As regular readers of Joe know, Joe is very, very, very fond of Pat Kirwan. The former front office executive and current NFL analyst for NFL.com, Sirius NFL Radio and CBS Sports, Kirman does hours upon hours of research, talks personally with some of the game’s heaviest hitters and is as knowledgeable about the NFL as one can get. Kirwan is geeked about the Bucs. He believes the offense has the three most important weapons. Kirwan loves Josh Freeman and Kirwan explains in detail in this CBSSports.com video how he believes the Bucs will be a force… next year.

You’ve all read THE PESSIMIST, who spews his Bucs-related anger like no other. But Joe also wants you to know THE OPTIMIST. 

THE OPTIMIST is Nick Houllis, a Bucs fan and an accomplished writer whose steadfast allegiance to the team goes back to the 1970s. Houllis is the founder, creator and guru of BucStop.com, a place Joe goes to get lost in time via Houllis’ stunning video collection.

THE OPTIMIST will shine that positive light in your eyes. Some will love it. Some won’t.

The NY Giants are folding about as bad as the 2008 Bucs, and now that Atlanta lost, Chicago should be fighting for that bye week. I don’t know if those teams can win or not Sunday. But I do know one thing; The Bucs can beat the Saints.

Now of course you’d expect nothing less of me, but I was always taught you could have any opinion in the world if you can back it up; so here is why:

1) The Bucs have beaten the Saints in New Orleans two of the last three years and five of the last seven. In 2006, the Saints had a very powerful offense with new quarterback Drew Brees, yet the Bucs only lost 24-21 behind the arm of Bruce Gradkowski. The next year Brees was having another solid season, yet the Bucs won behind the throwing of Luke McCown. Then last year, even though the Saints lost their first game of the season to the Cowboys the week before, they came into the Bucs game needing to win to keep home field advantage alive. They got beat by a 2-12 Bucs team with rookie QB Josh Freeman.

2) The Bucs match up well against the Saints. Take away the game in Tampa a few months ago; most of the Bucs wins in New Orleans were countered with blowout losses to the Saints at home. Last year Josh Freeman was 21-of-31 for 271 yards and two interceptions. This season, Freeman is a very different QB than the one Tony Siragusa told “Enjoy the win Rookie” at the end of last season. Freeman studied with Brees in the offseason, and shows the maturity of a fourth or fifth-year quarterback.more. The biggest difference, though, is the Bucs rushing attack that was the difference in the upset last year. In 2010, the Bucs are going to bring the leagues seventh-ranked rushing offense averaging 128 yards per game behind rookie phenom LeGarret Blount

3) The Saints havn’t impressed anyone with their 11-4 record; they lost to the Browns and Cardinals, both teams the Bucs beat this year. They started off the season beating the Vikings by a mere five points, and then beat the 49ers by an equally unimpressive three points. After losing to Atlanta, the Saints beat Carolina by two points. The Saints peaked around the middle of the season, but have snuck by Dallas by three, then beating the Bengals by a whopping four points. You know that Drew Brees is going to have a good day, but last year he tossed for an incredible 87% (32-of-37) yet still lost the game.

Oddsmakers have the Saints favored to win the game, but Tampa Bay has been having great success replacing injured players with young, hungry newcomers who struggle when they are first put it, but after a few games to settle down, play at a high level. A lot like what happened against the Seahawks on the defensive side of the ball.

Are the Bucs going to be tested? Sure. To be certain the Saints are a dangerous and powerful team trying to defend their title as Super Bowl champions. But the Bucs have won games like this before with far less talent on offense, and after their first loss to a team with a losing record two weeks ago, are looking to get their first win against a team with a winning mark.

And with playoffs on the line, it would make their season; kind of like their win in New Orleans did last year.

He has been dogged (more like a good ribbing) by his head coach since the summer. He was finally benched for a lack of production last week.

Given the fact Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik has already gone on record talking about a deep defensive end draft class as early as last year, the stars are not pointing favorably for defensive end Stylez White, so reports eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune.

“I’m thinking about going out with a bang,” said White, who doesn’t have a contract for the 2011 season. “I won’t be thinking about it before the game, but I’m a human being and it’s been on my mind. I’d love to finish my career here, but if it doesn’t happen, I won’t have any regrets.”

Stylez’s season smells an awful lot of Chris Hovan’s last season. Stylez, who has 4.5 sacks this season and none since November, is a veteran at a position where the Bucs sorely need an upgrade, much like Hovan was last year.

Unless the Bucs win along with the Bears and Redskins Sunday, Stylez may be in his final game as a Bucs defensive end.

That’s OK with Stylez, suggests Kaufman. It appears, per Kaufman, that Stylez is acting like the Saints game may be his final Bucs game.

Fullback Earnest Graham was spotted on the sidelines of practice yesterday wearing an ominous neck brace resulting from an injury he received in the blowout win over the Seahawks.

Last night while fielding questions from fans on WDAE-AM 620, rock star general manager Mark Dominik confirmed Graham would not play Sunday at New Orleans.

Speaking to video star Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune earlier today, Graham poo-poohed the wearing of the neck brace and vowed that the injury was minor.

However, Graham said he only has a “neck strain” and does not believe his injury is career threatening. Graham will not play against New Orleans on Sunday.

“The brace is more precautionary than anything,” Graham said. “I’m happy because things could have been a lot worse.”

A messed up neck in football is not something to fool around with. It could be very serious and/or lead to something dreadful. Joe hopes Graham isn’t using some false sense of bravado in claiming the neck injury is minor.

Generally, people don’t wear neck braces because they slept on the pillow the wrong way the night before.

Yes, there is an expert that picks the Bucs to not only beat the Saints but get in the playoffs after losses by the Giants and Redskins on Sunday.

As a former dreaded division rival of the Bucs, Joe can’t throw too much love at Sterling Sharpe, who now spends his time spewing analysis on NFL Network. But Sharpe is the mad genius who believes Tampa Bay will be playing playoff football in eight or nine days.

Sharpe believes.

For Joe’s young readers who don’t remember Sharpe, the guy was running a fly route to the Hall of Fame as a wide receiver for the Packers, before a neck injury ended his career in 1994 after only seven seasons.

Not right now, but come kickoff, Joe will have his heart in the moment and believe, as well. Joe would love nothing more than to crack open a stout cold beer about 8 p.m. on Sunday and making plans to watch — or attend — the Bucs’ playoff game.

The perfect storm for Joe would be somehow Chucky’s broadcast crew gets the Bucs playoff game.

Joe would get quite a kick out of hearing Chucky taking credit for grooming Raheem and spouting off about how his allegedly beloved ex-players, “Let me tell you Jaws, scouting this Jeremy Zuttah kid, I knew he was smart enough to learn every position in my playbook.”

What’s more fun that watching Mike Mayock break down film on NFL Network?

Well, Joe can think of a lot things. But it’s still great, unless your chosen television provider denies you NFL Network thus urinating on the desires of Bucs fans.

Follow this link to see Mayock carve up some of Josh Freeman’s play against Seattle. Fun stuff.

It’s not all positive, but Mayock is steadfast in his belief that the Bucs have a big time, franchise quarterback. Joe’s not going to argue with the guy.

For her final appearance this season, the gorgeous Jenny Dell looks positively ravishing in some peach-colored, form-fitting number, apparently back from a trip somewhere warm for the holidays. As usual in this BSPN video, Jenny was spouting some statistical nonsense and frankly, Joe didn’t hear a word she said.  Joe’s going to miss Jenny. Sigh.

Heading toward unrestricted free agency, Cadillac Williams will be a man without a team in a matter of weeks, unless the Bucs offer him a new deal.

Will the Bucs pay what is necessary to keep him in Tampa?

Amazingly, Cadillac has proven that he’s 100 percent healthy, having not missed a game in 2009 and 2010. And with 46 receptions and loads of intangibles, Joe would imagine 28-year-old Cadillac would command some interest on the open market, even if he’s not a starting caliber running back. 

After Raheem Morris said Monday on WDAE-AM 620 that he wants Cadillac to return in a big way, it seems the only way Cadillac won’t be a Buccaneer next season is if he doesn’t want to be, or Mark Dominik and Team Glazer don’t want to meet his contract demands.

Raheem was very clear that he wants Caddy on his team.

“You know the job that Cadillac has done for our football team this year has been unbelievable,” Raheem said. “Caddy really goes in there in our third-down package. He’s our veteran leader. He leads that room. He’s a team inspiration. For me, he’s a gameday captain, so to speak. He’s one of those guys that really means a lot to this football team. And really provides us with great carries and great minutes when he’s out there.

“He catches the ball extremely well. He’s an extremely great blocker for Freeman — keeps him protected. You know, he’s a very integral part to everything we’ve done this year and everything that we got, you know, hopefully planned on here. Hopefully, we can work something out and get him in for a while. He means a lot to this football team.”

So there you have it. In no uncertain terms, everyone’s favorite Coach of the Year hopeful wants Cadillac on his team.

Will he get him?

Joe doesn’t see how the Bucs could pass on Cadillac. Aside from his value as a role player, what kind of message would waving good-bye to him send the team? Nobody’s worked harder than Cadillac, who overcame horrific injuries, plus Raheem wants him.

Those who can’t get enough of Joe’s unmatched Bucs coverage on JoeBucsFan.com can listen to Joe every Thursday at 10:35 a.m. on The Ron and Ian Show on WDAE-AM 620.

Joe is a media partner of the good folks at 620, the Bay area’s top sports radio station and the Buccaneers’  and Rays’ flagship.

Joe has been a frequent guest on The Ron and Ian Show, but now there’s a set time to hear Joe talk all things Bucs.

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

Video star Anwar Richardson and Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune discuss how the Bucs can beat the Saints, a necessary win if the Bucs have any prayer of playing next week in the playoffs.

Richardson isn’t keen on the Bucs chances of winning Sunday. He suggests that Raheem Morris may need to venture into The Quarter and purchase a voodoo doll.

That stated, in this TBO Bucs vlog, Richardson spells out how the Bucs can beat the Saints.

Watch the video and let Joe know what you think of Richardson’s strategy.

Sitting down behind a radio microphone for some back and forth with fans on WDAE-AM 620 Wednesday night, Bucs rock star/general manager Mark Dominik was at ease talking about a variety of topics.

He even seemed genuinely sad his one-hour session was ending, saying he could talk Bucs football with fans for hours. 

Dominik touched on his scouting philosophy, among many other topics.

He explained what he and his staff studied on film was at the core of the sweeping personnel changes that took place before the 2009 season. Dominik explained why Ronde Barber made the cut and how he values film above all else when scouting a player.

“We really felt like Ronde Barber was playing good football for this football team. And he certainly has two years in a row now. You can’t tell me whether Ronde is 35 or 30 if you watch him on the football field,” Dominik said.

“They always say the eye in the eye in the sky doesn’t lie. And I’m a big believer in that. To that point of, you know, I’m not a great believer in going to pro days when it comes to college. …

“I want to sit back at home. I want to sit back at my office. I want to watch more tape. Because if the guy runs 4.74 at the combine, but plays 4.64, I really don’t care what he ran at the combine. And so I try to stay away from those things trying to influnce my opinion of the player or our opinion of the player.”

Dominik went on to explain that he doesn’t focus on what system a player is in at college. Although he said Josh Freeman was an exception because he was groomed in more of a pro-style offense at Kansas State and the team thought that would help him adapt to the NFL easily.

So what’s Dominik’s priority when scouting a player?

“Athletic ability plays into it dramatically. That’s a knee-bender, a guy that can really drop his weight. Those kinds of things and leverage,” Dominik said. “The decisions to draft Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams and certainly to claim LeGarrette Blount were those guys make huge yards after contact. 

“And it’s such a hidden yardage in the National Football League. Those and special teams yards are the two biggest hidden yardages and really can determine the outcome of a game.  It’s after the initial contact, how much strength can they fight through a tackle to get five, 10, 20, whatever it is. Those are kind of the traits I really look at when I watch a player.   That’s the same thing for a tackler … real functional strength on defense as well, in terms of how physical they were, how much strength and power they brought into their tackles, how many yards did the opponent get after they hit them. So we really look at athletic ability and functional strength.”

As for his early days in the Chiefs organization, Dominik said Marty Schottenheimer taught him to value what a receiver does after an interception because it shows the intesity of the player.

Dominik said Mike Williams had three tackles after interceptons last season in limited time at Syracuse. “That shows you a really competitive young man.”

Joe will bring you much more of Dominik’s comments through the day. 

The Bucs won’t be in good hands Sunday with “Insurance Graham,” as Raheem Morris nicknamed the Bucs’ starting fullback before the 2010 season kicked off.

Earnest Graham is injured and is won’t play in New Orleans, said Mark Dominik speaking tonight on WDAE-AM 620. Graham wore a neck brace in street clothes at practice today.

Graham finished the season playing 12 games (not the best insurance) with 20 rushes for 99 yards and one touchdown. He caught 16 balls for 130 yards and a TD.

Of course, Joe’s hoping for a playoff miracle, but it seems Graham is done for the season.

Joe expects Graham to return next season. Although he’s missed 13 games over the past three seasons, Graham’s versatility makes him too valuable to toss away.

The Bucs getting snubbed in the Pro Bowl selection process didn’t feel good to Raheem Morris. Usually Morris says those kinds of accolades are meaningless, but not today.

Speaking to the media at One Buc Palace today, Raheem was clear about his feelings on the Pro Bowl picks.

“It’s a little bit of a slap in the face,” Raheem said. “You got to say that’s part of the challenge. You know, once you get some national games, you get some primetime games out there and you make big time plays in those games, everybody sees them. For our fans to be able to see them, and it all plays a part, a couple of blackouts. We need everything to help us out with that stuff.”

Raheem went on to say he didn’t see everything as personal.

“I didn’t see it as a slap in the face when they said I was too young to coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It wasn’t a slap in the face when we went 3-13 and you were giving my job to [Bill] Cowher. None of those things are slaps in the face. It’s all our business. It’s the entertainment business,” Raheem said. “We got to earn our respect. And hopefully we can, and will.”

It’s good to hear Raheem has thick skin. He’ll need it in future years, when the pressure and expectations on the team really ratchets up.

Last Joe checked, Bradenton was about 45 minutes from One Buc Palace and had a good-sized daily newspaper, the Bradenton Herald.

But some marketing genius at the publication decided to stop having a beat writer cover the Bucs in recent years. Joe can only imagine a bunch of egghead editor types sitting in a conference room deciding that covering the Bucs wasn’t as important as keeping readers abreast of zoning board meetings, high school golf or flu shot availability.

So Joe was a bit stunned today to see a passionate, pro-Bucs column by Alan Dell on Bradenton.com. Dell tosses a grenade at those who think Mark Dominik and Raheem Morris aren’t geniuses.

Call them scavengers, masters of deception or simply lucky; say the chances they took were born from courage or desperation. But if what they did is a miracle in your eyes, be cognizant that it is what they set out to do.

Dominik has gained a deserved reputation as a man who can scour through the other team’s throw-aways and turn a discard into an NFL-looking first-round pick without the expense.

He has done it all season, keeping alive a team that has been on life support with eight starters and a total of 13 players sent to injured reserve.

But Dominik and Morris are not just bagmen hanging outside somebody’s training camp waiting for the Grim Reaper to deal a death blow to someone they can bring back to life.

They have thick skin and will not allow themselves to be intimidated.

No two people bore the brunt of more jokes last year than Morris and Dominik. It was the Cub Scout and his Scout master trying to grow into Boy Scouts, if you listened to their critics.

Joe advises you to click the link above, read the whole piece and even print it out. The way the Bradenton Herald covers the Bucs, it could become a collector’s item.

Justin Pawlowski may get his wish.

Joe’s good friend, radio personality and host of the “Blitz” sometimes broadcast on Saturdays on WDAE-AM 620 suggested that the Bucs running game is better off without Earnest Graham.

By appearances today at Bucs practice, it doesn’t look like Graham will play Sunday.

Twittering on the TBO Bucs Twitter feed, Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune reports an ominous sight at Bucs practice today.

Earnest Graham is watching practice today from the sidelines with a neck brace on.

Ouch. Graham was felled in the Bucs win against the Seahawks and didn’t return. Joe was not aware the injury was this serious that Graham is in a neck brace.

That doesn’t sound like Graham is playing Sunday.

“The Professor,” John Clayton, gushes over Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman in this BSPN video.

There’s a bit of disagreement around the JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters about Maurice Stovall. Hardly a classic debate like the one over Rachel Watson and Carmella Garcia, but conflict nonetheless.

Some see Stovall as an oft-injured career stiff who choked on special teams against the Falcons and cost the Bucs a shot in the playoffs. Others see him as a talented, dedicated 25-year-old that has a lot of value as a backup.

Stovall caught more balls from Josh Freeman last year than any other Bucs wide receiver. He was slated as a starter in August but missed most of the preseason with an ankle injury. He never got his job back.

Against Seattle, Stovall saw time filling in for Arrelious Benn and caught the Bucs’ fifth touchdown of the day. It was a tender moment for Raheem Morris, per his comments on WDAE-AM 620 on Monday night.

“It was great seeing Maurice Stovall getting into it,” Raheem said. “I don’t think people understand how much these guys care about their teammates. You know, it’s kind of hard to see because we look like these shallow, you know, hardened athletes. But when you see a guy like Maurice Stovall get out there and you know how hard he’s worked overcoming injury, overcoming losing his starting position, becoming a playmaker for us on special teams, and then going out there and having an opportunity to play again and catching a touchdown, it’s special for me at least.”

Raheem also praised Stovall for “sealing the edge” blocking on LeGarrette Blount’s hurdling breakout run.

With Sammie Stroughter banged up, Joe suspects Stovall will play an awful lot in New Orleans on Sunday. If any Buccaneer is playing for his job next season, it’s Stovall.

What a great opportunity this evening for the loudmouth Bucs fans.

Bucs general manager Mark Dominik will take to the airwaves on WDAE-AM 620 at 6 p.m. and take phone calls from fans.

It’s a Buccaneers Radio Network production, and Joe assumes callers will be free to pepper Dominik with questions as soon as host Scott Ledger is finished praising him.

Joe thinks this is pretty cool of Dominik to embrace fans on live radio. Of course, Joe will bring you highlights if you can’t tune in.