Any thought of the Bucs looking at Antwan Odom or Ayanbadejo as an LB/ST's Ace?

I'd be more interested in Devery Henderson then overpaying for the WR's that are out there. He almost always seemed to have a big catch against the Bucs when they played the Saints.

Chet gets his wish. The Bucs are scheduling a visit with Henderson.

After reading the link about John Gilmore, I also saw some speculation of the Bucs taking a look at Pittsburg guard Alan Faneca. With a new center, would they bring in another vet to give the rookies someone to play under?

I would have rather the Bucs had picked up Crumpler over Gilmore (first hand experience has shown me how much a pain in the ass Crumpler was playing against us, I'd rather have him on our side) but I've not watched alot of Bears games so I don't have alot to compare to in his case.

Ayanbadejo isn't going to sign anywhere where he can't get in a lot of snaps at linebacker, and the starting linebacker jobs in Tampa are pretty much locked up. I haven't heard about interest in Odom, but I would welcome him. I see him as just waiting to bust out with a big season.

I like Brooks and I'd like to see him retire a Buc, but I'd really like to see Cato move over to WS and have someone fill the SAM position. I think Ayanbadejo would be the guy. I know this is a pipe dream, but I'm concerned with the LB's this season. Brooks doesn't play well in coverage any more and Ruud isn't what Quarles ever was in coverage. I feel this played a big part in the passing issues on defense last seaso (no consistent pass rush didn't help either).

I'm just glad that puss Foster went somewhere else. Everytime the Bucs hit him early in the game he either fumbled or disappeared. I'd rather have Pittman back then him any day.

Why no interest in D.J. Hackett? I would think he would fit in well, especially coming from another west coast offense.

(living up here, I've watched alot of Seattle games so maybe I'm biased some... *shrug*)

Hackett is a lot like Michael Clayton, except he's injured more. The Bucs really need someone with that extra gear. I don't think Hackett has it.

I would also like a small amount of credit for not going the "Hackett can't hack it" angle.

I'm not too concerned with the LB's this season. The defense can be shored up with coleman on the line and getting a cornerback, but it'd be nice to see a big name wr. Like, this century.

Do you think the talk of Moss shopping around is all just a ruse to raise his value to the Patriots. I'm not big on overpaying, but wouldn't he be the splash player that the Bucs spoke about wanting to get? Read here

The Bucs should think twice before bringing in Moss. He has been an underachiever his whole career until last year, and even last year he disappeared in the playoffs.

Frankly, I'm not sure the available WRs are all that good this year. I say use the draft to grab two WRs and hope one of them pans out. In the meantime, use the cap money to grab a proven CB and maybe a HUGE strong YOUNG DT.

Didn't the Bucs already try going the route of drafting several WR's in the draft (3 in '05) with Brackins, Warren and Russell? That didn't work out real well, so far. In '04 they drafted Clayton and Jones and got one good year out of Clayton. There's always that great draft of '02 where they got Walker and Lockett, granted, the picks in that draft were few for the team due to the Gruden deal. The Bucs have been less then stellar at evaluating WR talent for quite some time (FA's included: Emanual and Harper).

I'm not a big Moss fan and I know there's a price you pay with him, but with the exception of Marvin Harrison find me a WR who isn't a head case that can make an impact. It's the most vocal, ego-centric position on the field. The crop of WR's is so week at this time that even Keyshawn's working to make a comeback. I have no issue with bringing in Devery Henderson, but the talk was to bring in playmakers and with this current crop of FA's, there aren't many "playmakers" in the group.

The 2005 wide receiver draft was pretty much a bust, although the jury is still out on Warren. Two of those guys were taken in the 7th round and Brackins was taken too high. But I'm not sure what you're suggesting. The Bucs need a deep wide receiver. I think DeSean Jackson as a first round pick would be fine and serve a dual purpose as a returner, although I've heard he's a bit of a prick. In free agency, Donte Stallworth would be a nice fit. But they need to do something.

Give us your strategy for solidifying the wide receiver position.

Don't get me wrong, I do feel the Bucs need to draft a WR early as this is a deep area in the draft, but my point is, don't expect much from this position (by way of Free agency or draft) this season as it's a weak FA field and most WR's don't excel in their first season. As we've seen throughout the league, there are very few good ones and most of them are disruptions.

I'd like for them to draft a receive a bit taller then Jackson. I like the speed factor, but if they can get Devery Henderson, I'd take a real good slot receiver that could go across the middle. I'm not sold on Stallworth as I'm still stuck on how crappy he was with NO and Philly. I'd rather they sign Henderson and take the shot at a Wideout in the first round and then look to what we can do next season. I'm sure another round of cuts will come before camp starts, but I can't see things getting too much better if they don't bring in Moss.

As for drafting receivers late, We can go down the list of those that have played in the NFC South and easily pick quite a few that have been better then those drafted early. The league is full of good middle and late round draft picks.

With Smith signing with the 49ners, and no word yet on where coleman will be next year, I'm thinking the defensive line next year will be suspect. The bucs should at the very least sign coleman at DT, while there will still be a hole at DE. Naturally what also worries me is WR-however the draft may be able to put me at ease. I'd still like a stronger, faster and more experienced D-line.

Okay, I was pretty happy with how free agency was going, but now I'm getting worried. Who the fuck is left? Maybe Gruce is/are looking to the draft? Maybe they are working on something big(ger)?

Faine was a good pick-up, but please don't tell me that's it...

Oh, and Matt, a big NT will not fit Tampa's def. system. Hovan is our run stopper. We need a 3-technique guy to take Sapp's place...

Jon, I know that a big NT doesn't usually work in the Tampa Two because they want smaller, faster interior guys to blast through the gaps. The problem is that our defensive line has been crap against the run for the past couple of years. I'm sick of seeing the offense just push us back whenever they need a couple yards. I think that is probably why we keep hearing how Tampa is flirting with the 3-4.

I would like to see the Bucs place some guy nicknamed "Iceberg" next to some guy named "DoubleWide" in the interior, and make the other teams run around the ends to where our super fast linebackers and DE's can knock the crap out of them. We can call it the "Hefty Two-D" or the "FatBoy 4-3".

The 3 and 5 step drop killed us last year. Thats the LB's fault.Pass rush cant get there,and r corners are in the flat.But all these no names r a huge disappointment.They wont help at all.

How fast is Larry Fitzgerald? I see he's 6'3 & about 220, so I wonder if he's fast enough to be the Galloway counterpart that the Bucs are looking for. I have a hunch that in the end, the Cards are not going to be able to pony up enuf $ to keep him & the Bucs may be one of only a few teams that can. I can't find any 40 times for him anywhere.

I don't think the Bucs have any interest in signing Warrick Dunn. I think they are fine with the potential they saw in Bennett & don't like Dunn's size. Their visit was just an "interest fake" to try to help Warrick find work somewhere else.

Fitzgerald ran a 4.53 back when he was in the draft. He's not a burner, but he's "football fast", if that make any sense. His skill is in his route running and his hands.

I see your point about stopping the run, Matt. One of the biggest weaknesses of the defense has always been stopping the big, straight ahead runner. Maybe just having the option of going big on the line would be good against teams that pound the big backs... Though I don't think Monte would start a fat NT, space eater type.

I've been reading that Dunn wants to go to Dallas.

Boy, was I wrong about the Buc's interest in Dunn. I don't know why they paid him so much, as there didn't seem to be much of a market for him. Maybe Gruden sees hidden potential for his system.

I'm an Iowa State alum & after years of losing seasons, we finally won a bowl game in 2000 against Pittsburgh. The thing I remeber most from that game was a Pittsburgh receiver catching the ball & running & running. 5 catches for 155 yards (that's a 31 yd ave) & 2 touchdowns. Yeah, Antonio Bryant. He was a monster that day. If Brooks, Galloway, Dunn, etc. can get him on the straight & narrow, we might have a real coup here

I'm glad to see that the bucs picked up Dunn, but have mixed emotions about it. It will be sad to see pittman go, because the man contributed wherever he was allowed. All in all it probably is safe to say that either player, Dunn or Pittman, would have committed just as much to the team. Dunn came with a higher price tag, but adds a bit more name recognition. Normally I don't like change, but with this kind of retroactive move it isn't wholly change. Fingers crossed things go well.

Think either Bryant or Dunn would help our return game?

Neither Bryant nor Dunn will field any kicks.

Maybe Bryant will be able to do something. Anything he does to help will be more than I expect out of him.

I find myself agreeing more & more with Anthony & others about the need for more help on the DL, & I'm still puzzled why they let Carter go. After CB I think DL should be at bat. Our receiver inventory includes Galloway, Hilliard, Clayton, Stovall, Bryant, Lucas & Warren, plus Troupe improving the TE receiving. That ain't bad & with an improving OL these guys should have more time to get open. Yep, DL after CB.

Thanks Glen.This morning as I saw Eugine Wilson very well may be a Buc, and on nfl.com that Johnson may also don the pewter in the fall. Should the Bucs land them both, I'd be unsure if WR or CB would need to be addressed sooner than the 2nd round. Just thinking about it, maybe if there's an opportunity at QB in the 1st, and choose the best position between CB/WR in the Second. Hopefully they'll be able to find a serviceable DT in the 3rd or 4th rounds. I'm just trying to cover all bases with Garcia aging- but I can't help but worry about the run stopping issues at DL.

Two thoughts plagerized from blogs elsewhere. First, as Tanard Jackson is demon strably quick, could he be considered for a corner spot so Wilson could stay a safety? Secondly, now that the defensive backfield is at least a bit better off, could we be thinking about trading upto get either Ellis or Dorsey?

Snagging Eugene is fantastic, easy upgrade over Kelly insofar as skill and morale- albeit for a single season. Best pass defense in the league last year receives and upgrade.

Hoping for DeSean.

Eugene Wilson is to the Bucs secondary;as Antonio Bryant is to our WR position.Competition.
Wilson Bryant
Buchanon Clayton
Davis Stovall
Not a bad group of players to have fighting for second on the chart for these 2 positions.
Having Wilson does allow us to grab the best player at the 20th pick.We could definetly go QB in the first round.

Liked your post, Fizzy, but raised an eyebrow over your last line. I know that QB is the most important spot on the roster, and I know that it takes 1,426 QB's to make Gruden stop grumbling, but I'm very comfortable with Garcia, Griese & McKown for now. I keep having these nmightmares about the Bucs being stomped on right up the middle & losing ballgames because of it. I'm campaigning for an Ellis/Dorsey type for the middle of that DL, WHATEVER it takes to get him. I would trade Simms, their choice of any receiver except Galloway & our 2009 lst round draft choice to get him or the draft position necessary to get him.

Unless Josh Johnson is still available in the 5th, I don't see the Bucs taking a quarterback at all this year.

Thanks,but please check me out.Garcia went out in the first game last year.Mckown came in and played bad.Had one real good game,and looked bad again. Garcia was literally Super Man last year.Hes not gonna make it much longer.I guess what Im trying to say is.Gradkowski,Simms and Mckown ain't gonna work in Tampa Bay,plus a 3 year extension for Jon Gruden and the position frenzy in free agency all point to QB.Round 1 or round 2.

Albeit a shot in the dark, should there be a package put together in order to get Chad Johnson, and it didn't bleed the bucs dry of talent, I'd be ecstatic. Not only would it address a serious need with an elite player, but it would give them a lot more room to attend other needs in the draft.

For all the talk about Gruden's imaginative offensive schemes, his first love remains the running game. With the OL seemingly improved considerably (Faine aboard & Petitgout returning) I wouldn't be surprised to see the Bucs pick Oregon's Jonathon Stewart if he falls to them at 20. Imagine the ball control you might be able to cook up with that line & Stewart's punishing runs(he's 235 & "pounds the rock"). With ball control comes open receivers and, full circle, the possibility of imaginative offensive schemes. I know they already have Graham, Bennett, Dunn & Darby, but none of them have Stewart's combo of power & speed (4.48). I still want to see a huge improvement somehow in the middle of the DL, but if Stewart falls to them, we couldn't be too unhappy.

Does anybody see this is as the last year for Jeff Garcia? If so,are you confident with Mckown as our future/franchise QB.Just picture what that QB posistion is gonna look like in 09.Sure would've been nice to have had a top tier QB with a year on the bench.Now is the time. We are pretty solid across the rest of the depth chart.It seemed to me the interior D-line did a good job in 07'.No DT's departed to other teams.DT Sounds like a 2nd or 3rd round problem to me. Holla

When Simms played well in 2005 I was pleasantly surprised. However he only played moderately well. From the business perspective his injury has cost the Bucs millions and has given nothing back in what essentially amounts to 2 seasons. I can't imagine he becomes more than a mediocre quarterback- and before he bleeds more money out of Tampa I'd like to see them get something, anything, for Simms in a trade. If Bruce can gt a steal another second round pick out of someone that'd be great.

Fizzy, I don't think that the door is going to slam shut on Garcia in one more year. He's got that lean wiry type of body that wears well & he's tough as nails & keeps himself in shape. Look how well Testeverde played at 44 & I'm not sure that Vinny spent too much time in the gym. Garcia's only 38. As far as the DL is concerned, those two bad losses mid year last season to the Lions & Jags can both be tagged to the DL. The Lions got 6.1 yds/carry for the game & ran at will during two 2nd half drives that won the game. Against Jax, we couldn't stop two 4th & ones, the 1st by Toefield who had to be stopped by a safety & the 2nd a TWO yd QB sneak. Then against the Texans, we couldn't get ANY pass rush against Sage Rosenfels (of all people) & he converted 60% of his 3rd downs - - 10 of 17!

Oh,I get it.Garcia is the QB of the future.

Of course not, but I'm simply responding to your post where you talked about this being Garcia's last year & where are we going to be in 2009. My position is that Garcia will be the QB in 2009 & with Griese aboard, I don't think we need to spend a high pick on the QB spot this year. Frankly, I kinda liked Matt's post talking about a couple of guys nicknamed Iceberg & Doublewide.