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Sam Bradford talks could kickstart McCoy negotiations

Word is Sam Bradford's representatives are meeting with the Rams today, presumably to begin contract talks for the No. 1 overall draft pick.

And that's good news for Tampa Bay Bucs fans. 

The Bucs' Gerald McCoy, the third overall pick, remains unsigned. But it's important to remember he is represented by the same firm as Bradford.

Why should that matter? Because draft pick negotiations have, in part, become a waiting game as agents wait around for players drafted in the same vicinity to sign their deals, giving the agents a better sense of whether their own clients' contracts are competitive. In the case of Bradford and McCoy, the agents will be privy to the parameters of the contract talks, theoretically making the need to wait around less of an issue. If McCoy's camp knows what Bradford is likely to sign for, and they most certainly will, then maybe there's less of a need to wait around for the final numbers.

That said, as of a few days ago, nothing substantive had happened between the Bucs and McCoy's representatives, so there's still a very good chance these contract talks could go down to the wire. And the deal signed by No. 2 overall pick Ndamukong Suh with Detroit could impact McCoy's negotiations, too. He has different representation than McCoy.

But McCoy has said he wants very much to be in camp on the first day, so perhaps that will be a factor in the contract talks. In any case, players report exactly two weeks from today, and the first practice is one day later, on July 31.

For that reason, expect talks between McCoy and the Bucs to heat up during the next week. And when the process is over, McCoy will be extremely wealthy. Last year's No. 3 pick, Tyson Jackson of the Chiefs, signed a five-year, $57 million contract.

Bucs take a pass on supplemental draft

The Bucs apparently didn't bid on either of the two players taken in today's supplemental draft, with BYU running back Harvey Unga going to the Bears with the 12th pick in the seventh round and Illinois defensive end Josh Price-Brent going to Dallas 18 spots later.

The Bucs would have had the third pick in each round based on last season's record, which means they presumably didn't make a request to draft either player.

The players not drafted today become rookie free agents, free to sign with any club. The Bucs had been among the 20 clubs who attended Unga's workout, one that seemed to indicate there was great interest in him.

For a look at how the supplemental draft works, click here.

-- STEPHEN F. HOLDER, Times Staff Writer

Noon: Chat live with Gary Shelton

Back from the MLB All-Star Game, Times sports columnnist Gary Shelton is ready to take your questions. Want to talk baseball? Bucs? British Open? George Steinbrenner? Something else? Bring your questions, and Gary will answer them during a live chat today, from noon to 1 p.m.

Is coaching in Josh Freeman's future?

Watching Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman work the final day of his high school football camp Wednesday morning seemed a lot like watching a coach go about his job.

Freeman was demanding, excitable and intense as he worked with about 70 kids at One Buc Place in his first camp, the proceeds of which are going to benefit the YMCA.

It was enough to make you wonder whether coaching might be in his future.

"When I'm done playing football, I'd love to coach," Freeman said. "It's in me. It's part of my life."

As it turns out, he appears to know about the profession than he realized.

"I found myself using a lot of the same sayings and a lot of the same mannerisms that my coaches have used throughout my career," he said. "So, it’s been a real productive camp. We had a great turnout and had a bunch of kids."

When he was young, Freeman, too, attended his share of camps. And he saw some of himself in the young camp attendees.

"They’re kids that are coming out just trying to learn something, trying to get better," Freeman said. "They all had a willingness to learn. That’s what I was looking for when I went to camps."

Zuttah will get test from Vincent, Raheem Morris says

Raheem Morris, just days before his last brief offseason getaway, took a little time to chat with the participants at quarterback Josh Freeman's football camp this morning.

Then, he spent a few minutes speaking to us about a variety of things. The most noteworthy information he shared echoed something told to us privately by a member of the front office last week:

Newly-signed Keydrick Vincent is indeed here to compete for the starting job at left guard, where Jeremy Zuttah has, to this point, been largely uncontested.

Morris noted that Vincent has started quite a number of games and will bring some needed experience and, at minimum, add some needed depth on the line.

Morris also offered assurances that tight end Kellen Winslow will be ready to go when training camp starts in just more than two weeks. He has been at One Buc Place working with the training staff this week as he completes his recovery from offseason knee surgery.

How come the Bucs haven't ... ?

The Bucs report for training camp on July 30, and we’ll soon start to get a feel for what they’re going to look like in 2010.
 
But there are many unanswered questions for this young team. They are coming off a 3-13 season that included the firing of both coordinators. They have a number of unproven players, including a large group of rookies upon which they’re leaning heavily. Then there’s quarterback Josh Freeman, who is starting his first full season as a starter.
 
We’re sure you also have questions about this team, from the players they've brought in, to the players they've let go, to the front office and coaching staff and free agency. So here’s your chance to voice your issue. We'll answer your questions here, and some of the best might appear in the newspaper in the next couple of weeks.
 
We’ll start the question, and you finish it:
 
HOW COME THE BUCS HAVEN'T (what)?

Include your completed question in the comments below, or e-mail it to me at sholder@sptimes.com. Any and all responses will be considered. Just let us know what’s on your mind and we’ll get to work on providing the answers.

-- STEPHEN F. HOLDER, Times Staff Writer

What is the supplemental draft and how does it work?

Thursday's supplemental draft has sparked some intrigue in part because the NFL is eerily quiet right now but more so because there are a couple of a interesting candidates available.

The player who has drawn the most interest, as you might know, is BYU running back Harvey Unga, a big, physical runner who projects as a short-yardage back or fullback at the next level. Unga has drawn some comparisons to Vikings rookie Toby Gerhart, drafted out of Stanford in April. The Bucs, who have a legitimate need for depth in their offensive backfield, are taking a long look at Unga, as are most other teams.

But how does this supplemental draft business work?

First, the draft is reserved only for very few players who, for a variety of reasons, are no longer eligible to play college football this fall but were unable to declare for the general April draft. Unga, for example, withdrew from school because of a violation of the institution's strict honor code after the draft.

Unlike in the April draft, there's certainly no live national broadcast. And there's definitely no live audience at Radio City Music Hall, either. Instead of fanfare and loud analysis, think silent auction. The supplemental draft works in a very similar fashion.

Teams submit a bid before the start of the draft, basically indicating which round's pick they wish to use to select a given player. Some teams won't submit a bid at all as this is totally optional. If the Bucs see Unga as a fifth-round selection, just for instance, they would submit a bid to that effect. If no team submits a higher bid than the third pick in the fifth round, the Bucs would be awarded the player.

Here's the catch: You lose that pick in the following year's draft. And for a team that has made it crystal clear that it intends to build through the draft, such a pick could be deemed too valuable to use in this fashion. Remember, it might be some time before a player drafted now can contribute as he will have missed the entire offseason. But an argument in favor of making a play would be the fact that the talent level in next year's draft is expected to pale in comparison with this year's, which was one of the deepest in memory.

It's purely a judgment call. But don't be surprised if the Bucs make a late-round bid for Unga in an effort to shore up their backfield with the sort of hard-charging, bruising back they don't currently have.

UPDATE, 9:38 a.m.: We've heard from a prominent player agent this morning who says he's learned from scouts that Illinois defensive tackle Josh Brent will be selected before Unger on Thursday. Brent had been ruled academically ineligible for the fall and would have been unable to play for the Illini. Something to keep in mind as the draft approaches.

Glazer family reflects on Steinbrenner's legacy

The Glazer family, owners of the Bucs, were able to rub elbows with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who passed away today at 80.

The Glazers shared their impressions of Steinbrenner in a statement just released by the club:

"The sports world and Tampa community have lost a legend and a friend. George was one of the most consequential and colorful executives in sports history. He helped restore his proud franchise to its unique place in sports and society. However, his greatest contributions weren't those that graced the sports page. He was a caring, gentle giant in our community. George will be sorely missed."

Bucs continuing gentler training camp schedule

The days of daily two-a-day practices during the hottest times of day are long gone in Tampa Bay.

Under former coach Jon Gruden, the Bucs maintained a relentless training camp schedule that taxed players physically and mentally.

But the for the second straight season, the Bucs will use a new approach, continuing what they started in 2009. Under coach Raheem Morris, the team will again not conduct two-a-day workouts on consecutive days, an attempt to keep players' legs fresher in light of the inevitable fatigue that comes along with training camp. And the Bucs have made even more changes to the schedule this season, beginning afternoon practices as late as 5:15 to escape the overbearing mid-afternoon sun. 

The Bucs showed some of these tendencies during OTAs, when Morris began having offensive and defensive lineman hit the showers about 30 minutes prior to the rest of the club. The idea was to pack all their work into a shorter period of time, then get them out of the sun to, theoretically, reduce fatigue.

But make no mistake: the fact that the Bucs will spend fewer hours on the field is not an indication that practices will be a picnic. Morris already has promised a physical camp, a trend that began last season -- his first as head coach. There will again be lots of workouts in full pads and there presumably will be a good bit of contact, a departure from the past.

But that's where this gets tricky. The Bucs sustained a fair number of injuries in training camp last season, and some of those -- like Antonio Bryant's knee injury, for instance -- really set them back. Morris is going to have to be open to cutting back on the physicality if and when it becomes necessary.

In any case, players had better be ready when the time comes. And that time is around the corner. The first practice is 19 days away.

Bucs' break from youth movement shows concern about OL

The Bucs have insisted lately on adding almost exclusively players in the infancy of their careers.

The closest they've come to adding an aging veteran was the acquisition of 29-year-old Reggie Brown, who they netted in a trade with the Eagles.

Now comes word the Bucs have signed former Panthers guard Keydrick Vincent, who at 32, becomes the second-oldest player on the roster. Cornerback Ronde Barber, 35, is the oldest. What's more, they are the only two Bucs over the age of 30, though defensive end Stylez White will turn 31 on July 25.

So, why are the Bucs deviating so wildly from their stated plan of building with young players? It's not a stretch to say this is an indication that the Tampa Bay brass isn't thrilled with its situation on the offensive line and is looking to push left guard Jeremy Zuttah. He is widely thought to be under a microscope from his coaches after an uneven season last year, his first as a starter.

Really, the Bucs are still trying to recover from the loss of Arron Sears, who was released earlier this summer after missing all of 2009 because of off-the-field matters and then suffering a setback in his recovery. Sears was a player the Bucs were counting on being a key cog on their line for years to come, leaving Zuttah as a utility man who could fill in and provide competition when and where the team needed.

Now, Zuttah has been thrust into the spotlight and has to grow up and play like a veteran quickly.

If he doesn't, perhaps that's where Vincent comes in. He is a player the Bucs are very familiar with, having faced him four times in the past two seasons. In those games, Carolina rushed for an astounding 765 yards, an average 191.3 yards. If Vincent was indeed a key part of that effort, it's understandable why the Bucs see value in bringing him to town. All in all, this is a very sensible move.

The fact that the Bucs are straying so far from what has become the norm around here is a sign that Tampa Bay felt it really needed some help on the inside of its offensive line.

UPDATE: ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Vincent's two-year deal is worth $4.5 million, a hefty price for a backup guard. Or maybe the Bucs don't envision him being a backup at all.

Bucs sign G Keydrick Vincent, release Sergio Render

The Bucs have signed guard Keydrick Vincent to a two-year contract, giving the Bucs an experienced interior lineman who has started more than two-thirds of his games during a nine-year career.

To make room on the roster, the Bucs released college free agent Sergio Render, also a guard.

Vincent, 32, played the past two seasons with the Panthers, for whom he was a starter. Carolina ranked third in the NFL in rushing during both seasons, last year averaging 152.3 yards per game.

Vincent also has played for the Cardinals, Ravens and Steelers. He will provide depth on the interior of the Bucs' line if not compete with starting left guard Jeremy Zuttah.

A native of nearby Bartow, Vincent played high school ball at Lake Gibson High in Lakeland.

UPDATE, 7:29 p.m.: ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Vincent's two-year deal is worth $4.5 million, a hefty price for a backup guard. That is if the Bucs actually see him as a backup. Perhaps they don't.

Talib underrated, Barber overrated based on one reporter's take

Things are extremely quiet around the NFL right now, but we stumbled across this take from CBSsports.com detailing the most overrated and underrated players on each team.

For the Bucs, reporter Pete Prisco selected Ronde Barber as the club's most overrated while selecting Aqib Talib as its most underrated.

His take on Barber was a bit harsh: "His name still holds clout, but he isn't an elite player anymore -- if he ever was." Ouch.

Regarding Talib, Prisco writes, "Forget the off-field issues of the past. He's a good cover player. Matt Ryan raved about him when I spent time with him watching tape."

Agent: Trueblood not responsible for disturbance

In what is hopefully the final Jeremy Trueblood entry today, there now is an update from his agent, Tom Condon that contradicts the police version of events.

He tells us Trueblood was not among the individuals who created a disturbance in the Indianapolis-area convenience store Tuesday night. Condon said others in Trueblood's party -- there were three carloads of friends and relatives who earlier had been playing golf -- who did enter the convenience store and presumably created the disturbance that prompted a clerk there to call police.

"I have no idea what they were doing," Condon said.

Condon said that when police arrived at the scene, Trueblood was surprised when police asked him to get out of the passenger seat of one of the vehicles, driven by his mother. Police allege Trueblood was defiant, but Condon said he complied. It was then determined, Condon said, that Trueblood had been drinking and he was taken into custody.

"He was not arrested and he wasn't cited," Condon said.

Jail officials in Hancock County, Ind. have policy that suspects who are determined to be intoxicated cannot be released from custody until they test for a blood-alcohol content of 0.00. At that point, Trueblood was released this morning without any charges.

Ferguson's contract will grab Donald Penn's attention

Reports today say Jets left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson has agreed to an extension worth $60 million over six years, with about $34 million guaranteed.

And somewhere out there, Donald Penn's agent just smiled a little.

That's not to say that the Ferguson deal entitles Penn to one solitary dime, but it sure doesn't do anything to hurt his argument that as a solid left tackle, he should be paid accordingly.

The Bucs haven't shown any indication they are leaning toward making a deal with Penn and Penn hasn't shown any indication that he's planning to back down and actually report to training camp without one. Penn still has a $3 million-plus one-year restricted free agent tender sitting on the table but has, to this point, rejected it while sitting out the entire offseason.

So, we wait.

But today's news is the sort of stuff agents use to make their case. Penn won't get a $60 million deal, but he also isn't likely to settle for contract that's below market value, either -- especially in light of this mega-deal.

Trueblood released without charges after good decision goes bad

Updating an earlier post, Jeremy Trueblood has been released from the Hancock County Jail in Indiana without charges after his arrest last night for public intoxication.

Maj. Derek Towle of the Greenfield, Ind. police department said prosecutors decided not to file charges against Trueblood nor his friend, Benjamin McKenny, who also was arrested for the same alleged offense.

Trueblood was released a short time ago after jail officials determined he no longer was intoxicated. Jail policy requires individuals to have a 0.00 blood-alcohol content before being released.

Towle said Trueblood acted belligerent during a traffic stop and declined to provide identification.

"He would not comply with any of the officers' commands," Towle said.

Once placed under arrest, Towle said Trueblood became cooperative and did not resist.

Ironically, the incident started with what was a wise decision from Trueblood. After playing golf at a local course, he and McKenny became intoxicated and decided not to drive home in that state. Trueblood called his mother, Wanda, to drive them home, according to police.

On the way, they stopped at a local gas station, and that's where Towle said the problem initiated. The clerk there called police, accusing two customers -- said to be Trueblood and McKenny -- acting disorderly. The clerk said they were knocking items off shelves, throwing cup lids and bumped into a woman holding a small child.

When the clerk saw them get into a car and drive away, he reported a possible case of drunk driving. An officer was dispatched and stopped the vehicle, though it was determined by officers that Trueblood's mother was not drunk.

Police planned to issue citations because the car's occupants weren't wearing seat belts, but that' when officers allege McKenny and Trueblood became uncooperative.

"If they would have cooperated, he might have just gotten a citation for no seat belt and that's all," Towle said.

-- STEPHEN F. HOLDER, Times Staff Writer

Bucs tackle Jeremy Trueblood reportedly arrested

UPDATE, 9:16 a.m.: A Indianapolis-area television station has some additional details on the incident involving Jeremy Trueblood.

WXIN reported the following, which is also posted on its website:

Trueblood was a passenger in a car when the driver stopped at a gas station for directions. That's where someone called 9-1-1.

According to police just before 7:00 p.m. Tuesday evening police were dispatched to Gas America store at 815 E. Main Street in Greenfield for a possible intoxicated driver. A caller told police that the vehicle had just left the store and was eastbound on Main Street. The caller reported that male subjects in the store could barely stand up because they were intoxicated. 

En route to the store police observed a vehicle matching the description of the possible intoxicated driver. The officer followed the vehicle and observed that the driver and the passenger failed to have their seatbelts on and then initiated a traffic stop.

While the officer was speaking to the driver, back seat passenger Benjamin McKenny identified himself as a Hamilton County Corrections Officer and said “everything is alright.” The officer smelled an odor of alcohol and asked for identification from all of the passengers. 

The officer continued to ask for identification when the passengers, including Trueblood, became uncooperative, belligerent and verbally abusive to the officers. Trueblood, 27, and McKenny, 26, failed to cooperate and comply with the officers.

McKenny and Trueblood were both arrested for public intoxication and the driver, Wanda Trueblood, was cited for not having a seatbelt on.

POSTED 8:57 a.m.: Bucs starting right tackle Jeremy Trueblood was reportedly arrested Tuesday night for public intoxication, according to reports out of his native Indiana.

Details are scarce, but here's what the Times' Danny Valentine filed a while ago...

Jeremy Trueblood, starting right tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was arrested Tuesday night in Greenfield, Ind., on a public intoxication charge, police said.

Trueblood, 27, was arrested at 9 p.m. The circumstances of the arrest were not immediately available.

Trueblood, who joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2006, signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract in May. His hometown is listed as Indianapolis, Ind., according to his NFL profile.

Trueblood started 61 consecutive regular season games at right tackle, dating back to the 2006 season, the longest streak among current Buccaneer offensive linemen, according to his NFL profile. He also has drawn the ire of coaches and teammates for not restraining his emotions and committing costly personal foul penalties.

Bucs 30th in ESPN Ultimate NFL Rankings

It's the slowest portion of the NFL calendar, which means your favorite beat writers are treasuring every second of sleep we can get during the next couple of weeks.

To fill the void, ESPN's NFL Live is debuting something called its Ultimate NFL Rankings, with the bottom eight teams unveiled on today's episode.

The Bucs came in No. 30, in front of only the Bills and Rams, ranked 31st and 32nd, respectively. According to ESPN, the power rankings come from a poll of 15 of the network's analysts and insiders.

They clearly don't think much of the Bucs or their potential for improvement. Anyway, here are the bottom eight teams.

32. St Louis Rams

31. Buffalo Bills

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

29. Cleveland Browns

28. Detroit Lions

27. Kansas City Chiefs

26. Jacksonville Jaguars

25. Oakland Raiders

Reader question: Bucs and the supplemental draft

Here's a little-known fact: The NFL's supplemental draft is fast approaching, scheduled for July 15.

One of our readers, Mike Norris, asked the following about the topic.

"(Will) the Bucs even consider the BYU running back in the supplemental draft because of non-production from (Derrick) Ward and Caddy's past injuries?"

I have to admit I hadn't even thought this until the question was posed, but it's worth taking a look at. Mike is referring to BYU running back Harvey Unga, who declared for the supplemental draft after withdrawing from BYU because of a violation of the school's strict honor code.

Here's a good rundown of what to look for and info on Unga and the other candidates available in the draft. The supplemental draft is designed to allow a path to the NFL for underclassmen who are now ineligible to finish their college careers. Teams that select a player will lose a pick in the corresponding round in next season's draft.

As for Unga, he has been wildly productive during his career, becoming the first BYU player to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. Last fall, he led the Mountain West Conference in rushing with 1,087 yards and 11 touchdowns.

So, what about the Bucs? Unga is a kid that seems worth a look because he would give the Bucs the sort of runner they lack. They don't have anyone in the backfield with his combination of size (6-0 and 245 pounds) and speed, said to be in the 4.6-second range in the 40-yard dash. The Bucs have slashing runners like Cadillac Williams and Derrick Ward, and they have scat backs like Clifton Smith and Kareem Huggins. Earnest Graham has some size, but he is basically a full-time fullback at this point.

This is not to suggest that the Bucs should fork over a high-round pick for Unga. But they might consider using a late-round selection on him and their chances would be better than most teams. Clubs with the worst records in the preceding season pick earlier in each round, just as they do in the standard April draft. And don't discount Unga's injury history, which is a bit extensive.

Whatever happens, Unga is one of the more intriguing possibilities you'll see in the supplemental draft, and it's likely he'll draw a lot of interest from NFL clubs -- maybe even the Bucs.

*Have a question? Send it to sholder@sptimes.com or find me on Twitter at twitter.com/holderstephen and maybe I'll address it on this blog.

Reader questions: Michael Clayton edition

Here's another reader question I thought was worthy of a look.

"Bob" asked the following earlier this week on this blog:

Do you think the Bucs will come to a decision on Michael Clayton before training camp?

To this, I answer with a resounding NO. There are a couple reasons for this. For one, the current crop of receivers is still extremely young, and the Bucs hardly know enough about these guys to go around releasing one of the few veteran receivers they have. I, too, see the upside of guys like Mike Williams, Sammie Stroughter and Arrelious Benn, but they're all so very young. And receiver is a position that often takes some time to grow into, something the rookies will learn the first time they're jammed violently at the line of scrimmage by the likes of Darrelle Revis.

Another reason Clayton will stick around is because the Bucs still would trade him if the opportunity presented itself, giving general manager Mark Dominik a chance to salvage something out of what has been an unpopular and, ultimately, unwise decision to re-sign Clayton to a $26 million deal last year. This might sound like a pipe dream, and maybe it is, but it doesn't cost the Bucs anything to hang on to Clayton during the preseason and shop him, hoping another club finds itself in a dire situation at receiver.

I often ask myself whether there is anything Clayton can do to find a place on the final roster this fall, and it's hard to come up with an answer. Even if he has a brilliant camp and preseason -- and he often has -- its hard to think it'll be enough to get the Bucs to look beyond all the past disappointments. Consider that last season, after inking his new contract, Clayton had just 16 receptions, the fewest in his career. Frankly, injuries to other receivers that greatly affect the depth might be the only thing that can keep Clayton around.

But regardless of his ultimate fate, I absolutely expect that he'll be with the club when it reports for training camp four weeks from today.

Your Bucs questions answered here

We had a good live chat with you on Wednesday, which you can still access on our site.

But some people were unable to get their questions answered having delivered them before or after the chat. So, I'll address a couple of the more interesting ones here in the coming days. I'll also consider those sent by email or through Twitter.

"Dugg" asked the following:

With all the talk about getting Donald Penn signed, there seems to be one bigger issue that’s not getting discussed in the big picture of the team. How’s it going to go over, if the Bucs give in to Penn and get him a long term deal, to the other three players who signed their tenders?

It's a fair question, one I've sort of addressed before. But here's my take on the matter. The other restricted free agents Dugg is referring to presumably are Barrett Ruud, Cadillac Williams and Maurice Stovall. I'll start by saying that I don't think Williams nor Stovall could argue that they aren't getting their market value. Williams will make $2.303 million coming off a mildly successful season and Stovall will earn $1.176 million despite being only a part-time starter in 2009. It seems to me that they wouldn't have much right to take insult at Penn, a key cog to the success of the team, getting a long-awaited contract extension.

Which brings us to Ruud. Yes, he is a very valuable member of the defense. Perhaps, its most valuable. But there's a slight difference in the two situations. Penn was a restricted free agent last summer, too, and the Bucs did not sign him to a long-term extension. The same situation is repeating itself this time around, and Penn -- thus far -- is stuck with playing for the RFA tender again. Agree or disagree, it's Penn's argument that he's been waiting for two years and it's time to get a deal done.

The other issue is something I've mentioned before: Ruud had every opportunity to pursue the matter by essentially holding out as Penn has. Instead, he opted to sign his contract and just hold out hope that he'd get a big pay day next offseason -- here or elsewhere. Neither guy is right or wrong. They just chose to handle things differently. Both are within their rights and have acted in a fashion they feel is their best interest.

This is just my opinion on this matter, and others might see things differently. There are reasons you could make a case against paying Penn, but I would contend that this argument isn't a strong one.

Bucs tweaking public access to training camp

The Buccaneers will hold their training camp at their Tampa headquarters for the second straight season, and the public will again be invited.

But that public access is changing significantly, the team said today.

Following the concept that less is more, the Bucs will limit public access to seven workouts, but they have targeted practices that are scheduled to be full-contact, full-squad workouts, as opposed to some where spectators may leave less than satisfied (special-teams practices, etc.). And the open practices will all be held on a single field, alleviating the problem of fans having to predict where to sit and risk being in poor position to view the action. There also will be more extensive autograph sessions and photo opportunities during and after practices.

Last year, the first year camp was held in Tampa after seven years on Disney's grounds in Lake Buena Vista, every practice was open to the public.

Additionally, the team said it plans to hold a free practice at Raymond James Stadium for the second straight season, complete with a fireworks display, on Saturday, August 7. The evening will also feature $1 hot dogs and soft drinks, part of the club's effort to continue reaching out to its fanbase.

The Bucs said they referred to fan feedback and an internal review of the club's first training camp at the current facility last year. 

The team will continue using the One Buc Club on buccaneers.com to distribute tickets for training camp. The free tickets will be available on-site but only if space is available.

"Incorporating fan feedback and an organizational review of last year's inaugural training camp at One Buc Place, we have designed a more streamlined public schedule with more entertaining views, action, and access," spokesman Jonathan Grella said. "This year’s public offering provides the up-close, full-team, padded practices -- as well as more extensive autograph and photo opportunities -- that our fans most enjoy. We will closely monitor camp and gladly open additional dates, if needed."

The Bucs found that after the initial high demand for tickets during the first few days, demand dropped significantly, particularly on weekdays when many fans are working. Three of the seven open practices will be held on weekends, including the first two days of camp: July 31 and and August 1.

The full schedule follows: 

July 31: 10:20 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

August 1: 2:30 p.m.-5 p.m.

August 2: 10:20 a.m.-12:0 p.m.

August 4: 10:20 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

August 5: 2:30 p.m.-4:35 p.m.

August 6: 10:20 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

August 7: 7 p.m.-9 p.m. (Raymond James Stadium)

Noon: Chat live with Stephen F. Holder

Just a reminder that Times beat reporter Stephen F. Holder will be chatting live today, from noon to 1 p.m. Whether you've got questions about the recently completed minicamp, Donald Penn's holdout, Josh Freeman's progress, Gerald McCoy's development or anything else, Stephen's got an answer for you. Can't make it? Leave a question in the "Comments'' area below, then check back later to view a replay of the chat.

Are Sean Jones and Sabby Piscitelli really in position battle?

The Bucs have maintained that Sean Jones and Sabby Piscitelli are locked in a tight race to become the starting strong safety opposite free safety Tanard Jackson.

And that is no doubt the right approach, as opposed to handing someone a starting job months before opening day.

But the question remains: Should we buy it? In other words, is coach Raheem Morris really just giving us lip service when he says the two are neck and neck?

"They'll go out there and compete and compete hard," Morris said during last week's minicamp. "That's the beauty of OTA days. That's the beauty of training camp -- watching guys compete and watching guys who want to play. I'm really enjoying the competition. . . To both men's credit, they've been really complementing each other when they have to play together."

Here are the facts. Jones was one of just a handful of roster additions this offseason, and he just happens to play the same position as Piscitelli, who had a very long 2009 campaign in his first year as a starter. Jones has the better resume' and his strength is an area in which Piscitelli struggles (being physical and making tackles). But Jones, a former Eagle and Brown, also has proven himself adept at getting his hands on the ball, with 16 interceptions and 35 pass deflections in the past four seasons.

To be fair, it should be pointed out that Piscitelli has had some good moments during the offseason. But what worries his coaches is his history of slow decision-making and incorrect decisions when in coverage or when providing help to cornerbacks. Many of those instances have resulted in long gains or touchdowns for opponents.

Piscitelli can still close the gap with a strong preseason. And the Bucs have repeatedly said they plan to play a three-safety rotation that includes Jackson, Jones and Piscitelli.

Still, because Piscitelli has been so consistently inconsistent, there is little reason to think that Jones won't be in the starting lineup on opening day -- even if the Bucs aren't prepared to say so.

Here's why I think the Bucs will pay Donald Penn

Bucs restricted free agent left tackle Donald Penn remains unsigned and his unresolved situation represents the biggest issue facing the Bucs, with training camp looming just four weeks away.

You know the story well. The Bucs, exercising their rights under league rules, tendered the RFA a one-year contract worth $3.168 million. Penn has thus far rejected the offer and has sat out the entire offseason and is not ruling out skipping training camp.

But here is my take on why I think Penn will ultimately win out.