3rd down snaps - It's a privilege, not a right...

Money earnedIt’s hard to believe, but there was a time very early in his career when Hall of Fame DT Warren Sapp was being pulled off the field on third down.The same could happen this year to DE Adrian Clayborn, DE Michael Johnson, or maybe even DT Gerald McCoy. So says Bucs defensive line coach Joe Cullen.Firing a bit of a warning shot across the bow of his charges, Cullen made it clear playing on third down is a privilege, not a right.“On third down, you want your best pass rushers on the field, and I’ve told the guys, ‘That’s earned — no matter who it is,’ ” Cullen said. “If that means an end goes inside and a nose tackle or an under tackle goes to the bench, then so be it. That’s the money down, and we have to get off the field there.’’The likelihood of McCoy or Johnson coming off the field on third down seems pretty slim. Cullen’s message likely was directed at the likes of nose tackles Clinton McDonald and Akeem Spence, because Cullen is not opposed to rushing three or even four defensive ends.“A lot of the ends are going to have to switch inside (on third down), including Michael Johnson, who rushed inside at times in Cincinnati,’’ Cullen said. “Everybody will have to be able to do it, too. And I (know) Clayborn can do it and Will (Gholston) and Da’Quan Bowers have done it, so we have some options there.’’