The Professor explains why it might be wise to root for the Saints

The creator, curator and Mr. Everything at the popular RaysIndex.com is not only the premier Tampa Bay Rays blogger/analyst/wiseass fan on the planet, but a hardcore Bucs fan.

Joe is honored to have The Professor, Cork Gaines, join him for a weekly feature at JoeBucsFan.com. His column delivers far more punch than any Andy Sonnenstine fastball.

The Professor is here to ask, and answer, the tough questions.

Everybody relax, I’m here. This is The Professor in the Pork Chop Express, and I’m talkin’ to whoever’s listenin’ out there…

FIRST QUARTER (a look back)
Earlier this week, Jim Bates became the second coordinator to lose his job with the Bucs this season. Unlike Jeff Jagodzinski, Bates is still employed by the Bucs…Why wasn’t Bates fired? 

Based on the initial 2-year deal the Bucs gave Raheem Morris to coach the defense and the 2-year deal the Bucs gave Jeff Jagodzinski to coach the offense, we can guess that Jim Bates also had a 2-year deal for $2.0-2.4 million. While the Bucs gave Jagodzinski $1 million to walk, Bates may be less inclined to accept anything less than the full amount of his deal. He is 63, and his last two D-coach gigs lasted a total of 26 games. Bates may realize that he is not getting another big-time coaching job, so this may be his last big payday. On the other hand, the Glazers are trying to embarrass Bates into quitting so that they don’t have to pay him. So now we have to wait and see which side blinks first…..MONEY

SECOND QUARTER (looking forward)
The Bucs are one of three teams at 1-9, and yet if the season ended today, tiebreakers would leave the Bucs with the 3rd pick in the draft…Is this a bad break?

A look at Mel Kiper’s latest draft board shows that the top 4 players that will be available are all on the defensive side of the ball. Certainly the Bucs have holes on D, but the Bucs also have a lot of holes and owners that may not want to pay the salary a top-3 pick will command. So trading out of their spot may be their first choice. The top pick can potentially command more in a trade. But it may be more difficult to move the top pick without a clear No. 1 and with so few teams wanting to pay No. 1 money. The Bucs may be better off at No. 3…NO

THIRD QUARTER (outside the pocket)
The Bucs are 1-9 and 3 games behind Carolina for not-last place in the South with 6 to go…What other game should Bucs fans pay close attention to this weekend?

Catching the Panthers is unlikely at this point. The tie-breaker for the NFL draft is strength of schedule with the team having the weaker SOS getting the earlier pick. So, if the No. 3 pick is indeed better than the No. 1 pick, the Bucs need all of the teams on their schedule to do well, especially within the division. Carolina is at a Jets squad that is sinking fast and, of course, Atlanta plays the Bucs. That leaves the Saints taking on the Pats on Monday night…NEW ENGLAND @ NEW ORLEANS

FOURTH QUARTER (no huddle)
There is some rumbling that Raheem Morris will be out after just one season as head coach…Does this seem likely?

The Morris signing always puzzled me because of the infatuation the Glazers have with big-name coaches. My guess is that the Bucs will send out some back-channel feelers to Bill Cowher and one or two others…ONLY IF A BIG NAME WANTS IN

Raheem Morris is now running a professional defense for the first time in his career…If he is out as head coach after the season, is there any chance he will be back next year as the Defensive Coordinator?

If Morris loses his Head Coach title, it will only be because a big-name coach is brought in. And any big-name coach is going to want to hand-pick his staff. I suppose that the new coach may want Morris as a D-Coach. And of course Morris does have 3 years left on a deal the Glazers may not want to buy out…LESS THAN 50%

Josh Freeman has had most of his success in the shotgun…Should the Bucs stick with the shotgun even if it hurts the running game?

Anybody that has raised a baby knows that early on you just do whatever it takes to keep the baby from crying, and then worry about the details later…GOOD GRIEF, I NEED TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE MORE OFTEN

Kellen Winslow is selling T-shirts to benefit The Kellen Winslow Foundation…Is it OK to make fun of the “Consistency” theme considering how the Bucs have played this year?

Want. To. Make. Joke. *Joe distracts Prof with pic of Nina Stauffer*…THAT WAS CLOSE

We have heard you pick a beverage for each game based on the matchup…What is the drink of choice for week 12 against the Falcons?

It seems like every week I get my hopes up only to end up with a bad taste in my mouth after the game. So why wait? Why not just spend the entire game with a bad taste in my mouth?...PORKSLAP PALE ALE