FAB 5. SR’s BUC SHOTS
• Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht opted not to sign veteran wide receiver Riley Cooper after his three-day try-out with the Buccaneers during the team’s rookie mini-camp, and it had nothing to do with the racist words he used at a country concert years ago when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles. Cooper wasn’t signed because he dropped a few too many passes – more than undrafted free agent out of Boise State, Thomas Sperbeck – and the Bucs really like their receiving corps, which added veteran DeSean Jackson and third-round draft pick Chris Godwin this offseason.

“We like our top three a lot,” Licht said. “We like the prospects of Godwin and what he can do. These guys, the fifth and sixth receivers on the depth chart – sixth if we keep that many – will have to play special teams. Right now I’d rather go the youth movement and see what we have here rather than add a veteran receiver because he’s going to come in and be a fifth or sixth receiver and have to play special teams. Some veterans just can’t or won’t do that.”

The top of Tampa Bay’s current depth chart features Pro Bowler Mike Evans, Jackson, slot receiver Adam Humphries and Godwin, which leaves just one or two more roster spots to fill. The remaining spot or spots will be filled after a fierce training camp and preseason battle between Sperbeck, Bobo Wilson, Derel Walker, Bernard Reedy, Freddie Martino, Donteea Dye and Josh Huff.

• Kudos to Licht and the Buccaneers for signing veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to compete with Ryan Griffin and Sean Renfree for the backup quarterback job, a position the experienced Fitzpatrick should win. It’s a move that we suggested Licht make in last week’s SR’s Fab 5 column.

Jess Pryles Hardcore Carnivore Black / Price: $12.99
Why we like it: This rub has charcoal as an active ingredient (food-grade activated charcoal made from coconut husks). That helps give the rub a smoky taste while maintaining the standard flavors of your usuals: salt, pepper, garlic, onion and chili. The rub has a great base that darkens meat so you’re not tempted to overcook it. Hardcore Carnivore Black has a versatile flavor that really can be used on a variety of meats, but it pairs flawlessly with steak.

Pick up some Jess Pryles Hardcore Carnivore Black at Just Grillin, which is located at 11743 N. Dale Mabry Hwy in Tampa, just 15 minutes north of Raymond James Stadium. Or shop online at JustGrillinFlorida.com

• During my interview with Licht for last week’s SR’s Fab 5, I asked him for his thoughts on Tampa Bay’s 2017 schedule.

“We love the fact that we have the bye week at the midpoint,” Licht said. “I’m not looking at the schedule and forecasting wins. It always goes the opposite it seems like if you try to get into that game. I do like the fact that we have a little mini-bye the week before we go out to Arizona this year so we have time to recover. We’re going to be playing in Green Bay in December, so that could be a cold game. We’re playing Buffalo late – not too late.

“We play both Super Bowl teams at home again for the second year in a row. They’re in primetime, which is great. You always wish for more primetime games. I thought we might have one more, though. But we don’t sit around and pick apart the schedule. It is what it is. We start at Miami and that’s what we’re focused on.”

• New Tampa Bay tight ends coach Ben Steele can relate to the fish-out-of-water feeling that Canadian football player Antony Auclair may face when he makes the leap to playing NFL football. Steele played tight end at Fort Lewis College and Mesa State before a seven-year career in the NFL with stops in San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle, Minnesota, Green Bay and Houston.

“I came from a small school,” Steele said. “We’re going to find football players wherever they are. It doesn’t matter if they are in Alabama. It doesn’t matter if they are in Canada or if they are at a D-III school where we drafted Ali Marpet. It just goes to show you that it has nothing to do with where you come from. It’s what you bring to the table athletically.

“The speed of the game is going to be a lot faster for Antony. There isn’t a guy on the field that isn’t good in the NFL, but it’s going to be the same thing for O.J. Howard in that regards.”

• Speaking of tight ends, you’ll have a chance to meet Tampa Bay’s Cameron Brate in two weeks. Father’s Day is Sunday, June 18 and the place to shop for your dad or granddad is International Diamond Center. Shop early on Saturday, June 3 at the International Diamond Center location at 10330 N. Dale Mabry Highway Suite 110 in Tampa and meet Brate, who will be signing FREE autographs from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. The Tampa IDC store is located just 10 minutes north of Raymond James Stadium on N. Dale Mabry.

In addition to shopping IDC’s collection of Frederique Constant’s mens watches or TAGHeuer for Father’s Day, get dad a FREE autograph from Brate for the occasion (limit 2 per person). No purchase is necessary.

Bucs DE Jacquies Smith – Photo by: Cliff Welch

• Bucs defensive line coach Jay Hayes is excited to get defensive end Jacquies Smith back from a torn ACL to help Tampa Bay’s pass rush. Ironically, Hayes’ son, who plays football at William & Mary, tore his ACL the day before Smith did, so they are on the same rehab schedule. Smith expects to be medically cleared for action in late July when training camp starts.

But Smith isn’t the only defensive end that Hayes is thrilled to see back in a Bucs jersey this fall. He was also excited that Will Gholston opted to remain in Tampa Bay during free agency, signing a five-year contract worth $13.5 million this offseason. Gholston is coming off back-to-back years where he has recorded three sacks, and Hayes hopes he can continue to improve his pass rush.

“I’ve had big, tall ends like him that were sack guys – [Carlos] Dunlap, Michael Johnson and those guys,” Hayes said. “He’s not their type of athlete, really. But he is a great run defender and he has great heart. He is as tough a man as you’ll see when it comes to playing against tight ends and tackles. He’s big, he’s physical and he’ll hit you. He doesn’t care about [being hit]. ‘You’re going to hit me? Well, I’ll hit you harder.’ That’s Will.

“He’s working at it. I can see him being a five-six [sack] guy, and that would be great. That would be awesome. But to say he’s going to be a 10-sack guy I think that’s unrealistic for him and us.”

• Thank you very much for the great comments about last week’s SR’s Fab 5 column featuring Bucs general manager Jason Licht. That was one of the most widely read SR’s Fab 5 columns and I’m glad you enjoyed it. While I read your comments, I didn’t have the time to reply to some of your comments, but I will by this weekend.

• I also wanted to thank you, Pewter Nation, for helping the @PewterReport Twitter account surpass 25,000 followers! If you want to stay current on the latest Bucs news, observations from the PewterReport.com staff, reports from Bucs press conferences and notifications of the latest PewterReport.com stories, I encourage you to join the other members of Pewter Nation and follow @PewterReport and help us continue to grow our following on Twitter. And if you are on Facebook, please follow our Facebook page by clicking here.

• And finally, if you are ever in an accident or are hurt due to someone else’s negligence, there’s only one person to call – attorney Jim Holliday of the Holliday Karatinos Law Firm, which is the official personal injury law firm of PewterReport.com. I’ve known Holliday for years and he’s a personal friend of mine. He’s an incredibly knowledgeable, personable attorney and I highly recommend him. He’s a big Bucs fan, too. Check out the video below for more information on his practice. Call Holliday for a free consultation at (813) 868-1887 or visit the Holliday Karatinos Law Firm on the web at HelpingInjuredPeople.com