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Let's take a look at the top Wednesday morning headlines from around the NFC South.

— The Atlanta Falcons reportedly are on the verge of making a trade with Philadelphia for cornerback Asante Samuel. Unless there’s a snag, it will be completed before the start of the draft Thursday. This would give the Falcons three starting-caliber cornerbacks, with Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes already in place, but new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan has said he plans to play three cornerbacks much of the time. It’s pretty much a given that Samuel will have to restructure his contract if he does join the Falcons.

— Here’s a column that suggests the Buccaneers could take Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly at No. 5, if Alabama running back Trent Richardson and LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne are gone. Kuechly is easily the best linebacker in the draft, has no flaws on or off the field and the Bucs certainly need help at linebacker. But I’m not sure we would see this scenario play out unless new coach Greg Schiano places a higher premium on the middle-linebacker position than the previous coaching staff did. General manager Mark Dominik refused to pay Barrett Ruud big money and replaced him with third-round draft pick Mason Foster last year. If Schiano is intent on getting a top-notch middle linebacker, then Kuechly makes lots of sense. If the Bucs still don’t view middle linebacker as being all that crucial a position, then I think they’d consider USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil and Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon at No. 5. One other thing to keep in mind about Kuechly -- he spent most of his offseason working out at IMG Academies in nearby Bradenton. Several of the Bucs were down there working out and Kuechly made some new friends. They might be in Schiano’s ear about Kuechly.

— Carolina receiver Steve Smith said he was told by one of the Saints last season that he would have been fined if he hadn’t gone after Smith’s ankles out of bounds. That doesn’t quite fit the parameters of the bounty program, but it doesn’t look good. And who thinks it’s a good idea to give Smith anything, real or perceived, that might motivate him? Smith thrives on that kind of stuff.

— Without a pick until the third round, the Saints will need to pull of some magic in the middle and late rounds of the draft. They’ve done it before. They previously have found gems like receiver Marques Colston and guard Jahri Evans later in the draft.

— Addressing the bounty program, interim New Orleans coach Joe Vitt said the Saints crossed the line with words in meetings, but not with their on-field deeds.

In his latter days with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, linebacker Barrett Ruud made it clear he wanted a long-term, high-paying contract.

A fan favorite, Ruud had a lot of support from the public. But general manager Mark Dominik wasn’t willing to pay Ruud the kind of money he wanted. After playing for the top restricted-free-agent tender ($3.268 million) in 2010, Ruud left to sign with the Tennessee Titans. He got a one-year deal worth $4 million ($2 million in base salary and $2 million in a signing bonus).

But it’s starting to look like Dominik made the right move in not paying Ruud big money. Ruud recently signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks at a relatively low price. According to contract numbers obtained by ESPN.com, Ruud will earn just $825,000 in base salary and can collect a $65,000 roster bonus. Ruud battled shoulder and groin injuries last season and appeared in only nine games for the Titans.

Yeah, the Bucs still have uncertainty at middle linebacker. They started rookie Mason Foster there last season and new coach Greg Schiano has indicated Foster may stay inside or may move outside. The Bucs are likely to add several linebackers in the draft or later in free agency.

But it’s now looking like the Bucs clearly made the right decision on Ruud, who was solid with the Bucs, but never made a lot of big plays. He’ll turn 29 in May and it appears he’s on the downside of his career. Ruud is playing for the veteran minimum in Seattle. That’s a lot less than the Bucs would be on the hook for if they had given Ruud the big deal he wanted.

In hindsight, one of the biggest mistakes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made last season was letting middle linebacker Barrett Ruud depart in free agency.

Now, they might have a shot at getting a better version of Ruud and that could provide a big boost to their defense. At least at the moment, Atlanta middle linebacker Curtis Lofton is scheduled to become a free agent. The Falcons could re-sign him, but there’s speculation he may want a lot of money and the Falcons may not want to pay it because Lofton is not great in pass coverage.

There’s also a growing sense Lofton may want out of Atlanta if the money isn’t close to what he wants. He’s a guy with pride and he might be feeling a bit overshadowed by outside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, who has gotten more media attention because he makes big plays.

When the Bucs let Ruud leave, they handed the job in the middle to rookie Mason Foster. While he did some good things, the new coaching staff is talking about moving Foster to the outside.

That’s where Foster could fit in. He’s only 25, but he’s been the quarterback of Atlanta’s defense for four years and that’s not just a symbolic role. Lofton has a strong personality and is a very strong leader in the locker room.

The Bucs are in desperate need of a leader. Lofton could provide that. He could also provide a big boost to the run defense. Again, the knock in Atlanta is that he doesn’t play the pass very well. There’s some truth in that, but it’s not like Lofton is the worst pass-defending linebacker in the league. In the right situation, with some quick players around him, he could be a decent three-down player.

The Bucs have the cap room to do whatever they would like and Lofton is a guy that could make this team better in several ways.

Seven NFC South players were in a pretty exclusive club in 2010. Carolina’s Ryan Kalil and Geoff Schwartz, Atlanta’s Justin Blalock, Sam Baker and Harvey Dahl and New Orleans’ Jahri Evans and Carl Nick played every one of their team’s offensive snaps.

According to league-wide play counts from last year that are used for calculating incentives in contracts and performance-pool pay, those players were among a group of 37 around the league to play 100 percent of their team’s offensive or defensive plays.

Safety Eric Berry was the only defensive player to take part in all of his team’s plays. Quarterbacks Peyton Manning, Sam Bradford and Joe Flacco also were on the field for all their team’s plays. Aside from those four, the other 33 to play 100 percent of the plays were all offensive linemen.

Carolina tackle Jordan Gross just missed joining the club. He came in at 99.99 percent. He sat out one of Carolina’s 989 offensive plays. Same for former Tampa Bay linebacker Barrett Ruud who took part in 1,024 of 1,025 defensive snaps.

Here’s a look at some other NFC South players who were among league leaders at their positions in 2010:

• Atlanta center Todd McClure -- 98.44 percent
• Atlanta cornerback Brent Grimes -- 98.77 percent
• Tampa Bay cornerback Ronde Barber -- 96.29 percent
• Carolina defensive end Charles Johnson -- 79.6 percent
• New Orleans defensive end Will Smith -- 79.31 percent
• Atlanta defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux -- 75.95 percent
• New Orleans defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis -- 77.08 percent
• Carolina linebacker Jon Beason -- 99.73 percent
• Atlanta linebacker Curtis Lofton -- 95.5 percent
• New Orleans linebacker Jonathan Vilma -- 96.86 percent
• Carolina linebacker James Anderson -- 96.57 percent
• Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan -- 98.44 percent
• New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees -- 98.73 percent
• Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman -- 96.77 percent
• Carolina safety Charles Godfrey -- 99.46 percent
• New Orleans tackle Jermon Bushrod -- 99.37 percent
• Tampa Bay tackle Donald Penn -- 99.39 percent
• Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Williams -- 99.55

TAMPA, Fla. -- If you scoured the stands of Raymond James Stadium on any game day over the past few seasons, you would have seen more replica jerseys for guys like Derrick Brooks, Mike Alstott, John Lynch and Warren Sapp than any of the current Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

If you looked in those same stands, you also would have seen a lot of empty seats. The past 10 regular-season home games (all eight last year and the first two this season) have not been sellouts.

Is this a fan base living in the past?

It’s not quite that simple. In fact, things are on the cusp of changing. When the Buccaneers host the Indianapolis Colts on "Monday Night Football," the game will be sold out. So an entire nation will have a chance to view the Buccaneers, who have been in the NFL’s version of the witness-protection program even in their own backyard.

The past 10 home games haven’t been shown on local television, and even fans who go to the games haven’t really had a chance to get to know the NFL’s youngest team (25.17 years was the average age of the opening-day roster) like they knew Brooks, Alstott, Lynch and Sapp.

“It’s a team I want our town to fall back in love with,’’ Tampa Bay general manager Mark Dominik said.

The Bucs went 10-6 last season and are off to a 2-1 start this year, but the speed-dating process really could kick in with the national stage. Once fans really get a look at the Bucs, they could fall in love. Some fans don’t know it yet, but there’s a lot to like about the Bucs.

Let’s take a look:

The understated franchise quarterback. Other than cornerback Ronde Barber, the lone holdover from the Jon Gruden/Tony Dungy era, Josh Freeman is the most-well-known Buccaneer. That’s simply because he’s the quarterback, but fans haven’t totally embraced him. They should, because he’s the first true franchise quarterback this team has had at least since Doug Williams, and you could debate whether Williams was around long enough to be considered a franchise quarterback.

Freeman’s physically gifted and already has shown a knack for leading fourth-quarter comebacks. He comes across as a bit shy and soft-spoken in group interviews. But when Freeman, 23, was leading players-only workouts during the lockout, you could easily spot rare leadership skills and more personality than he displays in public.

In the Atlanta game, Freeman stepped outside himself a bit, flapping his wings in what could be interpreted as an imitation of the Falcons’ “Dirty Bird’’ celebration.

“It was good to see him come out of his shell a little bit,’’ running back/fullback Earnest Graham said.

The gregarious head coach. Public displays of emotion aren’t lacking when it comes to Raheem Morris. The guy can talk, sometimes a little more than he should. With the possible exception of Rex Ryan, Morris might have the most entertaining news conferences of any NFL coach. But following Gruden -- who will be in the “Monday Night Football’’ broadcast booth -- and Dungy is not an easy task.

Gruden won a Super Bowl, and Dungy changed the direction of the franchise. Fans still aren’t quite sure what to make of Morris, who remains the league’s youngest head coach at 35. Morris has more public charm than Dungy and Gruden did as coaches. He just needs to keep winning.

The completely unknown portion of "the triplets." When the Bucs started winning last season, that’s the nickname (borrowed from when the Dallas Cowboys had Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith) that was given to Freeman, receiver Mike Williams and running back LeGarrette Blount. Williams and Blount were rookies last year, and both made good first impressions on the field. Williams instantly became Tampa Bay’s No. 1 receiver, and by midseason, Blount had replaced Cadillac Williams as the feature back. Still, there’s been a little apprehension from fans about both of them, and that goes back to their college days.

Blount is most famous for punching an opponent at the end of a game, and Williams was labeled as a "quitter" for leaving the Syracuse football team in his last year of college. But if you get to know them, you’ll see that labels can be deceiving. Williams is the anti-diva wide receiver. He comes across as quiet and humble.

Blount’s a punishing runner on the field, but is gentle off it. When he made his pre-draft visit to One Buccaneer Place, Blount ate his lunch and then went into the kitchen to thank every member of the staff. After last week’s victory in Atlanta, Blount sat in the locker room an hour after the game and told a staff member, "I don’t want to go home."

The big investments on the defensive line. In the past two years, the Bucs have used four draft picks in the first two rounds on defensive linemen. They brought in defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Brian Price last year and defensive ends Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers this year. We’re only starting to see what they can do. Price and McCoy both got hurt as rookies. They’re starting this year, along with Clayborn, and there’s a lot to like.

Price is quiet on the surface, but there’s a depth to him. He’s coming off a rare surgery in which doctors inserted screws into his pelvis, and he's showing signs he can really play. McCoy’s had a gregarious personality from the start, but we’re still waiting to see big results. Clayborn’s outgoing like McCoy and already has made some plays. If this unit can continue growing, the Bucs could have a very good defensive line for a long time.

The new “quarterback’’ of the defense. A lot of fans were upset in the offseason when the Bucs let middle linebacker Barrett Ruud, another holdover from the Gruden days, walk via free agency. They should start getting over that, because third-round draft pick Mason Foster is showing signs he can make more big plays than Ruud ever did. The Bucs were a little hesitant to put too much on Foster right away and started the season by letting outside linebacker Quincy Black wear the radio helmet and call the defensive plays.

By his third career start, Foster had taken on those roles. It might not have been a coincidence that the Bucs went out and had their best defensive performance since the days when Monte Kiffin was running the defense for Gruden.

The Bucs once were beloved by their fans. There’s no reason they can’t be that way again. The parts are in place. The world just needs a chance to get to see and know them.

“It’s an opportunity to show everybody what they’ve been missing,’’ Morris said.

That chance comes Monday night.

Maybe the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were right when they let middle linebacker Barrett Ruud walk in free agency and handed the job to rookie Mason Foster.

Ruud was a steady player, but the one constant knock on him was that he didn’t make splash plays. He appeared in 16 games last season and recorded two sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception and four stuffs.

Foster, a third-round draft pick, is quickly showing he might have a knack for making big plays. Through three games, Foster already has two sacks, two stuffs and a forced fumble.

Foster wasn’t even a full-time player for most of the first two games. The Bucs opened the season with outside linebacker Quincy Black wearing the radio helmet and calling the defensive signals as Foster came off the field when the Bucs went to their nickel package.

But Black suffered an ankle injury in Week 2 and missed Sunday’s victory against Atlanta. Foster wore the radio helmet, called the defensive signals and stayed on the field in passing situations.

On Monday, coach Raheem Morris made it sound like he plans to let Foster stay in that same role. That could lead to more big plays as the season goes on and that could help fans forget all about Ruud.

Check here for a complete list of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' roster moves.

Surprise move: Perhaps the biggest surprise came Friday when the Buccaneers released middle linebacker Tyrone McKenzie. He came to training camp with an apparent shot to win the starting job after the Bucs let Barrett Ruud walk in free agency. McKenzie had helped organize players-only workouts during the lockout and ran the defense during that time.

But the fact the Bucs released him shows they’re more than content to go with rookie Mason Foster as their middle linebacker. He’ll start off as a two-down player, and outside linebacker Quincy Black, who will be an every-down player, will wear the radio helmet and call the defensive signals at least at the start of the season. But it looks as if the Bucs have total confidence in Foster. Adam Hayward, who can play outside or inside and on special teams, probably will be Foster’s backup.

A few other pleasant surprises who made the roster were cornerback D.J. Johnson, defensive end George Johnson and safety Devin Holland.

No-brainers: Like a lot of other teams, the Bucs decided to go with just two quarterbacks, waiving Rudy Carpenter. They may try to bring Carpenter back to the practice squad. But the fact they’re willing to expose him to waivers tells you all you really need to know about how the Bucs view Carpenter. He’s a smart guy who knows the system, but he has no upside because he lacks arm strength. If the Bucs truly thought Carpenter could become a No. 2 quarterback, they would have kept him around because backup Josh Johnson can become a free agent next year. Johnson probably will move on because he knows there’s no chance of starting as long as Josh Freeman is around.

What's next: General manager Mark Dominik isn’t likely to be plucking the waiver wire as much as he did last season. But he’ll keep his eyes open, and you could see a move or two. Don’t be surprised if the Bucs bring in a running back, particularly one who fits the profile of a third-down back. Veteran Earnest Graham can fill that role, if needed, but the Bucs also like to use him at fullback.

We now continue our NFC South previews with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Here’s the link to Tampa Bay’s complete preview page.

Before I get to what I wrote about the Bucs, let me share a little confession. When I first wrote my predictions, I had Tampa Bay fourth in the NFC South. Yes, for a brief time, I had the Carolina Panthers ahead of the Bucs.

The reasons I changed that were that Carolina had some injuries on the offensive line and the NFL informed the Bucs that cornerback Aqib Talib would not be suspended this season.

That was enough for me to change my prediction, but why was I thinking Panthers over the Bucs in the first place? I think the world of Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman and he’s going to make this team respectable.

But I’ve got serious concerns about the front seven of the defense. I also think the Bucs were very lucky last season in that every time there was an injury, they plugged in some rookie or guy of the streets and things worked out just fine. You can’t count on that happening every time.

Five things you need to know about the Buccaneers:

1. This is totally Josh Freeman's team: In his first full season as a starting quarterback, Freeman carried the Bucs to 10 wins. He threw 25 touchdowns with six interceptions and brought up the level of play of everyone around him. More important, Freeman showed he has the intangibles to be an elite quarterback. He took control of the locker room, calling a players-only meeting to order everyone to behave after a series of off-field incidents. His leadership role was only enhanced during the offseason when he first organized workouts for the skill-position players and later put together a minicamp for the full squad.

2. The defense is incredibly young: Just look at the front seven. It's possible the Bucs could be starting two rookies at defensive end, two second-year players at defensive tackle and a rookie at middle linebacker. I understand and like Tampa Bay's philosophy of building through the draft. But I think the Bucs took a risk by letting middle linebacker Barrett Ruud leave and not bringing in someone with experience to help the younger members of the front seven along.

3. Youth is not always a bad thing: Last year, it seemed as though every time the Bucs had an injury, they plugged in a late-round draft pick or someone they claimed off waivers and that guy instantly stepped up. It happened with safety Cody Grimm and guard Ted Larsen. But most of all it happened with receiver Mike Williams, a fourth-round pick, and LeGarrette Blount, an undrafted free agent who signed with the Bucs after being cut by Tennessee. Williams instantly became the team's top wide receiver. Blount took over the feature-back role from Cadillac Williams around midseason and rushed for 1,000 yards. Mike Williams should get more help this year from a young receiving corps that also includes Arrelious Benn, Dezmon Briscoe and Sammie Stroughter. Blount is going to be asked to become more of an every-down back. The Bucs were hesitant to use him as a pass-blocker or receiver out of the backfield last year. They want him to do both those things this year. If Williams and Blount continue to progress, Freeman should have little trouble taking another step forward.

4. The offense is as flexible as any: Offensive coordinator Greg Olson isn't one of those guys who are totally committed to running the ball or throwing it. Instead, Olson takes what the defense gives him. If the defense is loading up on the pass, Olson will run Blount 30 times. If the defense is putting eight men in the box, he won't hesitate to let Freeman throw the ball 40 times. That makes this offense tough to defend.

5. In a division filled with good tight ends, Kellen Winslow might be the best: He put up good numbers last year, even though he often was missing practice during the week to rest a sore knee. Winslow now says the knee feels better than it has in years. He could be in for a huge season.

DIVISION FINISH: 3 A lot of people say the Bucs got lucky with an easy schedule last year and the team will take a step back. I'm not one of them. The offense can score enough to stay with Matt Ryan and Drew Brees. I just don't know if the defense can stop guys like that.

One of the bigger stories of Tampa Bay’s training camp so far has been rookie middle linebacker Mason Foster. Now that the preseason is here, the story just keeps getting bigger.

After letting Barrett Ruud leave as a free agent, the Bucs seemed poise to put their defense in the hands of their third-round draft pick. Although Tyrone McKenzie got some first-team work early in camp, Foster has been getting most of the reps lately.

He got the start in Friday night’s preseason opener, a 25-0 victory against Kansas City. Here’s what coach Raheem Morris had to say about Foster after the game.

“We talked about wanting to see him in pads, and he was able to go out there and really put his pads on people,’’ Morris said. “Obviously, I’ve got to go grade the tape to see all the plays and see what he was able to do. But, I did see him recover a fumble, I did see him get a big third-down stop, and those are the things we want to see him do. I was so excited about what he did in that first quarter; in that first half, I took all his nickel reps away. I didn’t even want to play him in the second half. Hopefully, next game we’re going to get him out there in nickel and see some other things out of him. (We) put him on special teams a little bit, let him play a little bit. If he is going to be a two-down backer, he’ll have to give us a little bit on special teams.

One of the other big stories of Tampa Bay’s preseason has been Dezmon Briscoe. The Bucs stashed him on the practice squad for much of last season. But Briscoe’s had a great training camp and, with Arrelious Benn still recovering from a major knee injury, has a chance to start opposite Mike Williams.

Briscoe had four catches for 60 yards against the Chiefs.

“I was fired up about Dez,’’ Morris said. “I remember talking about him a while ago, saying how he might be one of our better receivers. He’s done nothing but show me and prove to us that he can play this game, and we’re fired up to have him. We were fired up when we got him last year at the time we did. And to incorporate him in our offense like he’s been able to do, I think it’s been special for him.”

There could be another possibility for the Bucs at middle linebacker.

Seattle’s Lofa Tatupu reportedly has requested his release and it’s been granted. The Bucs have been relatively quiet in free agency and they let middle linebacker Barrett Ruud leave to sign as a free agent with Tennessee.

Tampa Bay has been using Tyrone McKenzie as its first-team middle linebacker early in training camp. But he has only played in three NFL games. The Bucs also have high hopes for rookie Mason Foster.

But asking an inexperienced player to call the signals for a very young defense could be dangerous, and the Bucs might be open to bringing in a veteran. We’ve thrown out Nick Barnett’s name, but indications are he probably is headed elsewhere very shortly.

Tatupu’s presence on the market could intrigue the Bucs. He’s a three-time Pro Bowler and is only 28. Although he came into the league with questions about being too small to play middle linebacker, he answered those quickly. The Bucs generally prefer smaller linebackers with good speed.

TAMPA, Fla. -- With Barrett Ruud gone to Tennessee as a free agent, there’s a common assumption the Buccaneers will bring in a veteran free agent or place third-round draft pick Mason Foster at middle linebacker.

But there’s one long-shot possibility that has a chance at becoming a reality.

That’s Tyrone McKenzie, who joined Tampa Bay’s practice squad last year after asking the New England Patriots to release him. A third-round pick by New England in 2009, McKenzie suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament before he ever played a game for the Patriots. Heading into 2010, the Patriots weren’t sure about McKenzie’s health and they loaded up on linebackers. McKenzie went to coach Bill Belichick and asked for his release.

Signing with Tampa Bay was an easy choice. McKenzie went to high school in nearby Sarasota and played at the University of South Florida. The Bucs put him on the active roster late last season and appeared in three games.

But, through the first two days of training camp, McKenzie has been working with the first-team defense and calling the plays. Yeah, the Bucs could end up going with Foster, but McKenzie also was drafted in the third round and has had the luxury of being in NFL systems the past two seasons.

“Any defense is complex,’’ McKenzie said. “That’s why you need a good Mike (middle linebacker), a smart Mike that can make all the calls and checks and make sure everybody else is lined up right, too.’’

McKenzie has had his eye on a starting role the entire offseason. He went to Ruud’s home in Nebraska and the two worked out together and spent time breaking down Tampa Bay’s defense.

“That was huge,’’ McKenzie said. “Getting out there and talking football with him was great.’’

McKenzie also has a bit of a groundswell of support within the building. The coaches saw some things they liked last season and McKenzie became a natural fit in the locker room. When players were locked out, quarterback Josh Freeman took it upon himself to organize players-only workouts for the offense. Those were held at South Florida and McKenzie used his contacts there to help the Bucs get set up. Although only a handful of defensive players took part in those workouts, McKenzie was one of them.

When the Bucs held a full-team minicamp in Bradenton in June, Freeman turned to McKenzie for help in getting the defensive players there and setting up the practice routine for the defense.

We probably won’t know for some time exactly who will be Tampa Bay’s starting middle linebacker on opening day. But there’s a chance the Bucs already might have their defensive leader in their midst.

“If I have to stay at this until 2 in the morning to make sure I’m on top of my game and everybody else is on top of their game, I’ll do whatever it takes to win,’’ McKenzie said.

TAMPA, Fla. -- I'm at One Buccaneer Place and will be heading out to watch the Bucs work out in a little over an hour. I'll give you a report on what I see later. But, first, let's take a quick trip through the NFC South headlines to bring you up to speed.

Former Atlanta guard Harvey Dahl has agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the Rams. Justin Blalock, the other starting guard from last season, remains a free agent. There is a possibility he could return to the Falcons, but the team began preparing for this situation last year when it drafted Mike Johnson and Joe Hawley.

New Orleans running back Pierre Thomas said he’s only about 85 percent healthy after offseason ankle surgery, but he was able to practice Friday.

Linebacker Dan Connor is happy to be staying in Carolina after incorrect rumors had him going to Chicago as part of the Greg Olsen trade.

So far, so good on the Da'Quan Bowers health front. The rookie defensive end, who fell to the second round due to concerns about a knee injury, went through the first workout of training camp with the Bucs.

The Saints terminated the contracts of linebacker Stanley Arnoux and long-snapper Jason Kyle after they failed physicals.

Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris said he hasn’t closed the door on the possibility of middle linebacker Barrett Ruud returning to the Bucs. I think that’s a long shot.

There’s uncertainty in the middle of Tampa Bay’s linebacker corps, but not at one of the outside spots.

The team has reached an agreement on a five-year deal with Quincy Black, according to a league source. Black has been with the Bucs since 2007 and has been a starter most of the past two seasons.

The Bucs appear ready to let middle linebacker Barrett Ruud leave via free agency, which could lead to rookie Mason Foster starting in his spot. Keeping Black should help ease that transition.

Black appeared in 11 games and started 10 last season while recording 61 tackles.

Let's do some speed reading to cover all sorts of ground on a variety of developments across the NFC South.

Tampa Bay general manager Mark Dominik didn’t flat out say free-agent linebacker Barrett Ruud is out of the picture. But he sure implied it when he started talking about the Bucs moving forward with rookie Mason Foster.

Can’t say this one’s a surprise. Matt Ryan was the first player to arrive at the Falcons’ complex Tuesday. He spoke with the media about how he’s looking forward to working with new quarterbacks coach Bob Bratkowski and rookie receiver Julio Jones.

Can’t say this one’s a surprise either. The Weather Channel ranked the 10 hottest venues for training camps. All four NFC South sites made the list.

Continuing with the theme of no surprises, quarterback Matt Moore said he doesn’t expect to be back with the Panthers.

The Saints reportedly have reached agreements with two more undrafted free agents, North Dakota State cornerback Josh Gatlin and Marian University offensive tackle Coy Beilby. The Saints also reportedly have agreed to deals with Nebraska offensive tackle Mike Smith and Belhaven wide receiver Kevin Dizer.

LSU kicker Josh Jasper said he has agreed to terms with the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay wide receiver Arrelious Benn, who is coming off major knee surgery, said he passed his physical and expects to be 100 percent for the regular-season opener.

Tampa Bay general manager Mark Dominik just met with the media and offered some nuggets of information.

• Dominik said he expects cornerback Aqib Talib to report to training camp on time. Talib was charged with aggravated assault in Texas in March and faces trial next March. Dominik said he has spoken to Talib’s agent, but has not spoken to the player or his lawyer in the criminal case. Dominik said he wants to talk to Talib’s legal representative to gather more information on the situation.
• Dominik also announced the team has agreed to contract terms with rookie linebacker Mason Foster and tight end Daniel Hardy. Foster was a third-round pick and Hardy a seventh-round choice. Foster could be a candidate to start at middle linebacker if Barrett Ruud is not re-signed.
• Dominik said he expects defensive end Da’Quan Bowers to be ready for training camp. Bowers slid to the second round because of concerns about a knee problem.
• Dominik said the team has done some exploratory work on free agents from other teams, but the immediate focus is to keep some of the team’s own free agents.
• The team will formally announce a list of between 15 and 20 undrafted free agents who have signed on Tuesday, Dominik said.
• Although there had been speculation that defensive tackle Brian Price could start camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list, Dominik said that’s not the plan. Price is recovering from surgery on his pelvis. Dominik said Price is progressing, but needs to work on his conditioning.