The news just keeps getting worse for the Bucs when word was learned last night that Jermaine Phillips is out for the year with a broken thumb.

The Bucs, already razor-thin at safety, just got thinner with Phillips lost for the season.

But linebacker Geno Hayes has offered his services.

Speaking with the co-host of his weekly “Sports Journey” show heard weekly on WQYK-AM 1010, Tom Krasniki, Hayes offered his services at safety.

Joe caught up with Hayes after his show, broadcast live from Ferg’s in St. Petersburg, and got Hayes to elaborate.

Hayes, despite being one of the very few bright spots on the Bucs defense this season, is trying to be a good teammate and wants to help. He admitted to Joe that playing safety would be a learning experience.

“I’ve never played safety,” Hayes said. “Never, ever. But I think it would be an easy transition. I know what those guys are doing back there.”

Ironically, it was Phillips who the Bucs management tried to convert to linebacker before giving up the experiment and putting him back at safety.

Hayes admitted he has not been asked to play safety nor has anyone with the Bucs approached him about it. Yet.

Joe doesn’t believe this will happen. Hayes played well in the season-opener against Dallass and played lights out at Buffalo. Why weaken one of the few strengths on the defense to make it even more porous than it already is?

Joe always liked Geno. The fact he is offering to play a brand new position for the sole purpose of helping out his teammates makes Joe want to go out and buy Geno’s jersey.