So, Bruce Allen seemed pretty proud of the fact the Bucs have cleared lots of salary cap space, with the release of Simeon Rice leaving the team with more than $15-million in cap room, according to Allen.

Here's the thing: it's nice to have the money, but what's the point? Free agency is, um, all but over. The cupboard is bare because just about anyone who is on the market is available because they either have a major issue or just aren't very good.

So, as we're sitting here taking in the afternoon practice, we were just wondering what all the fuss was about. Even if the Bucs want Daunte Culpepper, his market value is so low that the Bucs had plenty of room to sign him even before releasing Rice.

Now, to be fair, the move to release Rice probably had more to do with principle than an actual need to create cap space. The Bucs, whether you agree or not, didn't want to invest $7.25-million this season in a player who is not yet healthy and one who didn't always see eye-to-eye with the team's braintrust.

And here's something else to consider: maybe the Glazer family is keeping a tighter grip on their wallets. They do, after all, have some considerable expenses across the pond, with Manchester United, the English soccer club they own. And remember, the Bucs spent very conservatively in free agency despite having oodles of cap space. Fact is, it's not like an NFL team to leave a considerable amount of cap space on the table, so this is a little strange.

But who knows? Maybe Peyton Manning will get cut and the Bucs will be the only team with the cap room to sign him!

(Pictured: Brian Kelly, Ronde Barber and their teammates take a break during Friday's practice. Times photo - Brendan Fitterer. Click to enlarge.)