Doug Martin, who the Buccaneers drafted in the first round of April's NFL Draft, is ready to compete for Tampa Bay's starting job. LeGarrette Blount is currently listed as the team's starting running back. "They are competing right now, that's probably the best thing they can do," said running back Earnest Byner. "Each guy is trying to stake a claim on what he can do to help this football team and what he can do to make us all better."

A felony charge against Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib was dropped by Dallas County prosecutors Monday, his attorney Frank Perez said. Talib was set to stand trial on June 25 on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay's third-year defensive tackle, says new coach Greg Schiano has already taught him a lot. McCoy said he was never really shown proper tackling technique until he started working for Schiano. "We do a tackling circuit before every practice, and I've never done anything like that before," McCoy said. "I realize now that, before, I was just playing football. Now, I'm really learning how to tackle and I think it's going to help me a lot."

Kellen Winslow admitted that he chafed under the exacting style of rookie Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano. The Seahawks tight end admitted unhappiness over the departure of former coach Raheem Morris led Tampa Bay to trade him last month. Winslow was traded to Seattle for a sixth- or seventh-round draft choice in 2013. "Schiano came over there and he (yelled), 'Toes on the line! Toes on the line!' Blowing the whistle. You can't laugh. You can't joke around. So, I decided not to go to OTAs," Winslow said. "They got my man Rah (Raheem Morris) up out of there, and I was loyal to him. I would take a bullet for that dude. So, I had to roll, man."

One of the reasons Dallas Clark signed with the Buccaneers was because he would have the chance to be one of the team's veteran leaders. "That's the part that I recognize and something I haven't been a part of," Clark said. "My whole career I've been part of a veteran-based team. It kind of excited me to be that leader and that role player on a team, a team that is full of young talent that can flat play ball. It's been exciting to get out here in practices and learning the system and getting to know these guys. It's a lot of fun. It's an exciting and energetic environment."

The Buccaneers have signed first-round pick Doug Martin to a five-year contract. The Boise State running back was the 31st selection in the draft. Martin rushed for 3,431 yards and 43 touchdowns while averaging more than five yards per carry. He also had 67 receptions for 715 yards and four scores.