Mel Kiper says the Bucs should draft a quarterback.  “Who the hell is Mel Kiper?”  Those are the famous words delivered by an NFL personnel exec back in 1994.  Kiper has no background in football, “as far as I know he’s never put on a jock” Bill Tobin continued that day.  It’s true.  The man shows up and is a guru for six to eight weeks every spring, and then he disappears.  But here’s the thing: Kiper was right all those years ago.  Then Colts GM Tobin ate crow.

A QB?  Really, Mel?  I’m thinking he’s been playing golf with Jon Gruden.  Hear me, Bucs fans.  We do need another QB.  But not with our number one draft pick.  You can read between the lines and see what the Bucs braintrust is thinking.  They re-signed Luke McCown.  Luke wouldn’t have stayed unless he felt a commitment was made to give him a shot.  His re-signing has our wide receivers - those who can catch, and those who can’t - eager to stick around.  There’s something about the long ball potential of McCown that has them all salivating.  Jeff Garcia is telling reporters the Bucs have moved on.  Well, yeah.  Dude, you’re closing in on being able to order from the senior’s menu at Denny’s!  And, this is the NFL: What have you done for me lately?  Bucs fans look for Luke McCown to be your quarterback of the future.  Look for Brian Griese to be his mentor.  Look for Josh Johnson to be the longer range heir-apparent.  And look for the Bucs to add another quarteback to the mix for camp just to push the whole lot of them forward.  My guess is that it will be someone who was once thought to be on the rise, but now having fallen off to the also-ran category - someone like J. T. O’Sullivan, perhaps.  Before you go ballistic, notice that I said “like J.T.”, not that they should get J.T.  I simply think they’re looking for someone to round out numbers rather than to shake up the mix.  Watch and see.

But we do need some new talent.  My prayer - I am a preacher, after all - is that this coach and general manager will be more inclined to discover and develop talent than to collect re-treads.  Wow, I see that the Jags just cut WR Jerry Porter.  Maybe…  NOT!  I’m serious - stay away from Edgerrin James and the like.  I’m looking to see more moves like McCown.  Re-sign Donald Penn.  He’s here and he’s right: film doesn’t lie.  He’s going to be a good one for a long time.  Keep him.  Re-sign Antonio Bryant.  Don’t mortgage the farm for him, mind you.  Work out an incentive filled deal.  Let him earn the farm.  Re-sign Michael Clayton.  I know that makes most of your blood boil.  The man plays tough.  He catches more than you think, too.  Again, film doesn’t lie.  Take a look.  Draft to replace some of our aging stars.  I absolutely love Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber.  But, they will tell you that it’s getting near the end.  Let them groom their replacements.  Grab the most talented guys you can get at their positions, and we’ll reap the benefits in a couple of years. 

While I’m giving advice, go get Albert Haynesworth.  He is the kind of big splash to make in free-agency, because he’s still got good years ahead of him.  He plugs a big hole, and if we need him to, he will step on the head of the opposing quarterback - you never know when that skill will come in handy.  I also hear that he’s a good driver, if we need anyone to run the shuttle from the team hotel to the practice field when camp begins. 

Here are some other Buc free agent sermonettes for you: Keep Jermaine Phillips around.  Sabby is good, but Phillips still helps this team as our starter.  Keep Jovan Haye around.  He’s got a bright future.  Mark my words.  Keep Jerramy Stevens around.  He’s a problem to cover.  He’s a mismatch opportunity for us on every passing down.  I could go either way on Philip Buchannon.  I like that he’s been re-born in pewter.  I say we can shuffle Will Allen and Ryan Sims out.  And then there is Kevin Carter, the old, old man who plays with a young, young heart.  He probably has aged out of the system because he’s old enough to be his head coach’s father.  We’ll see.

So there you have my take.  What’s yours?  Where do you go this off-season?