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It appears as if things are lining up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to land one of free-agency's biggest stars.

ESPN’s John Clayton reports the Bucs are going hard after San Diego receiver Vincent Jackson, as many expected.

The Bucs were expected to have competition for Jackson from the Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears, but those two teams are apparently out of the mix after landing other receivers.

Pierre Garcon said he's planning to sign with the Washington Redskins and the Chicago Bears traded for wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

Stay tuned, but it looks like the Bucs, who last won a game in October, finally might have something to celebrate.

If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers really are going to go after free-agent receiver Vincent Jackson, they just lost a competitor.

ESPN’s John Clayton reports that the Chicago Bears have worked a trade with Miami for receiver Brandon Marshall. That apparently takes the Bears out of the market for Jackson. Entering free agency, the Washington Redskins, Bears and Bucs had been the teams most tied by speculation to Jackson.

Clayton also has some news on another receiver. That’s New Orleans’ Robert Meachem. He’s on his way to Buffalo. After re-signing Marques Colston, the Saints are unlikely to bring back Meachem, who also could be a potential target for the Bucs.

ATLANTA – Let’s take a look at the statistical highlights from the Falcons' 41-14 victory against Jacksonville on Thursday night.

• My favorite of the bunch comes from ESPN Stats & Information and puts into perspective just how big a game defensive end John Abraham had. He became only the sixth player since the start of the 2001 season to record at least 3.5 sacks and force at least two fumbles in a single game. All of Abraham’s sacks came on downs when the Falcons only sent four pass rushers. He is the first player in the past two seasons to record more than three sacks via standard pass rushes in a single game.

• Abraham now has 111 career sacks and moved past Greg Townsend (109.5 sacks) and into 16^th place on the NFL’s all-time list.

• Quarterback Matt Ryan was especially good when throwing inside the numbers. He completed 11 of 12 passes (91.7 percent), for two touchdowns and averaged 8.7 yards per attempt. In the first 13 games, Ryan completed 65.1 percent of his passes between the numbers and averaged 8.5 yards per attempt with 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

• Ryan targeted Roddy White on 62 percent of his attempts. That’s the second-highest target percentage for any player since the start of the 2008 season. (The highest was when Denver’s Kyle Orton targeted Brandon Marshall on 68.3 percent of his throws in a 2009 game against the Colts.) All seven passes Ryan threw that traveled at least 15 yards in the air were intended for White.

• White increased his franchise record for 100-yard receiving games to 27.

• Ryan threw three touchdowns against Jacksonville after passing for four in the previous game, against Carolina. That marked the first time in his career he has thrown three or more touchdowns in back-to-back games.

• Ryan’s career record in December improved to 10-3 (.769 winning percentage). Only Tom Brady (.900), Philip Rivers (.857) and Peyton Manning (.833) have better December winning percentages.

• Atlanta’s 41 points were a season high.

• The Falcons are now 25-6 at the Georgia Dome since 2008. That’s the best home record for any NFC team in that span.

• Atlanta’s five sacks tied a season high. The Falcons first had five sacks in the season opener against Chicago.

TAMPA, Fla. -- The panic that was so widespread among Tampa Bay Buccaneers' fans last week can rest for a bit.

The Bucs did some good things in just about every area in Saturday night’s 17-13 preseason victory against the Miami Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium. The Bucs also did some bad things, but none of them were the kind of mistakes that are unusual for preseason games.

That wasn’t the case in the past week’s loss to the New England Patriots, in which the Bucs did almost nothing positive. Yeah, the Patriots are an annual Super Bowl contender and coach Bill Belichick is known to demand intensity in exhibition games. The Dolphins probably aren’t going to be confused with the Patriots anytime soon, but they’re still a decent team.

Everything’s relative, but the measuring stick on the Bucs looks a lot better than it did a week ago. The defense generated some pressure and LeGarrette Blount flashed some big-play ability as a receiver out of the backfield.

Those are all things the Bucs knew they had to improve on and have been working on throughout the preseason.

Some other observations on the Bucs:

• The NFL’s decision not to suspend cornerback Aqib Talib during the 2011 season is looking like a blessing. E.J. Biggers and Myron Lewis, who would have taken on larger roles if Talib was suspended, both struggled. Biggers got beat by Brandon Marshall on a long touchdown pass and also got flagged for pass interference. Lewis also drew a pass-interference call.
• There was a brief scary moment when second-year defensive tackle Brian Price went down in the second quarter. Price was playing for the first time since having surgery on his pelvis last year. He stayed down for a minute, walked off the field with the trainers, but returned to the game a few plays later. It didn’t appear the problem had anything to do with the pelvis. It looked like Price just had the wind knocked out of him.
• Rookie tight end Luke Stocker, who missed most of camp and the first two preseason games with a hip injury, made his debut. He made one nice catch and probably has put himself in line to get some playing time behind Kellen Winslow and in two tight-end sets.
• The Bucs have said all offseason they want Blount to be a more complete running back in his second season. He ran for 1,000 yards as a rookie, but only caught five passes. Looks like the Bucs have every intention of getting Blount involved in the passing game. He was targeted five times Saturday night and caught three passes for 62 yards, 52 of those came when Blount caught a short pass and made several nice cuts in the open field.

NEW ORLEANS -- When he finally gets to a Pro Bowl -- and that day is coming soon -- Marques Colston may arrive in Hawaii (or wherever the game is held) in the purest, most powerful way any wide receiver ever has.

“There’s no 'throw me the ball' from Marques,’’ New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees said Sunday after throwing two touchdown passes to Colston in a 31-13 victory against the St. Louis Rams.

That trait alone might set Colston apart from any wide receiver who has played the game. Talk to any quarterback who has played in the NFL, except for Brees, and they’ll tell you they never met a wide receiver who didn’t insist he was open on every play.

“The only time Marques talks is if he gets mad at himself, or coach [Sean Payton] asks him to break down the huddle,’’ defensive back Malcolm Jenkins said.

Yes, America, there really is one big-time wide receiver who genuinely lets his play do the talking. That is Colston, a fifth-year pro out of Hofstra, who moved within five yards of 5,000 receiving yards for his career Sunday.

Teammates, coaches and opponents will tell you Colston belongs in the Pro Bowl. They’ll also tell you Colston is one of the league’s top wide receivers. But Colston is not the kind of guy who is going to tell you how good he is.

In fact, when he walked into the interview room Sunday, Colston started ripping apart his game.

“From the second quarter on, I didn’t play well,’’ Colston said.

While it’s true both of Colston’s touchdowns came in the first quarter and he failed to come up with a couple of catchable balls later in the game, he did finish with five catches for 46 yards and the Saints had complete control of the game from the moment Colston pulled in his second touchdown.

Heck, even when the Saints were getting ready to play the Cincinnati Bengals in their previous game, the New Orleans media tried for two days to get Colston to talk. He avoided the locker room totally the first day. On the second day, he ran into a couple of reporters as he walked to the training room.

Very politely, he told them something like, “I know where you’re going and I respect that. But I’d rather stay out of that fray."

The fray Colston was referring to was the obvious story of the week -- Cincinnati’s attention-grabbing wide receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens going up against a player who is the anti-Ochocinco and the anti-Owens.

As a general rule, the better a receiver is, the more he talks. Think Randy Moss, Steve Smith, Roddy White, Brandon Marshall, Keyshawn Johnson, Michael Irvin and Mark Duper as just a few examples. Players such as Jerry Rice and Marvin Harrison were generally viewed as guys who didn’t seek out attention, but those who played with them and media members who covered them said each at least had a touch of the prima donna personality so common among receivers.

“Unfortunately, people want to listen to them,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said in a conference call with the New Orleans media a couple of weeks ago.

The question specifically was about Ochocinco and Owens, but Lewis could have been talking about virtually any receiver.

“They don’t have much substance to say very often, particularly when they leave here,’’ Lewis said. “They do have an audience for some reason.”

Wide receivers love audiences. When Smith and Johnson spent the 2007 season together with the Carolina Panthers, there was one certainty when the locker room doors opened after a game or practice -- Smith and Johnson would be sitting at their lockers waiting to talk to the media. On at least one occasion one of them privately chided a reporter for using more quotes from the other receiver.

There’s even a story about a very well-known wide receiver who got an idea when Ochocinco changed his last name from Johnson. This particular receiver went to the team’s public relations department and website workers and told them he wanted to be referred to by his nickname in team record books, media guides and on the team website. Only a very stern talk -- in other words, “You are not going to do that’’ -- from a powerful owner and a once-powerful coach prevented that fiasco.

There’s absolutely none of that with Colston. He usually avoids the locker room when the media is in there during the week. If he talks at all, he doesn’t say much.

If you watched Colston’s body language as he spoke in front of the cameras and recorders Sunday, you would have thought he was drawing triple coverage in the fourth quarter of a Super Bowl. He wasn’t seeking attention. He was running from it, even squirming.

“It’s just me,’’ Colston said. “I’m comfortable being me.’’

It’s not just that way with the media. Colston is the same way with coaches and teammates.

“Marques doesn’t talk around us,’’ Jenkins said. “He’s a quiet guy. He just goes out and makes plays.’’

With Colston as the clear-cut No. 1 receiver, the rest of the receiver corps follows his lead. Lance Moore, Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson might form the quietest group of receivers in the history of the NFL.

“We are a tight-knit group,’’ Colston said. “We all had humble beginnings.’’

Other than Meachem, none of those receivers were high draft picks. Colston was a seventh-round choice, but he came into the league and instantly became New Orleans’ best receiver. It hasn’t changed.

With the Saints at 10-3 and trying to defend last season’s Super Bowl title, Colston has been consistent. At the moment, he has 76 catches for 921 yards and seven touchdowns, including five touchdowns in the past four games.

Project Colston’s numbers for three more regular-season games and you’ve got Pro Bowl numbers. Colston would be the last guy to lobby for a Pro Bowl berth, so I’ll do it, and I’ll turn to Brees for some more weighty words.

“Usually, the guys who make the most noise get the most attention,’’ Brees said. "That might not be fair, but that's kind of just the way it is.''

But it’s time for that to change. It’s time to put Colston into the Pro Bowl because he is the one wide receiver who belongs there for all the right reasons.

I had to get very creative because Atlanta’s game at Miami wasn’t available on local television at NFC South Blog Headquarters. I’m watching the Saints and Chargers on local television, but I kept up on the Falcons throughout the night.

With a little help from satellite radio, the wonderful work of my buddies Daniel Cox and Jay Adams at the Falcons’ team website, some live stats and play-by-play and a bunch of text messages from a Falcons official who is in the press box in Miami, I was able to get a feel for what the Falcons did. Here are my thoughts and observations:

• Cornerback Dunta Robinson didn’t play for the third straight preseason game, even though there was some speculation he might go against Miami. I wouldn’t be too worried about this one. My Atlanta official in the press box said the team is just being cautious with its high-priced free agent. The main goal is to make sure Robinson’s healthy for the start of the regular season.
• Speaking of cornerbacks, it sure seems like Christopher Owens has done what he needed to in order to earn the starting job opposite Robinson. Owens stripped a ball away from Brandon Marshall and brought enough pressure on a blitz to allow Kroy Biermann to sack Chad Henne.
• Speaking of Biermann, he’s had a sack in each of the first three preseason games. Could be part of what the Falcons need to upgrade their pass rush.
• Speaking of the pass rush, it sounded like the Falcons were using lots of blitzes, including a couple by rookie linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. Hope we see a lot more of that in the regular season. The defense looks a lot faster and that’s largely because of Weatherspoon’s arrival.
• It’s only the preseason and you never should read too much into that. However, if you’re going to try to read anything into one preseason game, do it for the first half of the third game, when most of the starters play all the way. That’s why Atlanta fans should be encouraged by the following defensive numbers from the first half: The Dolphins converted on only one third down in the first half. The Falcons also held Miami to 10 rushing yards.
• Trey Lewis got the start at defensive tackle next to Jonathan Babineaux, but Peria Jerry came into the rotation and got his first playing time since tearing up his knee early in his rookie season. Didn’t sound like Jerry made any big plays, but all indications were he seemed to be moving around quite nicely. He also got to play against his brother, John, who is a rookie offensive guard for the Dolphins.
• Eric Weems had a big kickoff return to set up Atlanta’s first-quarter touchdown. This guy’s got a roster spot as a backup receiver. But, more importantly, he’s become a core special-teams player.
• Quarterback Matt Ryan started off a little rough and his receivers had a few drops. But Ryan came on and threw a touchdown pass to Roddy White. He also had a nice throw to Harry Douglas, who is coming back from injury, and made some other nice plays. Once again, Ryan looked good in the no-huddle offense. I hope we see a lot more of that this season and I hope we don’t see any more of that ugly 2-yard run Ryan had Friday night.
• Good to hear defensive backs Brian Williams and William Moore, who both had major injuries last year, made their preseason debuts early in the second half.
• All right, I’m going to go ahead and post this now that the backups are taking over, so I can focus in on the New Orleans game because I’ll also have an observation package on the Saints later Friday night.

Some quick observations on Tampa Bay after the Buccaneers lost their preseason opener to Miami, 10-7, on Saturday night.

• Forget the final score. This one was a victory for the Buccaneers. They controlled the game when the starters were in, and even through a long stretch with the second teams playing. It wasn’t until the benches really got cleared that the Dolphins won the game.
• I thought quarterback Josh Freeman had a very strong outing. He completed all four of his passes, and his touchdown throw to Sammie Stroughter showed how much his patience and maturity have grown. It's also obvious that he has developed chemistry with rookie receiver Mike Williams. Freeman also ran the ball a couple times, which is nice and certainly will help in the regular season. But I’m not so sure it was such a great idea to have him scrambling around on a rainy and muddy night in Miami.
• Tampa Bay’s defense did something it couldn’t do last season. It got the Dolphins off the field. Geno Hayes busted up a screen pass, E.J. Biggers made a nice play against receiver Brandon Marshall and Sabby Piscitelli came through with pressure on a blitz to force the Dolphins to punt on their first three drives.
• Backup quarterback Josh Johnson threw an interception and lost a fumble on a sack. But he threw the ball pretty well overall. I’ve questioned why the Bucs haven’t brought in an experienced backup. But I’m going to back off that a bit. Johnson has some talent, and might be able to be effective if he can take better care of the ball.
• I know the playbook is a lot more sophisticated with offensive coordinator Greg Olson. But there was one moment when I had to laugh out loud as the Bucs ran a play that reminded me of the mid-1990s. Derrick Ward took a handoff and ran straight into fullback Chris Pressley’s back. It was just a one-time thing. But there was a time back in the dreary old days when Errict Rhett taking a handoff, running into Mike Alstott’s back and plowing for a yard or two was Tampa Bay’s signature play.
• Speaking of Ward, who’s fighting to earn more carries, he looked good at times. He even was having a nice run on a third-down draw play, until he fumbled. Turning the ball over probably will wipe out the rest of the good stuff he did Saturday. The Bucs aren’t going to be a team with a big margin for error, so they’re not going to give a lot of carries to a guy who puts the ball on the ground.
• Running back Kareem Huggins, who has had a nice camp, continued to impress. This guy’s going to make the roster, but he’s going to do more than that. He’s got a shot at some playing time in the backfield and on special teams.

Several times in the past, I’ve shared with you the positional personality profiles done by Dr. Arnold J. Mandell back in 1973 and specifically focused on his assessment of wide receivers.

With Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers fans mad that their teams never even pursued Brandon Marshall or Santonio Holmes, I think it’s time to look at Mandell’s work once more. For background purposes, Mandell did these profiles while working as a team psychiatrist for the San Diego Chargers and coach Harland Savard.

"The wide receiver is a very special human being," Mandell wrote. "He shares many features with actors and movie stars. He is narcissistic and vain and basically a loner."

Here are a couple more excerpts from the Mandell profiles on wide receivers:

"They love to be the center of attention. They need to be noticed. They have an imperviousness in that they don't seem to mind criticism about being like that. All players want the respect of fellow players. Showing off usually is not an admired characteristic by most players, but by wide receivers it is very admired."

"They are interested in looking pretty, being pretty. They are elegant, interpersonally isolated. Wide receivers don't group, they don't mob out. They are actors, uninflected about showing off, individualists, quite interested in their own welfare, their own appearance."

Think about it a bit. Mandell’s profiles on all the positions were pretty accurate, but I think he put it in the upper deck with wide receivers. Marshall, Holmes,Chad Ochocinco, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Steve Smith, Muhsin Muhammad, Keyshawn Johnson -– they all fit the profile. As a general rule, you can say the more a guy fits this profile, the better he is as a wide receiver. Of all the wide receivers I’ve ever covered, I’d say former Carolina player Keary Colbert came the furthest from fitting the profile. Colbert wasn’t full of himself and he wasn’t hyper-competitive. Those may be among the reasons he never fulfilled his potential.

Yeah, you can say that guys like Jerry Rice and Marvin Harrison succeeded without fitting the profile. But that’s not really true. Rice and Harrison might not have been all that flamboyant, but people who played with them or coached them will tell you they had a controlled selfishness about them.

Receivers are a very rare breed. As the Panthers and the Bucs look at drafting receivers next week, I think personalities will play into it. Obviously, their focus is on talent, but they have to find the right kind of receiver to fit in nicely. Carolina needs a guy who can co-exist with Smith. Tampa Bay needs a guy whose ego can fit in a locker room with tight end Kellen Winslow.

It’s a balancing act. Almost every wide receiver comes with some sort of baggage. You’ve got to take all that into consideration and determine which one you really need on your team.

Reminds me of a story from long ago. My high school baseball coach, the late and great Paul Fearick, had a strange dislike for guys who were on the wrestling team. In his own way, Fearick viewed them the same way Mandell described wide receivers.

When Fearick saw a sophomore, who also happened to be on the wrestling team, goofing off in practice one day, he erupted.

“Schubert, I don’t need you,’’ Fearick screamed. “You wrestlers are all crazy. I had a wrestler last year. But the guy could hit and he could play the field. We needed him. You? We can do just as well without you.’’

Turned out Fearick was setting some ground rules. He needed Eric Schubert, who pitched a few big games for us after we had some injuries late in the year and he became Fearick’s ace the next two years. Fearick, although not really thrilled about it, was willing to endure some quirks to get what he needed.

When it comes to wide receivers, the Bucs and Panthers have to ask themselves which ones they really need and how much they’re willing to turn their heads to all the other things that come with any given receiver.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik just did his pre-draft meeting with the media and it was more entertaining than these things usually are. Believe me, I sat through more than a few of them when Marty Hurney and John Fox didn’t say anything that was remotely quotable.

Dominik wasn’t revealing anything dramatic about Tampa Bay’s strategy and nobody does that in these situations. But he did throw out some pretty good lines as he danced around any specifics about any specific players.

But Dominik did admit this draft is critical for a team that has gone out of its way to say it’s building through the draft. Now, he’s got to back it up and he admits it.

“If this draft doesn’t succeed, I won’t either," Dominik said.

That may sound pretty dramatic, but it’s simply fact. The Bucs -- from ownership on down -- are building this team through the draft. Although fans might not like it, that’s the plan. You can at least see some traces of the plan playing out with some of last year’s draft picks, like Josh Freeman and Sammie Stroughter, already playing important roles. The 2010 draft is the next step in this process and Dominik isn’t hiding from the fact, the Bucs have to hit on most of their 11 picks.

A few other notables out of Dominik’s session:

First, for the fans that are constantly screaming about ownership being cheap, and I’m not saying that’s inaccurate, Dominik had a response.

“Money is not an issue for anything in this draft … at all," Dominik said.

Dominik also was asked about the Bucs not getting receivers Santonio Holmes and Brandon Marshall, who recently were traded to other teams.

“I know there was a report out there that we were one of the four finalists for Brandon Marshall," Dominik said. “That’s not true."

The Bucs weren’t in the market for Holmes either. Dominik wouldn’t get into specifics, but he certainly implied that character issues were considered when the Bucs pondered pursuing either receiver.

The New Orleans Saints are the final stop in today’s edition of NFC South team-by-team mailbags.

Will in New Orleans writes: I was under the impression that Alex Brown filled the Saints’ hole at defensive end. So why do draftniks, including ESPN's own Mel Kiper Jr. in his latest four round team mocks, still predict that the Saints will draft a defensive end in the first round? it doesn't make sense given their needs at outside linebacker and defensive tackle.

Pat Yasinskas: Brown definitely brings some stability to the defensive end spot. But, even after his signing, the Saints had free-agent Jimmy Wilkerson in for a visit. That shows me they still are looking for depth at defensive end. Also, Brown, Will Smith and Bobby McCray aren’t exactly young and the Saints are in a position where their roster is talented enough that they can look a year or two down the road. I wouldn’t rule out a defensive end in the first round. But, at the moment, I’d lean toward a linebacker. We’ll see.

Mario in Fremont, Calif., writes: Do you think with Denver trading Brandon Marshall, they will try to trade a receiver from Saints. Saints are loaded with some good receivers and they might be interested on the draft day?

Pat Yasinskas: I’ve wondered that, not just about Denver, but any team in need of a receiver. If I’m a general manager and I’m looking to trade for a receiver, the Saints would be the first team I call. The Saints have several receivers on their bench that could start for other teams. I don’t see any way they’d part with Robert Meachem. The guy I wonder about is Lance Moore. Not sure if it was totally because of injuries or what, but he seemed to be all out of favor last year and the Saints have plenty of other options. If they want to add a draft pick or two, Moore might be able to get that for them. Not saying that will definitely happen, but it’s something to think about.

Jim in Ocean Springs, Miss., writes: Is there anything to the rumor that the Saints are looking into a Jammal Brown-Albert Haynesworth trade? It would solve big needs for each team.

Pat Yasinskas: To my knowledge, at this moment, no. Think it’s just a pipe dream by some fans.

Dave in Norfolk, Va., writes: Just out of curiosity, does everyone associated with the Saints get a Super Bowl ring? I mean even players like Deuce McAllister who was signed on as an honorable captain and was on the sidelines during the Super Bowl? How about the players on the practice squad? Do they get a ring?

Pat Yasinskas: Very good question and I’ve got a little experience in this one, going back to my days in Charlotte. Panthers didn’t get Super Bowl rings, but they got NFC Championship rings and that created some pretty major issues within the organization. Same with the Bucs –- I know some people there who did and did not get rings when Tampa Bay won the Super Bowl. The basic rule of thumb is the team decides who gets rings. All players, including those on injured reserve, get them. Same for the coaching staff. I haven’t heard anything on how far the Saints are going with the rings, but I’m guessing McAllister gets one just as a common courtesy for his contributions to the franchise. Where you get into the really sticky area is when you start giving out rings to people beyond coaches and players. From what I’ve seen elsewhere, general managers, top scouts and department heads throughout the organization will get them. It gets tricky beyond that because NFL teams employ hundreds of people and they can’t all get rings. I know former Carolina radio play-by-play man Bill Rosinski was quite upset when he didn’t get a ring. I also know some lower-level employees in Carolina and Tampa Bay at least were given the chance to buy replica rings.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are next in our series of team-by-team mailbags.

Nick in London, Ontario, Canada, writes: I was wondering why the Bucs wouldn’t even try to acquire a Santonio Holmes or a Brandon Marshall?

Pat Yasinskas: Nick’s question was asked in various ways by a whole bunch of Tampa Bay fans. I’ll try to answer them all right here. I realize it’s fun, easy and popular to see a big name on the market and automatically say the Bucs should go after that guy. It’s natural, but you’re getting away from reality. Fact is, like it or not, the Bucs are going through a rebuilding process and it’s not always going to be pretty or popular. But they’re sticking with their plan of building through the draft and that means it’s probably going to take time for this team to become good. The days of the short-term fix ended when Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen were shown the door. Yes, Holmes and Marshall are still relatively young, but they bring up another reality check as to what’s going on in Tampa Bay these days. Throughout the Tony Dungy days, the Bucs were big on character. When Gruden and Allen came in, things loosened up in that regard. Mark Dominik and Raheem Morris might not be quite as extreme about character as Dungy was, but they pay close attention to it. Holmes is facing a suspension at the start of this season. If he was a good guy that just needed a change of scenery, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin probably would have told his good buddy Morris to give the guy a chance. That didn’t happen. Marshall also carries baggage. The Bucs are building this franchise around Josh Freeman and they’re not going to bring in a receiver with the potential to destroy their quarterback. For the record, the Bucs had a No. 1 receiver in Antonio Bryant. He ripped Freeman and criticized the coaching staff and front office last year. Did you notice how quickly the Bucs pushed him out the door when free agency started?

JP in Inverness, Fla., writes: Since the Bucs passed on Brandon Marshall (which I am still not sure the risk was not worth it) might they be interested in Ted Ginn? I do not see that he would cost much, and while he is definitely not a number 1, he might be a number two and getting him for a fifth or sixth round pick could not hurt, right?

Pat Yasinskas: I’m definitely keeping my eyes and ears open on this one. Ginn doesn’t come with baggage and it sure looks likely that the Dolphins are trying to move him. Ginn never quite lived up to his draft status and his skill set doesn’t fit with the current Miami offense. But there is some talent there and you could throw him into the mix with Reggie Brown, Michael Clayton and all those other receivers the Bucs have and see who rises up as the No. 2 guy (while still looking for an answer at No. 1). I think this one is at least a possibility, although it’s hard to imagine the Bucs parting with any of their draft picks.

Scott in Tampa writes: Matt Mosley suggested that the Redskins may be willing to part with Albert Haynesworth for a package including a second round pick. Since the Bucs have two picks in the second round this year, do you see any way this could go down? It would allow us to use maybe use our No. 3 pick on a top offensive tackle like Russell Okung instead of Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy.

Pat Yasinskas: Very doubtful and it kind of goes hand-in-hand with my answer to the first question on receivers. The Bucs made a play at Haynesworth last year, but that was before they really locked into the whole idea of building with youth. They’re very serious about that. They value this year’s draft pick tremendously and don’t want to part with them. Plus, like the receivers, Haynesworth would come with some baggage.

Just took a look at the mailbag and it was overflowing. I’m going to go ahead and try to knock out a series of team-by-team mailbags. If I don’t get all the way through Wednesday, I’ll finish it up Thursday.

We’re going in random order and we’re going to go ahead and start with the Carolina Panthers.

Brad in Charlotte writes: With the recent acquisition of Brandon Marshall and the claim from within the Dolphins organization that they "might" get a 5th round pick for Ted Ginn, why don't the Panthers make a play for him? We do not have a 5th rounder, so why not offer our non-compensatory 6th round pick, or a combination of our 6th and 7th rounders? I am in no way saying we should trade one of our first 3 picks, but Ginn would immediately step in and be that return man we desperately need and contribute in the slot. This way we can focus on our #2 receiver early and not settle for Jacoby Ford, Armanti Edwards, Scott Long or any other speedy unproven slots at the tail end of the draft.

Pat Yasinskas: I’m with you on this one. You’re theories are all very logical. Let’s see if John Fox and Marty Hurney agree.

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Joel in Endicott, N.Y., writes: You've said that Carolina wouldn't go after someone like Michael Vick or Brandon Marshall because of off-field questions. Bill Parcells was the one who got Marshall and he's all about character guys. At what point does Carolina put its pride aside and take a chance on someone who might not be the kind of guy they want but the kind of player they need?

Pat Yasinskas: Yep, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. As long as Jerry Richardson owns this franchise, the Panthers aren’t going after anyone with major off-field issues in their background. If you know anything about Richardson, you know that the man was deeply scarred by what happened with Rae Carruth and Kerry Collins in the early years of the Panthers. I’m not saying Richardson is right or wrong, but I’m just telling you his philosophy. Although some people might point at Steve Smith and say the Panthers have bent their rules for him, they haven’t bent them for anyone else. Also, I think Fox and Hurney believe strongly in that philosophy. A guy like Parcells might take a chance on a guy with issues because he has confidence that his organization might be able to keep things under control. Richardson doesn’t take chances like that.

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Cory in Knoxville, Tenn., writes: If you did this and I missed it please excuse me, but what do you think Carolina would do if they had their #17 pick?

Pat Yasinskas: Good question. That pick is in the hands of San Francisco after the Panthers dealt it last year to get Everette Brown in the second round. If Carolina still had this pick, I’m guessing they would go with a defensive lineman. I’d say either Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham or Penn State defensive tackle Jared Odrick.

Robbie in Murphy, N.C., writes: Originally the plan for RB Mike Goodson was to split him out as a slot receiver. He was a playmaker for Texas A&M and I would love to see him step up for us. He made some noise last year as a rookie in training camp but had a very limited role last year. I know that with Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, the kid is not going to see much action at RB. Can you find out if the Panthers are still planning on using him as a slot receiver?

Pat Yasinskas: We all know John Fox isn’t going to reveal anything about strategy before he has to, so we won’t really know until we see the Panthers in training camp. But I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Goodson get some time in the slot. I think we’re going to see more use of the slot receiver by the Carolina Panthers than we have in recent years. The Panthers are aware they need more production from receivers other than Steve Smith and using the slot guy more would be one way to achieve that.

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Ray in Norfolk, Va., writes: All the talk about Brandon Marshall being available for a trade; the Bucs have 11 picks in the draft. Couldn't they package something together for Marshall? One of our 2nd rounders and a future pick? A 2nd rounder and a 5th rounder and a future pick or player? I just don't hear anyone talking about the Bucs as an option that needs a receiver.

Pat Yasinskas: I think it’s painfully obvious the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need help at receiver. But, you are right that their name hasn’t come up in connection with any of the Marshall stuff. Maybe that will change as we get closer to the draft. But, so far, there are no indications the Bucs are interested. Why not? I can only guess that the cost (both salary and what they’d have to give up in a trade) is more than the Bucs want to give and they may be hesitant to take on the baggage that comes with Marshall.

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Micky in Leitchfield, Ky., writes: Love your coverage of the NFC South. I have a question- what is the deal with Atlanta pampering Jamaal Anderson? The guy has 2.5 sacks in three seasons and anyone else would have cut him long ago.

Pat Yasinskas: A very valid question. If the salary cap was in place this year, Anderson might be gone. But the uncapped season might be a big reason why the Atlanta Falcons are keeping around a former first-round pick that never really has produced. There still is talent there, but I don’t think the Falcons are counting on the light suddenly going on. In fact, I think there’s a chance they might be giving Anderson one last training camp to show something. If he doesn’t, he could be gone.

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Jane in Chapel Hill, N.C., writes: There was a lot of talk at the end of the season about the Saints losing Gregg Williams in the offseason. Is that still a threat?

Pat Yasinskas: Not right now. The talk was about Williams possibly getting a head coaching job. That didn’t happen, so it looks like he’ll be with the New Orleans Saints for at least another year.

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Nathan in Cary, N.C., writes: I see that there have been Panthers fans pulling for a switch to the 3-4, but I could not disagree more. First off, the defense was actually pretty good last year after they brought in Hollis Thomas, who is far from a stud DT. Secondly, their personnel is not geared for a 3-4. At all. Both Jon Beason and Thomas Davis - now the 2 best defensive players - are too small to play in a 3-4, and would not be able to separate well from offensive guards. Or gain 15-20 pounds. Most of their ends are way to small to play the 3-4 as an end, and Brown was ruled as too stiff to play the rush OLB in the 3-4 (he cannot drop into coverage, ever). I know the grass is always greener, but a switch to the 3-4 would be an absolute disaster for the Panthers.

Pat Yasinskas: I’m with you on that. It would be a disaster for all the reasons you state. Plus, why would anyone think John Fox, who is a total creature of habit, would make a dramatic move like this?

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Russell in Spartanburg, S.C., writes: Can you please give me some explanation as to why Carolina is so apparently disinterested in free agency when the team has so many obvious holes? It seems like every time a legitimate free agent appears on the radar it is reported that the Panthers are not interested. It’s frustrating. (Examples: DE Alex Brown, QB Jason Campbell, QB Derek Anderson, the list goes on).

Pat Yasinskas: This year, in particular, it’s money. Owner Jerry Richardson is very concerned about the labor uncertainty and he’s not giving out big contracts. But this course of action really isn’t anything new in Carolina. The Panthers didn’t sign a single unrestricted free agent last year. They haven’t been major players in free agency for quite some time. They’ve been a team that believes in building through the draft. Their last major plunge into free agency came the year they signed cornerback Ken Lucas and guard Mike Wahle. Those moves gave them a short-term boost, but neither player stayed with the Panthers for very long. Part of the reason for that was there were a lot of unhappy players in the locker room who wondered where their money was when Lucas and Wahle were getting so much.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- It has been very quiet as the NFL world arrives for the owners meeting. The official start comes Monday morning and we’ll bring you all the news and notes on the NFC South.

But, for the moment, let’s dip into the mailbag and see what’s on your mind.

Rudy in Arkansas writes: Assuming that Carolina has another disappointing season. Do you have any insights or thoughts about who they might chase as the next heir. I would like Bill Cowher, but everyone says he wants to go to NYG, other than Cowher is there anyone else who jumps out there?

Pat Yasinskas: How about John Fox? Yes, he doesn’t have a contract beyond next season, but he could go out and earn one. Say what you want about last year’s disappointing season and about the offseason moves. But Fox also has had plenty of success in the past. He could turn it around and assure himself of a very big contract. And let’s not even start thinking about the Cowher road again. I’ve never bought into the speculation that he wants the Carolina job or that the Panthers want him.

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Kareem in San Antonio, Texas, writes: Why don't the Tampa Bay Buccanneers make a strong play for Brandon Marshall? Marshall is at a nice peak of his career and I believe he will get better. He played college football at Central Florida and would be a huge asset to a team committed to staying young. Brandon Marshall would help Josh Freeman, not only develop his game but also maximize his potential. It makes sense, and a couple of draft picks is a small price to pay for such a huge reward.

Pat Yasinskas: Your points make sense and there could be huge rewards with Marshall. But there also are risks that come with him. He’s had some issues and isn’t exactly known as a team player. Yes, Marshall has big-time talent. But the Bucs are trying to build with a young team and I think they also consider things like team chemistry and how a guy might fit into their locker room when they think about moves like this.

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Will in Roswell, Ga., writes: I am a huge Falcons fans and lately one thing has REALLY been bothering me. Some fans have been talking about Brandon Marshall coming to the Falcons. Mike Smith, Arthur Blank, and Thomas Dimitroff all PREACH about how only high character guys get a shot on the Falcons and how we only build through the draft. So why would they trade a first rounder, give up even more cash, to sign someone who has had issues.

Pat Yasinskas: Sounds like you know the Falcons and how they operate. That’s precisely why I don’t think there’s any way the Falcons would pursue Marshall.

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Kevin in Glen Lyon, Pa., writes: I noticed Mel Kiper has the Falcons drafting C.J. Spiller at #19. WHY??? He's a great athlete, but it's no secret we need defense. Especially, pass rushers and LB's who can drop back and cover the pass. Who do you think we should draft at 19??

Pat Yasinskas: I agree that Atlanta’s needs are on defense. I’m going to throw a name at you that hasn’t really been linked to the Falcons: Penn State defensive tackle Jared Odrick. Coach Mike Smith was in State College the other day to watch Odrick work out. Yes, I’m the first to say don’t put too much stock into who goes to workouts and what teams visit with players. But, for the moment, I think Odrick’s at least on Atlanta’s radar. Could also see Atlanta going with a defensive end or outside linebacker.

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Matt in Streator, Ill., writes: Ok, I know you think the Bucs have a good plan, but I just don't see it. A 3 win team has way too many holes to just sit on your hands during free agency. I understand they have 10 draft picks but how often do more then 1 or 2 picks make significant impacts? To me it seems they are telling us we have to sit through another losing season before they can get better.

Pat Yasinskas: I don’t think I’ve said it’s a good plan. But it is the plan the Bucs are following. Ownership made that decision last year when it fired Jon Gruden and purged the roster of a bunch of older players. When you do that, you make a commitment and you don’t just give up on it in one year. Yeah, you could have another losing season ahead, but I think you’ll see improvement.

The final load of laundry is finishing up, the suitcase is partly packed and, soon, the NFC South Blog team bus will leave for Orlando and the NFL owners meeting. But as I waited for that laundry to finish, I took a quick look through the mailbag. Here you go.

Bobby in Burlington, NC writes: Keep feeding us these GREAT articles about the Cats!! First King Julius(a masterpiece) and then the one on our two-headed monster. Glad to know it's premium fuel they run on. Glad Marty Hurney and John Fox picked DeAngelo Williams over that idiot Lendale White. One prime example of excellent drafting. Too bad they don't make more decisions like this. DeAngelo defintely needs a raise though!!

Pat Yasinskas: Be patient. I think DeAngelo’s raise will be coming. The flip side of this purge is you could see guys like Williams, Jon Beason and Thomas Davis end up with long-term contracts. By the way, DeAngelo actually used the term “supreme’’ fuel.

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Chris in Harrisburg, PA writes: I have been reading how everyone is wondering why the Glazers aren't spending any money on UFA's and I am kind of sick of hearing fans bash the Front Office for not pursuing guys like Dunta Robinson, Brandon Marshall or Julius Peppers. Don't they know that they need to save money to resign some of their own key players like Tanard Jackson, Davin Joseph, Barrett Ruud, and yes maybe even Geno Hayes?

Pat Yasinskas: Chris, I’m with you -- to a large degree. It’s very easy to sit there and call the Glazers cheap. Too easy and too many fans just do that because they can. Now, there may be something to be said about their frugality, but I don’t think it’s fair or accurate to say it until you look at all angles. You’re making a good point about keeping some of their own players and I’m glad you did. As far as pointing to Manchester United and saying the soccer team is draining the football team, I think that’s a huge leap. If someone out there has actually seen the books -- and not just read a few stories about Manchester United’s debt -- and you know for sure the Bucs are cheap, then let me know. But don’t just speculate about it. In other words, if you want to talk, be able to back it up.

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Mookie in Snellville, GA writes: Pat, I know the chat is over. But I had to leave a comment to you on the 02' Bucs vs. 09' Saints. If my memory serves me correct, Aaron Brooks and the 02' Saints swept the 02' Bucs that year. Drew Brees and Co. woulda crushed them easily !!!

Pat Yasinskas: I promise, that will be factored in later this summer when we do our project on the best NFC South team ever and the best single-season team in the history of all four franchises.

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Nate in Palmer, Alaska writes: The Bucs depth at running back seems pretty good this upcoming season. It appeared last season Derrick Ward was supposed to be the man at RB for the Bucs Carnell Williams returned with such force and energy. As a long time Bucs fan, I think he was one of the very few highlights of our 2008/09 season and wouldn't mind seeing him get the starting nod this year. What are your thoughts on this?

Pat Yasinskas: Yes, Ward was brought in to be the starter and got big money. He never really produced like the Bucs had imagined. Williams did produce. He won the starting job last year and I don’t anticipate that changing.