LAKE BUENA VISTA — There he was, the big deal, mostly standing around, hands on hips or gripping blocking pads.

A dozen hours after joining the Bucs on Thursday night, Tampa Bay rookie right guard and top pick Davin Joseph spent most of Friday morning's first training camp workout at Disney's Wide World of Sports waiting in lines.

That's not a position with which the versatile Joseph felt comfortable after starting three full seasons at Oklahoma University.

"I haven't (been mostly idle during practice) in a long time, but there won't be too much standing around," said the personable 6-foot-3, 316-pounder.

Sunday morning, Joseph finally made an impact as the Bucs slapped on the pads for the first time. Joseph (taken in the first round, 23rd overall) was in the middle of much of it, generally working with the second team, trading shoves and plowing forward the best he could. Unlike the first day of workouts, he didn't rip his helmet off after each drill, but sweat dripped from his stubbled chin and his red No. 75 jersey was streaked with grass stains afterward.

Welcome to the NFL, Davin Joseph.

"Very physical. It surprised me," Joseph said. "The old cats — and I call them old, but they can still move — they came out focused today.

"It's all a new experience for me. But, yeah, today was like my first official practice — full pads, knee braces, full contact and everything.

"It was pretty cool."

Signing day

Joseph was almost the last to sign, beating receiver Maurice Stovall by a couple of hours Thursday night.

By Thursday morning, he had been packed and waiting in his new Tampa home and Joseph prodded his agent to seal the deal.

"We were at an understanding that it was very important for me to be in camp on time, and we got it done," Joseph said.

"It's very important, being able to come out here with these guys and catch up. You know everyone is coming off their little break and you want to be able to come in here after your break and be in stride with everybody else."

Joseph made it in around 8:30, in time for the tail end of the first team meeting.

Before that, of course, he got a close look at his five-year contract, which reportedly will pay him $10 million.

"More zeroes than I expected," said Joseph, laughing. "It doesn't really hit you until you see the contract.

"I'm very happy."

Bucs coach Jon Gruden — who is intent on putting together a bigger, stronger, dominating line — chided Joseph from afar Thursday afternoon before the signing. But a relieved Gruden was thrilled to have him for Friday morning's first workout.

"He's a quick study, he's a very athletic guy," Gruden said. "He's got some size and some unique traits that we need around here."

Ship shape

A Hallandale native, Joseph hasn't struggled under the brutal Florida sun as much as, say, fellow rookie offensive lineman Jeremy Trueblood of Indianapolis.

But the heat is on and Joseph — who wears a black skullcap over his dreadlocks — understands he can't afford to chill for a minute.

"I might have what it takes talent-wise, but hard work-wise I still have to prove myself," he said. "If I don't work hard, if I don't stay on my books, if I don't stay in shape, it'll be taken away overnight."

Joseph mostly did cardiovascular work in preparation for camp.

"Keeping my body within striking distance," Joseph said. "Trying to stay physical without beating myself up."

He melted about a dozen pounds since the draft to get to 316. He intends to drop more.

"I'm in good shape," Joseph said. "Right now, I'm feeling good."

For starters

Should Joseph make a splash, the ripples will be felt all across the offensive line, although the unit returns intact after starting every game together last season.

Gruden already is working in starting right guard Sean Mahan at center to battle John Wade, which allows him more time to watch Joseph and third-year man Jeb Terry at right guard.

"With Joseph's arrival, we're going to increase the competition at center, obviously, and it will allow us to look at a little more Jeb Terry, a little more Davin Joseph," Gruden said.

Joseph knows what he's up against.

"First of all, it's a very competitive line, very complete from tackle to tackle," Joseph said. "It's going to be hard. Dealing with the heat, staying in shape, going ahead and learning, making the small corrections ... not even counting the talent on the line, it's going to be a very hard task to be a starter this year."

A sociology major at OU, Joseph already seems to be grasping the Bucs' system.

"I'm getting a lot better," he said. "Each day is a better day. Right now I'm feeling comfortable enough to contribute a lot."

Said Gruden: "If he doesn't (have a good idea of the offensive workings), we obviously have drafted the wrong guy. He's worked his butt off. (Assistant offensive line coach) Aaron Kromer and (offensive line coach) Bill Muir have tag-teamed him and Trueblood. He's going to be an excellent player.

"When that is, I don't know."

Despite the fact that he could jump ahead of several of his teammates, Joseph said he has been welcomed by the Bucs' offensive linemen.

"Oh, they're good guys," he said. "The guys around here are like a family, more than just a team. The guys have embraced me and Trueblood really well."

Even though the competition might be friendly, Joseph intends to win it, starting at some point this season.

"Oh, yeah — that's my goal," he said.

"I didn't come here to sit around."

•••

Buccaneers training camp

• WHERE: Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, 800 Victory Way, Lake Buena Vista (approximately 15 miles SW of Orlando)

• DIRECTIONS: Take I-75 North to

I-4 East toward Orlando. Take Exit 62 (World Drive). Take the exit for Wide World of Sports/Osceola Parkway. Continue to the first traffic light and take a right onto Victory Way. Continue to complex.

• WHEN: Today through Aug. 17. Most days will include two, two-hour sessions — beginning at 8:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. Schedule is subject to change on a daily basis. For daily practice session updates, go to: www.buccanneers.com

• ADMISSION/PARKING: Free