep, Selmon suffered a stroke in his Tampa home Friday afternoon and, after initially thought to have passed, his brother Dewey and former teammate told the Tampa Tribune Saturday he was stable and improving.

As Joe stated before, if the power of well wishes can rally someone, then Selmon should get a lift from the massive amount of concern so many have for a man who means so much to the area.

CB D.J. Johnson also joined the Bucs secondary over Ahmad Black

Safety Ahmad Black learned the meaning of the “not for long” cliche in a big way today.

The Bucs kept rookie safety Devin Holland, undrafted out of McNeese State, and waived goodbye to Black, their 2011 fifth round pick and former Florida Gators standout and Lakeland High star.

That seems to be Holland’s third crushing blow of the preseason. The first two, on punt coverage against  Kansas City and New England, drew fines from NFL hatchetman Roger Goodell.

At least now Holland can afford those fines, which totalled $15,000, per figures on ProFootballTalk.com.

Joe wonders whether the Bucs’ brass considers Black a bust, or whether this Holland kid is just a gem of a find. Regardless, Black got a high ankle sprain at precisely the wrong time.

Versatile Alex Magee, who had two sacks for the Bucs last year, and sackless Kyle Moore were sent packing tonight, but defensive end George Johnson made the cut.

No, not the legendary NBA shot blocker, last year’s practice squad member out of Rutgers that had a great preseason and beat out a couple of guys with a lot of games under their belt. Joe wonders whether Alex Magee’s weed issues worked against him.

Joe has learned that Johnson and Raheem Morris share the same agent, which never hurts a young man’s chances. And Joe can attest there’s always an extra bond among Jersey guys like Raheem and Johnson. Here’s part of his bio from Buccaneers.com:

Johnson signed with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent on May 3 after impressing in the team’s rookie mini-camp on a tryout contract.  At Rutgers, the 6-4, 265-pound pass-rusher played in 38 games and compiled 132 tackles, 13 sacks, 31.5 tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, two interceptions and three passes defensed.  Though his collegiate career was hampered by a string of injuries, Johnson still peaked as a senior in 2009 with 6.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss.

Johnson showed a great motor during the preseason, and Joe’s pleased to see the kid get a real shot. Now Johnson can pray Mark Dominik doesn”t go on a “second draft” shopping spree in the coming hours, which could put him out of a job.

It is official. The Bucs made their final cuts to get to the league-ordered 53-man roster.

There aren’t any real shocks here but a few surprises that made Joe raise an eyebrow.

Per Buccaneers.com, here are the victims: The highest-profile may be fifth round draft pick Ahmad Black.

RB Armando Allen
C Matt Allen
T Will Barker
S Ahmad Black
T Cory Brandon
QB Rudy Carpenter
G Thomas Claiborne
QB Jonathan Crompton
G Marc Dile (injury settlement)
WR Ed Gant
TE Daniel Hardy
S Dominique Harris
LB Brandon Heath
LB Simoni Lawrence
RB Mossis Madu
DE Alex Magee
LB Tyrone McKenzie
DE Kyle Moore
TE Nathan Overbay
WR Maurice Price (injury settlement)
TE Ryan Purvis
LB/FB Nick Reveiz
K Jacob Rogers
LB Derrell Smith
DT Al Woods

Purvis getting sliced is a bit of surprise and something tells Joe that Hardy may be a practice squad target.

Gant is a slight surprise only that Joe thought he did a fine job when called up. Joe was certain Preston Parker was on thin ice.

Updated just prior to 3 p.m. today, Tampa Tribune reporter Joey Johnston spoke with Lee Roy Selmon’s brother Dewey Selmon, also a former Bucs defensive lineman, and learned Lee Roy Selmon perhaps has turned the corner to improvement.

Lee Roy Selmon was struck down by a stroke Friday at his Tampa home.

Per Johnston, via Dewey Selmon, the lone Bucs player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame is in stable condition.

A nursing supervisor listed Selmon, 56, in critical condition as of early this afternoon.

Dewey Selmon said he was told the first 48 hours following a stroke are important and a more definitive condition could be known by the conclusion of the weekend.

“Lee Roy knows that a lot of people care about him and are praying for him,” Dewey Selmon said. “He knows that.”

Also per Johnston, who quoted a former teammate who visited Selmon in the hospital, Selmon was responsive and could recognize family members.

There’s a lot of information in Johnston’s story so Joe suggests you click on the link.

Com’ on, Lee Roy. You’ve got a whole community (Tampa Bay) and a state (Oklahoma) pulling for you man.

Last year the Bucs offensive line seemed to get better as the season wore on, which was very strange.

Why strange? Because injuries decimated the line. Jeremy Trueblood was hurt late in the season and the Bucs had lost Davin Joseph. They also lost Jeff Faine. At times, the Bucs were down three starters.

Yet the team got better up front, which is virtually unheard of.

A lot of people believed the way backup tackle James Lee played ahead of Trueblood, that the young man had beaten out Trueblood for the starting gig at right tackle.

But thus far in preseason, Trueblood has regained his starting role and Jame Lee, playing as a backup left tackle and right tackle, is a shell of his 2010 self.

Some fans wondered if Lee would make the final roster cut he struggled so bad. But not to fear, says ESPN’s Pat Yasinskas. He believes Lee still has a shot of unseating Trueblood, so he mentioned in a recent BSPN NFC South chat.

Andrew Hawkins (WV)

Hey not sure if it went through because it froze up but who do you think should be starting – Trueblood or Lee? I know Trueblood is paid like a starter but I think Lee looks better out there.

Pat Yasinskas

Think they’ll give Trueblood first shot. If he struggles, then you could see a switch.

Yes, there was no question Lee had a rough preseason. But Joe believes part of that is he was playing the left side of the line. For whatever reason, some linemen just play better on one side of the ball; it fits there skill set sometimes.

Joe believes this may very well be the case with Lee. But the way he played in preseason, Trueblood likely would have to impersonate a turnstile for a few games for Lee to dethrone Trueblood.