Buccaneers Gab

There’s still one name free agent defensive player on the market, and that is long-time Buccaneer linebacker Derrick Brooks. His name has not been mentioned by a lot of teams as of late, even though Brooks has been rather outspoken about wanting to play in 2009.

The Tampa Tribune Blog today had some interesting comments about Brooks still looking for work, and Brooks himself continues to tell anyone that will listen that he plans on continuing his playing career this season with someone:

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Derrick Brooks expressed he still can play football in the NFL today this season during an interview on ESPN Radio St. Louis. Brooks spoke with former teammate and NFL player D’Marco Farr on Wednesday about his carrer, the former rivalry Tampa Bay had with the Rams, and what his future might be. On what he can still offer a team at this point in his career:

“A lot. Like I said, four years ago we did an extension and I was committed to playing fifteen years. Back then, hopefully all of them would have been in Tampa but like I said, that’s a milestone that me personally, I committed years ago to make. And like I said, there’s enough interest out there from teams to keep the fire burning. So I’ll continue to stay in shape and we’ll see what happens.”

Brooks is one of a handful of higher profile vets like he, Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James that remain out of work and looking for a team.

The Bucs are not exactly breaking the bank on spending this offseason, and GM Mark Dominik took that to task in the Tampa Tribune, saying that the team is spending wisely:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik believes his team has spent its money wisely over the past five years. The Bucs have spent the least amount of money on player costs between 2004 and 2008 than any other NFL team, according to a recent article on NFL.com. Despite the frugal spending, Dominik insists he has never been ordered by the Glazers, who spent over $1.5 billion to acquire Manchester United in 2005, not to spend money on free agents.

“It’s never been stated like that, nor have I been under that impression my last six or seven months on the job, or the years prior as director of pro [personnel],” Dominik said. “It’s been, ‘Lets spend our money smart.’

The big talk in Tampa Bay right now is still the QB spot, and if rookie Josh Freeman is going to do enough to impress the coaches into giving him the starting job from day one. General manager Mark Dominik spoke out about Freeman in the St.Petersburg Times, giving his own take on the QB spot and Freeman.

“The ultimate goal is to let Josh Freeman sit back and learn,” Dominik said Saturday.

So with that, the GM and coaches appear to be on somewhat different wave lengths, as the coaches to this point seem to feel that it’s not a problem to throw Freeman into the fire from day one. Now it will be interesting to see if Dominik’s words have any impact on how the QB derby shapes up in training camp.

“I still think he’s a 21-year-old quarterback who came out as a true junior,” Dominik said of Freeman. “You’d like for him to grow and mature into his role and not be forced into it.”

From: Pro Football Weekly

Buccaneers MLB Barrett Ruud reported to the team’s mandatory minicamp last week after skipping all of the voluntary OTAs, but he could be absent again when training camp begins July 31.

Ruud stayed away during the voluntary sessions to try to ramp up negotiations for a new contract. His attempt was unsuccessful, as no progress on a deal has been made between his representatives and GM Mark Dominik, and Ruud told reporters at minicamp that he isn’t committed to reporting to training camp on time if negotiations aren’t moving in the direction he desires at that point.

The fifth-year veteran has one year left on his current deal, which will pay him close to $1.6 million in 2009, but under the new rules that will be implemented if the league goes to an uncapped year in ’10, Ruud will be a restricted free agent next offseason. Tampa Bay will be able to match any offer a team makes for Ruud or accept draft picks as compensation.

The Bucs still seem to be in favor of giving rookie Josh Freeman every shot of winning the starting QB job over vets Byron Leftwich and Josh McCown. The one problem with that is Freeman is unsigned, and if he knows he’s going to be the starter, that very well could up his price when it comes to getting him a deal.

Bucs QB coach Greg Olson says that he has no issues with giving Freeman every shot to be the starter come opening day. “If he can show he’s progressing as far as the decision­making goes, then shoot, why not?” Olson said when the subject of Freeman starting as a rookie was broached. ”He’s comfortable in there. He throws a great ball. He’s accurate, and if he’s not turning the ball over, then gosh, maybe he will be ready to play.”

One has to also wonder how that is going to effect Leftwich and McCown, two players that eyed the starting job. Leftwich came to Tampa from Pittsburgh with every intention of getting the starting job, but he may have to play second fiddle to the rookie if Freeman continues to make the fast track towards starting.

The big thing now is getting Freeman signed. If your his agent, Ken Kremer, dollar signs must pop in your head when you hear Olson make comments like he made. For Freeman, it’s about staying on track and being a good learner in camp - that is if he’s even there.

The Buccaneers today reached contract agreements with two more draft picks, signing fourth-round selection Kyle Moore and seventh-rounder E.J. Biggers to four-year deals. Moore is being counted on to add depth at defensive end after leading Southern California with five sacks last season. Biggers is a cornerback who had seven interceptions for Western Michigan. The deals Tuesday leave the Bucs with two unsigned draft picks— first-rounder Josh Freeman and third-rounder Roy Miller.

PewterReport.com reports that the Bucs will go throwback for their game vs the Pack on November 8th:

Although there has been no official announcement from the team regarding which home game will see the Buccaneers donning their old orange and white Bucco Bruce uniforms, PewterReport.com has learned that Tampa Bay is targeting the Green Bay contest on Nov. 8 as a throwback game. The team will abandon its red and pewter uniforms in favor of the old orange and white uniforms that were worn from 1976-96. The Packers game makes the most sense because of the famed “Battle of the Bays” series that took place between the two teams from 1977-2001 when the Bucs were in the NFC Central division.

The St.Petersburg Times reports that the Bucs have inked 7th round pick WR Sammie Strougher:

The Buccaneers have signed seventh-round pick Sammie Strougher to a four-year contract, bringing the team one step closer to locking up its 2009 draft class. Stroughter, from Oregon State, has drawn praise from coaches for his aptitude in quickly learning the offense and his ability to contribute immediately. To that end, the former first team All-Pac 10 selection received a contract that includes some escalators in its final year, giving him the ability to cash in if his contributions are what the team hopes they will be. “We’re very happy with what he’s doing,” offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said earlier this week. “He was coming along and doing some things that we drafted him for.”

The St.Petersburg Times reports that there is a lot of buzz about the Bucs turning to rookie Josh Freeman right away as the possible starting QB for the club in 2009:

Start the play clock for quarterback Josh Freeman. The Bucs are re-evaluating the plans for their first-round pick and will consider starting Freeman if he continues to progress in training camp. Quarterbacks coach Greg Olson said, “it’s not out of the question” Freeman takes the path that the Falcons’ Matt Ryan and the Ravens’ Joe Flacco took last year and starts as a rookie. Olson met with general manager Mark Dominik, coach Raheem Morris, pro scouting coordinator Doug Williams and other coaches, and they concluded they might need to accelerate Freeman’s development.

Plaxico Burress is thinking about his football future, and has reached out to the Bucs in looking for a place to play in the 2009 season. The St.Petersburg Times reports that Burress has reportedly contacted running back Derrick Ward and receiver Antonio Bryant about playing in Florida in 2009.

“He’s a great player,” Bucs new coach Raheem Morris said Tuesday. “Any time you get a chance to add a great player to your team, you definitely have got to have some sort of interest. We don’t know what’s going on with his legal problems, we don’t know what’s going on with the suspensions in the league. Until we get all that stuff resolved, it’s not even worth talking about.”

The questions now will be about the off the field issues for Burress, and if it’s in anyway going to keep him off the field in the 2009 season. Many think that since the hearing for Burress has been already pushed back enough that there won’t be a trial in 2009, he’ll find his way on a team somewhere.

There is also the issue about being suspended by the league, but so far it’s been quiet on that front. There’s a solid chance that he could miss some time. If the Bucs are okay with that, then Burress could be theirs for the taking.