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TAMPA, Fla. -- Kellen Winslow had been gone from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for all of about 12 hours. From the way coach Greg Schiano answered a question about why he traded away the tight end, you would think Winslow had been gone for 12 years.

“I’m going to hesitate to look back," Schiano said. “I’m going to focus on the guys that are here.’’

Read into it what you want, but I think it’s pretty obvious what’s going on here. Schiano’s cleaning house of guys that don’t fit the new style he’s bringing to the Buccaneers.

Winslow said Schiano told him he wasn’t happy the veteran tight end had spent most of his offseason in San Diego, rather than working with his teammates. Winslow got the message on Saturday night, after he had arrived in Tampa with plans to join the Bucs on Monday. But that was too late for Schiano, who also might have had some doubts about relying too heavily on a tight end that missed a lot of practices with a sore knee over the last three seasons, even though Winslow never missed a game with the Bucs.

Schiano is a Bill Belichick disciple. He believes players should practice, at least most of the time. Schiano also believes in doing things his own way.

Schiano made it clear when he took the job that every player on the roster was getting a fresh start. That was true in some ways, but some guys were starting off with a strike against them. Winslow was one. Tanard Jackson was another. Both had issues in the past. Schiano kept them around for a bit, but he parted ways with both of them at the first sign of trouble.

The Bucs weren’t happy with the approach Jackson was taking in the offseason as he attempted to come back from injury last year. The Bucs weren’t able to trade him, so they simply released him. I’m pretty sure there will be some more casualties along the way. Schiano has made it very clear guys have to toe his line, which is about 20 yards away from the blurry line Raheem Morris used to stand behind.

“There’s really not a message," Schiano said. "It is not one of those situations. The only message I want to address is we need to be the best football team we can be. Time is our enemy. We are running out of time. Teams in our division have a head start on us.''

Intentional or not, I think Schiano has sent a very clear message. It doesn’t matter if you’re cornerback Aqib Talib, who seems to be starting off with an 0-2 count and Stephen Strasburg on the mound, or a guy with a spotless background.

If you take one step over Schiano’s line, you’re going to be talked about as a former member of the Bucs.

Lots of readers in our NFC South chat were asking about the possibility of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers being interested in cornerback Drayton Florence, who was released by the Buffalo Bills on Friday.

General manager Mark Dominik isn’t going to tip his hand on interest in any free agent, but I think it’s at least worth keeping an eye to see if the Bucs do show interest. Bringing in 31-year-old cornerbacks doesn’t exactly fit with what the Bucs are doing these days, so I'd call this a long shot. But I wouldn’t completely rule it out.

Drayton’s a smart and experienced player and his production didn’t slide in Buffalo. He was released simply because the Bills wanted to get younger at the position and they just drafted Stephon Gilmore.

The reason I think there’s at least a chance the Bucs show interest in Florence is because they have some uncertainty at cornerback. Aqib Talib is awaiting trial on an assault charge in Texas and he could face prison time or an NFL suspension. The Bucs also have talked about moving veteran cornerback Ronde Barber to safety. The possibility of that move seemed to diminish when the Bucs drafted safety Mark Barron in the first round, but it still is possible the Bucs could use Barber at safety.

Aside from Talib and Barber, the Bucs have Eric Wright, whom they signed as a free agent. After that, they have guys such as E.J. Biggers, Myron Lewis and Anthony Gaitor, who haven’t shown real strong signs they’re ready to start. The Bucs did draft West Virginia cornerback Keith Tandy, but it likely will take some time for him to develop.

If the Bucs decide they need a quick fix -- and, again, that’s not really what they’re all about -- then Florence could be a possibility, if he comes at the right price.

But the Bucs aren’t the only NFC South team that possibly could have interest in Florence. You can scratch the Falcons off the list because they just traded for Asante Samuel. But Carolina and New Orleans could be possibilities. Aside from Chris Gamble, the Panthers aren’t loaded with talent at cornerback.

The Saints, who have shown more willingness to bring in older players than any other NFC South team, are set with Jabari Greer and Patrick Robinson as their starters. Johnny Patrick appears likely to step into the nickelback role, but the Saints have brought in older players in front of younger players before. New Orleans doesn’t have a great salary-cap situation, but Florence shouldn’t command a huge salary.

After ending last season on a 10-game losing streak, no team needed more out of the NFL draft than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

On the surface, it looks like they got at least three starters in safety Mark Barron, running back Doug Martin and linebacker Lavonte David. Add them to key free-agent pickups Carl Nicks, Eric Wright and Vincent Jackson and Tampa Bay should have a very different look come September. Let’s take a look at what I suspect at the moment will be Tampa Bay’s starting lineup.

OFFENSE

• QB Josh Freeman

• RB Doug Martin (LeGarrette Blount will get some carries, but Martin’s an all-purpose back)

• FB Erik Lorig

• WR Vincent Jackson

• WR Mike Williams (he may have to beat out Arrelious Benn for the starting job)

• TE Kellen Winslow

• LT Donald Penn

• LG Carl Nicks

• C Jeremy Zuttah

• RG Davin Joseph

• RT Jeremy Trueblood

DEFENSE

• DE Adrian Clayborn

• DT Gerald McCoy

• DT Brian Price (Amobi Okoye will factor heavily in rotation and could start if injury woes continue for McCoy and Price)

• DE Michael Bennett (might have to beat out second-year pro Da’Quan Bowers in training camp)

• OLB Lavonte David

• MLB Mason Foster

• OLB Quincy Black

• CB Ronde Barber (if he doesn’t switch to safety)

• CB Eric Wright (Aqib Talib could factor in, but his future is uncertain)

• FS Cody Grimm

• SS Mark Barron

SPECIALISTS

• K Connor Barth

• P Michael Koenen

• KR Preston Parker (rookie Michael Smith also could factor into return game)

• PR Sammie Stroughter

The sixth round of the NFL draft is over and each NFC South team made one pick. Let’s take a look.

The Buccaneers selected West Virginia cornerback Keith Tandy. At this stage of the draft, it’s all about depth. With Aqib Talib’s future still uncertain and the possibility of Ronde Barber playing safety, Tandy gives the Bucs some more depth at cornerback and a likely special-teams player.

The Saints took Syracuse guard Andrew Tiller. This is one guy that you don’t write off as a career backup just because he’s a sixth-round pick. First off, Tiller has great size and some upside. Second, the Saints have a history of finding great guards later in the draft. They found Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks, although Nicks left this year via free agency. Oh, there’s one other factor here. Tiller’s college coach was Doug Marrone, who used to be New Orleans’ offensive coordinator, so Tiller should have some familiarity with the Saints’ offense.

The Falcons picked Mississippi State safety Charles Mitchell. He’s a little short, but he’s strong and powerful. As a three-year starter in the SEC, he has experience against good competition. He should provide some solid depth behind Thomas DeCoud and William Moore.

The Panthers used the final pick of the sixth round on Wisconsin punter Brad Nortman. This is significant. The Panthers released punter Jason Baker in a salary-cap move and needed a replacement. They found one in Nortman.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Before he was even asked a question about his first pick as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Greg Schiano was painting a portrait that probably still is invisible to most Tampa Bay fans.

Schiano had just stunned his fan base -- and probably the rest of the world -- by taking Alabama safety Mark Barron at No. 7. A safety at No. 7? This guy had better be the second coming of Ronnie Lott and Ed Reed put together or, at very least, John Lynch Jr. You don’t take a safety at No. 7, and say you gladly would have taken him at No. 5, unless you think he’s special. Schiano and general manager Mark Dominik definitely thought Barron was special.

“I think he fits into what we do defensively perfectly,’’ Schiano said. “You couldn’t draw it up any better.’’

That probably doesn’t excite you, especially if you wanted the Bucs to stay put at No. 5 and draft LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne. And I know there was a contingent of Tampa Bay fans who thought Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly would be a perfect fit after the Bucs traded out of No. 5 and Claiborne went to Dallas at No. 6.

Either of those would have fit the profile of what we’ve come to expect from the Buccaneers, stretching back to Tony Dungy, running through the Jon Gruden era (with Monte Kiffin as the bridge) and right through the ugly final days of Raheem Morris.

But here’s the thing: Those days are over. This is Schiano’s team now.

Unless you’re a die-hard Rutgers fan, you don’t have any clue what a Schiano team looks like. Even if all your Knights are scarlet, you might see some changes as Schiano adjusts to the NFL. He’s not about to publicly share his X's and O's, but he certainly has implied this team is going to look a lot different in a lot of ways. Believe it or not, that might start at safety because Barron is going to be tied to Schiano forever, for better or worse.

“I think our safeties have to be more dynamic than in most schemes,’’ Schiano said.

At 6-foot-1 and 213 pounds, Barron is big enough to play in the box and make an impact on a run defense that needs improvement. With 12 career interceptions, Barron also has shown the ability to make plays in coverage.

“He needs to be able to do a lot of things, and he is capable of them,’’ Schiano said.

He’s going to have to cover wide receivers man to man, Schiano said. That’s a change from the days of Kiffin’s Cover 2, when safeties picked up wide receivers only after they got past the cornerbacks and Lynch often played the role of a linebacker. That may not be enough in an NFC South in which Drew Brees has thrown for 5,000 yards in a season and Cam Newton and Matt Ryan can put up big numbers. In case you haven’t noticed, that’s not just an NFC South trend. All around the league, teams are throwing the heck out of the ball.

“Safety has become an extremely important position now,’’ Dominik said.

More important than cornerback? Where the Bucs have Eric Wright, an aging Ronde Barber and a question mark in Aqib Talib?

Obviously, the Bucs think so. Dominik said the Bucs would have chosen Barron at No. 5 if they had stayed put. That means they would have chosen him over Claiborne, who was widely considered the best cornerback in this draft.

That’s a pretty strong statement from a team that has chosen only two defensive backs in the first round in its history and both of those were cornerbacks. There’s even a bit more pure football logic about this pick.

The Bucs had a big need at safety after releasing Tanard Jackson. They were left with Cody Grimm, a possible move to safety by Barber and not much else. Barron fills that need.

But I don’t think this pick was completely about X's and O's and pure football ability.

I think the selection of Barron was another sign that Schiano is going to do things much differently than in the past. Something obviously cooled the Bucs on Claiborne. Maybe it was that he reportedly had a low Wonderlic score or maybe it was something else.

Schiano said he and Dominik saw sparks the first time they watched film of Barron. By the time they interviewed him at the combine, there was a flame. As they talked about Barron, Schiano and Dominik both mentioned that he was a two-time captain for a team that won two national championships during his stint.

“He fits who we are and what we are,’’ Schiano said.

I get the impression Schiano cares a lot about what guys bring as players, but I’m getting an even stronger sense he cares about what they bring as people and how that can translate into winning. That’s sort of a new concept around here, at least since the Dungy days.

“He fits who we are and what we are,’’ Schiano said.

In other words, the Bucs think Barron can step right in and be a leader on a team that desperately lacked leadership and personality in the Morris days.

“Our coaches are excited to get their hands on him and mold him into a Buccaneer Man,’’ Dominik said.

We’ve heard the phrase “Buccaneer Man’’ a lot since Schiano took over. The problem is we have no idea what the new Buccaneer Man is supposed to be. But now we’re starting to get a bit of a portrait.

With Barron, there’s a face and maybe an outline of a body and a personality. Looks a little like a good athlete, a natural leader and a guy who was asking if there was a way to get his hands on a playbook Thursday night, even though he’s scheduled to fly to Tampa first thing Friday morning.

Maybe the Barron pick doesn’t look so bad -- or blank -- after all.

As we get ready for the start of the NFL draft Thursday, let’s quickly review which teams have what picks.

After that, we’ll turn to ESPN Stats & Information for a few draft notes on each team.

The Atlanta Falcons have six overall picks -- second round (No. 55), third round (84), fifth round (157), sixth round (192) and two seventh-round picks (229 and 249). After trading up to draft Julio Jones last year, the Falcons are without a first-round pick for the first time since 2006. With only two picks in the first four rounds, the Falcons are tied with the Saints and Raiders for the fewest. The Falcons have selected a defensive player with six of eight picks in the first three rounds since 2009. Of the six draft picks in 2011, only Jones started a game last season.

The Carolina Panthers have seven picks -- first round (No. 9), second round (40), fourth round (104), fifth round (143), sixth round (180 and 207) and seventh round (216). The Panthers are the only team in the draft without a third-round pick. They traded that to the Bears last year for tight end Greg Olsen. Of the five draft picks the Panthers have had in the top 10 in their history, they have used four of them on offensive players, with defensive end Julius Peppers being the only exception.

The New Orleans Saints have five picks -- third round (No. 89), fourth round (122), fifth round (162), sixth round (179) and seventh round (234). The Saints traded away their first-round pick last year when they moved back into the first round to take running back Mark Ingram. They had to forfeit their second-round pick, which would have been No. 59, as part of their punishment for the bounty program. This is the first time in franchise history the Saints haven’t had a pick in the first two rounds. The five picks are the fewest the Saints have had since 2009, when they had four. Their 16 total picks from 2009 through 2011 are the second-fewest of any team. The Saints drafted defensive players with five of their six picks in 2011.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have six picks -- first round (No. 5), second round (36), third round (68), fifth round (140), sixth round (174) and seventh round (212). The only time the Bucs have had fewer picks was in 2000, when they had only five. Tampa Bay’s eight draft picks in 2011 combined for 46 starts last season (tied for third in the league). The Bucs have drafted defensive front-seven players with their first three picks in 2011 and their first two picks in 2010. There’s been a lot of speculation the Bucs could use their first-round pick on LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne. If they do, it will mark only the third time in franchise history they’ve used a first-round pick on a defensive back. The previous two were Aqib Talib in 2008 and Roderick Jones in 1986.

With the No. 5 pick in the Blogger Mock Draft Live, I just selected LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Lots of people are assuming this will come down to a choice between Claiborne and Alabama running back Trent Richardson. In this draft, it didn’t shake out that way. AFC North colleague Jamison Hensley helped make the decision for me by taking Richardson for Cleveland at No. 4.

I immediately pounced on Claiborne because this pick makes sense on many levels. He’s the best cornerback in this draft. Tampa Bay currently has Aqib Talib, Eric Wright, Ronde Barber and a few other role players at cornerback. But Barber could be moving to safety this season. Even if he doesn’t, this might be his last season before retirement. Talib has an uncertain future with an assault trial in Texas coming up in June. He could face prison time or a suspension by the NFL. Even if Talib plays this season, he’s heading into the last season of his contract. It’s time for the Bucs to find a long-term, top-notch starter and Claiborne fits the profile.

We’ll see if the Bucs agree Thursday night, assuming Richardson isn’t available when they really are on the clock. I also think it’s at least possible we could all be wrong in thinking the Bucs are focused only on Claiborne and Richardson. If available, I think USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil, Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon and Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly also could be in the mix.

Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano came out Wednesday afternoon and emphatically said he expects Aqib Talib to stay on the roster.

“I want him to be a Buc,’’ Schiano said. “I understand there's been issues before I arrived. I'm not naive to that. And I understand that some of those are a heck of a lot bigger than playing football. But I am really hopeful that that clears itself up. Since I met him for the first time, he's done everything I've asked. He's practiced well and he's prepared well. I try not to judge people other than (by) how they treat me, and he's treated me well."

That came after a media report earlier in the day that the Bucs had been shopping Talib for a trade.

But the Bucs ultimately might not be the ones who decide if Talib plays for them this season. Talib has a June 25 trial scheduled for an aggravated assault charge in Texas. He could face prison time. Even if he doesn’t, it remains possible the NFL could suspend him for violating its personal-conduct policy. That uncertainty makes it highly unlikely any other team would want to give up anything in a trade for Talib right now.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been attempting to shop troubled cornerback Aqib Talib for a trade, Scott Reynolds reports.

On some levels, such a move makes sense. Talib is a talented cornerback and the Bucs would like to add some extra picks in this year’s draft. They currently have a pick in each round except for the fourth. Talib has had a series of off-field problems throughout his career and new coach Greg Schiano already has made it clear he won’t be as tolerant of problems as predecessor Raheem Morris. Schiano already released safety Tanard Jackson, who also had some off-field problems.

But there’s one big catch here that could make trading Talib difficult, maybe even impossible. Talib is facing a June trial on an assault charge in Texas. He could face prison time. Even if he’s cleared, Talib could face a suspension from the NFL.

It’s difficult to imagine any team being willing to give up a draft pick for a player that might not be available to play for part, or all, of this season.

TAMPA, Fla. – The few times he’s spoken publicly since taking over as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Greg Schiano has emphasized that he’s giving all of his players a clean slate.

That’s all true, but it appears he also is sending a message to his players, they’re gone as soon as that slate gets messy.

General manager Mark Dominik was vague when announcing Tuesday morning that safety Tanard Jackson was being released. Dominik said that Jackson, who was coming back from a shoulder injury, was released after failing a physical.

Dominik also emphasized that there were no indications that Jackson, who previously was suspended for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, had failed any new drug test or that any disciplinary action was coming from the NFL.

“What’s important to us as an organization is the growth of our football players,’’ Dominik said. “And how they handle on and off the field to become the best Buccaneer possible. That’s what we’re looking for.’’

I think it’s pretty easy to read between the lines on this one. Although the Bucs started their offseason program and Jackson had been attending, he hadn’t made a good early impression on Schiano. Injured players were allowed into One Buccaneer Place for rehabilitation throughout the offseason. I’m guessing Jackson wasn’t showing up regularly for that or wasn’t putting a great deal of effort into his rehabilitation.

This move seems to be a big departure from the philosophy of former coach Raheem Morris. The Bucs had numerous off-field issues, including problems with Jackson and cornerback Aqib Talib, but Morris always seemed willing to bring troubled players back.

Schiano seems to be following a one-strike policy and I don’t think the Jackson move will be the last. Talib has a trial on an assault charge in Texas in June. Talib could face prison time or a suspension by the NFL. Even if Talib is cleared, I think the message already has been sent by Schiano that there can’t be any more off-field problems.

Talent and athletic ability no longer are going to be enough to keep a payer on Tampa Bay’s roster. Jackson is proof of that. He easily was Tampa Bay’s best safety.

The Bucs have starter Cody Grimm returning from injury. They also have young safeties Larry Asante, Ahmad Black and Devin Holland. There also has been speculation that veteran cornerback Ronde Barber could move to safety.

But the Bucs almost certainly will look for more safety help in the draft or free agency.

Jackson had been scheduled to count $2.95 million against this year’s salary cap. By releasing Jackson, the Bucs will free up $2.75 million in salary cap space, but they do have to absorb a $200,000 roster bonus that was paid to Jackson on the first day of the league year in March.

There has been a lot of talk after reports surfaced that LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne had an unusually-low score on the Wonderlic test.

Claiborne is a top prospect in the draft, and there has been a lot of speculation about him being a target of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the fifth overall pick. There is also some speculation Claiborne’s stock could drop because of the poor score.

But veteran Tampa Bay cornerback Ronde Barber strongly disagreed with that theory Wednesday.

"I don't think it's a factor," Barber said. "I don't think it really translates into the football IQ ... I wouldn't pay much attention to it."

I think Barber is right. If the Bucs like Claiborne as a player and have been impressed in what they’ve seen in their interviews with him, then I say go ahead and take him. Barber’s not going to play forever and Aqib Talib faces an uncertain future. The most certain way to get a top-notch cornerback is with a top-10 pick. If things work out the way the Bucs hope, they won’t be picking in the top 10 again anytime soon.

Barber, who recently signed a one-year contract to play a 16th season with the Buccaneers, also said he’s not opposed to making a move to safety. There’s been some speculation that Tampa Bay’s new coaching staff may ask Barber to make a move that a fair amount of other cornerbacks have made late in their careers. Barber said he’s not opposed to moving to safety, but it’s not likely the Bucs will make any final decision on that until after the draft. If they pick Claiborne, I think the chances of Barber moving to safety suddenly will increase.

"I did that a couple of years ago,'' Barber said. "I'll fit in where I fit in. They know I'm here to help this team win ... no matter what that role is.''

I just got the official contract details on the one-year deal veteran cornerback Ronde Barber signed to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

This contract is very simple. Barber is scheduled to earn $3 million in base salary. He didn’t get any signing bonus and there are no other frills in the contract. He’ll count $3 million against this year’s salary cap.

That’s a bit less than the one-year deal Barber signed last year. In 2011, Barber played on a one-year contract that was worth $4 million. Even with a coaching change, the Bucs made it very clear to Barber that they would like him back. He took some time to decide what he wanted to do, but eventually agreed to play another season. That’s good for the Bucs, who have some uncertainty at cornerback. Starter Aqib Talib is facing a June trial on an assault charge in Texas and could face prison time or a suspension.

The Bucs are still considering drafting a cornerback early. LSU’s Morris Claiborne seems like a good possibility at No. 5 overall. Or the Bucs could target another cornerback in the early rounds.

Also, the two-year deal signed by backup offensive tackle DeMar Dotson is worth at least $2.5 million. Dotson is scheduled to earn $800,000 in base salary this year and has a $200,000 roster bonus. In 2013, he’s scheduled to make $1.5 million, but his contract has an escalator clause that could boost that salary if he meets certain playing time requirements.

Counting the Barber and Dotson deals, the Bucs still have right about $15 million in salary-cap space.

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Atlanta Falcons

Key additions: LB Lofa Tatupu, G Vince Manuwai

Key losses: LB Curtis Lofton, WR/KR Eric Weems

Keeping their own: Much to the chagrin of their fans, the Falcons chose not to pursue defensive end Mario Williams or any other big-name free agent. Instead, they focused hard on keeping their own guys. That started before the season ended with tight end Tony Gonzalez re-signing and continued into free agency as the Falcons made it a point to lock up guys like receiver Harry Douglas, defensive end John Abraham and running back Jason Snelling. They also protected cornerback Brent Grimes with the franchise tag.

The only loss that really hurt was Lofton. The Falcons liked him, but new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan didn’t view him as a three-down player. The Falcons still made an effort to keep Lofton, but weren’t willing to pay big money. They brought in the veteran Tatupu, who could be a short-term answer. But there’s a hope within the organization that second-year pro Akeem Dent can step forward and win the job immediately because he’s the guy that’s going to end up there for the long term.

What’s next: Don’t completely rule out the addition of a minor or mid-level free agent or two, but the Falcons are focusing mainly on the draft. Even with Abraham back, they’re still looking to improve their pass rush and defensive ends could be in play. But the Falcons also could add a defensive tackle because Jonathan Babineaux and Peria Jerry are coming off sub-par seasons. Some depth in the secondary and a kick returner also are possible targets.

Key additions: RB/FB Mike Tolbert, G Mike Pollak

Key losses: G Travelle Wharton

The splash came last year: The Panthers haven’t been very active in free agency. That’s largely because they made their big moves coming out of the lockout last year. They signed defensive end Charles Johnson, running back DeAngelo Williams, linebacker Jon Beason, defensive tackle Ron Edwards and linebacker Thomas Davis to huge deals, and that’s why they had very little salary-cap room to work with this year.

But the Panthers didn’t really reap the rewards of some of those signings because Beason, Davis and Edwards all suffered early injuries. That took a toll on the defense. But all three of those guys are back and healthy and that should improve the defense immediately. Carolina developed an explosive offense last season and a strong defense could turn the Panthers into playoff contenders.

What’s next: The Panthers have very little cap room and don’t figure to make many more moves in free agency. They’re focused in on the draft and there needs have been narrowed. They’re likely to address cornerback and defensive tackle early in the draft. But don’t be surprised if they take a linebacker somewhere in the first three or four rounds, and it’s even possible they could target one in the first or second. Davis is coming off his torn ACL and the Panthers don’t know if he’ll be anything close to what he was before the injuries.

New Orleans Saints

Key additions: LB Curtis Lofton, DT Brodrick Bunkley, G Ben Grubbs

Key losses: G Carl Nicks, CB Tracy Porter

Miracle workers: Faced with an extremely tight salary-cap situation and some bizarre off-field events, it’s somewhat amazing the Saints were able to keep as much as they did. They didn’t want to lose Nicks, who might be the best guard in the league and is in his prime. But that’s the price they had to pay to make sure they kept quarterback Drew Brees and receiver Marques Colston, as well as adding players like Lofton, Grubbs and Bunkley.

The Brees situation remains complicated. He's still carrying the franchise tag. The Saints need to get him signed to a long-term deal quickly. Even more than ever, the Saints need Brees’ leadership abilities. They need him signed and happy before their offseason program starts April 16.

What’s next: With the possibility of multiple defensive players facing possible suspensions as a result of the bounty program, the Saints still could be looking to make significant moves. It will be hard to draft players that will make an instant impact because the Saints are without picks in the first two rounds. That means they might have to pull some more help out of free agency, even with limited cap space. They could use another pass-rusher to complement Will Smith. Even after adding Lofton and Bunkley, the Saints still could use depth at linebacker and defensive tackle.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Key additions: WR Vincent Jackson, G Carl Nicks, CB Eric Wright

Key losses: C Jeff Faine

Locking them up: Part of the reason the Bucs didn’t lose much of anything in free agency is because they’ve done a nice job of locking up some core players in recent years. They made it a point to make sure offensive linemen Donald Penn, Davin Joseph and Jeremy Zuttah never got close to leaving. Add Nicks to that group and the Bucs have a chance to have one of the league’s better offensive lines. As the season gets going, some other young players will be rewarded with contract extensions as they show they fit in coach Greg Schiano’s system.

What’s next: After making the initial splash, the Bucs said they’re done with free agency and are focused on the draft. That’s largely true, although the team is keeping a close eye on what remains on the market. This is a team that still is building and will still have needs after the draft. The Bucs have a big need at running back, where they have to find at least one player to complement LeGarrette Blount. The cornerback position could be an early target in the draft even after Ronde Barber decided to return for a 16th season. There also is some uncertainty about Aqib Talib's future. Even if he remains with the team, the Bucs need depth at the position. There also is uncertainty at linebacker and a need for depth at safety and tight end.

I'm going to be out of pocket for the next little bit because I've got interviews with two NFC South owners. Meantime, here's a quick run through some NFC South headlines.

Television and radio analyst and former NFL player Tim Ryan told Ira Kaufman that the Buccaneers should dump troubled cornerback Aqib Talib and draft LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne with the No. 5 overall pick. I get Ryan’s point and it’s obvious Talib has a checkered past that brings up legitimate questions about his reliability in the future. But I don’t think the Bucs are ready to dump Talib just yet. New coach Greg Schiano has implied Talib will get a fresh start, if he doesn’t go to prison after a June assault trial in Texas. Even after bringing back veteran cornerback Ronde Barber for a 16^th season, you could make a case that the Bucs might be wise to draft Claiborne and keep Talib. You need three quality corners in the NFL. Talib is headed into the last year of his contract. Schiano could keep him around for a season, see how things go and then make a decision on Talib’s long-term future with the team.

Remember how the Bucs were blocked by at least several teams from interviewing assistant coaches as Schiano tried to assemble his staff? There were some rumblings that the league could change its rules to allow assistants to move more freely. But it doesn’t sound like the NFL is even discussing those possibilities.

Although the Carolina Panthers remain in the picture to re-sign tight end Jeremy Shockey, agent Drew Rosenhaus made it sound as if it’s more likely his client will sign with another team.

Linebacker Curtis Lofton, who left the Falcons to sign as a free agent with the Saints, said it was a business decision and he had to do what was best for himself. Lofton, who played middle linebacker in Atlanta, said he has discussed different scenarios with Jonathan Vilma, who has played middle linebacker for the Saints, and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Lofton said it’s possible either he or Vilma could move to outside linebacker.

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is supposed to address the media any moment, so we’ll keep this short. I’ll be back with whatever Goodell has to say about the New Orleans Saints’ bounty program as soon as he finishes.

In the meantime, a couple of quick notes:

• Saints spokesman Greg Bensel, who has been saying all day that coach Sean Payton is on his way to the NFL owners meeting, just provided an updated schedule. He said Payton will arrive Monday evening and is expected to take part in a meeting of all coaches Tuesday. It remains unclear if Bensel will address the media.
• I just finished an interview with Atlanta coach Mike Smith and he had no earth-shattering news. But he talked a lot about what his team has done this offseason and what is planned for next season. I’ll share that with you over the coming days.
• Tampa Bay’s hopes of knowing if Aqib Talib will face prison time or a possible league suspension before the April draft have been put on hold. Talib’s trial on an assault charge in Texas reportedly has been postponed a second time. The trial now is scheduled for June 25.