Joe’s a little down after hearing word that guard Arron Sears won’t suit up this season or practice with the team, despite returning to the Bucs two weeks ago following his mysterious absence.

Sears knows much of the playbook — after all, a lot of it is Chucky’s — and he had plenty of weeks to get into at least preseason football shape.

Joe thought getting Sears on the field to a big ovation in the final game of the season in January would have been uplifting for Sears and let Mark Dominik and Co. see if he was up to getting smacked around in the trenches.

But the Bucs have placed Sears on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. He can do just about everything with the team except practice, reported the Bucs.

Considering the Bucs paying him, Joe’s not so sure this is the best thing for Sears and the team.  He’s a potentially critical piece of the puzzle for 2010 and beyond, especially considering the Bucs can’t run the ball this season worth a darn.

Wouldn’t it have been a positive for the whole organization to get him on the practice field?

Joe wishes Sears well.