--Because they gave up two draft picks for TE Kellen Winslow, the Bucs felt good about locking up the 25-year-old with a six-year, $36 million contract, even though he had two years remaining on his current deal.
General manager Mark Dominik is confident Winslow's history of knee problems is not an issue. But you have to wonder what franchise WR Antonio Bryant and LB Barrett Ruud, who will become free agents after 2009, are thinking.
--No back-to-back games at Raymond James Stadium, four games in the first five weeks against NFC East opponents and a "home" game in London against the Patriots makes for a daunting schedule for the Bucs.
What did general manager Mark Dominik think about the 2009 schedule that was announced by the league Tuesday?
"I think no matter what, we play in a very tough division," Dominik said. "So once you have six games against those common opponents, knowing you're going to play against the AFC East and NFC East, however you put it on paper is going to be difficult. But we're looking forward to it. We're excited about opening the season at home and we'll take it from there.
"It's really hard to sit here today and judge what the schedule will be like."
--Starting LT Donald Penn took advantage of his best option Thursday, signing his restricted free agent tender that locks him into a one-year deal with the Bucs for $2.8 million.
Penn was the only unexplained absence in last week's voluntary minicamp in Tampa, but he said he and his representative felt opting out was the prudent move.
"My agent was in contact with a couple of teams, so it wasn't smart for me to go to minicamp without being under contract."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I told coach Bates it's his way of trying to get more draft picks out of us." -- GM Mark Dominik, on defensive coordinator Jim Bates wanting defensive tackles who can penetrate and bottle up the run.
