Tampa Bay Buccaneers Have to Get Going Quickly, Here's What They Must Do

Keep your fingers crossed, if things go as they should, the NFL lockout should end this week.

FOOTBALL!

Say it again—FOOTBALL!

The 2,000-pound gorilla in the room has been tamed, and that would be the distribution of money between players and ownership. And now, as Dallas owner Jerry Jones put it, they're simply circumcising mosquitoes.

Now, let's get down to business.

Your Buccaneers are scheduled to open training camp July 30. Why not open a week early?

That being said, here's a Bucs "to-do" list for your inspection.

1. Re-sign Davin Joseph and key unrestricted free agents: Joseph should be the priority, then decide what's going to happen with Barrett Ruud. Time's too short to drag that on and the position's too important to the defense.

2. Re-sign their other unrestricted free agents: Probably want to put Quincy Black on that list and see what Cadillac Williams has in mind. If someone wants to overpay him, then grab another running back. Probably got Jeremy Trueblood on that short list as well.

3. Sign undrafted free agents: The Bucs have been really good at this and it's something that can happen very quickly. In fact, this is perhaps the first thing they can get done. Do names like Preston Parker, Kareem Huggins, Demar Dotson and Derek Hardman ring a bell?

They were all undrafted free agents and the Bucs ability to recognize talent carries over strongly into this endeavor. Pay attention and you'll see this announcement come quickly once the lockout is "officially" over.

4. Sign the draft picks: This will be very important as this crop of rookie defenders will be expected to contribute big time. It's very important to get the two defensive ends—Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers and the linebacker, Mason Foster in yesterday. The rest will be easier, in fact, the new rookie salary cap should help the entire process.

5. Get the doors open: You'd think they'd simply get as many players in there the day after the lockout is officially over, especially veterans under contract who can watch film, lift weights, do some running and get this thing going.

Let's get the gang in there asap. No need to worry about vacations, heck, everyone from coaches to players has been on vacation long enough.

Fire the cannons!