Given the Bucs' recent troubles with character issues, maybe this is not the right thinking, but here goes...

The Bucs currently have Antonio Bryant. If you know the name of any of the other receivers, you're either a faithful Bucs fan or related to one of said receivers. As we've seen without Bryant on the field, there's no one who's going to help the QB out if he's not in the game, which puts a lot of pressure on what can only be described as the less than elite quarterbacks currently battling for the starting job. Brandon Marshall would be a MASSIVE help on the offensive side of the ball, and will give whoever wins the QB derby an all-pro target, assuming he avoids too many multi-game suspensions for violating one of the league's various conduct policies. He also has the Plaxico-like habits of making tough catches and making his QB look a little better than they actually are (for examples, feel free to look at what Cutler's done without a #1 receiver in Chicago these last two weeks).

On the subject of compensation, the Bucs absolutely have the cap space to give him the kind of contract he's after. Also, they're in a position to acquire him for a much lower price in terms of draft picks now that the situation has deteriorated to the point that Denver would rather leave him in Colorado than let him travel.

Problems and Contradictions:

1) He's got a lot of baggage, and to make matters more complicated, here in Tampa he'd be yet another WR with character concerns in a sea of WRs and TEs with character concerns. There's no telling what kind of new dynamic he'd bring to the locker room.

2) Can the Bucs really afford to give up whatever compensation package the Broncos would want in exchange for him? Given the slightly questionable depth at a couple positions, would they be better served hanging on to the picks and filling multiple holes on the roster rather than addressing a glaring hole at one position?

3) Will his ego allow him to be #2? AB is obviously solidly entrenched as the #1... could cause problems.

What does everyone think? Worth going after?

Today we got confirmation that Ruud's absence from OTAs was contract related. This shouldn't have come as any surprise, as there was rampant speculation that this was the case. The surprise came here:

But Ruud's attempt to speed things along hasn't brought much in the way of contract talks.

"No discussions," Ruud said. "There haven't been any."

SOURCE

Ruud fell just short of making the Pro Bowl last year, after leading the team (by a large margin) in tackles. He is easily the most proven player left on his side of the ball after this offseason's roster moves. The coaches have stated on more than one occasion that they intend for him to be the face of the defense.

And yet, for whatever reason, they have done nothing to get Barrett Ruud back onto the field. From a financial standpoint, the Buccaneer's apparent stance makes sense. Assuming they enter into an uncapped year next year, Ruud will be a restricted free agent, which will all but ensure his continued presence in Tampa. On the outside, you wouldn't think that Ruud would have any sort of leverage in this scenario.

That is, unless you happen to drive by one of the many billboards with Ruud plastered on them. Or if you drive by the stadium and see the giant banner with Ruud's likeness. When you look at the situation from a public relations standpoint, the Bucs' position borders on flabbergasting. If Ruud is to be a leader on this team, he needs to not only be present for all team activities, he also has to be happy.

"I'd like to be here a long time," Ruud said. "I'd like to be with the Buccaneers. I've really enjoyed the organization. I think it's a first-class organization. It's a great community and I like my teammates, so I'd like to be here for a long time. In that respect, yeah, I'm disappointed that it hasn't progressed."

SOURCE

So as it stands now, the Bucs are 0-2 on that front. The truly perplexing thing about the situation, though, is that it's not as though the Bucs don't have a whole mess of cap room left to play with. They just gave Kellen Winslow, someone who hasn't played a single down in Pewter and Red, a $36 million extension, even though he was still under contract for another 2 years. The Winslow extension made sense at the time, and still does, considering it was displeasure with his contract in Cleveland that got him to argue his way out of town. However, if you can't extend the same courtesy to the supposed leader of the new-look Bucs defense, what happens?

We might find out.

I, for one, hope a deal gets done sooner rather than later. Ruud belongs here. They need to do what it takes to make sure he stays as long as humanly possible.

UPDATE: It's official, Anthony Mix has been released by the Bucs.

He was kind of a long shot to make the roster anyways, but he's probably going to get run out of town now.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Anthony Mix was indicted by a grand jury in Bay Minette, Alabama for having consensual sex with an underage minor according to a Fox television station in Alabama. Mix allegedly had a relationship with the 15-year old girl, and a grand jury found suitable evidence to indict Mix on those charges.

Click here for the Pewter Report story.

...UPDATE... 5/3/09 10:08am

The Bucs received a 5th Round Draft Pick for TE Alex Smith says the Pewter Report.

That's about on par with what we expected...

The Four Horsemen are no more, we barely knew thee:

For undisclosed 2010 Draft Pick. He's definitely an upgrade over what New England has on their roster right now. This shouldn't come as any particular surprise, considering the sheer numbers the Bucs had at TE.

Hopefully they at least got a 3rd rounder for him... Maybe even one of their 28 2nd rounders they're stockpiling for next year. Also, one would hope Smith will be a good fit out there. He's about due for a breakout year.

Pro Football Talk

Edit: To prevent any further confusion, the Bucs DID try to trade him before the draft, but couldn't find a deal that they liked.

With a glut of wide receivers and a 2008 first-round defensive back (Leodis McKelvin) who can return kicks on the roster, the Buffalo Bills are testing the waters for interest in Roscoe Parrish.

According to a league source, the Bills are shopping Parrish, primarily as an exploratory measure.

ARTICLE

What do you guys think? Worth a look from Tampa as the 3rd receiver? He seems like what Dexter Jackson should have been, and he's a shifty, whole-mess-of-yards-after-the-catch threat from the slot.

Added to by JScott:

Mandatory Roscoe Parrish footage via YouTube (Craig T, watch it and weep!!! Yeah Boy!):