Quiet week for Bucs

It'll be a little quiet this week as the Bucs take a break from the offseason grind. They won't conduct any full-squad workouts until a week from today, June 5.

In the meantime, we'll still have a Bucs presence online and in the paper. In Wednesday's St. Petersburg Times, we'll update you on cornerback Alan Zemaitis, a fourth-round pick last year who most probably thought had fallen off the face of the Earth.

He wants to be a factor this year and cited a prevailing issue that prevented him from taking the field last season. You might recall that he didn't appear in a single game, making him the only 2006 draft pick to make the final roster but never play. Tight end T.J. Williams spent the season on injured reserve after a season-ending Achilles injury.

OTA observations

We try not to dwell too much on what's happening in practices this time of year because, well, it's May for crying out loud. But for what it's worth, we did get a rare chance to sit on Thursday's workout at Raymond James Stadium and picked up a few tidbits.

For starters, things will be interesting along the offensive line.

The right side seems to be pretty much set, with Jeremy Trueblood at right tackle and Davin Joseph at right guard. But the rest of the line is a tossup. Luke Petitgout seems to have the inside track at left tackle, but Jon Gruden insists Anthony Davis isn't out of the picture. Left guard will be a position to watch, too. Davis lined up there for most of Thursday's workout, but rookie Arron Sears will be a factor there. Meanwhile, doing his daily rehab on the sidelines was Dan Buenning, who is recovering from a season-ending knee injury from last Thanksgiving. At center, in the absence of injured John Wade, was Matt Lehr, acquired in free agency from the Falcons. Seems he could wind up at center permanently, though it's premature to say whether he has a chance to start.

Elsewhere, the Bucs have some options at receiver, where there appears to be some legitimate competition. They seem determined to take advantage of Maurice Stovall's size, as they continue to work with him in goal-line situations, often throwing to the corner of the end zone. And David Boston, as he did last season, looks good -- at least in practice. He never really made much impact in preseason games in 2006. Joey Galloway still looks fast, and Michael Clayton didn't look half bad, either.

One final offensive note: Bruce Gradkowski seems to currently have a grip on the No. 3 quarterback spot behind Chris Simms and Jeff Garcia. Luke McCown and rookie free agent Zac Taylor appear to be on the outside looking in at this point.

On defense, with Derrick Brooks out of town with his grieving family, the Bucs gave Cato June some snaps at weak-side linebacker. Could that be a forshadowing of things to come in the future? Probably. Also, in the secondary, the first-team safeties, for now, are still Jermaine Phillips (SS) and Will Allen (FS). But there will be a change at nickel back after Juran Bolden's release. Right now, it seems Phillip Buchanon has the inside track and is probably more accomplished than any of the other options. He got most of the nickel back snaps Thursday, but he'll have to fend off competitors like Torrie Cox.

There will be more open practices in the weeks to come, though the Bucs will take all of next week off because of Memorial Day.

Gators and Bucs team up

The Bucs worked out at Raymond James Stadium today as they occasionally do during the offseason, and they brought along a few guests: the University of Florida coaching staff.

UF Urban Meyer and some of his staff joined the Bucs in meetings Thursday morning then had a front-row seat for practice. Meyer was joined by co-defensive coordinators Charlie Strong and Greg Mattison, as well as several other members of the staff, each hoping to take something away from the day.

But Bucs coach Jon Gruden saw it as a two-way street.

"We’re going to go back to the facility and maybe learn a couple tricks from the Gators," he said. "A great coach, a great staff and a great program. I’m pleased to have (Meyer) here today."

Asked later how he dealt with watching the national championship game pitting Florida against Ohio State -- Gruden is good friends with OSU coach Jim Tressel -- Gruden did the smart thing.

"Man, I live in Florida," he said. "If I say I was pulling for Ohio State. . . I got enough problems. You always have to root for the hometown team. I’ve known Jim Tressel for a long time, but I was happy to see the Gators win."

Brooks' mother dies

Geraldine Mitchell, mother of Buccaneers LB Derrick Brooks, passed away after a long battle with breast cancer on Monday, May 21.

Here is a statement from Brooks:
"As many of you are aware, my Mother recently lost her long battle with breast cancer. My family and I are truly appreciative of the support and well wishes we have received from my Buccaneer family and the entire Tampa Bay community. As we move forward one day at a time, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time."

Flowers or cards may be sent in care of the funeral home:
Joe Morris Funeral Home
701 N De Villiers St.
Pensacola, FL 32501

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Derrick Brooks Charities at:
Derrick Brooks Charities, Inc.
2915 West Fern St.
Tampa, FL 33614

Former Bucs tight end Hall dies at age 43

Former Bucs tight end Ron Hall, the team’s fourth-round pick in 1987 out of Hawaii, died Saturday, according to the team. He was 43. His mother said he died at his home in Costa Rica of natural causes. Hall, born in Arizona, played seven seasons with the Bucs, starting 90 of the 101 games in which he played before signing with Detroit in 1994. He had his best season as a Buc in 1988, his first as a starter. He had 39 receptions that season for 555 yards, third on the team behind receivers Bruce Hill and Mark Carrier.

Antonio Bryant gets a look

The Bucs took a look at free agent receiver Antonio Bryant earlier today, and early indications are they liked what they saw.

But that won't guarantee Bryant a job.

The sixth-year player was released by the 49ers after drawing a four-game suspension last season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. He still has two games remaining on the suspension and would have to forfeit them with whatever team signs him for 2007. The suspension followed an arrest in November for reckless driving and resisting arrest, during which officers allege Bryant was driving his Lamborghini more than 100 mph. The 49ers decided to cut ties with Bryant despite giving him a four-year, $13.9-million contract in 2006.

But Bryant has talent, posting a 1,000-yard season in 2005 with Cleveland before catching 40 passes for 733 yards last season in San Francisco.

The major decision facing the Bucs now is whether they are satisfied with their current crop of receivers or if they deem signing Bryant to be necessary. They appear to still be in the process of making that decision.

Brian Kelly: Keyshawn had great career

Bucs cornerback Brian Kelly counts Keyshawn Johnson as one of his closest friends, so he knew even before today's news that Johnson planned to retire and take a job with ESPN.

Asked to put Johnson's career in perspective, Kelly said: "I think he's a misunderstood player. At the end of the day, as a teammate, you'd like to have him because he plays hard on Sunday. He's just a little opinionated and maybe people can't handle that. But I think he had a great career."

Johnson had a falling out with Bucs coach Jon Gruden in 2003 and was deactivated for the final six games of the season. It was the most widely-documented of Johnson's run-ins with coaches and/or teammates, and has largely shaped his reputation since.

Kelly said Johnson's strong personality will only help him in his next career as a broadcaster.

"It turned out to work in his favor because now everyone will get a chance to listen to him talk and they'll either like or dislike what he says and he'll get a check for it," Kelly said. "I watched him during the draft (on ESPN). I thought he did real good. And he's done a lot of radio stuff, so I've heard him before. He's going to do well."

Johnson finishes his career with 814 receptions, 10,571 yards and 64 touchdowns -- very impressive numbers. They compare favorably with Hall-of-Famers like James Lofton (764 receptions) and Michael Irvin (750 receptions, 65 touchdowns), but the feeling is that Johnson is a long shot for the Hall, in part because of his reputation.

If it were up to you, would you consider Johnson for the Hall of Fame?

Keyshawn to retire

Former Bucs receiver Keyshawn Johnson has decided to retire and pursue a broadcasting career, according to ESPN's John Clayton. Here is the story, from ESPN.com.

The other Leak signs with Bucs

The Bucs signed tight end C.J. Leak on Tuesday, the older brother of former Gators quarterback Chris Leak.

Leak participated in the Bucs' rookie minicamp on a tryout basis earlier this month, but was not immediately signed. The Bucs released cornerback Kenny Scott to make room on the roster.

Leak, a former quarterback at Tennessee, spent part of 2006 on the Bills' practice squad. He converted to tight end later in his college career.

Kelly shows up

Look who showed up for workouts today: cornerback Brian Kelly.

Even Kelly's position coach, Raheem Morris, had said previously that Kelly wasn't expected until mandatory workouts next month. But for whatever reason, Kelly decided to attend Tuesday's voluntary practice.

Kelly is expected to speak with the media after the conclusion of today's practice, which should wrap up shortly here at One Buc Place.

Garcia: no bench for me

Jeff Garcia has made no effort to hide his intentions since arriving in Tampa Bay.

He is here to be the starting quarterback -- end of story. He knows he has to win the quarterback battle, but he doesn't have any thought about losing that fight.

He said as much this morning when we accompanied him to a gathering of local businesspeople where he was the featured speaker.

"As much as I’m a 37-year-old quarterback standing here who’s not that big or fast, it doesn’t matter," he said. "I don’t even think about that. I bring an emotion that is unmatched -– except maybe by (coach) Jon Gruden. I know the starting job isn’t given to me but I plan to compete. I know I have what it takes to be the starting quarterback here."

Part of the reason Garcia is so hungup on winning the job is because he can't stand the thought of sitting on the sideline. Been there done that in Philly.

"Even though we were winning (last year in Philadelphia), it was different being on the sideline," he said. "It wasn’t anything I showed in the locker room or with my teammates. I wasn’t a problem or anything. It’s just that I wasn’t having fun playing the game anymore. I was not enjoying it."

That changed when Garcia took over for Donovan McNabb in November and was "resurrected."

Read more about Garcia in tomorrow's paper. He also touched on the reshaping of the roster during the offseason and talked about how far he thinks the Bucs can go this year.

Does Briggs want to be a Buc?

The chances of this happening probably aren't so good, but for what it's worth, disgruntled Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs has an eye on the Bucs.

Briggs, a standout who was designated a franchise player by the Bears, remains upset about his status (he hasn't signed the franchise tender) and continues to demand a long-term contract. If he doesn't get one, he is threatening to hold out and insists he wants to be traded. His hope is he will land in Washington or Tampa Bay.

Washington is known to have made efforts to acquire Briggs. But regarding the Bucs, it's not clear whether they've made a strong push. It would seem unlikely given the number of changes they've made at linebacker this offseason, including the signing of 2005 Pro Bowl selection Cato June. But Briggs indicated in a conversation with Adam Schefter of NFL.com that both Washington and Tampa Bay are interested. We'd like to think the Pro Bowler knows what he's talking about, so we'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

The situation in Chicago will probably only get uglier as Briggs continues to stay away from offseason workouts, including an upcoming mandatory mini-camp. The longer things remain unresolved, the better the chance of Briggs being traded.

For the Bucs, this would be a tough one to pull off. First, landing Briggs would cost a ton of long-term cash, though the Bucs do have some salary-cap flexibility. Equally critical to any potential deal would be what to do with Derrick Brooks, who plays the same position (weak-side linebacker) as Briggs. Already the Bucs have June, who is ideally-suited for the weak-side but looks to be headed for the strong-side in Tampa Bay.  Brooks is nearing retirement -- that can't be disputed. But he isn't giving in yet, and that will make this a thorny proposition for the Bucs.

Our guess is this doesn't happen, particularly given the fact linebacker is a position where the talent level is pretty good. There are other areas in more dire need of a talent upgrade, such as safety, offensive line and receiver.

But we'll never say never, especially when the pressure is on to win.

Coming Sunday

In the Sunday paper, we'll tell you a little about the big job new defensive line coach Larry Coyer has before him.

He's got to help Gaines Adams fill the "blank canvas," find out if the Bucs' can tap into the talent of fifth-round choice and small-school project Greg Peterson and determine whether Ryan Sims can contribute. And Coyer also intends to get Simeon Rice back to his double-digit sack totals and figure out where Kevin Carter can be most effective.

That's a full load, but Coyer's a veteran and probably up to the task after having been the Broncos' defensive coordinator for eight seasons. Oh, and here's an interesting tidbit about Coyer: he smokes a pipe during practice. You know, the type your grandfather smokes sitting in his favorite chair. Something about that just seemed pretty cool to us.

On a related topic, someone asked in the comments below whether Chris Hovan is a candidate to slide over to under tackle. We say not likely and here's why: the Bucs prefer the under tackle be more of a pass rusher. Hovan is considered more of a run-stopper. In their scheme, the Bucs demand a pass rush out of their undertackle, which is why you tend to see more athletic and often smallish tackles play there.

Can the Bucs motivate Sims?

Determining whether new defensive tackle Ryan Sims can regain his form will be one of the chief missions of the defensive coaches this summer. This week's practices gave coaches the first real look at him in a full-squad environment, and the initial reports are positive.

Sims, who was traded to Tampa Bay earlier this month, never maxed out in Kansas City after becoming a No. 6 overall pick by the Chiefs. But the Bucs hope to motivate him enough to tap into the talent they believe is there.

If all goes according to plan, the mission will begin with a little weight loss.

"My guess is he’s around 330 (pounds)," defensive line coach Larry Coyer said. "We’re trying to get him to where he’s around 320. When he can get himself bent and cocked, he’s a powerful guy. He can come out of his stance and he’s a powerful man.

"He’s a great-looking prospect to me. He was one of the top six guys (drafted). There was something there. Sometimes you just need a fresh start."

Sims has been working at nose tackle behind Chris Hovan this week, but Coyer expects him to be an option at nose and under tackle. The Bucs sure could use the depth, which is a reason they're hoping they can make something of Sims.

Waiting their turn

That's what the quarterbacks on the roster find themselves doing a lot of during workouts.

Simple math would indicate that with seven quarterbacks on the roster, it wasn't going to be easy to divvy up the snaps. All Chris Simms did during a quick interview today was confirm this. Asked how coach Jon Gruden was splitting up reps between passers, Simms said the following:

"Right now I think it's whatever coach feels. He's trying to get Jeff (Garcia) accustomed to the offense. But it's tough because you don't get a lot of sustained reps. But we have a lot of practice left."

This will likely be less of a problem once they get to training camp because Gruden typically splits most of the reps between the first- and second-string quarterbacks. That will be Simms and Garcia.

As for his health, Simms looks good and says he feels good, too. He said he doesn't have any major effects from having his spleen removed after an injury last season. The only health concern he will have going forward is that he'll need to be vaccinated every few years against certain infections the spleen would protect against.

On another topic, Simms singled out the receivers as a strength of the team, even noting that David Boston looks better than last summer when he was coming off knee injuries in consecutive seasons.

As expected, Kelly a no-show

We figured as much, but Brian Kelly was absent from today's session, the first of two voluntary workouts this week at One Buc Place.

We know he isn't thrilled with his contract and this is probably just his way of sending a little reminder. But there's also this: Kelly is coming off a season-ending toe surgery, and it's not clear what his physical status is.

Either way, he's doing his offseason work independently and, according to coaches, isn't expected to show up until the mandatory mini-camp next month.

That means it's likely Kelly won't be around for the next three weeks of voluntary offseason work. There are 10 actual days of volunatary practices remaining before the mandatory mini-camp, including tomorrow's workout.

Elsewhere, defensive line coach Larry Coyer says defensive end Simeon Rice is getting close to being recovered from his surgery. He's believed to be back in Arizona re-habbing but Coyer says the two have had some productive conversations lately and Coyer expects Rice to be back on board soon.

Back to work

OTA workouts resume today and the team is already at it here at One Buc Place.

Word is cornerback Brian Kelly is not here. We're also trying to determine whether defensive end Simeon Rice is around. Doesn't appear so at the moment, though it might be because he is still recovering from shoulder surgery.

Elsewhere, we expect to hear from Jerramy Stevens today. We'll let you know if he has anything interesting to say.

Stay tuned for more.

How many QBs does it take....

We'll spare you the bad light bulb joke you probably thought was coming.

But seriously, the Bucs will have to make a decision on how many quarterbacks to take to training camp. They currently have about 77 of them on the roster. Excuse us, we meant seven.

Either way, it's too many quarterbacks to find reps for in training camp. Heck, they'll even have a hard time finding the reps in OTAs, which resume tomorrow. NFL Europa prospect Bruce Eugene doesn't figure to be a factor, so let's throw him out for the sake of this debate. Then you've Jake Plummer, who is, well, we don't know where the heck he is.

If Plummer never shows up and actually stays retired, as he has vowed to do, that still leaves the team with five quarterbacks, which is probably one too many to take to camp. So, at that point, it boils down to a decision between Luke McCown, who hasn't played in forever; Bruce Gradkowski, who elicits emotions from fans that range from anger to optimism; and newcomer Zac Taylor, the Nebraska standout who arrived after the draft as an undrafted free agent. You can make a strong case for each, but we'd be surprised to see more than two of them make it to July.

Of course, the Nos. 1 and 2 quarterbacks will be Chris Simms and Jeff Garcia, and not necessarily in that particular order. After them, it's a muddled mess that will have to be sorted out during the next six to eight weeks.

You think your head is spinning now? Just wait until Jake Plummer decides to come out of hibernation!

A little clarification

Some of you have wondered aloud in your comments to the Gaines Adams post below why we didn't propose using Adams opposite Simeon Rice.

Actually, it's not because that hadn't occurred to us. The reason is that Jon Gruden himself stated explicitly that Adams is going to begin his career at right end. Now, we realize it's May and that could sure change or that Adams eventually could take snaps on either side. But we're just going by the information we've been given.

Anyhow, carry on. Just wanted to clear that up.

Adams to taste the real thing

The rookie and tryout minicamp the Bucs held last weekend was only a warm-up of what's to come for the new youngsters.

For first-round pick Gaines Adams and the rookie class, the real eye-opener will be Wednesday when full-squad offseason workouts resume. It'll be fast-paced and the rookies won't get much sympathy if they find themselves unable to keep up.

It should be particularly telling in the case of Adams, who figures to see a lot of snaps. Starting right defensive end Simeon Rice still hadn't been cleared to participate in last month's OTAs and could still be limited this week after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in November. If that's the case, expect to see Adams get a lot of work, which is certainly not a bad thing.

He will need all the reps he can get, because once the season starts it seems that, under current circumstances, Adams won't see nearly the same number of snaps in practice or games. He will at best be splitting reps with Rice, and if the veteran sackmaster can regain his form from a couple years ago, it's hard to justify taking him off the field much.

Of course, the Bucs knew this before they drafted Adams. But they do have a challenge on their hands in determining how and when to use him. It might be situationally, which, for a pass rusher, isn't the worst thing in the world (see Dewayne White).

The question is, can you, as a fan, accept the fact that a team's first-round pick may only be on the field from time to time? There's no wrong answer. Just wondering.

Is Ruud ready?

In Sunday's paper, we're going to be debating the preparedness of (now) starting middle linebacker Barrett Ruud to take on the job full time.

Most of last season's starters are either back or have been replaced by perceived upgrades, but Ruud is perhaps a guy who still has to prove he deserves the job. It's not that he hasn't done well in his limited playing time, it's just that the playing time was limited.

So, now, with Shelton Quarles apparently headed for retirement, we'll get a big dose of Ruud. And we should know pretty quickly whether he's up to the task.

In the meantime, tell us what you think about the third-year player from Nebraska and whether you feel confident about him manning the middle.

Ryan Sims restructures?

We can't yet put this one in the beyond-the-shadow-of-a-doubt category, but it appears new defensive tackle Ryan Sims has restructured his contract.

According to the players' union database of salaries, Sims contract reflects a base salary of $595,000 for 2007 and nothing for '08 nor '09. When Sims was traded to the Bucs last week from Kansas City for an undisclosed draft pick, he had $5.7-million in base salary remaining over the next three seasons.

We reached out to Sims' agent to determine what exactly was done to the contract because the database does not reflect bonuses, guaranteed salary nor incentives, making it tricky to determine a contract's actual value. His agent, Peter Schaffer, didn't exactly answer the question, which leads us to believe seeing is believing in this case. That means the final two years of the deal were likely voided, too.

What Schaffer did say in our email exchange was the following: "Ryan's goal right now is to make the Bucs, make them better and show everyone why he was the sixth pick in the (2002) draft. He is thankful that the Bucs have shown him this type of confidence and hopes to repay them with a great year."

We won't know the specifics of the restructure until we get the contract details, but this looks like a pretty significant overhaul, which should result in major savings for the Bucs. Once the Chiefs determined they were moving on without Sims, it's likely Sims determined that his best bet was to get on board with a trade and agree to restructure his contract with his new team. That might have been more appealing to the alternative: being released.

All in all, if the guy pans out -- and that's a big if -- it looks like the Bucs might have gotten a steal. If he doesn't pan out, the Bucs can move on knowing they didn't invest much in him.

The Cornhusker hero

This Zac Taylor fellow sure is a big hit.

The former Nebraska quarterback who went undrafted signed a rookie free agent contract with the Bucs last week and was featured in the St. Petersburg Times on Monday. Since then, Cornhuskers nationwide have been filling up the inbox with comments about their beloved quarterback. We had no idea the guy was so popular.

Many of those 'Husker fans were delighted to learn that their guy actually has a shot -- albeit an outside shot -- of sticking in Tampa. All he has to do is beat out backups Luke McCown and Bruce Gradkowski for the No. 3 emergency quarterback role. That sounds somewhat daunting, but consider that McCown hasn't played in forever after tearing up his knee last year and Gradkowski certainly has his shortcomings.

Also working in Taylor's favor is his familiarity with the Bucs' offense. His college coach, Bill Callahan, was Jon Gruden's offensive coordinator when Gruden coached the Raiders.

So, stay tuned Cornhuskers. Taylor made it through the weekend rookie camp and he'll soon get a chance against the big boys when offseason workouts begin again next week.

Gatlin misses the cut

World 100-meter record holder Justin Gatlin tried out during the Bucs' rookie minicamp over the weekend, but it appears he didn't make the cut.

The Bucs had a minor roster shuffle today, signing two players who worked out on tryout contracts over the weekend. The sprinter wasn't among them, and indications coming from inside One Buc Place are that he didn't make enough of an impression to warrant an invitation to come back.

Still, Gatlin's appearance made for an interesting headline Friday when it was discovered he was among the many hopefuls in the three-day camp. But his raw football skills made him an extreme long shot. He hadn't played football since high school, unless you count dabbling in it as a student at Tennessee during spring drills.

No word on whether Gatlin, 25, will continue his pursuit of playing football again, but this isn't the first time he's been turned down. The Cardinals and Texans also have taken a look at him in the past, but neither team seemed to give him serious consideration.

Gatlin's best hope to continue his athletic career would be scoring some success in appealing his eight-year ban in track-and-field. He was penalized for a failed drug test that showed testosterone in his system last year. Gatlin said Friday there has been some progress on the appeal front and he remains hopeful.

Bucs re-sign Terry, ink others

The Bucs signed cornerback Chaz Williams of Louisiana-Monroe and guard Anthony Wollschlager  of Miami as undrafted free agents, the team announced in a news release. The Bucs also signed restricted free agent guard Jeb Terry. In addition, the team released fullback Mike McFadden, center Jed Prisby and wide receiver Levon Thomas.

Bucs still have a cap cushion

For all you wannabe general managers out there, here's an item that will be of interest to you.

According to ESPN's Len Pasquarelli, the Bucs have $7.3-million in cap space remaining as of last week. Of course, a team's cap number is always a moving target. It fluctuates each time a bonus is paid, a player is released or a contract is restructured.

The Bucs will have to spend a significant amount on their new draft class, particularly top pick Gaines Adams, who figures to pocket a nice signing bonus that should give him a hefty "cap number."

Something else to consider: defensive tackle Ryan Sims, who came to Tampa last week in a trade with Kansas City, will add a couple million to the cap, unless his contract is re-worked. We're still trying to get the details on that deal which should give some indication of how it affects the cap.

Though that $7.3-milion isn't a large sum given the escalating salaries the past couple seasons, the Bucs are creative enough to find ways to give themselves flexibility in case a tempting deal comes along. Also, general manager Bruce Allen has gone on record saying he would like to have some rainy-day money on hand so the team can augment its depth after injuries or if players unexpectedly hit the market later on.

Blue finds a home

Just a quick note that some die-hards might want to know: defensive back Blue Adams, released by the Bucs last week a day after the draft, signed a two-year free-agent contract with the Bengals today.

The Bengals had him for a tryout camp over the weekend, similar to what the Bucs staged the past three days in Tampa. Apparently, Adams made an impact.

This is good personal news for Adams. He played college ball at Cincinnati and his children reside there with their mother.

Good for him.

Also, while we're on the subject of the Bengals, it appears they have decided to proceed without signing Bucs free agent quarterback Tim Rattay. He worked out for the team recently, but Cincinnati reportedly has decided has decided to stand pat. That means it's possible the Bengals might stick with former Gator Doug Johnson as Carson Palmer's backup.

If that's the case, they'd better keep Palmer upright. Johnson hasn't thrown an NFL pass since 2004. Wow.

A different take on Jerramy Stevens

There were many in Seattle who couldn't wait for new Tampa Bay tight end Jerramy Stevens to leave. But the former Seahawk has at least one prominent friend in the Great Northwest.

"He was a great teammate. He worked hard for me all the time," Seahawks quarterback Matt Hassellbeck said, according to the Tacoma (Wash.) News-Tribune. "I really appreciated the effort that he gave and even the selflessness that he had."

That sure doesn't sound like the Stevens we've seen from afar, but it will be interesting to get to know the guy. The local media has yet to meet him, and it's possible that might not happen for a few weeks. For now, all we can go by is what those who know him say.

Still, even those in Stevens' corner recognize he has an underlying issue.

"All of his problems stemmed from one thing and that was alcohol," Hassellbeck said. "If you take alcohol out of the equation, he was the perfect teammate and a great kid. My hope for him is that he is able to put those problems behind him and have a successful career."

Speaking of alcohol, Stevens latest booze-related incident -- an arrest for DUI and marijuana possession in Arizona -- is under review per the league's new conduct policy according to NFL VP of public relations Greg Aiello. Jon Gruden acknowledged as much when we asked him on Friday, and he also suggested the team took up the issue with the league before signing Stevens. But it doesn't appear the league gave the Bucs any indication of what its plans are.

If you've been following the news lately, you know that a player doesn't have to be convicted of a crime to be penalized for it by the league. Just ask Pacman Jones, who has been suspended for the entire '07 season (though he has a upcoming appeal).

Players with a track record are more likely to be dealt with harshly, and that means possible suspension. Stevens certainly qualifies, having two alcohol-related incidents in his past that resulted in guilty pleas.

As for Stevens' transition to Tampa, it's safe to say this guy's new neighbors will be watching him closely. We posted this a while back when the Bucs initially showed interest in Stevens, and it's worth another look -- if you can stomach it: Click to read.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Sunday no day of rest

The youngsters in rookie camp this weekend won't get a break on Sunday, the final day. They've been put on notice by Jon Gruden that it's going to be a rough one out there.

"I advise these guys get a good night’s sleep tonight because we’re going to push them through it, and I think that’s the way the want it," he said.

A taste of Florida heat

The second day of rookie mini-camp was another scorcher at One Buc Place. Of course, if you set foot outside at any point during the day in Tampa Bay, you already knew that.

That meant another tough day for many of the newcomers who have spent their college careers players in cooler regions of the country. Coaches will be paying close attention to their ability (or inability) to cope with the conditions.

"They need to understand that this just a warm-up in terms of the sun," coach Jon Gruden said. "It’s not even begun to swelter yet. We talked about that a lot. Our players need to educate themselves as to how to play at a high level in this kind of weather. And if they don’t, they won’t make this team. They won’t play because conditioning is critical at this level of football."

That doesn't leave a whole lot of room for interpretation, huh?

Sabby heating things up at safety

Second-round pick Sabby Piscitelli made an impression on his coaches during Friday's rookie camp workouts.

And for those out there who have often inquired what will happen at safety entering the regular season, coach Jon Gruden pretty much put it to rest today when he said this:

Piscitelli  "is a guuy who is going to certainly make it interesting at safety with (Jermaine) Phillips and Will Allen," Gruden said. That tells us that Piscitelli will be right in the mix of things and has a chance to start on opening day. Of course, he has to earn it, but if he is everything the Bucs proclaim him to be, this is more than just talk.

Time will tell, but it looks like Allen and Phillips better get it together.

World's fastest man

A strange development here at rookie camp today.

The guy who stole the show was a guy no one knew would be here: 100 meters world-record holder Justin Gatlin. He's trying out as a receiver, though he's a long shot to get an invitation to camp. But it sure is overwhelming to be able to call a guy the world's fastest man (or at least the former fastest man), evidenced by the fact that everyone wanted to interview the guy with the smallest football resume on the field.

Despite his grand success in track and field, Gatlin's outlook is bleak. He tested positive for banned substances in 2006 and is facing an eight-year ban from the sport. After the positive test, it was ruled that his 9.77-second world-record time in the 100 meters should be erased from the record books if he loses his appeal. His 2004 gold medal at the Athens Olympics will stand, however.

You can read more about him and get a sense of his football outlook in Saturday's St. Petersburg Times.

Welcome to the NFL

The Bucs' 10 draft picks plus a group of rookie free agents and other hopefuls on "tryout contracts" will arrive in Tampa today to begin what they hope will be properous NFL careers.

Of course, it won't work out for all of them, but in the next few days they'll get a taste of the NFL during the Bucs' rookie camp Friday though Sunday. Today will be much like the first day of school for youngsters as they get a tour of the massive new One Buc Place and hit the books this evening to begin learning the ABC's of the offensive and defensive schemes.

Gaines Adams and others will find out where they'll be stationed in the team's posh locker room, and they will don a jersey for the first time. It's a fairly eye-opening experience, particularly for those from small colleges, such as Adam Hayward of Division I-AA Portland State and Greg Peterson of Division II North Carolina Central. Chances are they've never seen an underwater treadmill or a meeting room so technologically advanced, with computerized scouting equipment, it looks like something out of mission control at NASA.

For some players who are basically trying to make their case for an invitation to training camp, this weekend is also nerve-racking. Such players will include guys like former Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor, who ran an offense strikingly similar to the Bucs' while in college. Taylor was overlooked in the draft, largely because of questions about his arm strength and technique, but he was very productive for the Cornhuskers. The Big 12 offensive player of the year threw for a school-record 5,850 yards with 45 touchdowns during his career.

Another such player is Mike McFadden from Grand Valley State. He played defensive end in college but didn't project there in the NFL. So, during pre-draft preparations, he took the advice of scouts and entered the draft as a fullback and began learning the position during the spring. He wasn't selected on draft day, but the Bucs signed him to a rookie free agent contract and want to see whether he has the tools to develop into a formidable NFL fullback.

There will be a handful of familiar names in the camp, players who have played limited roles or participated on the practice squad the past couple of years. But vested players are prohibited from participating in such camps, so the team will be limited in who takes part. Coach Jon Gruden isn't a fan of the rule.

"There's only going to be six or seven men from our roster that will participate in this camp," he said. "I don't agree with that. There are a lot of guys that haven't taken a snap in the league that, I think, should be at this camp. They need the work."

Post-draft thoughts

A couple of random post-draft thoughts we wanted to share.

The organization keeps downplaying the effort made by the Bucs to move up in the draft to position themselves to take receiver Calvin Johnson.

None of us were in the draft room Saturday morning, so maybe we'll never know. But based on what we hear, the Bucs did make a play to move up. One proposal, as told to us, had the Bucs offering cornerback Juran Bolden (who was released Monday) and defensive tackle Ellis Wyms to Detroit in a package that is believed to have included draft picks.

Bucs coach Jon Gruden and Detroit president Matt Millen both say there was no such talk, but our sources, and multiple other reports, indicate otherwise. We also hear the Glazer family was not agreeable to giving up early draft picks in any potential deal, so Gruden's and general manager Bruce Allen's hands appeared to have been tied to an extent.

On another topic, one of the observations we made during the draft was the Bucs' decision not to draft a player with experience as a conventional middle linebacker. Third-round pick Quincy Black did play a position similar to MLB, but New Mexico's scheme is quite unorthodox and nothing like the Bucs'.

Why is this an issue? Because with the departure of Shelton Quarles, who was released last week, the Bucs are thin at the position. Sure, third-year up-and-comer Barrett Ruud will be installed as the starter, something Gruden confirmed over the weekend. But if he gets hurt, and what about having depth?

Gruden said the team's thinking is that some in the bevy of linebackers the team now has are versatile enough to play in the middle if necessary.

"Hopefully we can have a football team that has that versatility," he said. "Not a lot of guys draft a guy just to be a run stopper, middle linebacker. That's not how we do business here. We think Quincy Black, (sixth-round Adam) Hayward, Ryan Nece, a lot of guys here can be a Mike linebacker. Shelton Quarles had never played the position and he did quite well."

So, apparently one of the things we'll have to watch in the coming weeks when offseason workouts start again is which players are taking snaps in the middle.

Bucs acquire new DT

The Bucs did not address their need for depth at defensive tackle until the fifth round of the NFL draft, and now we know why.

Tampa Bay announced today the completion of a trade with Kansas City for defensive tackle Ryan Sims, sending an undisclosed future draft pick to the Chiefs in exchange for the former first-round pick.

Sims, entering his sixth season out of North Carolina, lost his starting job last season but is expected to immediately be thrown into the mix in Tampa Bay. The Bucs are still trying to make up for the loss of Booger McFarland, who was dealt to Indianapolis last season.

Sims, 6-4 and 315 pounds, played in 59 games for the Chiefs, starting 36. He was drafted No. 6 overall in 2002 and soon became a formidable, run-stopping interior lineman for the Chiefs. Sims has played both nose tackle and left defensive tackle.

The Bucs need help most at under tackle, where the team is looking for consistency alongside nose tackle Chris Hovan.

Panthers cut Keyshawn

Keyshawn Johnson was released by the Carolina Panthers Tuesday, leaving one of the NFL's most productive receivers looking for a third team in as many years.

"They said they wanted to get younger,'' Johnson said. "That's fine with me. I'd like to go somewhere and help someone win another Super Bowl.''

Johnson, 34, spent the weekend working for ESPN in New York during their NFL draft coverage and will undoubtedly receive offers to work in broadcasting. But his first choice is to play another season or two.

The move was somewhat surprising since the Panthers paid Johnson a $3-million roster bonus April 1. Carolina drafted Southern Cal receiver Dwayne Jarrett and also have Keary Colbert.

Last season, Johnson caught 70 passes for 815 yards and four touchdowns, two of them against Tampa Bay. 

Johnson even joked that he would consider returning to the Bucs.

"Me and Jon Gruden together again. You never know,'' he said laughing. "Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner did it.''