Tampa Bay Buccaneers Have Eyes Closed to the Blind Side

Last we checked, "The Plan" that was drawn up a while ago at One Buccaneer Palace called for your mighty Tampa Bay Buccaneers to go with a massive youth movement.

They want young—no matter if it's inexperienced. Young is good.

Donald Penn is young, he's also good. He's the guy who guards that famous blind side for another young guy, quarterback Josh Freeman.

Left tackle, the Blind Side. Someone please tell Buc General Manager Mark Dominik and the Three Amigos, those Glazer boys, to rent "The Blind Side", settle into their luxury, cushy chairs and watch the darn movie.

Left tackle—it's the second most important position in the NFL, second only to whoever's in the pocket trying to throw a football, ah yes, that would be the quarterback.

So here's your latest conundrum in Buccaneerland:

No one wants to give Donald Penn a contract.

Give Penn credit, he shot Dominik and the Glazer lads the middle finger when it was time to sign his restricted free agent tender that would play him something like $3.168 million to play this coming season.

His refusal will cost him about 100,000 dead presidents.

Is this anyway to treat a guy who should obviously be a prime piece of "The Plan?"

If there was anything positive about Raheem Morris' "Titanic" season last year, it was the play of Donald Penn. He was flat out good. Sorry, make that outstanding.

And he's young. Haven't we already said that?

The second real sign of Penn Protest comes next week when Raheem calls the fellas in for a little "mandatory" mini-camp.

Yep, show up and shut up. Show up or get fined, or even worse, the Glazers might make the missing players listen to six straight hours of vuvuzelas, you know, those annoying stadium horns that make World Cup soccer matches virtually unwatchable.

When Penn's not around, and he wasn't around for any of the OTAs, the Blind Side is protected by Demar "Too Tall" Dotson. He's a football neophyte, a converted basketball player.

Question is, do you REALLY want "Too Tall" on Josh Freeman's Blind Side?

If Penn really wants to make his point, he could sit out training camp, sit out the preseason and also sit out part of the regular season. He can come in later in the season and still get credit for the year and a step closer to unrestricted free agency.

Word keeps coming to Buccaneer fans that there are no money issues when it comes to spending for quality players.

Really?

If that's the case, then simply show Donald Penn some love.

If he's indeed part of "The Plan" shouldn't they just show him the money?