Posted by  Carmen Craven, Fredericksburg, VA on 03/26  at  03:03 PM

I say do whatever it takes to get CJ. I promise you this young man will not let the BUCs down. I would hate to have to play against him twice a year as an Atlanta Falcon.

Posted by  Maurice Smalls, Schenectady New York on 03/26  at  01:01 PM

I think that it would be smart to stay where we are right now, and if the Lions do draft him then we trade the lions for him like the Eli Manning and Rivers trade, but if people start talking about Atlanta trying to get Calvin then we would have to trade them whatever they want because we dont wanna play Calvin twice a year when we could of got him. And its not well be losing alot because we do have 2 seconds to trade and its worth it for him. (Im gonna be at the draft look for me wearing a buccaneer helmet. If we dont get him i’ll go crazy for all of us.)

Posted by  Brent Woods, New York on 03/23  at  11:24 AM

You got to take Joe Thomas if CJ is N/A. Then the next 2nd round picks need to be on the defensive side of the ball. I suggest a safety like Griffin out of Texas and a DT with last pick in 2nd round(hopefully Mebane). 3rd round take a speedy reciever. Clayton, Stoval, Hillard are big enough.

Posted by  Andrew Rendueles, Tampa, Fl on 03/22  at  03:40 PM

If Calvin Johnson and Joe Thomas are both gone at #4 trading down would be the only option. We could trade down a few picks and still pick up one of the top D-lineman and have an extra pick or two. Drafting Brady Quinn would make me sick since every time I saw him play against a good team in collage he stunk up the joint.

Posted by  Michael Harris, Oldsmar on 03/22  at  06:57 AM

I saw the Calvin Johnson workout and his stats and numbers.  The guy is an anomoly....he’s the real deal...if he stays healthy...and IF Chuckie doesn’t wear him out over the middle as he did Michael Clayton.

Posted by  Shawn Golan, Los Angeles, California on 03/21  at  02:29 PM

I think Steve is on the right track here.  While I don’t think Tampa needs a QB, Gruden may not be able to pass up Quinn if he’s still there.  The current trend in mock drafts has Detroit taking CJ [or trading the pick to someone who will].  If that happens and the Bucs don’t trade down, then Quinn might be the pick.  I’m not saying its the right one, but I’m not sure its the wrong one either. 
Consider this: Garcia is 37 and doesn’t have long left.  Simms is likely going to look to get outta Tampa b/c he won’t be starting.  That leaves us with a vacancy at QB in 1 or 2 years.  I can only speak for myself, but I’d be happy with Quinn pulling the trigger in Tampa.

Posted by  Jason Denny, Orlando on 03/20  at  09:52 PM

If Calvin doesn’t make it to 4th pick, Joe Thomas should be there. If both are gone… Then we clearly have to firer Bruce and Jon!! or “Lynch” them or something?
I can’t wait to see what they do…

Posted by  Steve Pereira, Dana Point, CA on 03/20  at  08:27 PM

CJ would be the logical pick, if available. By all accounts he’s the best of the draft, regardless of position.  All The pundits even say he will go to Tampa.  However, they are usually wrong…

I suspect he will already be gone by the 4th pick.  The early surprise will be one of the “franchise” quarterbacks will still be available and I don’t see Gruden passing up the opportunity, regardless of how many quarterbacks he already has.  Hasn’t he always wanted a franchise type QB?  I can just hear the music blasting over the stadium speakers as he’s introduced, “Here comes ‘The Mighty Quinn’”!

Posted by  KELVIN A. PEREIRA, FLORIDA TRANSPLANT TO NEW ORLEANS FOR NOW on 03/20  at  07:34 PM

THE BUCS BETTER THINK ABOUT TRADING UP WITH THE LIONS AND MAKE SURE THEY LAND CALVIN JOHNSON,WE HAVE 2 PICS IN THE SECOND ROUND AND THAT’S WHERE I THINK YOU CAN GET THE HUNGRY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS,WITH A TOTAL OF 7 PICKS WE SHOULD GET SOME GOOD DEFENSIVE LINE GUYS..

Posted by  Warren Villaren, Waipahu, Hawaii on 03/20  at  02:42 PM

Bucs have not yet proven that the offense can outscore anyone and one (potentially) superstar offensive rookie, CJ, isn’t going to make that happen in his first pro year. So until Bucs are a powerhouse offense they have to play defense to increase their chances of winning. We NEED size and skill on the D-line, draft Branch, Okoye, or Adams at #4. Hey Singleton, Nate Ilaoa is a great receiver and runner after the catch too. HI recruited him to play the slot before moving him to RB. Good pick in a lower round.

Posted by  Shawn Golan, Los Angeles, California on 03/20  at  02:25 PM

While I don’t dispute that the 2-back system works, we must consider what teams are doing it.  The most successful 2-RB teams last year were Indy, NE, N.O., and Chicago.  But they had O-lines capable of making it work, the Bucs do not.  We are not a pound-it-out team...we don’t have the personell for it.  This team wants to become more balanced - thats where we are headed by bringing in Petitgout and Garcia.  This years’ Bucs will feature a 50/50 offense where the existence of a passing game [Garcia] allows the running game to be effective [adding o-line help and not facing 8 man fronts].  There reason Caddy and Pitt didn’t do too well last year is b/c we had no O-line and no passing game.  We don’t need a new back.

Posted by  Peter Greene, McKinney, TX on 03/20  at  01:41 PM

As you rip the Peterson pick, remember we were 28th in rushing last year. We can use excuses and name call, or fix it. Pittman’s going into his 10th year, and he’s never been above 1000 yards rushing. He had 245 in 2006. He can still catch, but he needs to be upgraded as a runner. Cadillac will miss 2 games and be ineffective in at least 2 others. Wouldn’t it be nice to not throw in the white flag in those games? There’s enough money for 2 RB’s. Just look at New Orleans and Atlanta in our own division. This draft is deep at D-line. Get 2 of them later. If CJ or JT are gone, Peterson is a good pick. Then you can pound the rock.

Posted by  Charles J. V. Fries, Johnson City, Tn. on 03/20  at  12:19 PM

Before dumping on Caddy and our talented WR’s, remember we had a rookie 6th rounder who couldn’t throw very far downfield at QB.  We also have a very young and incomplete o-line.  We still need a LT and desperately need a center.  Do not trade up.  Take the best avail at #4:CJ or JT if avail in order...if not, then:Adams or Branch. By the way, with an improved o-line, Simms is the man.  He’ll prove it on the field.  A player that takes a blood transfusion and then goes back into a tough game is a very tough man, but I’ll never forget the despicable head coach that sent him back in and risked his life.  The sooner we get a grown-up with Dungy-like character, the better the Bucs will be.

Posted by  Shawn Golan, Los Angeles, California on 03/20  at  11:39 AM

Get it straight cupcakes...we’re not drafting Adrian Peterson!!!  The Bucs have 2 excellent backs and don’t need a 3rd.  As far as what happens if CJ is gone...thats a burning question.  We likely have limited interest in Joe Thomas now that we signed Luke Petitgout.  The smart move would be to trade down and grab a DT or Safety and get another pick.  The Top-5 talent is miles ahead of the next group...so taking a guy like Branch, Anderson, or Gaines would be a waste at #4.  Trading down may just be the best option available.  The need for WR doesn’t go away...so there would have to be one drafted early in the 2nd round.

Posted by  drew robertson, ft. myers, fl on 03/20  at  10:35 AM

Many teams are employing the 2 RB strategy.  I like Caddy alot but he does seem to get nicked up alot.  If CJ or JT is gone I think Peterson should be the choice.  Hes been a dynamic talent since his freshman year and had a great combine.  That would be a dynamic 1-2 punch.

Posted by  Michael Singleton, Irvine,CA on 03/20  at  10:12 AM

Say that C.J. the beast is not there when the bucs pick and randy moss hasn’t been traded. You could trade a 2 or 3 rounder for moss and then trade down to pick up another pick. Yeah moss can be a head ache but he still gets the job done. You can also continue to build for the future and be more consistant. Now taking a Adrian Peterson wouldn’t be that bad either. You look at the dominate running games in the nfl and they usually have a two back set. I.E. COLTS Super Bowl Champs! Michael Pittman is not the answer anymore. The guy I would love to see the Bucs draft is the running back out of Hawaii. They guy is huge and can run.

Posted by  Maurice Smalls, Schenectady New York on 03/20  at  09:00 AM

Milton. stop saying that. You sound like your an Atlanta Falcons fan

Posted by  Khedric Cash, Fort Myers, FL on 03/20  at  08:30 AM

Taking Peterson in the first round would be the worst move the Bucs could make.  You can’t have that much money tied up in one position.  I personally think that the Bucs just should stay where they are and either pick Gaines Adams becasue Calvin Johnson and Joe Thomas will mostly likely will be gone, but since Gruden and Bruce Allen has to win in ‘07 to keep their jobs I wouldn’t be suprise if they try to swap picks and give up a second rounder to either the Radiders or the Lions to have a chance to draft Johnson.

Posted by  Peter Greene, McKinney, TX on 03/20  at  12:36 AM

I’ve read a lot on here about taking CJ with the 4th pick, and I think that’s great, but I don’t think he’ll last that long either. With as much publicity as he’s getting for being the best in the draft by far, he might not make it to #2. Unless he goes out and breaks the law (not likely), someone will trade up to get him. Bruce needs to trade up or be happy with Adrian Peterson. Teams with incredible running games don’t usually lose 12 games.

Posted by  John Tibby, Lithia, FL on 03/19  at  11:14 PM

If the Bucs trade down in the draft it would only be a few spots so they can still take a top Defensive player. It looks more and more likely that a QB will the top player at the 4th spot and that scares me. Defensive Line is our greatest need by far followed by safety. If Calvin Johnson isn’t there I would take either DT Amobi Okoye or DE Gaines Adams. FS LaRon Landry wouldn’t be a bad pick either.

Posted by  khaliph young, detroit on 03/19  at  08:57 PM

i feel with the BUCS stocking up on D players in FA, and with the addition of Cato June, that we will go after C.Johnson and we should try to move up to get him.

Posted by  Mitchell Rose, NYC on 03/19  at  08:50 PM

I believe this draft is very deep at DLine, so IF CJ and JT are gone at 4, I would have no problem trading down and getting more picks.  but what do I know....

Posted by  Milton Brown, Atlanta on 03/19  at  08:48 PM

I don’t see Cadillac as a 16 game player.If Calvin Johnson is gone the really smart move is to take Adrian. If Cadillac goes down again, where are we? Pittman is aging and no longer capable of being more than a journeyman. Also,for goodness sake, I hope we have the smarts to draft a punt/kick returner who is more than just an afterthought.Our perrenial makeshift approach has become sickening.