Bucs general manager Mark Dominik once again had to defend himself from the Tampa Bay media wolves yesterday.

Yesterday, Bucs general manager Mark Dominik decided to entertain the Bucs press corps hanging out in Mouseland for the NFL owners meetings. Naturally, Dominik was peppered with the same questions fans have peppered Joe with over the past few months.

Among many issues, Dominik claimed the current course of the Bucs is his alone, with the blessing of Team Glazer, of course. 

Dominik had to go on the defensive and singled out his trade and signing last year of tight end Kellen Winslow as a controversial move that actually panned out, so reports Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.

Dominik said the Bucs hope to re-sign defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson and linebacker Angelo Crowell, and argued that even their recent history suggests they have often been big spenders.

“The same team last year used a second-round pick to trade for Kellen Winslow, and we gave Kellen a (six-year, $36.1 million) contract that made him the highest-paid tight end in the history of the league,” Dominik said.

“A lot of people questioned that, and I understand that, but then he goes out and catches 77 balls, which sets a franchise record for tight ends, and so I’m glad we did that deal.”

That’s a very valid point by Dominik but Joe believes those numbers are inflated, if not masking a hideous hole on the Bucs.

If the Bucs’ troika of quarterbacks last season had any decent wide receivers to throw to, would Winslow have had 77 catches? As Joe documented just last weekend, Winslow’s catches were over twice as many as anyone currently on the Bucs roster (rookie Sammie Stroughter had 32).

Just the fact that a tight end, any tight end, had more than double the number of catches of any wide receiver currently on the roster is frightening.

If Antonio Bryant had been healthy would Winslow have had 77 catches?

If blocking icon Michael Clayton could catch a ball — and had not been dinged with injuries —  would Winslow have had 77 catches?

If Mo Stovall was more than a stud special teams player would Winslow have had 77 catches?

If Sammie Stroughter wasn’t a rookie and injured late in the season would Winslow have had 77 catches?

Of course not.

And there’s nothing to suggest the Bucs receiving corps will be any better this season than last, but of course Joe can always hope.

Speaking of hope, if Joe can be so bold as to offer Dominik — who Joe believes he has been fair with — a small tidbit of advice:

Hey Mark, do yourself a favor: Would ya’ forget Angelo Crowell, huh?