Something about this Bill Cowher dance that NFL insiders are playing doesn’t seem to sit right with Tom Balog of the Sarasota Herald-Review.

A Bucs beat writer for the same publication, he has witnessed and heard what has transpired in the past couple of days pertaining to Super Bowl-winning coach Cowher and Bucs incumbent coach Raheem the Dream.

Despite white smoke floating out of a chimney at One Buc Palace Monday evening suggesting Raheem the Dream will return for his second season as the Bucs head coach, Balog is not yet secure in the thought that Raheem the Dream will actually be on the Bucs sidelines this fall.

Joe will let Balog spell it out.

As the groundswell of community backlash grows, the Glazers may still be players in the Bill Cowher Sweepstakes, despite leading their sheep to believe that head coach Raheem Morris’ return is etched in stone.

Buccaneers co-chairman Joel Glazer’s vague, carefully crafted statement issued through the team on Monday night gave no concrete assurance to Morris. … There was nothing stated that Raheem Morris will definitely return as head coach. End of story. …

Glazer, who routinely avoids dealing with the media, will not agree to be interviewed, for clarification on this issue, or practically anything. … It was a morsel intended to solidify the assumption the Glazers created, maybe just for head-fake purposes.

This whole saga is starting to become the theatre of the absurd. Look, Joe is not a man of wealth or privilege. Joe doesn’t know intimately how the rich and famous work behind closed doors, never will.

Joe is a simple man with modest tastes and needs: He knows he likes a cold Caybrew and often lusts over Rachel Watson. But Joe does think he has a modicum of common sense.

So Joe will ask an open-ended question:

What the hell is the deal with this cloak and dagger routine? If Raheem the Dream is really, honestly coming back as the coach, will someone, anyone of authority from the Bucs just slap his name on a piece of paper and issue a one-sentence release?

Is this really that difficult of a task? If so, just pick up the phone and call a radio station and go on the air.

This is really starting to become crazy. Why does Adam Schefter, et al, need high-placed sources within One Buc Palace hiding in a closet or under their desk, whispering,”Yes, Raheem the Dream will return. Sssshhh, don’t use my name!”

Why be ashamed unless this is a smoke screen? At best, this just isn’t fair to Raheem the Dream.

If Raheem the Dream truly is the Bucs coach for 2010, in the immortal words of the late, great Sam Kinison, Joe pleads for someone from the Bucs hierarchy to do the following:

“Say it!

“SAY IT!”