Gay another cornerback candidate

We've learned New England cornerback Randall Gay is scheduled to arrive in Tampa on Monday for a visit with the Bucs, assuming the Saints let him leave town without a deal on Saturday.

Gay started three games for New England last season but was used often as a nickelback. The four-year veteran from LSU also registered three interceptions.

The Bucs are one of several teams considering adding Gay because of the thin group of free agent cornerbacks, so we're told it's expected that he won't rush a decision. As a result, it's likely Gay will make it to Tampa and get a chance to meet with the coaching staff and front office before signing a deal elsewhere.

As it stands, the Bucs are known to be considering two other cornerbacks: San Diego's Drayton Florence, who is in town for a visit, and Jacques Reeves of the Cowboys. Reeves was visiting the Texans today and may make several other visits.

Walker hits the market

There's another free-agent receiver on the market for the Bucs to consider.

Word out of Denver is that the Broncos have released disgruntled veteran Javon Walker, making him an instant unrestricted free agent able to sign with any team. We've previously reported that the Bucs had engaged in conversations with Denver about a potential trade for Walker, but with most expecting his eventual release, the Broncos were at a serious disadvantage in negotiations. A $5.4-million bonus that would have been due on Tuesday made this move pretty predictatable.

Now Walker is a free agent, there are likely to be a number of interested teams largely because of the lack of depth in this class of free-agent receivers. The Bucs could join the Cowboys and and a number of other potential suitor, but don't expect the Bucs to get into a bidding war for his services.

Walker, 29, is coming off a knee injury that limited him to eight games and five starts in 2007, which he finished with 26 receptions for 287 yards. In his last full season, 2006, Walker posted 69 catches for 1,084 yards.

Saints WR Henderson on the way

Another confirmed free-agent visit: Agent Jimmy Sexton tells us the Saints' Devery Henderson will be making a visit to Tampa Bay.

Henderson, 5-11 and 200 pounds, caught 20 passes for 409 yards in 2007. The 25-year-old has averaged 20.2 yards per catch in his three NFL seasons.

This might not be the blockbuster receiver most were hoping the Bucs would pursue, but he does possess the kind speed the Bucs are looking to add. And because he's still young and improving, there is a feeling he has some upside to tap into.

Considering the unimpressive group of receivers available in free agency, getting Henderson might be considered a small victory. Jerry Porter just got a $30-million contract from Jacksonville, and little-known Andre Davis re-signed with the Texans yesterday in a deal that will pay him about $4-million per year.

As I told you earlier, we hear the Bucs think they haven't seen the best of Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall and think they can get production out of them in 2008. They both are tough receivers willing to do the dirty work and run inside routes. Maybe if an effort is made to involve them in the offense a little more regularly they'll start to show some consistency.

Either way, don't look for the Bucs to spend crazy money at this position. And don't lose sight of their ability to further address the position in the draft, which is rich in receiver talent.

Gilmore expected to sign with Bucs

Bears tight end John Gilmore is headed to Tampa Bay today and will sign a three-year contract with the Bucs.

Tampa Bay is looking to replace Anthony Becht and Jerramy Stevens, who are both unrestricted free agents.

Gilmore didn't expect to receive such immediate interest from the Bucs.

""The next thing you know, I'm on the phone with (Jon) Gruden,'' Gilmore told the Chicago-Sun Times. He told me, "I don't think you realize how excited we are to have you. You definitely figure into what we're doing, we're going to get you very involved in a lot of two tight end sets.' He wants me to do what I do and it sounds like I'll get a chance to catch a lot more footballs. He was probably a little more fired up than I was at the time.''      

Faine deal is enormous

There had to be a good reason why the Bucs were able to agree to terms with Saints center Jeff Faine so quickly after midnight.

They opened the bank vault for him.

Faine is expected to sign a six-year, $37.5-million deal with $15-million in guaranteed money. He could earn as much as $20-million in the first three years.

Bucs interested in Briggs?

Not sure what to make of this one, but we're hearing rumblings linking the Bucs to Chicago free agent linebacker Lance Briggs.

Briggs was franchised by the Bears last season and publicly voiced his displeasure with the inability to come to terms on a long-term contract. Now, with his status as an unrestricted free agent, he is free to sign with any team with no compensation required.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported this morning that Briggs has been connected to the Bucs, 49ers and Browns, with the paper describing the Broncos as a "dark horse."

The bigger news might be the implication here: if the Bucs are sniffing around Briggs, what does that say for Derrick Brooks? The Bucs already signed a player last season in Cato June whose natural position is the same weak-side linebacker spot. Now, they perhaps are interested in another? If this were to come to pass, it would tell us all we need to know about where the Bucs stand on Brooks and his future.

Brooks already agreed to a drastic reduction in his contract two years ago and will make just more than $3-million this season. At this point, there's not a whole lot more to cut. It's more a matter of whether they want the veteran on the roster or not.

Running back a priority; Gilmore to sign

The Bucs have begun their pursuit of a couple of free agent running backs.

New Orleans' Aaron Stecker received a phone call after midnight this morning from Jon Gruden and running backs coach Rich Bisaccia, expressing their interest in the 32-year old veteran. Stecker spent his first four seasons with the Bucs before joining the Saints in 2004. No visit has been scheduled and other teams also have inquired about him, but Stecker figures to remain an option until the Bucs make a decision at running back.

They also have an interest in Vikings free agent back Mewelde Moore. The Bucs were engaged in trade talks for Moore prior to the trade deadline in October but opted to deal for Michael Bennett.

In other news, Chicago reserve tight end John Gilmore is expected to visit the Bucs. In fact, the latest news out of Chicago indicates the Bucs have agreed to a deal with him.

The latest on free agency

We're not even 12 hours into the signing period, but already news is developing all across the league.

Here in Tampa Bay, the Bucs are busy considering a lot of options. One player they're talking to is San Diego cornerback Drayton Florence, who they have a high opinion of. As of last night, the Bucs had been unable to arrange a visit with him, but those efforts continue. That might be an indication there will be considerable competition for the 27-year-old Ocala native. That story will likely develop further as the day goes on.

There could be another cornerback in the Bucs' sights. A member of the coaching staff reached out to Cowboys free agent Jaques Reeves last night after the commencement of the signing period in an apparent effort to show the team's interest. Though the interest seems very preliminary at this point, the Bucs are likely to ratchet up their pursuit of the 25-year-old Purdue product based on what happens with other cornerback candidates. Reeves, who started 13 games in 2007 and had one interception, is en route to Houston for a visit at this time.

At receiver, the Bucs have taken a look at Seattle receiver D.J. Hackett, but our understanding is there's a feeling inside the organization that he isn't much different from Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall. Indications we're getting are that the team still thinks Clayton can help the team and is certainly the toughest receiver on the roster. You should still expect the position to be addressed somehow, though.

And, as we told you last night, Justin Smith isn't in the plans here. The Bucs aren't convinced his production merits the kind of contract he is seeking. His best recent season was 2004, when he had eight sacks. That would be exactly how many Greg White posted for the Bucs last season.

Why grabbing Faine makes sense

You probably wanted Randy Moss, but it looks like you'll have to settle for Jeff Faine. I know what you're thinking: a center?

It's not sexy, but the Bucs' first move of free agency -- which we brought to you first in the wee hours of this morning -- is a sensible one. Let's start with the obvious: the Bucs, who haven't actually signed Faine just yet, will be getting the best free agent available at a position that is critical to their success. Remember, with John Wade becoming a free agent, the Bucs didn't have a proven center on the roster. And for those who have suggested Dan Buenning was an option -- that's technically true -- he's a guard and hasn't played center before. What if the projections were wrong and he struggled to make the transition?

As far as the value of this contract, we're not sure of the specific numbers just yet. But we've learned Faine will be the highest-paid center in the game. That means a lot of cash, specifically guaranteed money. You could make a case the Bucs overpaid. Maybe they did.

But here's the thing: to get the top free agent at any position, you have to be willing to pay the price. To the Bucs' credit, they at least spent heavily on a position that was one of their greatest needs. This isn't the Redskins of recent years stockpiling big-money free agents just for the hell of it. This was a calculated move that could pay off handsomely.

The only thing left is to see how this all plays out. No one is accusing Faine of being an All-Pro. But he is an upgrade, so at least Tampa Bay is going in the right direction.

Jeff Faine bound for Tampa

The Bucs have wasted no time in addressing one of their biggest needs at the outset of the free-agent signing period.

The Times has learned New Orleans free agent center Jeff Faine has agreed to a multi-year contract that will make him the league's highest-paid player at the position, providing the Bucs with a long-term solution at a position they had targeted for a much-needed upgrade.

Faine was expected to be one of the most intriguing offensive linemen on the market, which would explain why the Bucs are willing to open the coffers to sign him. The value of his deal will surpass those of Cleveland's LeCharles Bentley and Chicago's Olin Kreutz, currently the league's highest-paid centers.

The Bucs opted not to offer free agent and former starter John Wade a contract and seemed determined to address the position through free agency. Still, there were few indications before now that they had any intention of pursuing Faine with any zeal. But with $44-million in salary-cap space available, the Bucs had the luxury of signing a high-priced player like Faine while still leaving room to negotiate with many other free agents.

The move is in direct contrast to those made by the Bucs in recent years during the signing period. The Bucs have opted to sign moderately-priced free agents rather than engage in bidding wars for stars. But this is certainly a sign that perhaps the Bucs are willing to spend. Consider that Faine's deal will be richer than Bentley's, a contract that called for the Cleveland Brown to make $36-million over six years, including $12-million in guarantees.

Entering his sixth season out of Notre Dame, the 26-year-old Faine has started all 66 games he has played in his career with the Browns and Saints. His addition instantly improves the offensive line and fortifies the unit for a long time to come. The Bucs have spent three first-day draft picks on linemen in the past two drafts (guards Davin Joseph and Arron Sears and tackle Jeremy Trueblood) while adding veteran left tackle Luke Petitgout through free agency last year.

-- STEPHEN F. HOLDER

Kevin Carter update; Samuel to Philly

Kevin Carter is still a free agent after being released by the Bucs on Wednesday and the next 24 hours are likely to determine whether or not he rejoins the team.

Carter is scheduled to meet with the Bucs on Friday as the sides try to come to terms on a renegotiated contract. There's optimism that a deal can be struck, but keep in mind that Carter is likely to generate some interest on the market given his track record of production and his ability to stay healthy even at 34.

Remaining in Tampa is believed to be Carter's preferred option, but we'll see what Friday brings.

In other news, keep an eye on Seattle free agent receiver D.J. Hackett, whom the Bucs have an interest in. He's sort of been labeled as an injury risk, but still figures to be one of the more attractive receivers on the market. But the Bucs will have competition. The Titans are likely to be in the mix, along with at least one other serious suitor and probably more. And it remains possible the Seahawks will make a last push to re-sign him though they have significant money tied up in Deion Branch and Nate Burelson.

Lastly, for those of you still wondering about Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel, I have it on good authority that he is bound for Philadelphia. Anything can happen because nothing's official yet, but that's the version that has been making the rounds among insiders since Wednesday evening.

Fat chance, but Bears looking to deal Griese

Quarterback Brian Griese left the Bucs in 2006 for Chicago. Now the Bears are hoping Tampa Bay might want him back.

In their effort to avoid paying Griese a $300,000 roster bonus that is due next week, we've learned the Bears are looking for a team willing to partner with them in a trade for the veteran quarterback. Naturally, they've asked the Bucs. But a couple of things make Tampa Bay unlikely to have interest in doing this deal.

For starters, the Bucs already have lost a couple of draft picks as a result of previous deals. What's more, the Bears appear to have no intention of keeping Griese around, so the expectation is that he'll be available soon as a free agent. Griese turns 33 next month and figures to have a few years left in the tank.

No one would be surprised if the Bucs made a move involving a quarterback this offseason because, well, they always do. But it remains to be seen whether this is the kind of move they have in mind.

What's less clear right now is what the plans are for Chris Simms and even Bruce Gradkowski. It's plausible one or both of those players are not on the roster come opening day in September.

Big day could be a big letdown

So, the Bucs are swimming salary-cap space with more than $40-million dollars available. As free agency begins tonight at 12:01 a.m., surely they must be frothing at the mouth to go shopping, right?

Don't be so sure.

The Bucs will do lots of signing the next several weeks if for no other reason than they have some spots to fill. But don't assume they're going to be chasing the big money free agents that everyone's talking about. Based on what we've heard from insiders, indications are the Bucs will proceed as they historically have in recent years. That means avoiding too many contracts with hefty signing bonuses, the type that sit on your salary cap for years to come.

That's not what most want to hear, but it's a very strong possibility based on information from our most respected sources. As an example, CB Asante Samuel and DE Justin Smith are two players who at this point appear very unlikely to end up in Tampa Bay. C Jeff Faine has generated some conversation, but I've been told Tampa isn't seen as a likely destination for the New Orleans Saint.

There's always the chance the Bucs will wind up signing a surprise player to whom they haven't been linked. But it's more likely the Bucs are going to target players they see as complementary pieces to what they already have in place. And don't underestimate how thin this class of free agents is, either. There are going to be a lot of average guys receiving contracts normally reserved for elite players.

In the end, don't be surprised if things at One Buc Place are a little quieter than expected as free agency commences. We'll be here all the way through to tell you what we know when we know it.

Coleman visits Carolina

The Bucs have begun contract talks with defensive tackle Rod Coleman. But the free agent defensive end is in Carolina today to visit with the Panthers.

""We are in talks with the Bucs, but he is headed to Charlotte today to visit with the Panthers,'' agent Pat Dye, Jr. said. 

Coleman met with the Bucs Wednesday and took a physical. He played in just five games last season due to an assortment of injuries.

   

Bucs visit with Crumpler and Coleman

Atlanta free agent defensive tackle Rod Coleman is concluding his visit with the Bucs today. His Falcons teammate, tight end Alge Crumpler, met with the team Tuesday.

Both players underwent physicals.

General manager Bruce Allen is believed to have begun preliminary talks with Crumpler's agent, James Williams.

Crumpler met with the Tennesee Titans today and also is expected to talk with the Seattle Seahawks.

Crumpler, the four-time Pro Bowler, has more than 4,000 career receiving yards and 35 touchdowns. He would provide the Bucs with a complete tight end who obviously excels as a receiver. Tight ends Anthony Becht and Jerramy Stevens are free agents.

Crumpler struggled with a knee injury last season and finished with just 42 receptions.

Coleman played in just five games last season after suffering quadriceps, triceps and wrist injuries. He originally was drafted by Allen with the Oakland Raiders.

 

Bucs cut Carter, Spires; Carter could return

Defensive ends Kevin Carter and Greg Spires have been released by the Bucs in a cost-cutting move. However, Carter is expected to sign a new contract that would enable him to return to the team.

The Bucs were forced to release Carter to avoid paying him a $2-million roster bonus.

The transactions Wednesday means the Bucs will be about $40-million under the salary cap when the free agent signing period begins Friday, putting them well ahead of most other teams.

Carter, 34, was acquired as a free agent from the Dolphins last year. He had three years remaining on his contract and was slated to earn a base salary of $3.8 million next season.

Carter started all 16 games for the Bucs and recorded 43 tackles. But he produced just three sacks and the Bucs want to upgrade their pass rush. Nonetheless, Carter provided some valuable leadership in the locker room.

Carter declined to comment on his release when reached Wednesday. 

Spires, 33, was a member of the Bucs Super Bowl XXXVII championship team. He had two years left on his contract and would've earned a base salary of $3.894-million in '08. But last season Spires missed six games with a calf injury and finished with 26 tackles and two sacks.

"We appreciate getting released today to get out ahead of the madness,'' said Spires' agent, David Levine, referring to the start of the free-agent signing period that begins Friday. "They said that's why they did it today instead of waiting.''

Levine said Spires release will save the Bucs about $3.3-million on the salary cap. As of Wednesday evening, Levine said he already had spoken to several teams who had interest in signing Spires.

"On this squad, he was no longer a starter," Levine said. "But there's a good chance Greg Spires will be starting for someone next season."

Greg White and Gaines Adams are the only remaining defensive ends who had extensive playing experience last year. White, the Arena League Defensive Player of the Year with the Orlando Predators who joined the Bucs after the start of training camp, led the team with eight sacks. Adams, the Bucs' first round pick, had six sacks to tie for second on the team.   

The release of Spires could pave the way for the Bucs to make a run at Bengals free agent defensive end Justin Smith.

Former LB McCants arrested . . . again

This just in from the where are they now file: former linebacker Keith McCants was arrested in an apparent crack house Monday in Mobile, Ala., the latest notch on his rap sheet since the end of his NFL career.

The Mobile (Ala.) Press-Register reports the 39-year-old was arrested this time on loitering and possession of drug paraphernalia charges after police say a complaint led them to a vacant home where McCants was discovered.

McCants had previous arrests for theft and other drug charges. In the 2004 theft case, McCants was convicted of taking a Lincoln Navigator out for a test drive but never returning it. A jury convicted him and he was sentenced to a year in jail -- a term that was later suspended and replaced by two years' probation.

If you're interested in the full details, click here for the whole story.

Wade, Bucs free agents to hit market

It appears the Bucs plan to part ways with starting center John Wade after five seasons.

The 6-foot-5, 299-pound Wade has not been offered a contract just three days before the free agent signing period begins Feb. 29 and is expected to hit the market, agent Bus Cook said Tuesday.

In fact, most of the Bucs' 10 unrestricted free agents will probably remain unsigned, although some have been offered contracts.

Wade, 33, has fended off challengers for his job since he arrived in 2002. The Bucs could re-sign G/C Matt Lehr and have hoped guard Dan Buenning could make the transition to center. But general manager Bruce Allen is likely to search for an upgrade to Wade through free agency or a trade.

"Our first key really at the (NFL scouting) combine is talking to our players who are free,'' Allen said. "The ones who will hit free agency Feb. 29.''

One player who has been tendered an offer by the Bucs is restricted free agent safety Kalvin Pearson, but he is looking for more than a one-year deal. Problem is, unless Pearson manages to find a team willing to sign him to an offer sheet that Tampa Bay would have the right to match, he has no option other than to settle for the one-year contract. Players do not have to sign such tenders right away, allowing them opportunity to see what the free-agent market has to offer.

"What we've done is we've had meetings and we're going to meet again with them again and give them time to think about the parameters we gave them,'' Allen said. "They've given us their proposals for us to digest to get back with them about. We want everyone to know where we stand, and in some cases, we've agreed the best thing to do is see what free agency has to offer them and they'll make a decision based on that.''

In other news, former Carolina running back DeShaun Foster reportedly is close to signing with the San Francisco 49ers. The Bucs had expressed an interest in signing Foster.

Restricted free agent tenders coming

Thursday is the final day for teams to tender offers that give them the right to match competing offers to their restricted free agents.

The Bucs have a few: defensive tackle Jovan Haye, safety Kalvin Pearson and linebacker Antoine Cash.

I've gotten word the team has informed Haye and Pearson that they will be tendered, though the Bucs haven't been clear what level of offers they will present. There are four different tiers of tenders, each requiring a different level of compensation from a potential competing team.

It's our guess Cash will get an offer, too -- probably at the lowest level of $850,000. Pearson is most likely to fall into that category as well. The plan for Haye is less certain. If the team is willing to step up a notch and tender him at $1.3-million, the Bucs will be able to protect him because any suitor would have to offer more money and a second-round pick to boot.

Combine tidbits

For the draft junkies out there, thought I might post some tidbits from the scouting combine in Indianapolis. Our Rick Stroud just returned, but since his visit was dominated by Bucs news, we didn't get to share much draft news.

* Everyone likes speed, so here are some of the players with the fastest times in the 40-yard dash: East Carolina running back Chris Johnson (4.24), Arkansas running back Darren McFadden (4.33), Cal receiver DeSean Jackson (4.35), Houston running back Anthony Aldridge (4.36), Appalachian State receiver Dexter Jackson (4.37), Florida receiver Andre Caldwell (4.37) and Virginia Tech receiver Eddie Royal (4.39).

That's good news for the Bucs. That's a lot of speed at two of the positions they are targeting in the draft.

* One of the storylines to develop over the weekend was the inability of Kentucky quarterback Andre' Woodson to participate in drills because of a hamstring injury. Woodson could have used a strong performance because there is a belief his stock is falling after a sub-par performance at the Senior Bowl in January. Woodson's injury means he is going to have a lot of pressure on him during his pro day, giving him just a single opportunity to impress scouts.

* There's some talk that LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey could be in for a potential fall on draft day because of concerns about a tibia injury he suffered in a weight-room incident the summer before his junior season. That seemed surprising considering Dorsey didn't miss any playing time with the injury. But it doesn't take much to be labeled a risk this time of year, not with the millions teams are going to spend on these guys.

Dorsey said he doesn't understand all the fuss and our guess is he'll still be one of the top picks in the draft.

"I have not missed a game since I got to LSU," he said during an interview in Indianapolis. "Everybody gets bruised up. That's the way I look at it. Who does not go through a season without getting bums and bruised? I don't think it's an issue at all."

Dorsey won't work out at the combine because of a recent death in the family. He only stopped in to participate in interviews with team executives and scouts.

There's likely to be more news today and Tuesday, so we'll pass it along as we get word on the latest.

Titans frontrunners for Crumpler?

The Titans are in the thick of the race to sign recently-released tight end Alge Crumpler, and general manager Mike Reinfeldt feels pretty good about the team's chances of landing the former Falcon.

"I would think we would be competitive," Reinfeldt told The Tennessean, the Nashville newspaper. "I think he is looking more for the right fit at this point in time -- the right city, the right team, a playoff-potential team."

Coach Jeff Fisher seems optimistic, too.

"He's one of the better players over the last few years at his position," Fisher said of Crumpler. "He's a complete tight end: he blocks, he's a receiving tight end, he does everything. His process was to go out and look at teams that were interested, narrow the group, and now we're in the running. So, I am looking forward to having him in (for a visit)."

The Bucs figured to have some stiff competition for Crumpler, who is arguably more appealing than any of the free agent tight ends expected to hit the market later this week. Remember, Philadelphia's L.J. Smith was designated the Eagles' franchise player and Indy's Dallas Clark was franchised before coming to terms on a long-term deal last week.

But the Bucs do have deep pockets, so there's no reason they shouldn't be in the conversation up until the very end -- so long as Crumpler likes what he sees.

San Diego QB Johnson loses grip

   The Bucs really like San Diego quarterback Josh Johnson, whose 4.4 in the 40-yard dash was tops at his position. He also was impressive in the interviews and on the chalkboard, demonstrating a keen knowledge of the pro style offense.

   There's been a lot of hype about the 6-foot-3, 213-pound Johnson, who threw 43 touchdowns and one interception for the Div. II program last season.

   But Johnson erased much of what he had gained with a poor performance in throwing drills Sunday. One pro personnel executive said he was gripping the ball too tightly, causing it to 'come out crazy.'

   Johnson has small hands and was understandably nervous. His performance at the combine did not mirror what scouts had seen on film or at the East-West Shrine Bowl, where he was the game's Most Valuable Player.

   Johnson can overcome his bad performance at the RCA Dome with a good pro day workout. But one scout said the teams that liked him will probably be able to get him much later in the draft. 

 

Bucs target DeShaun Foster

   Giving perhaps the clearest indication that the Bucs don't expect to have Cadillac Williams next season, the team has targeted Carolina Panthers free agent running back DeShaun Foster.

   The 28-year-old Foster was released Thursday by the Panthers to save about $4.75-million in salary cap room.

   The 6-foot, 222-pound Foster was a second-round pick by the Panthers in 2002. But he has struggled with injuries and fumbling problems, never rushing for 897 yards in six pro seasons. Foster is the Panthers career rushing leader with 3,336 yards and has excelled in the post-season. He had a team-record 151 yards rushing in a win over the New York Giants in 2005.

   General manager Bruce Allen said Saturday at the NFL combine he has spoken with Foster's agent, Joby Branion. A visit is likely to occur early next week.   

   ""We've had talks with his representative, yes,'' Allen told the St. Petersburg Times.

   Williams is recovering from a torn patellar injury he suffered last Oct. at Carolina. It is expected to take between nine and 12 months to completely heal, meaning he might not be cleared to play until the middle of the 2008 season.

   Foster appeared in all 16 games last season, but averaged just 3.5 yards per carry while scoring only three touchdowns.

   Improving the running back position will be one of the Bucs goals this off-season. Already, the team re-signed Michael Bennett to a three-year contract and are negotiating an extension for Earnest Graham. Michael Pittman is hoping to join another team.

   The free agent signing period begins Feb. 29 but the Bucs are getting a pretty good jump on the rest of the league. Allen said Falcons free agent defensive tackle Rod Coleman and tight end Alge Crumpler could visit Tuesday.

   Both players have injuries that need to be examined and the Bucs medical staff is in Indianapolis this week for the NFL combine.

   ""We'll set up their visits as soon as we get back,'' Allen said. ""That's what we're trying to schedule right now.''

   The Bucs are expected to be very active in free agency, with more than $30-million under the salary cap. Their focus will be on adding play-makers, particularly on offense.

   The team already has had discussions with the Denver Broncos about trading for receiver Javon Walker, who is expected to be released March 4, making a deal unlikely. Patriots receiver Donte Stallworth also is expected to become a free agent. Allen said Saturday the Bucs are not among the teams that have had discussions with representatives of Minnesota Vikings receiver Troy Williamson, who has been given permission to seek a trade.

   Of course, the biggest name in free agency might be Patriots receiver Randy Moss, who was not given the franchise tag as expected Thursday.

   If that happened, the Bucs might have an interest. But Allen said the word inside the RCA Dome is that Moss has an agreement in principle on a new contract with the Patriots.

   Allen said he anticipates 30 percent of the projected free agents will re-sign with their current teams. Allen said he has no immediate plans to release players.

   ""We will keep re-shaping based on who comes in and making sure we're able to give the newer players that come in an opportunity,'' Allen said.

   The Bucs have nine players slated to become unrestricted free agents on Feb. 29, including center John Wade, cornerback Sammy Davis and tight end Jerramy Stevens. Allen said he has had talks at the combine aimed at re-signing some of those players, although most are expected to hit free agency.

   ""What we've done is we've had meetings and we're going to meet again Sunday and Monday,'' Allen said. ""Give them time to think about parameters we gave them and they've given us their proposals for us to digest that and come back at them.

   ""We want everyone to understand where we stand, and in some cases, we've agreed the best thing to do is to see what free agency offers them and they'll make a decision based on that.''

   In other news, Bucs free agent cornerback Brian Kelly has drawn interest from the Detroit Lions.

   ""Obviously we're aware of him, as we are other cornerbacks,'' Lions coach Rod Marinelli said. ""Brian has been a fine player.''

   

   

Dungy unaware Patriots taped Bucs signals

Tony Dungy said he did not suspect Patriots coach Bill Belichick had ordered the taping the Bucs preseason game in 2000 or that the information was used in the regular-season opener weeks later.

   The Bucs won the game 21-16, sacking quarterback Drew Bledsoe six times and knocking him down 13 other occasions.

   Dungy, who has coached the Indianapolis Colts since 2002, said he later thought signals might have been stolen.

   "Not at that time, no, not in 2000,'' Dungy told the St. Petersburg Times Friday. "But later on.''

   The New York Times reported Friday that Belichick's pattern of illegally taping opponent's signals began with Belichick's coaching debut with the Patriots in a preseason game against the Bucs.

   "I really don't have a reaction,'' Dungy said. "We'll see if it's true. If it is, it'll be interesting to see how they got them and all that. It'll come out.''

   Belichick was fined $500,000 and the Patriots docked $250,000 and ordered to forfeit a first-round draft pick for illegally taping the New York Jets sidelines signals in the 2007 season opener.

   But new allegations have surfaced. The NFL is interested in talking to Matt Walsh, a former videographer for the Patriots who reportedly taped the St. Louis Rams' walk-through two days before beating the Rams 20-17 in Super Bowl XXXVI at New Orleans in 2002.

   Chiefs coach Herm Edwards, who coached the Bucs secondary in 2000, was surprised by charges that Belichick illegally taped the Bucs.

   "How about that?'' he said. "I'm going to leave it alone, man.''

   Edwards says he doesn't believe the Patriots' spying helped them win games.

   "We're chasing ghosts,'' he said. "What I want to know, let's say they find out whatever they're going to find out. What are you going to do? They're not giving the Super Bowl trophy back. They're not going to take their wins away. It didn't help them win. They had to go execute. They had to go play. We keep losing sight of that.''

Spygate's first victim: Tampa Bay?

That's true, according to revelations in a New York Times article in which an unnamed former Patriots player is reported to have said the team's videotaping of defensive signals started in coach Bill Bellichick's first game -- in the 2000 season-opener against the Bucs.

It's a fascinating story that provides yet more context on the scope and length of time the Patriots are alleged to have cheated. Videotaping coaches signals is a violation of NFL rules. The Patriots and Bellichick were fined a combined $750,000 in September by commissioner Roger Goodell after the league found evidence of previous videotaping.

Ironic thing about that Bucs game in 2000: the Patriots lost 21-16 and the Bucs went on to a 3-0 start, finishing 10-6. Click here for the full story.

Bucs talk trade with Broncos for Walker

   The Bucs have had discussions with the Denver Broncos about trading for receiver Javon Walker.

   The Broncos have made no secret of their desire to part ways with Walker, who is owed an option bonus of $5.4-million March 4. Walker said at the end of the of the season that he wanted to find a 'better fit,' elsewhere.

Walker, 29, was hampered by a knee injury last season and played in just eight games, catching 26 passes for 287 yards and no touchdowns. But he has had 1,000-yard receiving seasons with the Broncos in 2006 and the Packers in '04.

   The Bucs are looking to upgrade the receiver position. Joey Galloway will be 37 next season, Ike Hilliard will be 32 while Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall had struggled to make a consistent impact.

   Walker would give the Bucs a big target at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds that can work the middle of the field and make yards after the catch.

   On Thursday during a break at the NFL scouting combine, general manager Bruce Allen would neither confirm nor deny the Bucs had talks with the Broncos about Walker.      

   ""I couldn't say that,'' Allen said. ""I couldn't say one way or another.

   ""I'll neither confirm nor deny.''

   Walker isn't the only player on the Bucs radar. Allen said the team is pursuing Falcons defensive tackle Rod Coleman and tight end Alge Crumpler. One or both players could visit the Bucs training facility sometime next week.

   Allen met with Coleman's agent, Pat Dye, Jr., on Wednesday and will have talks with Crumpler's agent this weekend.

   Allen predicted that Coleman could have a new team before the start of the free agent signing period Feb. 29.

   Coleman, who has 58.5 career sacks, was plagued by an assortment of injuries last season and played in just five games before finishing the year on Injured Reserve.

   But the Bucs are all too aware of how disruptive Coleman can be as a pass rusher and the Bucs are looking to put more pressure on the quarterback. Allen drafted Coleman with the Oakland Raiders in 1999.

   ""He's been quite a foe for us the last four years,'' Allen said. ""You've been to the games, you've noticed No. 75. We have talked to him. (His agent) is working out Rod's schedule where to do visits and physicals. We've just got to see where his health is and when Pat decides when to get serious.

   ""He's played very well against us. He has rushed our players...he is a good competitor. That's why he has a lot of interest and that's why we haven't heard when he's scheduled to visit yet.''

   Crumpler has more than 4,000 career receiving yards and 35 touchdowns. Allen said he likes his ability to make plays down the field but said he also is a good blocker.

   ""I'll meet with them. (His agent) is coming here to meet with different teams and I should meet with him tomorrow.

   ""He's a very good weapon and he's made (four) Pro Bowls. Amazingly productive and a good all-around tight end. Not limited to one aspect.''

(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

No tag for Berrian, Moss

The free-agent landscape is coming into more focus now that this afternoon's deadline to designate franchise and transition players has passed.

The Bears surprisingly decided against franchising receiver Bernard Berrian. That means, unless the sides can come to terms on a contract in the next seven days, Berrian will become a free agent on Feb. 29. As far as the Bucs pursuing Berrian, we're pretty much convinced they'll be in the conversation, but so will a host of teams. The problem here is Berrian is going to command a very high salary because he'll likely be the most coveted free agent receiver. The Bucs, as we know from the past few offseasons, are quite careful not to spend more than they deem a player is worth. Berrian might too expensive in their view.

The deadline came and went without the Patriots franchising receiver Randy Moss. There is, however, some speculation that Moss and New England have a verbal agreement on a deal. Because Moss restructured his deal once during the current league calendar, he can't sign another contract until the start of the new calendar. That means he'll technically become a free agent at least for a while next Friday, even if he has a handshake agreement with the Patriots. It seems pretty unlikely Moss is going anywhere, however.

So, where will the Bucs find receiver help? Don't count out the possibility of a trade. The free-agent class is pretty unimpressive at the position. But the Broncos would like nothing more than to trade Javon Walker. We know the Bucs and Broncos have done business in the past. It was almost one year ago that they executed the Jake Plummer trade, so there's certainly a precedent. There's even been some buzz about Arizona's freakish Larry Fitzgerald being available, though that might require some interesting math with his huge contract. But if you ask me, the Bucs are more likely to work hard at a trade than they are to get into a bidding war for a receiver they're not completely sold on.

The second-tier free agents include Jacksonville's massive Ernest Wilford, Seattle's D.J. Hackett and Oakland's Jerry Porter.

One last note on the franchise deadline. Wanted to give you a rundown of some of the players who were tagged. The list includes: Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, Oakland cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, Arizona linebacker Karlos Dansby, Philadelphia tight end L.J. Smith, Baltimore defensive lineman/linebacker Terrell Suggs, Dallas safety Ken Hamlin, Green Bay defensive tackle Corey Williams, Seattle cornerback Marcus Trufant, Carolina tackle Jordan Gross, Cincinnati offensive lineman Stacy Andrews and Kansas City defensive end Jared Allen.

Back to Disney for Bucs

Bucs wide receiver Joey Galloway entertains fans with this catch in the endzone during practice last August at Disney's Wide World of Sports. [Joseph Garnett, Jr, Times]

No surprise here, but the Bucs confirmed today they are headed back to Disney's Wide World of Sports for training camp in 2008.

Though both the franchise and Disney appear satisfied with the way things have gone since the Bucs starting staging training camp there in 2002, the Bucs for some reason have preferred to operate on a year-to-year contract.

Players are likely to continue to stay in nearby Celebration and commute a few miles to the Disney complex for practices.

Franchise deadline and Berrian decision looming

The deadline to designate franchise or transition players arrives at 4 p.m. today, and there could be some last-minute decisions.

The Bears are a team to watch. With the Bucs in the market for a receiver, they'll be interested in learning what Chicago intends to do with Bernard Berrian, who hasn't yet been franchised. If the Bears do tag him, Berrian isn't likely to go anywhere because of the hefty compensation that would be required of a suitor. Randy Moss will be another 11th-hour decision, though no one seems to think Moss will get away from the Patriots even if he enters unrestricted free agency. Moss and New England are working toward a contract extension and will continue to do so even if the Patriots tag him.

Some good players have already have been taken off the unrestricted market after being franchised, including Seattle cornerback Marcus Trufant and massive Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. We'll know later today how many other intriguing free agents are franchised, making them largely unavailable to the Bucs.

It's assumed the Bucs aren't going to use the franchise tag because, frankly, they don't have any free agents worthy of such a designation.

We'll see how the day goes. Stay tuned.

Free agency 101

This is the time of year when you're going to be assaulted by all sorts of terms that perhaps you've heard but never truly understood: restricted free agents, exclusive rights free agents, right of first refusal, tenders, you name it.

Don't fear. Here's a little rundown, in layman's terms, of some of the more common references you need to be familiar with in this season of free agency. The signing period begins Feb. 29.

*Franchise/transition players: Thursday at 4 p.m. is the deadline for clubs to designate a franchise or transition player. Doing so allows a team to protect a single free agent it might otherwise be hard-pressed to keep. Some teams will tag a player as an "exclusive" franchise player, meaning he can't negotiate with any other team. That requires the team commit to a higher salary, however. For slightly less money, the team can designate a player a plain ol' franchise player. Under that scenario, the team retains the right to match any competing offer and, if he is signed by another team, that club must compensate the player's former team with two first-round draft picks. You can see why this almost never happens.

Transition players are dealt with much in the same way, except the salary involved is less. It's a one-year offer equal to the average of the 10 highest-paid players at that position. Franchise players receive an average of the top 5. But with transition players there is no compensation owed by a competing team that signs the player. The old team still retains the right to match any offer.

*Unrestricted free agency: This is free agency in its purest form, meaning a player has at least four accrued seasons in the league and has no strings attached. He can sign with any team he chooses. Most free agents fall into this category.

*Restricted free agency: These are players who haven't yet earned the right to full-fledged free agency but have at least three accrued seasons toward free agency. Also known as RFAs, they must be tendered a one-year contract offer before the start of free agency for the current team to retain the right of first refusal. The tenders can be for different amounts of money. That's what will determine what, if any, compensation the current would receive if it lost the player to a suitor.

This year, the NFL has established the lowest level at $850,000. The next tender level requires an offer of $1.3-million and would reap a second-round pick as compensation. Then, there's the $1.85-million level that would require a first-round pick of a competitor. Finally, the highest tender level of $2.35-million would cost a team a first- and third-round pick.

The Bucs have three restricted free agents: DT Jovan Haye, LB Antoine Cash and S Kalvin Pearson. Haye is a lock to be tendered, but it's not yet clear at what level. Teams have until Feb. 28 to tender RFAs.

*Exclusive-rights free agents: These  guys don't have much flexibility. This category includes players who have less than three accrued seasons but whose contracts have expired. That usually is limited to undrafted players or late-round draft picks. They don't have the right to negotiate with any other teams so long as their current team submits a minimum-salary offer before the start of free agency. The player's only option is to sign the deal or sit out for a year. This is the group WR Paris Warren falls into. He has already been offered his contract and will sign it when he returns to town.

Well, my fingers are exhausted after all this. I didn't mean to make this the length of Deuteronomy, but I hope someone will benefit from this as we move toward one of the most active parts of the NFL calendar. Stay tuned for news from the scouting combine in Indianapolis, which will begin heating up in the next few days.

If I forgot anything that needs explaining, hit me up in the comments section.

NOTE: I edited this slightly today (Thursday). Had a couple of details on years of service that were off a bit. I've checked all this against the collective bargaining agreement, so should be good to go now. My bad.

Bucs to contact Falcons free agents

Falcons defensive tackle Rod Coleman is on the Bucs' radar, according to his agent.

Pat Dye, Jr., said he expects to begin discussions with the Bucs regarding Coleman later today. The same is true with Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler. The Falcons announced Friday that both players were among seven the team planned to release. However, those transactions won't be official until today because the NFL office was closed Monday for President's Day.

"I expect to speak to Bucs soon on Rod,'' Dye said. "Officially, (he was) waived today.''

The Bucs defense ranked second overall last season and improved their sack total to 33 in 2007. But it wasn't good enough and Coleman would be a welcome addition. He has recorded 31 of his 58.5 career sacks in the last four seasons with the Falcons and would likely rotate at under tackle with Jovan Haye.

But last season, Coleman, 31, was plagued by injuries and played in just five games, recording two sacks before finishing the year on Injured Reserve. Coleman injured his right quadriceps muscle during a jet ski accident last April. He later suffered injuries to his kneecap, right triceps and right pectoral muscles.

If he checks out healthy, expect Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen to move quickly on Coleman. They drafted him with the Raiders in 1999.

Crumpler has been making big plays against the Bucs for years. The 6-foot-2, 262-pound tight end has more than 4,000 career receiving yards and 35 touchdown passes. He caught 42 passes for 444 yards and five scores last season.

The Bucs are in the market for a tight end with Anthony Becht and Jerramy Stevens expected to become unrestricted free agents Feb. 29.

In other news, linebacker Cato June is rehabilitating from foot surgery to repair an injury that forced him to miss the Bucs' wildcard playoff game against the Giants. He is expected to be fully recovered in time to participate in the off-season program.

Healed Paris Warren to re-sign

The last memory most people have of Paris Warren was the gruesome image of him dislocating his ankle in the Bucs' final preseason game last fall, an injury that ended his season and turned our stomachs.

Warren was poised to make the team before the injury and might have contributed in 2007. But he'll get the chance to mount a comeback with the Bucs this fall, as the team has agreed to bring back the exclusive rights free agent. That's not big news because once a team makes at least a minimum-salary offer to an exclusive rights free agent, the player is prohibited from negotiating with any other club. Warren hasn't signed the deal yet, but will once he returns to town.

What is more newsworthy is what Warren just shared with us: the fact that he is fully recovered from that ugly injury. Warren, who is currently spending time in his native Sacramento, said he is close to getting back to his old self.

"I'm doing good," he said. "I'm done with rehab. I'm just working on strengthening right now."

Warren said he plans to participate in the team's conditioning program beginning next month in Tampa and predicts that he'll be a participant in offseason practices which begin after the draft.

"I'm ready to go," he said. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

Bringing Warren back was expected, but it's still a good move by the Bucs. This team needs all the competition it can get at receiver, and you can expect that they'll be working hard to address the position whether through free agency or the draft.

Kelly opts out to become free agent

As we told you to expect several weeks ago, cornerback Brian Kelly has officially opted out of the final year of his contract and has declared himself an unrestricted free agent.

Kelly paid the Bucs $453,000 by Thursday's deadline to void the final year of his deal.

The Bucs will miss Kelly. At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, he was one of the most physical corners in the NFL. While he has had some injury problems the past two seasons, the Bucs won about 40 percent of their games when he wasn't in the lineup since 2001, according to his agent.

Suddenly, the Bucs biggest need might be the cornerback position. Ronde Barber turns 33 in April. Phillip Buchanon has progressed nicely, but the Bucs need another corner to allow Barber to slide inside to the slot position on passing downs.

Kelly has 22 career interceptions and his best year came in 2002 when the Bucs won the Super Bowl. Barber has received a lot more attention and accolades, but Kelly also viewed himself as Robin to Barber's Batman.

Now the dynamic duo is no more. Granted, Kelly has been limited by injuries the past two seasons. He still managed to make a good contribution last season, including a game-ending interception against the Redskins.

More importantly, he was a quiet leader in the locker room. But you can trust defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin to re-stock that position.

Bennett re-ups with Bucs

Running back Michael Bennett didn't factor prominently in the couple months after his trade to the Bucs last season.

But perhaps he'll play a bigger role in the future now that he's signed a multi-year deal with the team.

Tampa Bay announced the signing this morning, the first notable personnel move of the offseason which prevents the veteran from becoming a free agent later this month. Bennett joined the Bucs in a trade-deadline deal with Kansas City in October but was used sparingly by Jon Gruden largely because of his limited knowledge of the playbook. The 5-9, 207-pound Bennett rushed just 41 times for 189 yards, averaging 4.6 yards -- the most of any of Tampa Bay's backs.

Given the Bucs' lack of depth in the backfield, this move arguably was necessary. Prior to this move, Earnest Graham and Cadillac Williams were the only backs with experience under contract. Michael Pittman is a free agent and is on record saying he would like to explore his options. Williams isn't likely to be ready when the season starts after suffering a patellar tendon tear in September.

All that left Bennett in a pretty good spot, which is to say, the Bucs felt like they needed him. And without knowing the asking prices of the several free-agent running backs on the market, it would have been risky to enter the signing period with just one back they can count on.

The guess here is that Pittman's chances of being asked to return just got slimmer. Bennett is younger (he's 29, Pittman is 32), faster and in most cases, more explosive. You can argue that Pittman is a more well-rounded back when you factor in qualities like his hands, blocking ability and special-teams contributions. Still, it will be interesting to see what role is carved out for Bennett, who would be an interesting option on third downs in place of Pittman.

On a related topic, the Bucs began talks last week with Graham, whose agent is attempting to broker a long-term deal. Pay particular attention to the contract signed by Oakland running back Justin Fargas this week, a three-year, $12-million deal that will likely come up during Graham's negotiations. Not saying Graham will fetch that sort of money, but it's certainly worth arguing for.

Check back later and we'll hopefully have some comments from Bennett. Called him a little while ago but he was boarding a flight and didn't have time to chat. He promised to call back.

Bucs re-sign Bennett

The Bucs re-signed running back Michael Bennett, according to a team news release.

Bennett rushed for 189 yards and a touchdown on 41 carries after being acquired in a trade with Kansas City. He caught five passes for 54 yards and a touchdown.

Selected to the 2002 Pro Bowl as a member of the Minnesota Vikings, Bennett has 3,615 career yards and 13 touchdowns on 810 carries in seven seasons. He has caught 150 passes for 1,218 yards and six scores.

A no-go for Ocho Cinco

As far as Bengals coach Marvin Lewis is concerned, Chad Johnson isn't going anywhere.

Lewis made it clear -- again -- that the Bengals have no intentions of parting with the Pro Bowl receiver. That news is relevant here because we all know the Bucs are in the market for some help at receiver.

But, if Lewis is to be believed, the Bucs will have to look elsewhere. His denial came after a report indicating that the Redskins have made it a high priority to pursue Johnson this offseason. Word was tha his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, was working behind the scenes pushing for a trade.

Lewis says there's nothing to it all. If so, Johnson -- who wants out of Cincinnati -- will have to suck it up and suit up or sit out '08.

I don't see anything extraordinary coming out of this. The Bengals would be on the hook for a lot of cap acceleration if they move Johnson. So, they're likely to stand pat. And, just like fellow Rosenhaus client Lance Briggs, who spent much of last summer badmouthing the Bears, Johnson will come around once it's time to play and -- more important -- get paid. At least, that's the way I see it playing out.

Heavy load for "new" RBs coach

The latest on the coaching front is that special teams coach Rich Bisaccia is going to also take on the role of coaching running backs.

But he won't be shedding his special-teams coaching duties, meaning Bisaccia will be carrying a heavy work load as he replaces the departed Art Valero.

But Bisaccia can't do this all on his own. We've learned he's expected to get a lot of help from offensive quality control coach Tim Berbenich who would be something of an assistant running backs coach. Bisaccia already gets a hand on special teams from several assistants, particularly coaches assistant Dwayne Stukes.

Bisaccia performed this dual role in stints at South Carolina, Clemson and Mississippi. So, if anyone can handle it, it's him.

The odd thing is that Aaron Kromer, formerly the assistant offensive line coach, was hired this week by the Saints to be their running backs coach. Not sure whether the Bucs were open to him taking on that role here, but sure seems strange to see a guy leave Tampa for a job that also was vacant on the Bucs' staff.

Garcia comes through for NFC

Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia was a late addition to the Pro Bowl, named to the NFC team as an alternate just a couple weeks ago.

Good thing.

Garcia engineered two late scoring drives that capped the NFC's 42-30 come-from-behind victory in the NFL's all-star game. On the first drive, Garcia ironically hooked up with former teammate Terrell Owens, with whom he had a rocky relationship in San Francisco. Garcia threw a 6-yard touchdown to Owens in the fourth quarter to put the NFC ahead. In fact, four of Garcia's eight completions went to Owens for 56 yards.
That's about as much as I can tell you because I slept through most of the affair. Guess that last dose of football will have to last me through the offseason. That's pretty much the last action until training camp.

Good luck dealing with the withdrawal.

Mixed news on Bucs tickets

The Bucs released the details of their 2008 general ticket offerings today, and there's a mix of good and bad news.

The bad, though expected, news is that prices are on the rise -- again. Increases appear to have been made on every general-seating ticket. Last year's high of $76 will pale against this season's priciest general-seating ticket, which will sell for $99. That's an astonishing 30 percent increase. Most seats will cost between $5 and $10 more, according to a news release outlining the plans. This is the sixth consecutive season prices will increase.

The good news, however, will be welcomed by longtime season-ticket holders. Original season-ticket holders whose 10-year agreements expired with the 2007 season will not be required to put down an additional deposit. The remainder of their deposits -- first required in 1998 and equal to the price of the seat -- will continue to be refunded in increments of 5 percent per year. Also, the team is only requiring a three-year contract for those whose contracts have expired.

Regarding the prices, the cheapest general-seating ticket in 2007 was $31.50. In 2008, you can't get in the door for under $42 -- an increase of 33 percent.

Byner moves on; search continues for RBs coach

Never did update everyone on the Earnest Byner buzz.

The Bucs interviewed the Redskins running backs coach last week for the same position here in Tampa. But now, word is Byner has opted to stay on in Washington.

It's not clear whether the Bucs offered Byner the position, but either way, they still must find a running backs coach to fill their final position-coach opening.

Olson named Bucs QB coach

   The Bucs officially announced Thursday that former St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator Greg Olson will coach quarterbacks in Tampa Bay.

   Olson's contract with the Rams didn't expire until after the Super Bowl, which accounts for the delay. Olson began his NFL career in 2001 coaching quarterbacks for the San Francisco 49ers. That's where he became acquainted with current Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia.

   Although the Rams had a lot of injuries last season and struggled, Olson is well-regarded around the league and it should be a nice addition for the Bucs and Garcia.    

The quarterback of the future is...who knows?

We haven't spent a lot of time talking about the quarterback position around here lately because the Bucs have a pretty good one onboard.

Jeff Garcia is on his way to the Pro Bowl. No issues there, obviously. He's the guy -- period.

But, per usual, I'm here to deliver some sobering news to you: Garcia will be 38 in two weeks. Hey, I love the guy. He's the best thing that's happened to this team in a long time. But I'll say it again: 38.

So, that leaves the Bucs in a position where they can't realistically expect to get a whole lot out of Garcia down the road. Not saying he can't play a couple more years. Just saying that, as a franchise, you certainly can't expect that and you have to operate as though you don't plan on having him long term.

So, if Garcia gets hurt or whenever his career comes to its inevitable end, what then? Who is this team's quarterback of the future?

I've asked the question and, frankly, I'm still waiting on a legitimate answer. I believe the Bucs like Luke McCown, but I don't get the sense they're ready to commit to him as a long-term answer at the position. He has talent, but there are considerable holes in his game. I think they like Chris Simms, too, but we know they've shown no willingness to hand him the future of the franchise, either. Besides, even Chris will tell you he is going to have to prove himself before anyone makes up their mind about what's next for him. That leaves us with Bruce Gradkowski who, lovable as a he is, isn't much of a factor in this conversation.

So, what's the plan? There doesn't appear to be one at the moment. As a result, I fully expect the Bucs will take a long look at a quarterback somewhere beyond the first round of the draft. Now that Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen are with us through 2011, there's sufficient time to develop a young quarterback. I know what you're thinking: when has Gruden ever developed a young quarterback? That's true.

But is this really a realistic way of doing things, this business of recycling veteran quarterbacks every three years? So long as the Bucs continue to take that approach, the question I'm posing here will keep coming up every couple of years. Just look at the revolving door of veterans in the last five or six years: Brad Johnson, Brian Griese, Jeff Garcia.

Will there be another? Or will the Bucs finally settle down and look for a long-term solution to their never-ending quarterback question?

Chad Johnson in pewter? Not so fast

With Cincinnati receiver Chad Johnson making it no secret that he wouldn't mind playing elsewhere in 2008, you might wonder whether the Bucs would have some interest in the disgruntled Bengal.

It's easy to make a case for pursuing him. The man is on his way to his fifth straight Pro Bowl. And he set a Cincinnati record for career receptions. Plus, he's durable. Johnson hasn't missed a game in six seasons.

But I've gone back and forth on whether the Bucs would make a play for a guy with a dynamic personality like Johnson. Look at the team's history and the Bucs clearly have a record of separating themselves from anyone who rocks the boat. You can go back to Keyshawn Johnson and Warren Sapp, or, more recently, Simeon Rice. Now, there were other factors at work in most cases -- money, injuries, etc. -- so it wasn't merely about the player's big mouth.

But if you look at the current makeup of this team, it's a sportswriter's nightmare. There isn't really a guy on the roster who is willing to say anything contrary to the company line. That's not a knock. They're paid handsomely to remain silent. I get that. Just saying that the guys who call attention to themselves usually don't last in Tampa Bay. And the Bucs generally steer clear of those types of players in free agency, too. Tampa Bay has been far more likely to sign players with checkered pasts than players who stay within the law but are apt talk out of turn. Go figure.

Johnson is such a talent that perhaps the Bucs might be willing to overlook his demonstrative personality. He is, after all, exactly what they don't have at receiver: a guy who can go deep but will also run all kinds of routes and make tough catches in traffic.

But I just have a hard time seeing Tampa Bay with Johnson on its roster. When you think about the Bucs, the first thing that comes to mind is probably Jon Gruden -- not a player with a flashy style. Frankly, I think that's exactly the way the Bucs like it.

Some perspective on ticket prices

We're still waiting for the Bucs to release their general ticket pricing for 2008, but we've already gotten an indication from general manager Bruce Allen there will be at least some increase in price.

The Bucs aren't alone in raising their prices, but consider a few numbers. Did some research the other day on this topic, and it turns out the Bucs in 2007 had the eighth-highest average ticket price in the league, according to an annual study done by a Chicago firm called Team Marketing Report. The $72.44 average was a 6.6 percent increase over 2006.

The trend of increases has continued since 2003, the season following the Bucs' Super Bowl victory. The 2002 average ticket price was $44.41, same as the previous season. That ranked 23rd in the league. But in 2003, the average ticket increased 12.1 percent to $49.78, and things have not been the same since. To get to the current prices, increases have continued at an average annual rate of 7.8 percent.

In 2007, only the Patriots, Bears, Redskins, Giants, Jets, Cowboys and Ravens had higher average prices than Tampa Bay, according to the study. Notice how most of those teams are in considerably pricier markets than this one.

With so many people feeling squeezed by the current economy, it's no wonder the wild card game was slow to sell out. These days, it's becoming quite the financial strain to be an NFL fan.

For the season-ticket holders out there, we'd like to hear from you once you receive your packages from the team. Let us know how you'll personally be affected by the increase this year. Drop a line to sholder@sptimes.com if you've got some input. Include a name and phone number when you write, if possible.

Allen chats at Super Bowl

Bucs general manager Bruce Allen took a few minutes at Super Bowl XLII to address some topics with the media Friday. Here are some of the highlights.

On signing his new three-year contract extension:

"Happy. We like what we have,'' Allen said. "Every fan in Tampa knows we have the best facility in the NFL, we have the best stadium in the NFL, we have a young group of guys, we've got plenty of cap room and an opportunity to make the team better.

"Having the coaches all remain constant and the coordinators, it allows the players on our team to understand how they have to get better because it's the same coaches.''

On cornerback Brian Kelly telling the Times he intends to exercise an option to "buy back," the final year of his contract and become a free agent, Allen said: "We didn't talk about that at that time, but that was before that (story),'' Allen said. "We'll talk. I want to know what he wants to do.''

On efforts to sign running back Earnest Graham to a contract extension: "What we were doing the last few weeks was finalizing our free agent list,'' Allen said. "The first focus is on the players who don't have contracts, whether they're on our team or the opposition and making sure we pinpoint who we want out of there and then reward our guys at that point.''

On preventing a collapse after winning the NFC South like the one they experienced in 2006, Allen said,  "You try to increase the talent level. You try to increase the depth on your team. You keep the hunger that we had this last off-season. The players on this team were hungry. You talked to them and they commented at different times about being embarrassed about what happened here. Keeping that hunger is important.''

On the possibility of signing Warren Sapp to a one-day contract so he could retire as a Buccaneer: "He's a Raider,'' Allen said. "And I understood he's going to do a Raider retirement.''

On Mike Alstott having a future role with the Bucs: "When that is, this year, next year or the following years, Mike, as he knows, is always associated with us. He's going to take some time and figure out what he wants to do. For a guy who just retired, he surely has a lot of commitments he's made for the next year.

"I don't think he wants to coach. And it's the time (involved).''

The Bucs aren't ready to officially announce the hiring of Rams offensive coordinator Greg Olson as the team's quarterback coach or Earnest Byner as the running back coach.

"I know we did interview and talk to Greg Olson. He's still under contract with the Rams. Until that's final...after the Super Bowl,'' Allen said. "We've talked to Earnest. It was a nice conversation. But that was all.''

--Allen said he wasn't upset the Bucs weren't selected to play a regular-season game in the United Kingdom in 2008.

"No, I love our fans,'' Allen said. "We'll do it, as will everybody in the NFL.''

Galloway had shoulder surgery

Bucs receiver Joey Galloway underwent successful surgery Wednesday to repair his shoulder injury, according to general manager Bruce Allen.

Galloway was ineffective in the Bucs'  24-14 loss to the New York Giants in the NFC wildcard game, catching just one pass before being forced to leave the game late in the fourth quarter.

Allen, who would not provide details of the injury, said the surgery will not prevent Galloway from participating in the off-season workout program which begins in March.

"I know what it is, but I won't give it to you,'' Allen said. "He should be fine.''

Allen said Galloway believed the injury wouldn't require surgery.

"Joey thought he could work out in the weeks after that game, but he was still having some pain with it,'' Allen said. "So he got it re-analyzed and thought the best thing to do was to just go (have surgery).''

Ticket price increase coming

UPDATED: 4:15 P.M.

Bucs fans can expect to pay more for tickets next season, general manager Bruce Allen confirmed Friday. Speaking at Super Bowl XLII in Phoenix, Ariz., Allen said details of the new ticket plan would be released soon but provided no details.

Also included in the announcement, which could come next week, will be information regarding renewal for charter seat deposits.

"We'll have something on it later,'' Allen said. "There was a lot of thought that went into it and discussion and planning. When you look at our situation, we'll be in the middle of the league with an increase (in terms of ticket prices) and if you study what the other teams have done over the last 10 years, you'll see it when they release the information.''

-- RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer

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We're expecting some news on ticket prices for 2008 this afternoon, though we don't have any specifics just yet.

We should hear from general manager Bruce Allen as well, which is a pretty good indication there will be an increase in price. It's possible Allen is agreeing to do interviews to put the club's spin on the possible news of an increase, something that never goes over well with fans.

We're hoping for some explanation of the procedures for those of you who have reached the end of your 10-year commitments. Fans bought season tickets when Raymond James Stadium opened paid a 10-year seat deposit, 50 percent of which remains in escrow with the team. The 10-year period is now up, but there's been no word on whether the money will be refunded or rolled over toward future tickets.

We'll let you know as soon as we hear some details.

Buchanon's brush with death

Following the shooting death of Redskins safety Sean Taylor, ESPN will take a look at the issue of athlete safety on Outside the Lines on Sunday morning.

I got a heads up that one of the athletes featured will be Bucs cornerback Phillip Buchanon. He once told me this story of being held at gunpoint in a home invasion a couple years ago before joining the Bucs, but he appears to go into more detail in this interview based on the clip you can view by clicking here (download the video and it should then automatically pop up in your media player of choice). The whole ordeal lasted more than an hour as seven men terrorized Buchanon and a friend and cleaned out his house of all his valuables. Pretty scary stuff.

Anyway, if you're interested, the sho