Rookie G Davin Joseph knows he still has several steps left in his development into an NFL player

Davin Joseph's first on-field action as a professional football player was in a mini-camp populated solely by rookies and first-year players. A week after heading up the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2006 draft class, as the 23rd player chosen overall, Joseph suited up for a rookie mini-camp and started the long process of justifying his lofty selection.

A few weeks later, the veterans joined in and things took a turn for the intense. These were just "organized team activity" (OTA) workouts, completely voluntary and limited in scope and length by NFL rules, but Joseph, a thick and mobile offensive guard, still felt the difference. His veteran linemates ran plays and made adjustments as if they were second nature; on the other hand, he was still thinking his way through the Xs and Os in the playbook.

Several weeks of OTAs now under his belt, Joseph is about to experience the next step in the ramp-up to his first pro season. Call it a little taste of training camp, delivered a month early: Full-team mandatory mini-camp.

The only such camp of the Bucs' offseason, it is also the last three days of the overall 14-week training program that began in late March. Joseph joined in the process after that late-April draft and he can already see progress in his game. However, he's not yet ready to lump himself in with the established Buccaneer veterans.

"The transition from college to the pros is going very well for me," said Joseph. "I'm still learning, still learning right now. I can't quite call myself an NFL player yet because I don't feel like it, but I'm looking forward to the chance to play some ball and hopefully make this my home for the rest of my career."

Joseph has looked impressive on the practice field to this point. The 6-3, 311-pound plugger is concentrating on the two guard spots, though he is also capable of playing tackle, as he did during his entire senior season at Oklahoma. He is working hard on developing his own game, but is also taking notice of what appears to him to be a very productive offense in the making.

"We have a great group of guys here," said Joseph. "The challenge is big but I believe that if we continue to improve and the attitude stays the same and guys stay healthy, we'll be fine. I think we have a chance to play very well, and I'm looking forward to it."

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Demoff Named Senior Assistant

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers today announced that they have named Kevin Demoff senior assistant.

Demoff, who served as a consultant with the Buccaneers in 2005, will assist General Manager Bruce Allen in contract negotiations, salary cap management, scouting, strategic planning and salary cap forecasting.

From 2001-04, Demoff served as the Director of Football Operations for the Arena Football League's Los Angeles Avengers. In his last three seasons with the Avengers, the team finished 28-18, third-best in the AFL, including three consecutive playoff appearances.

Demoff graduated with a master's degree in business administration from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth in 2006. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in history from Dartmouth in 1999.

From 1999-03, Demoff served as an editorial consultant on The NFL Show on Fox Sports Net, helping write and edit show copy and providing detailed research for talent. From 1999-00, he was part of a team at Broadband Sports that helped design and develop the Dallas Cowboys' new web site.

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Proud Papa

Okay, this is a Father's Day present that Danielle Simms is never going to top.

On Sunday at 6:22 p.m. ET, Danielle gave birth to Sienna Rose, the first child for her and her husband, Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms. Sienna actually came a few days late, apparently holding out for the sake of good timing. That little bundle of joy – all seven pounds, 10 ounces and 19.75 inches of her – is the best Father's Day gift her proud daddy will ever receive.

Mother and daughter are both healthy and happy following Sunday's hard work. Sienna's dad will take a few breaks from doting over her in the coming days to participate in the Buccaneers' three-day mini-camp, which begins on Tuesday morning.