Bucs rookie left tackle Donovan Smith and friend

Yes, training camp feels like an eternity away, but it’s really not.

Joe learned last night on SiriusXM NFL Radio that Tampa Bay rookies will report back to One Buc Palace for training camp on July 27, four days before the veterans.

Teams have flexibility to mandate rookies report early. Last year, Lovie Smith had rookies report three days before veterans. In 2013, Greg Schiano had the youngsters report a week early. Some teams bring everyone in on the same day.

One could argue that Lovie not taking every last available second to get Jameis Winston in early for training camp is a sign Jameis, aka America’s Quarterback, has a good mastery of the offense given him to date.

Speaking on SiriusXM NFL Radio last night with hosts Gil Brandt and Alex Marvez, live the NFL Rookie Symposium, Bucs rookie left tackle Donovan Smith said he was ordered by the Bucs officials to take two weeks of vacation at the conclusion minicamp last week.

That echoed the sentiment expressed by Lovie Smith in a recent video on Buccaneers.com, in which he said he advised players to get away from football completely but stay in decent shape while they do it.

Regardless, for Bucs rookies, summer break lasts just 32 more days. (Joe will have exciting stuff from Donovan Smith tomorrow morning.)