Glazers feel your pain

   The Bucs raised ticket prices for the sixth straight season and implemented a more than 30 percent increase -- the highest since the Glazer family purchased the team.

   But hey, it's the cost of doing business.

   Team vice president Joel Glazer said his family is sensitive to people struggling to make ends meet in today's economy. But he said the increase was justified to remain competitive on the field.

   ""The first thing I would say is that we're extremely sensitive to it,'' Glazer said. ""Unfortunately, across all sports,ticket prices seem to be going up and up and up. And it's one part of being part of the National Football League that I don't like. I don't like every year having to make that decision what prices are going to be, especially this year. This year was tough.

   ""But what we found after surveying around the National Football League, even after our prices this year, there's still 15 teams with a higher general seat price than our top seats. So we're sitting right there in the middle even after an increase. But nobody likes it because they're our loyal fans, your core supporters, people that are there week in and week out with the team. But we've got to stay competitive and unfortunately it's become part of sports.''

   Taking a break at the NFL owner's meeting in Palm Beach, Glazer said season ticket renewals are going well and there will be no local television blackouts as rumored. He expects all games to be sold out.

   ""Because our price increases the previous years were not equal to a lot of other teams, we fell way behind. We're almost paying that price today because we kept it lower over the last 10 years.''

   For a complete Q&A with Glazer, read the Times Tuesday.

Glazers like the conservative approach

Many have questioned the Bucs' conservative approach to this offseason, particularly some of you frustrated fans.

Well, after a rare conversation this afternoon with executive vice president Joel Glazer, it's clear the philosophy the team is employing begins at the top.

Glazer emphasized several times the franchise's intention to "build through the draft" and use free agency in small doses to augment the core of the team. Glazer also repeated something we've told you recently: the plan is to reward the young productive players with extensions rather than spend on outsiders. And he correctly stated that the teams who spend the most often are not the clubs that have on-field success.

Glazer also thinks that relying heavily on free agency can disrupt the locker room, as high-priced players must mesh with the existing nucleus. And the team -- and particularly Glazer and his brothers -- is leery of handing out large signing bonuses because of their potential impact on the salary cap in future years. In a moment of complete honesty, I think Glazer would admit that a big consideration there is that the cash comes directly out of his family's pockets -- as opposed to base salaries which are largely covered by revenue sharing from the league's television contracts. 

This isn't sexy, and Glazer acknowledged as much. But this is the way it's going to be with this team, for better or worse. Whether it's effective will be determined on the field this fall.

No compensatory picks for Bucs

The NFL just released the list of compensatory picks in next month's draft, but the Bucs did not receive any.

While 15 other teams will benefit from 32 compensatory picks, Tampa Bay did not meet the standard under the league's formula.

The formula, developed by the NFL's Management Council, stipulates that teams losing more or better free agents than they acquire in a given year are eligible to receive compensatory picks between the third and seventh rounds. The formula is based on salary, playing time and postseason honors.

Several teams received multiple picks, including the Ravens, who got four. The Bears, Colts and Eagles received three apiece. Washington, Cincinnati, Atlanta and Baltimore will actually get third-round picks out of the deal. That's a nice little surprise for those teams to have an extra third-round choice at their disposal.

No tampering here, Gruden says

Ran into Jon Gruden this afternoon and the coach spoke for the first time about Chiefs coach Herm Edwards apparent implication last week that the Bucs were overzealous in their efforts to sign center Jeff Faine.

Edwards said the Chiefs played by the rules, waiting until the start of free agency to approach Faine, indicating he felt the Bucs did not.

But Gruden and Edwards recently cleared the air and the matter appears resolved.

"I thought the media blew that out of proportion," Gruden said. "I did talk to Herm. We did play within the rules. I've been doing this a long time, 11 years as a head coach and never done anything outside the rules. Jeff Faine should be the guy answering all these questions. He's from Orlando. He wanted to play for the NFC South champions, wanted to stay in the division. Who said what, I don't know. . . There's no issue on his end or my end. I like Herm a lot."

On a related note, commissioner Roger Goodell said today that the movement toward instituting a five- to seven-day window for negotiations before the start of free agency is gaining support. He seemed confident owners could come to some agreement about the issue, thought it's expected nothing will become official until the next league meeting in May.

Owners meetings underway

I've set up shop here at The Breakers in Palm Beach, where I feel really underdressed in the company of so many billionaires.

Ran into Bryan and Joel Glazer this morning in between sessions. We'll be talking at length with Joel later on.

Also expect to see Jon Gruden in a little bit. We'll update you on whatever he has to share.

Had an interesting albeit quick conversation with Giants coach Tom Coughlin, too. He said he's uncommitted to a position on the playoff re-seeding proposal. But he said it could definitely work against teams in the competitive NFC East where a 9-7 division winner might be a better team than, say, an 11-5 team in a weaker division. So, reading between the lines, I'd say he's opposed to the measure.

Allen's take on seeding proposal

Had a quick chat with general manager Bruce Allen earlier today, and it's clear where the Bucs stand on the league's proposal that calls for a dramatic change to the way teams are seeded in the playoffs.

The proposal, if passed at the owners meetings next week, would mean seeds 3 through 6 in each conference would be determined by overall record. That means the division champs would no longer be assured a top-four seed in the postseason. It also means the Bucs would have been seeded behind the Giants and played on the road in 2007.

The Bucs are not going to vote in favor of this and are likely to try to influence others, too.

"It's a strange time to make this proposal," Allen said. "Two of the last three Super Bowl winners (the Steelers and Giants) have (gotten there) by playing on the road. We've always, as a league, treated division champs as special. I really don't know what they hope to accomplish."

The Bucs are clearly protecting their interests here, which is their right. The NFC South is often won by a large margin, so the winner would have the luxury of resting key players like the Bucs did in '07. The fear is the Bucs could be in a similar position this fall and have this rule be applied to them. Knowing their position on resting starters heading into the playoffs, guess it's kind of predictable where they'd come down on this issue.

Potential new rules on horizon

We told you a couple days ago about a few rules proposals that will be voted on at the owners' meetings beginning Sunday in Palm Beach.

But there were a handful of others we didn't get into.

One you've probably heard by now is the proposal put forward by Kansas City to legislate that players' hair not cover their jersey nameplate or numbers. Doesn't mean they have to cut their hair. Players would be allowed to pull their hair up in a way that does not obstruct the name or numbers. Don't know about you, but this gets to the heart of the reason we call it the No Fun League (NFL). Why is a rule of this nature necessary? Because the NFL doesn't like identity. It's why the league has someone stationed at every stadium to spot uniform violations and suggest players not in compliance be fined.

A more reasonable proposal, which I believe the competition committee is recommending, would eliminate the force-out rule on sideline catches. Currently, if a player is pushed out while attempting to make a catch on the sideline, officials can rule that the player was forced out. It's a tough judgment call that usually results in a lot of disagreement. The proposal rule streamline the rule so that the only time a force-out would be applicable is when a player is pulled out of bounds. Sounds like a good idea.

Another proposal would expand instant-replay rules to include field goal, a move that was prompted by a controversial kick last season. If the question pertains to whether the ball cleared the crossbar or whether it passed inside or outside of the upright, this proposal would allow the kick to be reviewed. The only scenario where it would not be allowed is to determine whether a kick that passed OVER the upright is good or not. Those will remain a judgment call for officials.

One other interesting one is a push to do away with the 5-yard facemask penalty, which currently is called when a player "grasps" a facemask. If passed, the proposal would remove that penalty and leave only the 15-yard violation, which requires that a facemask be pulled, twisted or turned.

I'll get into some more detail on the playoff seeding proposal and free agency negotiating window in Sunday's paper. If you don't know what I'm talking about, scroll down a few posts and check it out.

EDIT: Thanks to Jay, who commented below. Forgot to mention the coach-to-defense communication proposal that will be voted on, too. It looks to be gaining support and has a chance to pass after previous defeats. They've worked out some of the kinks in the process. Coaches would be allowed to communicate with one member of the defense. There would be two helmets with speakers in them, but the second would be a backup used only in the event the player wearing the primary helmet was injured or had to leave the game.

In the case of Tampa Bay, Barrett Ruud calls the defense, so it presumably would go in his helmet. But the Bucs might also reserve an extra radio helmet for, say, Jermaine Phillips, in case Ruud became injured, ejected, etc. Only then, would Phillips be permitted to wear his backup helmet.

Is Simms finally nearing the end?

If you haven't seen the Chris Simms article in today's paper, you'll want to check it out.

Basically, the long and short of it is that Simms is opting out of voluntary offseason workouts because he doesn't know what his status is with the Bucs.

But I think we can probably help clear this up for him pretty quickly. I'll only say this once, so pay attention: He's outta here. He knows it and everyone else knows it. The tough part for Simms is that it seems as if the Bucs are delaying the inevitable. Simms is ready to move on because, at this point, it seems like the best solution for both the player and team. But the Bucs appear stuck on getting something in return for him, such as a draft pick in a trade. I see that being a tall order, expecting to reap much for a player who hasn't seen the field in nearly two seasons. Perhaps they'll end up with a very late-round pick.

Whatever happens, Simms obviously is frustrated. And his decision to keep his distance could hasten his departure. After all, what good is it keeping a guy who doesn't want to be here? In the end, the Bucs and Simms have wasted enough of each other's time, and this thing needs to end.

Finally, it appears, maybe it will.

NFL proposing measures to curtail tampering, tanking

The NFL's competition committee has put forward a measure that would create a five- to seven-day moratorium period at the start of free agency during which contract negotiations would be permitted but not signings.

The proposal, one of many that will be discussed during next week's owners' meetings in Palm Beach, is aimed at reducing the amount of improper contact between teams and players and their representatives before the start of the signing period.

The idea is to give teams and free agents adequate time to consult before contracts can actually be signed so that when the signing period begins, all teams have had ample opportunity to recruit. Contact would be permitted between teams and certified agents only under the proposal. Contact between teams and players would be considered a violation and could result in tampering charges.

The news ironically comes the same week the league forced the 49ers to forfeit a fifth-round draft pick and swap third-round picks with the Bears after commissioner Roger Goodell ruled San Francisco tampered with Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs before his becoming a free agent.

And on Monday, Chiefs coach Herm Edwards strongly implied the Bucs engaged in tampering in their recruitment of free agent center Jeff Faine, who signed a rich contract with the Bucs on the first day of free agency. The proposal was being discussed long before this week's event, league officials said.

"We feel like there's too much contact," said Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, co-chair of the competition committee.

Similar methods have been used successfully in other leagues, including the NBA.

Another proposal under consideration is one that would alter the seeding process for the playoffs. Rather than have division winners automatically seeded in the top four in each conference, the measure would seed teams according to their records, with tiebreakers going to division winners.

The idea likely would influence teams to continue to play to win even after clinching their divisions before the end of the regular season. The Bucs clinched the NFC South with two weeks remaining last season and benched many starters in the final two games, resulting in games that could be construed as less entertaining and less competitive.

The concern, McKay said, goes to "the integrity of the game."

There are many favorable arguments for both of these proposals. The moratorium proposal will even the playing field and reduce the need to engage in tampering, which probably is more widespread than we even know.

And the measure attempting to change the seeding process surely will be supported by anyone who had to sit through either the Bucs' final two games in 2007 (me!). Had their seeding been in serious jeopardy, perhaps Jon Gruden would have played his starters in those final two games. Maybe they would have performed better in the playoffs, too, because they would have been in better rhythm. That, we'll never know.

We'll keep you posted on both concepts and determine how much support they have during the owners' meetings.

No tampering charge filed against Bucs

Although Chiefs coach Herm Edwards made a pretty clear implication that the Bucs tampered with center Jeff Faine while he still was under contract with the Saints, a league official tells us no charge has been filed with the NFL office.

NFL Senior Vice President of Public Relations Greg Aiello said "in order for a tampering case to proceed, a team has to charge another team with tampering or we must have sufficient evidence to warrant an investigation."

In this case, it appears neither exists. And it has been indicated to us the Chiefs have no intention of pursuing this matter any further. We also have been told there isn't much basis for a case to proceed, so it's likely this story will fade quickly. The source of that information labeled the accusation "comical."

I wasn't there and can't say what happened, so just take it all for what it's worth.

Did Bucs jump the gun on Faine?

(Updated 12:22 p.m.) Chiefs coach Herm Edwards makes what basically amounts to an accusation of tampering against the Bucs in a story in today's Kansas City Star.

The Chiefs had an interest in signing new Bucs center Jeff Faine, but the Bucs swept in and agreed to terms with him barely an hour after the start of the signing period, which began at midnight on Feb. 29.

Edwards implies that the Bucs and Faine's camp were in cahoots before the signing period began.

"There were probably some deals done before," he said. "We didn't cheat. We abided by the rules. That's how you're supposed to do it, and that's what we did."

When asked to elaborate, Edwards said, "You'd have to ask Tampa. I don't know what Tampa did."

Edwards also took issue with the Rams, who were quick to sign kicker Josh Brown before Kansas City could even arrange a visit.

Tampering -- which basically amounts to holding talks with a player who is under contract with another team -- is rarely enforced in the NFL. But just Monday, the NFL ruled that the 49ers tampered with Bears linebacker Lance Briggs by talking about him with agent Drew Rosenhaus before the start of the free agent period. And it was a costly infraction, with San Francisco forced to forfeit a fifth-round pick and swap third-round picks with the Bears -- dropping the 49ers five spots.

You can read the entire story by clicking here.

It should be pointed out that Edwards had a different take on the matter earlier this month. When asked on March 2 about losing out on Faine, Edwards reportedly indicated he thought the Bucs paid too much for the player, giving him a six-year, $37-million deal. He seemed to take the matter in stride then.

"You know when you go into free agency that you aren't going to get them all," Edwards said. "You wish you would have gotten another guy or two. But we didn't. In the end, does it make you better if you had gotten those guys? Maybe a little bit. The way we're approaching it, we're going to be OK if we didn't get anybody in free agency."

But Edwards' frustration likely grew as the Chiefs' fan base has grown increasingly impatient with the team's lack of big moves in free agency. It's possible he was venting a little when he made the above comments.

Either way, we've gotten no indication to this point that the matter will escalate to the league level. Even if it did, proving tampering occurred is extremely difficult.

We haven't forgotten you

So, you're probably wondering why it's been so quiet around here, with nothing posted for a couple days.

Well, the answer is myself and my colleague Rick Stroud have been drafted to help cover the NCAAs here in Tampa. So, I'm doing my best to become an expert on Siena, San Diego, Western Kentucky and Villanova.

In the meantime, there's actually a feature on Jeff Faine in today's paper that you might want to take a look at.

Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still around. And keep in mind, the next few weeks are going to really heat up. We've got the NFL owner's meetings coming up as well as the draft, which barely a month away. So, there will be lots to talk about. Let us just get the basketball responsibilities out of the way first.

Let's take a look at the offense

Now that we've said our piece about the potential defensive depth chart, let's turn to the offense.

Again, we have no idea what might transpire between now and training camp. The roster is still a work-in-progress. So, please don't hold me to this beyond, say, today.

Anyway, here goes:

QB: Jeff Garcia

RB: Earnest Graham

FB: B.J. Askew

LT: Luke Petitgout

LG: Arron Sears

C: Jeff Faine

RG: Davin Joseph

RT: Jeremy Trueblood

TE: Alex Smith

WR: Joey Galloway

WR: Michael Clayton

I struggled with two positions in particular: left tackle and the No. 2 receiver. At left tackle, Donald Penn was surprisingly solid last season after Petitgout went down with that season-ending knee injury. It's hard to ask any more of the guy. But IF Petitgout is completely recovered and performs well in camp, I can't see how they would keep him on the bench. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so, especially considering the Bucs have far more money invested in him.

At receiver, I know I'm going to catch a lot of hell for this choice. But here's my rationale: Ike Hilliard is getting older. Even he will admit that. And we all agree the Bucs need a more dynamic playmaker at that spot. Clayton, if given the chance, has an opportunity to be that guy. He, of course, has to make good on that opportunity. That's up to him. But I get the sense he might at least get the chance this season. I'm basing this on conversations with people in the know and a general sense I get. Of course, this may be a moot point if the Bucs address the position in the draft or if new acquisition Antonio Bryant proves to be a valuable asset, but we can only stick with what we know at the moment. Remember, Bryant hasn't played since 2006. We've got no clue what he'll look like right out of the gate.

You might take some issue with running back, too, but here's my two cents there: I think it will be a by-committee approach, with Gruden going with the hot hand. But I think Graham will get the call early in games, and then things will go from there.

Never too early for depth chart

The Bucs, like many NFL teams, won't publish a depth chart until they're a week or two into training camp. It's just too hard to tell right now.

But that doesn't mean we can't offer our take on what it might look like. So, for now, let's take a peek at the defense. Remember, these are projections based on what we know at the moment (not much). If someone breaks out and has a spectacular camp, anything could change.

I've gone over the roster several times now, comparing it against last year's starting lineup. Gotta tell you: I'm having a hard time getting up the nerve to replace any of last season's starters.

So here's my lineup -- for now:

RDE: Gaines Adams

DT: Jovan Haye

NT: Chris Hovan

LDE: Kevin Carter

SLB: Cato June

MLB: Barrett Ruud

WLB: Derrick Brooks

RCB: Ronde Barber

LCB: Phillip Buchanon

SS: Jermaine Phillips

FS: Tanard Jackson

You might disagree with my take. I'll admit there are a couple of positions for which you can make an argument. For example, it's entirely possible new acquisition Marques Douglas will beat out Carter at left end. Or, maybe the Bucs have a different plan that involves playing Adams there while sliding Greg White into the starting lineup at right end. I happen to think the Bucs like White as a spot player in passing situations as he still hasn't proven himself against the run. But that's just my educated guess.

Another position up for debate: left cornerback. Maybe Eugene Wilson opens camp by turning heads and gives Buchanon a run. Wilson has been a starter for most of his career, albeit at safety. But my guess, for now, is that Wilson will be the nickel back on opening day.

For the most part, the signings on defense, in particular, have been for the purpose of adding depth. We all know that's critical after last season's rash of injuries. But, at least for now, I'm having a hard time finding new acquisitions who are going to crack the starting lineup. We'll tackle the offense some other time. Feel free to dissect this at will.

Kevin Carter sticking around

Kevin Carter has decided to stay in Tampa, according to his agent, Harold Lewis.

The veteran defensive end turned down more money offered by the Oakland Raiders and another undisclosed team to remain in Tampa Bay on a one-year contract.

Carter was released just prior to the start of the free agent signing period last month because of a looming $2-million roster bonus. The player and team immediately began conversations aimed structuring a contract that would allow him to return, but along the way, other teams expressed interest and began pursuing Carter.

Carter took a visit to Oakland last week and was considering making a visit to Minnesota, which was already discussing numbers in excess of what Carter will make with the Bucs.

In the end, it wasn't about money. Anyone who knows Carter wouldn't be surprised.

"He's never been happier playing football," Lewis, Carter's agent said. "He loves playing with Jon (Gruden), he loves the organization and he feels like he's started something there that he wants to finish.

"He could have made substantially more. And 99 out of 100 times, the player is going to (choose) whoever gives him the best deal. But very few people have a chance to write their own endings. He'll have a chance to do that."

[Photo: Brendan Fitterer, Times]

Hackett to Carolina

One more free-agent candidate to scratch off your list: Seattle receiver D.J. Hackett.

The NFL Network reports he's agreed to sign a two-year, $3.5-million deal with the Panthers. Hackett visited the Bucs on Thursday and also had an offer in hand from the Redskins. It's not clear whether the Bucs made a contract offer.

Word inside the organization before the start of free agency indicated the team's interest in Hackett was lukewarm. But for the right price, the Bucs might have been willing to do business. We were told the Bucs saw him much in the same way they viewed Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall -- a player capable of and willing to make tough catches. The staff seemed to think there wasn't enough difference between Hackett and their two young receivers to warrant making a significant offer to him.

Given that, maybe this isn't a surprise.

Have your say on the ticket increase

I know it was starting to look like no one was home around here. Nope. You're stuck with us. Just took a little me-time over the weekend. It's been a long couple weeks of policing free agency news, rumors and the like.

In the meantime, I'd been working on a reaction story about the ticket increases announced last month. I asked some of you here for some input, and many thanks to those who clogged my inbox with some very interesting stories -- some positive, some much less so. I wasn't able to include everyone's account in today's article in the Times, but just wanted to say that everyone's contributions helped to shape the story. The more opinions we have to base such a story on, the more the story will reflect reality.

Some might think this story is a hit job. Others will identify with it. Take a look and judge for yourself. Either way, people proven to be very passionate about the subject based on all the responses. Thanks again for sharing.

[Photo: Bill Serne, Times]

Wilson agrees with Bucs

Patriots free agent safety Eugene Wilson has agreed on a one-year contract with the Bucs.

The deal will earn Wilson $1.8-million next season with $500,000 in guarantees.

The Bucs plan to use Wilson at cornerback in nickel situations. He also could back up both safety positions.

Wilson, 27, has started only 10 games in the last two seasons due to injuries. He has recorded 10 interceptions since entering the NFL in 2003.

The Bucs appear set at safety with Jermaine Phillips, Tenard Jackson and Will Allen. Sabby Piscitelli, the team's second-round draft pick, spent his rookie season on injured reserve and will challenge for playing time.

Tampa Bay lost safety Kalvin Pearson, who primarily was a special teams standout, when the Bucs failed to match an offer sheet he signed with the Detroit Lions. Wilson should emerge as the Bucs' nickel corner and will be vying for playing time with Sammy Davis and Torrie Cox.

 

Cadillac believes he will play in '08

Injured Bucs running back Cadillac Williams says he expects to play in 2008.

"Oh yeah, no doubt,'' Williams said. "I definitely have a great shot. I feel good about it.''

Williams, sporting a nine-inch scar on his right knee from surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon, took a break from rehab Friday to discuss his future.

He admitted that shortly after the injury occurred in a game at Carolina last Sept. 30, he doubted whether he would ever play football again.

"You're laying in bed, you're doing rehab and you can't move your leg,'' Williams said. "So you start to think that even though the doctor is telling you, 'Whoa, they're just speculating, be patient.' But we're human. You get to thinking like, 'Man, maybe it is (career threatening).

"But at the same time, I bounced back, did a lot of praying and I feel like I'm going to be okay.''

Williams said he working on building up his right quad muscles. He is able to do some light squats, run stairs at Raymond James Stadium, jog and do full-speed running in the pool.

"I'm actually starting to get active on this thing and put some pressure on it,'' Williams said. "Yesterday, I got where I was able to do some quick ladders and little drills, pushing the sled. I'm actually getting where I can put some pressure on this thing and see where it goes.''

Dr. James Andrews, who performed the surgery, told Williams it is a 9-12 month injury. But his goal is to be ready for training camp -- and at the very least -- play during the 2008 season.

"Everybody knows it's a patellar tear,'' Williams said. "But it's something that I don't feel is a career-ending injury. I'm showing up every day with my hard hat on and looking to get better and better.

"It's been an uphill battle.

"Me personally, I'd love to be ready for training camp. Ready for opening day. Of course, that's my goal. But at the same time, we've got to be smart with it.''

The Bucs do not appear to be counting on Williams next season -- even if they're not ready to count him out.

Earnest Graham, who rushed for 898 yards and 10 touchdowns in Williams' absence, is expecting a contract extension. The Bucs re-signed Michael Bennett prior to the start of the free agent signing period and signed former Falcons running back Warrick Dunn on Monday.

Andrews told Williams that other players, including Eagles running back Correll Buckhalter and Denver Broncos linebacker Nate Webster have returned from torn patellar injuries.

"There's been a couple guys who had this same injury who came back and have done well,'' Williams said.

Hackett arrives; Wilson wants to play safety?

A couple late-afternoon developments to report.

Seattle free agent receiver D.J. Hackett spent today with the Bucs and his visit will continue through the evening. The goal for the player is to get a sense of how the Bucs would use him in their offense, which bears some similarities to the Seahawks'  unit. Hackett's visit to Washington apparently went well, with the Redskins making a contract offer today. What we don't know is how long or valuable a contract he was offered. Hackett, at this point, is still scheduled to head to Carolina Friday morning.

Elsewhere, we told you Wednesday night the Bucs were nearing an agreement with New England free agent defensive back Eugene Wilson. Well, they still hope to land him, but there's a bit of a sticking point: it seems Wilson isn't too keen on playing cornerback.

That would present a considerable problem because that's where the Bucs need the most help. They have a good stable of safeties in Tanard Jackson, Jermaine Phillips and Sabby Piscitelli -- the latter of whom returns this fall from a season-ending foot injury. Wilson played a lot of cornerback in college and at times with the Patriots, so the Bucs appear convinced he can do so in Tampa. But before they can make that decision, Wilson obviously needs to be onboard with the idea. That might not yet be the case.

UPDATE, 12:21 a.m.: Should have mentioned this earlier. Got one other note on receivers: Arizona's Bryant Johnson has not been offered a contract by the Bucs, despite rumors to the contrary. That word comes straight from his agent, Joel Segal.

DE Douglas agrees with Bucs

San Francisco 49ers free agent defensive end Marques Douglas has agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the Bucs.

Douglas, 31, will help fill the void left by Greg Spires and Kevin Carter, who were released in cost-cutting moves two weeks ago. Carter, who visited the Oakland Raiders earlier this week, still could re-sign with the Bucs.

Douglas was brought to the 49ers by Mike Nolan to help the team adjust to the 3-4 scheme. The 6-foot-2, 292-pound Douglas entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens.

Last season, Douglas finished fourth in the NFL in tackles for loss with 12. He recorded 72 tackles, three sacks and 16 quarterback pressures.

Douglas could play defensive tackle or defensive end in the Bucs' 4-3 scheme. 

Bucs have private meeting with Josh Johnson

Bucs quarterbacks coach Greg Olson is having a private meeting today in San Diego with quarterback Josh Johnson.

The 6-foot-3, 213-pound Johnson is becoming a darling of the NFL draft. At the University of San Diego, he dominated Div. I-AA competition with 43 touchdowns and one interception -- one that bounced off the chest of his tight end and into the hands of a defender. He also was the MVP of the East-West Shrine game.

Johnson was the fastest quarterback at the NFL scouting combine by running a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. But he suffered some back spasms afterward and struggled in throwing drills.

He redeemed himself last week at his pro day, which was attended by about 20 teams, including Carolina coach John Fox and Chargers coach Norv Turner.

Nobody has been a bigger advocate for Johnson than Doug Williams, the Bucs' pro personnel assistant.

The Bucs already have six quarterbacks on the roster -- Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese, Luke McCown, Chris Simms, Bruce Gradkowski and even Jake Plummer. To say the least, coach Jon Gruden doesn't have a history of developing young quarterbacks.

With only five draft picks, it's hard to fathom the Bucs taking a quarterback. But it's obvious they believe Johnson may become a special player. Right now, he projected to go in the third round, but that could change.

At San Diego, he played several seasons for Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh. The Baltimore Ravens, coached by John Harbaugh, are obviously very interested in Johnson. But he's someone for Bucs fans to keep an eye on.

Pearson officially a Lion, Wilson deal close

   The Bucs failed to match the offer sheet for safety Kalvin Pearson, who officially joined the Lions Wednesday.

   Pearson, a restricted free agent, signed a three-year, $3.5 million offer sheet that included a $1.1 million signing bonus with the Lions last week. The Bucs had seven days to match the contract and retain Pearson, but declined.

   However, the Bucs are believed to be close to signing Patriots safety Eugene Wilson, who also could play cornerback. Wilson had been deciding between the Bucs and Titans.

Round-by-round Bucs draft picks

Here's something I've been asked about a few times.

I've got the final draft order from the NFL that gives the round-by-round rundown. I can now confirm the Bucs will be missing their sixth- and seventh-round picks. The sixth-round choice goes to Kansas City to complete the Michael Bennett trade, while the seventh-round pick goes to Denver for Jake Plummer. Since these picks are often undisclosed, we're never totally certain until we see the final draft order.

The Bucs, as you probably know, select 20th in the first round. From there, they will alternate with the Redskins between 20th and 21st in subsequent rounds. The teams had identical records but the Redskins had a stronger schedule, so they pick after the Bucs in Round 1. So, the Bucs pick 21st in the second round, 20th in the third round and so on.

WR Hackett to visit Tampa

The Bucs continue to examine the free agent receivers available and plan to take a closer look at one on Thursday.

Seattle free agent D.J. Hackett is scheduled to visit the Bucs on Thursday, according to his agent, Kevin Robinson. He was on his way to Washington this morning for a visit with the Redskins, the first visit for both the player and team since the start of free agency on Feb. 29. Hackett also is scheduled to stop in Charlotte, N.C. for a visit with the Panthers on Friday.

The 26-year-old Hackett was slowed by an ankle injury last season and finished with 364 yards on 32 receptions in six games. Among those were two 100-yard games.

The Bucs have had only preliminary contract talks with Hackett's agent. The Seahawks remain a possible destination for Hackett, especially because the Seahawks are concerned about having to play part of the season without leading receiver Deion Branch, who sustained a torn ACL in a playoff game in January. It's possible he won't be ready at the start of the regular season.

Carter set to visit Raiders

The Bucs released defensive end Kevin Carter two weeks ago with an understanding every effort would be made to retain him.

While talks continue, Carter remains open to other suitors, including the Raiders, with whom he will visit on Wednesday. We've learned the veteran free agent is in route to Oakland as of this writing for a meeting with the team, one of several to express interest in the 34-year-old. The trip coincides with Carter's trip later this week to Hawaii where union representatives are holding an annual meeting.

The status of Carter's negotiations with the Bucs is unclear. Carter was released on Feb. 27 a few days before he was scheduled to be paid a $2-million roster bonus. He had three years remaining on his deal and was slated to earn $3.8-million in base salary this fall.

The Bucs' interest in signing Carter is obvious. They would have a significant void at left defensive end if the veteran moved on. Gaines Adams is capable of playing there, but he was the starter at right end last season. Greg White, though very successful in his first full NFL season in 2007, has never been a full-time starter and has played almost exclusively at right end. The Bucs also signed Chiefs free agent end Jimmy Wilkerson, but he is expected to be more of a reserve player who will provide depth.

Ten years of No. 20

We're all about predictions and forecasting in sports media, so, in an effort live up to that stereotype, I did a little research to see what kind of player the Bucs might expect to uncover at pick No. 20.

If history is an accurate indication, the Bucs have a chance to come away with a solid player -- or not.

There have been some very productive prospects picked in their slot over the years. That should be somewhat comforting for those of you who are sweating what kind of star power the Bucs can find picking 20th overall. But here's the bad news: a few teams have managed to screw up royally at No. 20, so there's no guarantee the Bucs will get this right.

I went back 10 years for the purpose of this exercise and researched the 20th pick each year. Let's take a look:

2007: Texas CB Aaron Ross, Giants -- Started nine regular-season games and three of four postseason contests, including the Super Bowl. Pretty solid pick.

2006: Penn State DE Tamba Hali, Chiefs -- A starter in all games in the past two seasons, netting a combined 15.5 sacks. No quibbles here.

2005: LSU DE Marcus Spears, Cowboys -- Hard to say he has lived up to his status as a first-team All-America selection his senior year, but he has been a decent full-time player for Dallas.

2004: USC DE Kenechi Udeze, Vikings -- Was coming along with five sacks in 2007 before being diagnosed last month with a form leukemia.

2003: Georgia OT George Foster, Broncos -- Didn't fit into the Broncos' blocking scheme and was traded to Detroit in 2007, where he has been an off-and-on starter.

2002: FSU WR Javon Walker, Packers -- As far as the Raiders are concerned, Walker's turned out just fine given the $55-million contract they just gave him. A dangerous receiver when healthy.

2001: Arizona State S Adam Archuleta, Rams -- First five seasons were very solid, though he's slipped the last couple years, bouncing from Washington to Chicago.

2000: Oklahoma OT Stockar McDougle, Lions -- Has battled injuries and changed teams twice in the past three years. Missed all of '07 with an Achilles injury for the Jaguars.

1999: North Carolina DE Ebenezer Ekuban, Cowboys -- Fairly productive with 19 sacks in his past three seasons; Missed all of '07 for the Broncos with an Achilles injury.

1998: Tennessee CB Terry Fair, Lions -- Injuries derailed his career just a few seasons in, with a neck injury in 2005 ultimately ending his final attempt at a comeback.

Lions get heat for bringing in Bucs castoffs

A friend of mine, columnist Rob Parker of the Detroit News, wrote an interesting column over the weekend that essentially rips the Lions for their heavy reliance on former Bucs, whether coaches or players.

It's hard to deny there's been a conscious effort to stock up on former Tampa Bay talent. Cornerback Brian Kelly's signing over the weekend was just the latest addition. The Lions have also signed Chartric Darby in the past week, a member of Lions coach Rod Marinelli's defensive line when he coached the unit in Tampa Bay. And the Lions are expected to officially add Bucs safety Kalvin Pearson this week if the Bucs fail to match the offer sheet he signed with the Lions last Wednesday. They're not expected to, according to his agent.

Also on the Detroit roster is defensive end Dewayne White, who signed a big deal last year, and safety Dwight Smith, a one-time Buc. Detroit is also considering former Tampa Bay lineman Ellis Wyms, a free agent.

Parker's point is that there's been too much emphasis placed on sticking with players who are familiar to Marinelli. The Lions haven't won many games, so maybe he's got a point. Either way, it's an interesting look at some guys who will be very familiar to you.

So, did you renew your season tickets?

We've been wondering about that since the first installment on this year's particularly pricey tickets was due last Friday.

Many of you out there said you would have to make tough decisions based on this year's steep increases. We're curious what the final call was. And if you're willing to take some time to explain your decision to us for possible use in an article, drop me, Stephen Holder, a line at sholder@sptimes.com and include a daytime phone number. I've already talked to a couple fans who decided not to renew, but every individual has a separate story. I'd like to hear yours.

Dunn talks about his return

So, you're excited about Warrick Dunn's return? Well, you'll be happy to know he shares your enthusiasm.

When reached by telephone tonight, Dunn told us he's ready to get to work in Tampa, where he expects winning will be more commonplace than in Atlanta.

"I'm just happy to be playing with a group of guys that have been playing hard, that have played well and are going out each week and competing," Dunn said. "I'm really thrilled about the opportunity to try to win some games and move forward. Right now, I don't know everyone, so I can't say a whole hell of a lot. But I'm looking forward to being part of the team and to come in and contribute any way I can."

On the irony of possibly ending his career where it began, Dunn said, "I think I said it a while ago: it's full circle to start your career in Tampa and have the opportunity to finish it there. I'm just really honored and humbled that the coaches believed in me and hopefully I can come in and get to know those guys and just continue doing what I've been doing."

Dunn offered some gratitude for Derrick Brooks, who lobbied the front office and Jon Gruden to acquire Dunn.

"I'm always thankful for Derrick," Dunn said. "He's always believed in me."

Regarding what Gruden told him of his role, Dunn said, "he told me to just got to go out and play my game and have fun."

Dunn's agent, Jim Steiner, told me earlier that Gruden emphasized his intentions to involve Dunn in the passing game. Steiner said he thought playing under an offensive-minded coach like Gruden would be good for Dunn, whose versatility should give Gruden lots of options.

Dunn coming home to Tampa

A week after his visit with the Bucs, one-time Tampa Bay draft pick Warrick Dunn has signed a two-year, $6-million deal with the club.

Dunn, 33, was released by the Falcons on March 2 after the team signed free agent back Michael Turner. Returning to Tampa was the best scenario for Dunn, his agent said.

"It feels like based on all the information we have, it's the best fit for Warrick," agent Jim Steiner said. "I think after talking to both Bruce Allen and Jon Gruden, that was clear."

Dunn did not make any other free agent visits, but Steiner said that was the player's choice.

"He could have, but we declined," Steiner said.

Dunn was a first-round pick of the Bucs in 1997 and played five seasons in Tampa Bay, accumulating 4,200 yards -- third-most in franchise history. He'll get a chance to add to that total in 2008 when he will attempt to pass Mike Alstott, who retired in January with 5,088 career yards, second most in franchise history.

The addition of Dunn reduces the importance of selecting a running back early in the draft as he joins Earnest Graham and Michael Bennett in a very experienced backfield. That should allow the Bucs to concentrate on adding receiver help, if they so choose, early in the draft.

This also likely spells the end of Michael Pittman's run in Tampa Bay, after the veteran elected to become a free agent after last season. Pittman remains unsigned.

Bucs sign WR Antonio Bryant

The Bucs have made their first move at a position that needs some help, signing troubled free agent receiver Antonio Bryant to a contract.

Bryant has started 56 times in his 77 career games with the Cowboys, Browns and 49ers. But whether he can help the Bucs after a year out of the NFL remains to be seen. Bryant was released by San Francisco in March 2007 and did not play in the league last fall, largely because he had a potential suspension looming over him because of noncompliance with the substance-abuse policy.

A lawsuit filed against the NFL last summer has been resolved and Bryant's Denver-based agent, Peter Schaffer tells us "there are no legal issues pending" against his client, indicating he would be eligible to play on opening day.

The NFL assessed Bryant a four-game suspension for violating the substance-abuse policy at the end of the 2006 season, with just two games left on the schedule. When the 49ers released him three months later, it was expected that any team that signed him would do so with the understanding he must serve the remainder of that suspension. The Bucs worked him out in 2007 and opted not to sign him, likely for that reason. However, it is now believed the suspension is no longer applicable.

When Bryant's federal case was dismissed in December at his request, an agreement was reached that satisfied both parties. Bryant had contested the league's requirement that he participate in the substance-abuse policy while not on an actual roster. No details of the legal agreement were made public, and Schaffer earlier today refused to say whether Bryant is still enrolled in the substance-abuse program.

Bryant has had other issues, too. He was sentenced to one year of probation and and fined $1,312 after pleading no contest to reckless driving last year in San Mateo, Calif. A charge of resisting arrest stemming from the incident was dropped as part of the plea deal.

And Bryant had a well-publicized run-in with Bill Parcells in 2004 in which he tossed a sweaty jersey in the coach's face while playing for the Cowboys. He was ordered to take anger management courses after the incident and was subsequently traded to the Browns.

Bryant's best season came in that lone season with Cleveland in 2005 when Bryant caught 69 passes for 1,009 yards.

Kelly lands in Detroit

Cornerback Brian Kelly has finally inked a deal to join the team most suspected he would: the Detroit Lions.

Kelly on Saturday signed a reported three-year contract, finding a home to continue playing after buying his way out of his contract with the Bucs last month.

The Lions hosted Kelly on Wednesday and now are making him the latest ex-Buc to join the team's defense. Last year, defensive end Dewayne White signed a lucrative deal with Detroit. And last week, safety Kalvin Pearson, a restricted free agent, signed an offer sheet that the Bucs are not expected to match by Wednesday's 4 p.m. deadline.

Why the attraction to former Tampa Bay players? Well, you probably know by now that Detroit is full of former Bucs coaches. Head coach Rod Marinelli, defensive coordinator Joe Barry and defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake are all former Tampa Bay assistants.

The key for Kelly in 2008 will be staying healthy. He has missed portions of the past two seasons with a toe injury in 2006 and a groin injury in 2007. The Bucs have yet to address his loss by adding a cornerback.

Kiffin on USF's Jenkins

Monte Kiffin came away from USF's pro day even more impressed by Bulls cornerback Mike Jenkins.

You have to think Kiffin would love nothing more than to have the Bucs pick a defensive player in the first round for the second consecutive year. If that happens, expect Jenkins to be one Tampa Bay considers -- if he's still on the board when the Bucs select 20th overall.

After Jenkins' workout, Kiffin offered before even being asked, "Man, that kid is something else."

Asked to elaborate, Kiffin happily complied, saying, "He's a special guy. He's got great feet and great ball skills. You can see it. And he can help you on special teams, too. But you don't draft a guy in the first round for special teams. You're going to draft him to be a great corner."

Kiffin likes the fact that Jenkins has excelled in both man-to-man and zone coverages, as USF in 2007 mixed its coverages to include more man-to-man looks because of Jenkins' ability to blanket receivers. When a team is renowned for the Tampa 2 defense which utilizes mostly zone concepts, Kiffin said there tends to be a perception that such teams seek only "system" cornerbacks. But Kiffin said the Bucs are looking for cornerbacks with the total package: guys who can stuff the run and play assignment football in the zone but also stick receivers step for step.

The scheme can be taught, Kiffin said. Intangibles can't.

"He can play man and he's got great man skills," Kiffin said of Jenkins. "We always talk about the Tampa 2. But like I said earlier, I can't teach speed. You can't teach a guy who runs a 4.8 (40-yard dash) to run a 4.3. You can work on skills, you can improve on catching the football. . . But the real good ones, they just have the hands."

One other note from the pro day: from the blast-from-the-past department, former Buc Frank Murphy was there to work out for scouts, too. Guess it's never too late for a comeback.

Bucs at USF pro day

I'm here at the University of South Florida where the Bulls are holding their pro day.

Among the Bucs representatives here is defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who said he is intrigued by USF cornerback Mike Jenkins and linebacker Ben Moffitt, in particular.

Players are running the 40-yard dash as I write this, but it appears Jenkins will rest on the 4.38-second 40 he ran at the combine and skip today's sprint session.

Other Bucs staffers here include linebackers coach Casey Bradley and director of college scouting Dennis Hickey. Also present is Detroit secondary coach Jimmy Lake, a Bucs assistant the past two years.

Former Gator Troupe to join Bucs

Titans free agent tight end Ben Troupe has reportedly agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the Bucs.

Troupe was one of many players who visited One Buc Place during the first two days of the free agent signing period. With the Bucs losing Anthony Becht and still undecided on bringing back Jerramy Stevens, depth at tight end was certainly a concern.

Troupe joins Alex Smith and new addition John Gilmore, a free agent from the Bears, in the Bucs' tight end corps.

The former Florida Gator hasn't been active in Tennessee's passing game the past two seasons, catching 18 passes in his past 26 games. But in his first two seasons, Troupe was quite productive as a receiver, catching 88 passes for 859 yards and five touchdowns.

We've also heard that cornerback Sammy Davis has agreed to re-sign, giving the Bucs some insurance in a secondary that remains thin. Don't think that means the Bucs still won't attempt to upgrade at cornerback in free agency or in the draft.

Becht off to St. Louis

Got a call earlier from free agent tight end Anthony Becht.

He's signed a two-year contract with the Rams to be largely a blocker. He had hoped to return to Tampa Bay, but the Bucs didn't offer him much of a contract. And with John Gilmore -- the Bears free agent tight end Tampa Bay just signed -- now onboard, it appears there really wasn't a spot left for Becht. Moving on after three seasons in Tampa Bay will be tough, Becht said.

"I wanted to stay here, but I had to do what's best for me and my family," he said.

The Rams have Marc Bulger under center, who coincidentally played alongside Becht at West Virginia.

"I get reunited with my college quarterback," Becht said. "He called me and he was really pumped up. It's going to be fun. They have a great running back (Stephen Jackson) who I'm looking forward to opening holes for, and whatever happens in the passing game is a bonus."

The 30-year-old Becht, started 34 games in three seasons with 39 receptions and three touchdowns.

Kelly talking with Giants

Free agent cornerback Brian Kelly is making a second stop in two days. Today, he's dropping in for a visit with the Giants one day after spending Wednesday in Detroit with the Lions.

Kelly, 32, opted to become a free agent last month when he bought his way out of his contract with the Bucs. He had long been wishing to renegotiate the deal.

The Giants have several capable cornerbacks but have been looking at shoring up the position. They have been reported to be interested in trading for Falcons quarterback DeAngelo Hall, though indications are such a deal is unlikely.

Quarterback situation won't get settled soon

One thing we neglected to share from Wednesday's chat with general manager Bruce Allen was his take on the team's quarterback situation.

You know by now the Bucs traded for Brian Griese on Monday, bringing him back to Tampa Bay after two seasons in Chicago. That brought the Bucs' quarterback count to six: Griese, Jeff Garcia, Luke McCown, Chris Simms, Bruce Gradkowski and Jake Plummer, who has stated his intent to retire but is technically on the roster.

I asked Allen how many quarterbacks he expected to take to training camp, and he expressed no objections to taking the five active players to Disney.

"We’ve brought five guys to training camp (in the past)," he said. "Right now, with that group of guys, that’s our plan."

Of course, that's not at all ideal. The most you can expect during training camp is to accommodate three quarterbacks. Maybe four. With more than that, it will be difficult to find practice time for the extra guy or two. It's even harder to find snaps for them during preseason games. So, it remains to be seen what the Bucs can accomplish with five quarterbacks on the roster in August. Of course, with 80-plus players in camp, I suppose you have the roster space.

As for Griese and the reasons for making that deal, Allen predictably said what we all know about the Bucs: they feel you can never have too many quarterbacks, especially experienced ones. Hard to disagree.

"We saw Brian’s availability as something we wanted to take advantage of and bring him back," Allen said. "He did perform well for us. You obviously know when he left here, our cap situation isn’t what it is today. And a couple years ago at this time we had five quarterbacks on our roster also, then Luke went and tore his ACL in the offseason program. So, our goal is to acquire as many players as we can at any position that we think can help this team win this year. To get a veteran quarterback with his skills, we couldn’t pass up that opportunity."

Regarding Plummer, Allen said the team would welcome him if he showed, but it's pretty clear the Bucs aren't holding out any hope of that happening. In fact, they're preparing to move forward with their grievance against him in which they are hoping to recoup about $7-million in bonus money for the portion of his contract he hasn't fulfilled.

The saga continues.

Josh Bidwell shares his incredible story

Some of you probably know punter Pro Bowl Josh Bidwell is a survivor of a difficult bout with testicular cancer and very grounded in his faith.

He doesn't talk much about his battle with the disease, but knowing he could help others by sharing, he agreed to write a book that tells his tale. It's called When It's Fourth and Long. Bidwell spoke to me this week from his offseason home in Oregon about the book and his story. There's a transcript of that chat in today's newspaper, which you can access here.

If you're interested in the details of his battle with cancer, Josh and wife, Bethany, invited us into their home a couple years ago to share their story. I wrote about it in this 2005 story.

The book is available in bookstores as well as online. The list price is $12.99, though Amazon.com has it a bit cheaper. I have a copy at home that I intend to read. It's a great story from a great guy.

Running back update

Many around here have wondered aloud whether the Bucs are pursuing Dallas free agent running back Julius Jones.

Well, the Bucs do have an interest, but they aren't nearly as enamored with him as a couple of other teams who are likely willing to spend more generously to get him. Those teams weren't identified by our source, but we have heard consistently since before the start of the signing period that Tampa Bay is an unlikely destination for Jones.

As for Warrick Dunn, released earlier this week from the Falcons, the Bucs appear to be on hold waiting for his situation to work itself out. Earlier today, general manager Bruce Allen said, "We're going to keep watching it from Tampa and see what occurs. I do not know his timetable."

Other backs still available through free agency include Tatum Bell, Ron Dayne, Musa Smith and Chris Brown. Remember, I said they were available. Never said they were any good!
 

Pearson to Detroit; Kelly next?

Free agent safety Kalvin Pearson was visiting with the Lions today, and it looks like he'll be staying for a while.

Pearson's agent, Michael Hawthorne, tells us the restricted free agent has signed an offer sheet for a three-year, $3.5-million contract with a $1.1-million signing bonus. The Bucs now have until 4 p.m. on March 12 to match the deal, pursuant to NFL rules that allow teams seven days to match offers to restricted free agents.

Also, Brian Kelly is also visiting with the Lions today. There's been no word yet on the team's level of interest in him.

The Bucs' tendered Pearson a bottom-level restricted free agent offer of $927,000, meaning the team has the right to match any competing offer but is not entitled to draft-pick compensation. Pearson didn't sign the tender, preferring to test the market first. The Bucs are unlikely to match.

"Personally, I don't think they're going to match the offer," Hawthorne said.

Pearson played safety in Tampa Bay but serve a role as a nickelback in Detroit, Hawthorne said. Pearson originally entered the league as a cornerback.

Bucs to spend on extensions, possible trades

The Bucs entered free agency with a league-high $44-million salary-cap space, most of which they haven't touched even as sought-after free agents are gobbled up by other teams.

Turns out, it's part of a plan.

Tampa Bay has very specific plans for all that cash, with much of it earmarked for contract extensions for several of the team's up-and-coming young players, according to general manager Bruce Allen. Also, Allen indicated the Bucs are actively pursuing potentially significant trades largely because of a lack of depth in this year's crop of free agents.

We've learned the team has discussed possible contract extensions for fullback B.J. Askew, cornerback Phillip Buchanon, defensive tackle Jovan Haye, running back Earnest Graham and, possibly, safety Jermaine Phillips. Each of those players' contracts expires after the 2008 season, when they are scheduled to become free agents. If and when those deals are consummated, the Bucs will need significant cap space available.

"One of the reasons you want to get some room under the salary cap is so you can extend your own players into the future," Allen said. "...We've had some dialogue with some of those players and we'll continue to do that."

Allen added that the cap flexibility will give the Bucs the freedom to make significant trades, allowing them to acquire and accommodate players with large salaries.

"Our cap situation allows us the ability to not only (extend contracts), but also look at the possibility of trading for some players who might have huge cap numbers for some other teams," Allen said.

Askew was a key piece in the running game in 2007, providing the Bucs a reliable lead blocker and receiving threat out of the backfield. He signed a two-year contract in 2007 and the Bucs have already had conversations about working out an extension. Haye, a restricted free agent, received a first-round tender from the team and will continue to explore a long-term deal that will prevent him from becoming a free agent in 2009.

Keeping Buchanon became more of a priority when Brian Kelly exercised an option to buy back the final year of his contract and become a free agent. Also, Ronde Barber, who starts opposite Buchanon, turns 33 in April. Graham's agent and Allen began talks about a contract extension last month for a player who scored a team-high 10 touchdowns. Phillips had a revival in 2007 with four interceptions, having perhaps his best season as a pro.

Regarding possible trades, the Bucs will continue to scour other teams' rosters targeting players in whom they have an interest.

"We're open to acquiring players in any way we can," Allen said. "Sometimes, we not only look at an unrestricted free agent list, but we look at team's rosters and try to pinpoint players, whether they be on their practice squad or street free agents. Any way we can try and improve the team we will. And we do have the flexibility to look at all avenues right now."

Bucs sign two linebackers

The Bucs signed linebackers Teddy Lehman and Matt McCoy, according to team news releases.

Lehman, a second-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2004, has 165 tackles, two interceptions and a sack in 41 games, including 16 starts, in four seasons.

McCoy, a second-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005, has 85 tackles, two sacks and three forced fumbles in 30 games, including 10 starts, in three seasons with the Eagles and New Orleans Saints.

Scratch Walker off Bucs' list

Recently-released Broncos wideout Javon Walker won't be coming to Tampa Bay despite the Bucs' interest in the veteran.

The NFL Network reports Walker has agreed to sign a staggering six-year, $55-million deal with the Raiders. The contract will reportedly pay Walker $16-million in guaranteed money.

The Bucs need some receiving help, but not that bad. This is far more than anyone could have predicted Walker would make on the open market. Given the concerns about a knee injury that has required three operations in the past few years and caused him to miss two months in 2007, it seems particularly risky to give Walker a contract of that size.

Regardless, the Bucs will have one less playmaker to choose from after this deal is consummated.

Dunn weighing options

Warrick Dunn is taking some time to evaluate "the landscape," agent Jim Steiner said Tuesday night.

The Falcons free agent running back visited with the Bucs Monday, just hours after being released.

Steiner reportedly contacted the Dallas Cowboys to gage interest in Dunn, but the team is less than $3-million under the salary cap and has a more pressing need at receiver. Dunn also is expected to have a dialogue with the Houston Texans, Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts.

The Bucs are believed to have outlined the parameters of a contract for Dunn. If no concrete options materialize, he could agree to terms with Tampa Bay in a few days. But he might opt to visit a few more teams.

In other news, Bucs free agent center John Wade dined with coaches in Houston Tuesday night and will meet other members of the organization Wednesday at Reliant Stadium. Wade became expendable when the Bucs signed Saints center Jeff Faine hours into the free agent signing period.

Remembering Favre

Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre announced his retirement today after a 17-year career in which he won passed for more than 60,000 yards and 400 touchdowns, won a Super Bowl and claimed three league MVP awards.

Favre, 38, set several career records, including most touchdown passes (442), while leading the Packers to the NFC Championship Game this past season.

As former NFC Central foes, Favre and the Bucs had their share of meetings. Have a favorite Favre memory? Share it in the 'comments' area below.

(Pictured: Brett Favre and Warren Sapp share a few words during a 2003 game at Raymond James Stadium. Times photo - Jim Damaske. Click to enlarge.)

Something's got to give at quarterback

So, once again we find ourselves unable to count the Bucs' quarterbacks on one hand.

Yes, Tampa Bay has six signal callers on the roster. Far as I know, there still will be just one football used on Sundays. So, what the heck is going on here?

Monday's trade with Chicago that netted Brian Griese added another quarterback to a roster that already had too many. But I don't see this as a bad move. If the Bucs don't feel confident in any of the reserves behind Jeff Garcia -- and this trade is a clear indication of that -- then they did the right thing in acquiring someone they think can hold things together if and when Garcia is injured.

Question: if Garcia gets hurt in Week 1, how do you feel about Luke McCown going the distance? Don't answer. Just think about it.

So, let's assume things play out this way: Garcia's the starter, Griese is No. 2, McCown No. 3. That leaves Bruce Gradkowski, who probably will be cut, and Chris Simms. Ah, yes, remember him? This is where the Bucs need to do the right thing and release Simms. They obviously have no intention of playing him or investing any time in developing him further. So, the only human thing to do is to allow him to leave and let him attempt to get his career back on track. I have a suspicion that this kid -- he's only 27 -- still can develop into a solid quarterback. But I'm convinced that it will never happen here.

So, at this point, I'm left with only one conclusion: the Bucs are doing Simms a disservice. They need to let the man revive his career. Clearly, that's not going to happen until he leaves Tampa Bay.

EDIT, 12:34 p.m.: I neglected to mention Jake Plummer for those who were counting. How could I forget? Well, maybe because I've never actually laid eyes on him. I'd say that's a good reason.

Bucs, LB Joe agree to terms

One other transaction of note today: the Bucs have agreed to terms with LB Leon Joe, a player claimed off waivers by Tampa Bay last preseason before being released at final cuts.

Joe, 26, is a veteran of four NFL seasons and played sparingly in eight games with Buffalo in 2007.

Joe would likely compete for a backup role in the Bucs' linebacking corps. The Bucs have a solid starting group in Derrick Brooks, Barrett Ruud and Cato June.

Joe, an outside linebacker, played college ball at Maryland.

Dunn begins visit with the Bucs

Warrick Dunn could be a Buccaneer again very soon.

Just hours after being released by the Atlanta Falcons, the 33-year-old running back began his official vist with the Bucs, according to agent Jim Steiner.

Dunn will meet with coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen. Dunn was in Tampa on Saturday for the Mike Alstott retirement party. He still owns a house in Tampa, and whether by preference or geography, his first visit is with the Bucs.

Dunn also has received interest from the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys and the Indianapolis Colts.

But the Bucs are hoping that Dunn will decide not to make trips to those other NFL cities.

One of the most popular and productive players in Falcons history, Dunn began his career as a first-round draft pick by the Bucs in 1997. He has more than 10,000 career rushing yards and 62 touchdowns.

But because he split time at running back with Alstott in the early part of his career, he still has some tread on his tires.

Gruden has always believed Dunn would be a good fit in the Bucs offense and lamented his decision to sign with the Falcons as a free agent in 2002. That decision cost Dunn as well. He wasn't able to be a part of the Bucs' Super Bowl XXXVII championship team.

Dunn would provide a good compliment to running back Earnest Graham because of his ability as a receiver and his speed to make game-breaking plays. 

   

   

Dunn visiting the Bucs today

Warrick Dunn could be a Buccaneer again very soon.

Just hours after being released by the Atlanta Falcons Monday, Dunn began his official visit with the Bucs, according to agent Jim Steiner.