The panel of Pro Football Talk on TV, Erik Kuselias, Ross Tucker, Shaun King and the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com, the great Mike Florio, discuss how Darrelle Revis will work out for the Bucs in this NBC Sports video.

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The Kregg Lumpkin Experience was among the dark days of Buccaneer football.

Please don’t ask Joe to rehash that. So Joe’s confident the Bucs are not going to dare leave their running back cupboard poorly stocked in 2013, especially when they’ve invested a king’s ransom along their offensive line and they lack a quarterback who can put the team on his back week in and week out.

That would be foolish and short-sighted.

This is why Joe finds all the local and national speculation about LeGarrette Blount getting traded during the NFL draft rather silly.

Blount, with one year left on his contract, has little trade value. Heck, most starting running backs don’t have trade value, and Blount’s a backup. It’s just not a position that carries a load of value in NFL circles because great running backs often can be developed after coming out of the draft’s later rounds and off the street.

Maybe, miraculously, rockstar general manager Mark Dominik could nab a fifth-round pick for Blount. But would that be worth it?

If Doug Martin gets hurt, do Bucs fans really want Brian Leonard and/or captain inactive Michael Smith carrying the load? Or an undrafted rookie or late-round pick? This is supposed to be a playoff-ready team.

Again, Joe knows Greg Schiano wants to pound the rock relentlessly if his Pro Bowl guards Carl Nicks and Davin Joseph come back strong. And anyone paying attention knows Blount could do serious damage if thrust into an opportunity. Why would Schiano want to ditch good insurance on Martin?

Joe will be stunned if the Bucs trade Blount in favor of a lesser backup or a little-known rookie.

Joe has a hunch a number of Bucs fans have been virtually sleepless this week. With Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik landing star cornerback Darrelle Revis and the NFL draft just a few hours away, these are exciting times.

But there is one man out there throwing the proverbial wet blanket on people. That would be prickly Pete Prisco of CBS Sports. The scourge of Twitter, Prisco is adamant Dominik may have made a terrible rush to grab Revis, and went on “Booger and Rich” on WHFS-FM this week to explain why he doesn’t like the deal.

“I don’t. Look, it’s not like I don’t if Revis is the pre-injury Revis, then it is a heck of a deal. That’s the uncertainty. We don’t know. They can talk about they looked at his knee, they studied his knee. Doctors did everything they could to check out his knee. But until you can get on a football field and plant and turn and cut and run, nobody has any idea if he is the same player,” Prisco said.

“Now it is possible he can be the same player? Absolutely it is possible. It is possible he is not the same player? Yes it is. And if he is not the same player, then it is a bad deal. If he is, then it is a good deal. Me? I’m not taking that risk.

“I think Mark Dominik has done a nice job in Tampa, just not this move.”

Now Joe can’t argue with Prisco. He makes valid points and this scared Joe before the trade. Seeing what Dominik (didn’t) give up in return for Revis calmed Joe considerably.

Joe would have to admit a hobbled Revis is likely better than a healthy Myron Lewis. So all would not be lost if Revis were not 100 percent.

“The entire offseason, I’ve been in constant communication with coach on football-related issues, life-related things. Coach and I have a great relationship. Every now and again people would call and say, ‘What’s up with your coach?’ We know how it is and it’s something that I’m not too concerned about. I’m living it and I know how it is.” — Josh Freeman, asked about speculation that he and Greg Schiano have a bad relationship. (Transcription via WTSP-TV).

CBS Sports senior NFL writer Pete Prisco, and others in the media, have said repeatedly that Greg Schiano and Josh Freeman have a strained relationship.

Frankly, Joe doesn’t buy it and Joe finds the whole premise ridiculous.

In addition to yesterday’s Freeman quote above, Joe doesn’t see any need for Freeman and Schiano to be all huggy and tight. It just doesn’t matter, nor is it important. It’s not like Schiano is Chucky or Sean Peyton calling plays and completely up the ass of the offense.

All Freeman and Schiano need is mutual respect. And Joe’s very confident that exists. Listening to Freeman communicate over the years, Joe can say that he’s the ultimate company man. Hell, Schiano (over two offseasons) has yet to bring in any viable competition for Freeman. That’s hardly a head coach that has a problem with his QB.

Now if Freeman keeps throwing away games, and the Bucs play well around him, then Joe could surely see Schiano advising Team Glazer and rockstar general manager Mark Dominik that he wants a new QB so the team can have a shot at a Super Bowl.

Even if that happens, Joe still would doubt that Schiano and Freeman would have a bad relationship in 2013. It’s not like Schiano is going to yank Freeman in favor of Dan Orlovsky or a rookie. If Schiano sours on Freeman, it’ll be because Freeman earned it on the field.

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Newly minted Bucs cornerback Darrelle Revis discusses his trade to Tampa Bay from the New York Jets with his sports radio nemesis, “The Pope,” Mike Francesa of WFAN-AM in this YES Network video.

Is Logan Ryan the next Buccaneer Man?

Look, Joe would wager a reasonable amount of cash on the Bucs drafting a cornerback on Friday. They really almost have to.

The Bucs’ cornerback depth is suspect, plus Eric Wright and Darrelle Revis are coming off injuries and Wright, if successful in 2013, will command a massive payday the Bucs would unlikely cough up in 2014.

So what corner might the Bucs draft?

Well, Joe found it interesting that former Rutgers stud cornerback Logan Ryan, projected to be a second- or third-round pick just so happened to train this offseason in Arizona with Revis, so he told NJ.com

“I feel like I’m training with one of the best defensive back coaches in the country in Will Sullivan and this is where Darrelle Revis is rehabbing. I’m learning a lot from him, just being around him every day and picking his brain. So I have that and the guy who trains Darrelle Revis, among many other great defensive backs, working with me.”

Ryan’s known for being extremely physical and a sure tackler, and he seems like the prototype Buccaneer Man, given his Schiano-Rutgers connection and his success in the classroom. Ryan’s primary measurables (5-11, 191, 4.56 40-yard dash), won’t wow anyone to much, but he was healthy and very productive in college. Will Revis endorse him?

Joe also heard an interview recently with weed-friendly, former LSU star cornerback Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu on 98.7 FM. Mathieu, still just 20 years old, also talked about how Revis was in touch with him regularly to offer support and counseling.

It’s telling — in a good way — how Revis is eager to reach out and lead outside his own locker room.

“The Pope,” Mike Francesa of WFAN-AM in New York, gives his windy, rambling take on the Bucs landing Jets star cornerback Darrelle Revis in this YES Network video.

This week, general Mark Dominik reminded fans there are now eight young Pro Bowlers on the Bucs roster.

Joe’s really enjoyed the win-now attitude pulsating through the Tampa Bay area since Darrelle Revis drained the green blood from his veins and joined Tampa Bay.

Joe can’t find a Bucs fan talking about the future; it’s all about pounding the Jets on opening day and marching toward a winning season and a playoff berth.

Hell, even rockstar general manager Mark Dominik got into it by reminding Bucs fans this week there are now eight Pro Bowlers on the roster. For those counting, that’s Dashon Goldson, Darrelle Revis, Gerald McCoy, Vincent Jackson, Doug Martin, Carl Nicks, Davin Joseph and Donald Penn.

And only one of those guys is 30 years old! (Jackson turned 30 in January.)

Imagine having eight young Pro Bowl veterans on a roster, plus emerging stars like Mike Williams and Lavonte David, and not having a winning ball club. Joe wouldn’t want to be a head coach who has to face ownership after that.

There’s a mountain of pressure on the New Schiano Order to produce. It doesn’t matter that it’s only the second season of Greg Schiano’s regime. Dominik has dropped a load of talent in Schiano’s lap, and hopefully more to come in the draft. Dominik, too, is under a heat lamp. NFL general managers rarely survive three consecutive losing seasons.

This is all good for Bucs fans, who have been yearning for a season to legitimately expect greatness from their team.

News of Jets star cornerback Darrelle Revis in Tampa over the weekend for a physical and an eventual trade made waves in the area not seen outside of a tropical storm.

Well, the rumblings are now being felt in other areas of the NFC South. Tuesday, Dixie Chicks star quarterback “Matty Ice,” Matt Ryan, appeared on NFL Network and was asked about Revis on the Bucs.

Let’s just say Revis now has the full attention of Matty Ice.

“He is a great player, he really is,” Ryan said. “He is one of the best if not the best in the NFL. He will make our jobs even tougher. [The Bucs] already have a solid defense. The addition of Darrelle makes them even tougher. It’s a good pickup. Makes our division even tougher.”

As Joe has written previously, the one player that Drew Brees and Cam Newton and Matty Ice are going to learn so much about that they can recite their high school stats in their sleep will be Eric Wright.

If Revis is remotely the player he was before his ACL injury, quarterbacks are not going to throw to his side. Rather, they are going to pick on Wright. If Brees or Newton or Ryan put up 35 passes against the Bucs, Joe is confident you can lay a week’s paycheck that 15 of those passes are going to be thrown at Wright.

As part of his media blitz upon landing in Tampa Bay, new Bucs cornerback Darrelle Revis spent a few minutes with Joe’s good friend, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620. At times while playing in New York, Revis was unfairly labeled as not being a team guy. Duemig asked Revis to clear up this notion.

“A lot of people thought you were a locker room cancer,” Duemig said. “I talked to enough people where I don’t think that at all. Can you address that?”

“There is really nothing to address,” Revis said. “I was one of the leaders on the team on the New York Jets. To me, that is just he-say, they-say, she-say, whoever-say. I never asked to leave the Jets. The Jets got something in return for this, too. It’s a new chapter for everybody, the New York Jets and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“Everybody I think is happy in this. I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m happy to be a part of Bucs Nation. I’m happy to be a Buccaneer.”

Revis also talked about the NFC South, his new division.

“I did my research on this division and I played against this division a couple of years ago,” Revis said. “It is tough and one of the best [divisions] as far as passing attack teams. There are so many guys that are all-stars and playmakers on their teams [in the NFC South]. The big part as I looked at is the team Tampa has here. I think Tampa is awesome. They had a good team here before me. I am just a piece of the puzzle. I will try to do everything I can , and my teammates I am sure will to, to help us win games.”

To hear the entire interview, click the arrow below.

CBSSports.com columnist Mike Freeman explains to Tim Brando, host of The Tim Brando Show on CBS Sports Network, how much he respects Darrelle Revis and why the Bucs got a steal last weekend.

Draft junkies drooled over University of Texas receiver and Olympic runner Marquise Goodwin ripping off a 4.27 second 40-yard dash in February at the NFL Scouting Combine. And Goodwin is projected to take his skill set to the NFL in the third round of this week’s draft.

Former Bucs quarterback and current NBC Sports Network NFL analyst Shaun King wants the Bucs to pounce on Goodwin if he’s available in the Round 3, so King said on WDAE-AM 620 yesterday.

“He’s very Tavon Austin–like, but one thing this team has not had is a dynamic special teams presence. So I would like us to come out of this draft with a guy who can return punts, who can return kicks, that is a threat,” King said.

Joe is just not confident the Bucs would use Goodwin enough to justify the pick.

The New Schiano Order soured in a hurry on the 4.3 speed of rookie Michael Smith last year.  Captain of the inactive list, Smith was drafted in the seventh round and was the opening day kickoff return man but never saw the field again.

Goodwin did not return punts at Texas and was strong but not spectacular on kickoffs — 13 kickoff returns for 327 yards and no touchdowns in 2012.

As far as Goodwin’s potential role in the Bucs offense, Joe’s just not envisioning the Bucs getting creative to let a small receiver like Goodwin (5-9) have an impact. Joe would rather see the Bucs invest in a tight end that has the speed to get open up the seam and change a defense.

Despite all the hoopla over at One Buc Palace this week over the trade by Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik to land star cornerback Darrelle Revis, the mystery of Ronde Barber continues.

Barber has met at least twice with Bucs officials since the end of the season, and he’s transforming into the Tampa Bay area’s version of Brett Favre. In the latter years of Favre’s career, the star quarterback played cat and mouse with the Packers and Vikings, unable seemingly to decide if he wanted to hang up his cleats or continue to play football.

Appearing with the one and only Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on Mad Dog Radio yesterday, heard exclusively on SiriusXM Radio, eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune seemed to get the idea that Revis’ acquisition may signal the end of Barber’s career.

The Bucs’ secondary “looks a lot better because they got Revis,” Kaufman told Russo. “You watched him up close and personal. You know that he is a difference maker.  So all of a sudden the secondary doesn’t look so bad. [Dashon] Goldson is a good payer from San Francisco. He’s a big hitter across the middle. [Mark] Barron struggles in coverage but he is a big hitter. Look, they still need a corner.

“We don’t know about Ronde. We don’t know if this is more likely or less likely if Barber comes back for Season 17. The Bucs are a better team. That might intrigue Barber, but Chris, he will have to play a marginal role. He can play nickel and dime. I don’t know if he wants to go out that way. We have to find out about Barber but when you get a Revis, your secondary all of a sudden got better.”

Now Joe asked Bucs coach Greg Schiano if the team had a deadline when they needed to hear from Barber, yay or nay, on his return. Schiano stressed there was no immediate deadline but at some point (as training camp nears) the team may have to move on.

Remember this was before the Bucs got Revis. It’s pretty clear that as of right now, your Bucs starting secondary will be Revis, Barron, Goldson and Eric Wright. The Bucs got Barber to move to safety for a reason last season.

Would Barber want to be a second-stringer for his final NFL season? Joe confesses he is not sure. Revis said yesterday he would look forward to playing with Barber. He may not get the chance.

Former Bucs quarterback Shaun King recently called for rockstar general manager Mark Dominik to be relieved of his personnel duties. However, yesterday King praised the totality of the Darrelle Revis trade for the Bucs, though he said the move for Revis is “not the ideal way to build a championship team that’s going to be consistent over a long period of time.”

King, one of three quarterbacks to lead the Bucs to the NFC Championship game, said this is a true “win-now” move for the Bucs and he’s felt the “shockwaves throughout the NFC South” via his national work for NBC Sports Network.

Joe will bring an intriguing draft nugget later from Kings’ appearance on WDAE-AM 620. But you’re welcome to listen to his entire interview below.

Rockstar general manager Mark Dominik often talks about constant planning for future seasons, and since it’s now crystal clear the Bucs are banking on a big year for Eric Wright, Joe sees this combination as almost forcing the Bucs to draft a cornerback on Friday, if not moving up to the first round on Thursday.

Wright is a free agent after this season, thanks to his restructured post-Adderrall deal. If Wright performs like the Bucs hope, he’ll be a 28-year-old cornerback waiting on a massive payday come winter.

Would the Bucs really want to tie up, say, $22 million a year on two cornerbacks?

Joe seriously doubts that would happen. That’s why Joe figures the Bucs want to draft and develop Wright’s replacement in 2013. Let the best available cornerback come in now and learn from Revis and plus Wright to a lesser extent.

Yeah, Dominik said yesterday that the Bucs signing Darrelle Revis means they’re no longer held “as hostage to a cornerback” in the draft, but Joe’s not buying it, not without Ronde Barber in the house. The Bucs still need quality depth at the position.