Jace Daniels, an offensive lineman out of small Northern Michigan University, is one of several undrafted rookies who will earn a deal with the Bucs according to Stephen Holder of the Tampa Bay Times.

Go HERE for the full post by Holder from Sunday night. Daniels tweeted the news Saturday afternoon. If true he would be a part of the 90-man roster for training camp.

Daniels is 6-4, 300 pound and played left tackle for NMU earning first-team all conference mention as a senior.

By Tom Krasniqi

Being a draft pick doesn’t necessarily guarantee you a roster spot in the NFL.  Remember wideout Dexter Jackson, who was taken in the second round by the Buccaneers a few years back?  It’s very rare that a tryout player gets a contract to go to training camp.  Very long odds indeed.

That’s the uphill climb facing the 57 tryout players at this weekend’s Bucs rookie minicamp, which is wrapping up here at One Buc Place.  “Overall, really good effort.  Great attitude, a fun group of guys to be around”, says Schiano.  “Now, there’s some tough decisions to make and we’ll make them, then get back to work on Monday”.

The Bucs will have to make those decisions on who to keep in the next 24 hours.  Some players did stand out more than others.  Between draft picks, undrafted free agents and tryout players, there were 80 players on the field this weekend at the rookie minicamp.  Remember, the Bucs signed 13 tryout players after last year’s rookie minicamp so there’s always hope.

News & Notes:

• Undrafted free agent CB Deveron Carr has stood out so far.  Carr has good size (6-0,190lbs) and speed (4.36 in 40).  “He’s long.  He can run well.  Plays press coverage very well.  We need to work on him with his zone technique and some off stuff.  Real nice prospect to work with”, says Schiano after Saturday’s practice.
• Carr says about 5 teams were bidding for his services when he chose to sign the Bucs, who gave him a reported $20,000 bonus to sign.  That’s a large sum of money for an undrafted free agent but the Bucs really like his skill set.
• Schiano says he’s always been a fan of former USF TE Evan Landi, whom Schiano coached against from his Big East days: “He’s gonna get a shot”.  Maybe he earns the right to return?  He did make some plays during the weekend and the Bucs could use another tight end.  The Bucs signed Landi as an undrafted free agent after the draft. 
• Schiano was pleased with the play of DT Akeem Spence, one of the team’s 4^th round selections.  Spence is known as a strong guy who can be a run-stuffer but he also flashed some ability in the pass rush drills and Schiano liked what he saw: “Akeem certainly did some nice things.  I’m really excited to coach him”.
• The other 4^th round pick, DE William Gholston, also flashed in pass rushing drill.  In fact, he literally sacked one of the members of the team’s coaching staff which drew some chuckles from those in attendance. 
• Former Plant HS quarterback Robert Marve is one of 57 tryout players this weekend.  He had a crazy college career, which included 3 torn ACLs.  Marve believed he helped himself during the rookie minicamp: “It’s a blessing to be here.  I had a lot of fun.  I thought I played very well”. 
• Random observations about some tryout players: DE/LB Marvin Booker from Rutgers showed an explosive first step off the edge and consistently got around his man in pass rush drills.  DT Andre Neblett from Temple also flashed some ability and G Jeremy Lewis from the University of Miami did a nice job in pass protection.  The team is focused on finding offensive and defensive linemen because it’s hard to find those guys during the season.  Booker, Neblett and Lewis certainly made good cases for themselves over the weekend. 

By Tom Krasniqi

There were draft picks out there.  Undrafted free agents too.  And 57 players trying out for the Buccaneers this weekend during their rookie minicamp which kicked off today at One Buc Place.

After practice, head coach Greg Schiano was pleased with what he saw from this group of rookies.  “Good start”, says Schiano.  “Bunch of good kids that are trying their guts out.  We’ll see how this thing unfolds tomorrow.  They’re a little tired I think”.

Schiano says it’s too soon to evaluate who’s standing out.  “The thing that’s impressive is the way these kids came in last night.  Very on point, everyone on time….Today, I think the level of this tryout camp is considerably higher than even last year”, says Schiano.  The 2nd year coach says the draft picks and undrafted free agents are doing good work out there both on the field and in the classroom.

The team will practice again on Saturday as Schiano and GM Mark Dominik will try and determine which tryout players deserve a closer look.  There is hope for one of these guys.  Last year, tight end Danny Noble was a tryout player and not only did he get to training camp, he also made the final 53-man roster.

News & Notes:

• QB Mike Glennon looked impressive throwing the football.  He has a smooth delivery and throws it with velocity and touch.  He made a number of impressive throws down the seam to tight ends, one in particular to Evan Landi of USF.  Glennon says his top priority right now is learning the playbook.
• Glennon says he had a great time with former Bucs head coach Jon Gruden during the Gruden’s QB Camp special on ESPN.  Glennon says he spent 5 hours with Gruden and the experience was beneficial. 
• Schiano says he expects some of these draft picks to be major contributors: “I think there are some guys from this draft class that can be in the starting units”.
• 2^nd round pick CB Johnthan Banks says he met Darrelle Revis for the first time on Thursday and Revis texted him the night he was drafted.  Banks says that “made me feel good and welcomed”.
• Schiano says some members of his coaching staff will visit the Patriots next week to go over some things.  The Bucs and Patriots are expected to practiced again this summer during training camp.
• RB Mike James was a 6^th round pick but he feels like he belongs in the NFL.  “I would say I do.  Just because how hard I work and what I’m willing to help this team do.  Not from a talent standpoint, the talent can only get you so far.  Taking up my work ethic and how I’m a team player, how bad I want to help this Buccaneers organization”.

From the large auditorium reserved for special occasions at One Buccaneer Place, Bryan Glazer announced that the first draft pick his family selected would be entering the Bucs' Ring of Honor. 

The Glazer family and Warren Sapp without question have a special connection. Not only was he their first pick (12th overall in the 1995 NFL Draft), but he also represents the "new" versus the "old."

In 1995 when the Glazers bought the franchise from Hugh Culverhouse, Jr. for $192 million, it was found that the team was close to bankruptcy. The Glazers worked tirelessly to build not only a successful team off the field, but on the field as well. 

Sapp represents that commitment and gave the Bucs defense, which would go on to be one of the most iconic in the modern era, a face and an identity.

The Glazers allowed the Plymouth, Florida native to showcase his larger-than-life personality, and Sapp repaid them with 77 sacks; the first coming in his first game in an NFL game.

Sapp and the Glazers remain close to this day, despite Tampa Bay not re-signing him following the 2003 season.

"A good one," Sapp said in response to what kind of relationship he and the Glazers have. "I call Ed [Glazer] when I go out West to the job out in California, I check up with him, he's always up in the hills hiding. And then whenever I come down, Bryan and them - Bryan was just talking, 'you go to Polo [International Polo Club Palm Beach] that much?' because I have a couple friends down in Wellington, I'm like, 'yeah, I'm right around the corner from you, boss, three or four weekends a year' he said, 'I never knew that, you need to call me,' and I'm like, 'ok, no problem.' Sapp laughed.

"It's just one of those owner-player relationships that grows as you become an older, wiser guy, because I was a nut when I played here." Said said.

Both a blessing and a curse, that "nutty" personality often found Sapp at odds with fans and even some media outlets as his nine years in Tampa came to an end. The charismatic Sapp would eventually become part of the media, joining the NFL Network after the final four seasons in Oakland came to a close. 

Mostly, Sapp's personality stemmed from a man who loved what he did. Growing up in Plymouth without air conditioning or cable TV made Sapp want to play in the NFL his main goal.

During an entertaining interview on WDAE Friday morning, Sapp joked with former teammate Ian Beckles and Ron Diaz how he would teach Manti Te'o how to use Skype if he was on a team with him.

Sapp was an outspoken and passionate leader when he wore the pewter and red, and that passion for the Bucs hasn't left.

The 1999 Defensive Player of the Year told Diaz he'd like to know where the video of the current Buccaneer players hanging out "when they're not in OTAs, not a time when [head coach Greg] Schiano is making them come here," is and added, "Tampa is a great place, we used to go fishing the mangroves, jet skiing, go to Shepherd's on Sundays.

"We grew this city from a pea and now it's a full-grown blossoming mango tree and nobody wants to pick fruit off of it. Where are the players?"

Sapp played at a time when the organization was being redefined, and now, forever, his name and his number will be a reminder that he was one of the key pieces of the Bucs' rebirth.