TAMPA - Going into free agency, the rumblings coming from One Buc Place suggested the Bucs would turn their attention, and most of their money, to the offensive side of the ball.
And since the market opened Wednesday, the Bucs have signed offensive linemen Derrick Deese and Matt Stinchcomb, tight ends Rickey Dudley and Dave Moore and fullback Greg Comella.
They want to sign Ravens right tackle Orlando Brown, have taken a long look at running backs Duce Staley (Eagles), Garrison Hearst (49ers) and Jamel White, released by the Browns on Friday.
For good measure, the Bucs also brought in Redskins receiver Patrick Johnson for a visit and attempted to work a trade for Cowboys receiver Joey Galloway.
See a pattern?
Of course, little will be figured out until training camp, but what is happening on the offensive line is intriguing. The acquisition of Deese and Stinchcomb and the pursuit of Brown could mean the Bucs will have three new starters on the line.
FAMILIAR FOOTING: Aside from the fact Deese has not given up a sack in 35 consecutive games, the Bucs had another reason to pursue him once he was released by the 49ers on Feb. 27. Deese has played his entire career with the 49ers and is very familiar with the West Coast offense, the foundation of coach Jon Gruden's system.
"The system is going to be one that I'm familiar with," Deese said. "I played in it with the 49ers, and it's probably a little better here because Gruden is such an offensive genius that it's not even funny. Some of the things we talked about in our meetings already I have been impressed with. So ... I'm ready to go."
OOPS, WRONG NAME: One of the more comical stories that surfaced during the first week of free agency came from a list put out by the NFL Players Association.
To help members of the media track the movement of players, the NFLPA provides a list of every player and his agent. According to the list, Staley was being represented by William "Tank" Black, the South Carolina-based agent now serving a five-year sentence in federal prison for swindling millions from NFL players he represented. Staley was among those victimized by Black.
In the first few hours of activity Wednesday morning, the NFLPA's office was bombarded by media calls pointing out the mistake.
As it turns out, Staley's agent is Leigh Steinberg.
"Isn't Tank Black in jail?" Steinberg said. "I think those negotiations would have been limited to three-minute conversations."
SON KNOWS BEST: After the Bucs inquired about bringing back Moore, the tight end said he was talking the decision over with his wife when 4-year-old son Jake came over and offered his opinion.
"He walked up and said, "Dad, you have to play for the Buccaneers,' " said Moore, who keeps his offseason home in St. Petersburg. "That was pretty much the decision right there."
Moore's arrival jeopardizes the chances of long snapper Ryan Benjamin remaining with the team. Moore can long snap in addition to play tight end. BACK TO AFRICA: Left tackle Roman Oben, who was born in Cameroon, West Africa, is returning to his native land Thursday on a charitable trip. Oben, who migrated to the United States when he was 5, will visit two elementary schools. He will provide textbooks and pay the school fees for the 65 children enrolled.
Oben also will visit a handicapped and orphanage center, where he plans to donate funds for the completion of a dormitory.
"With free agency, getting married, starting a family, every year, it gets harder to get back," said Oben, who last visited in 1997. "But I always want to go back. It means a lot to me and to my people."
