Tampa Bay Buccaneers News and Rumors from Pro Football Insider

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tuesday Sep 7th, 2010

So there is a new regime in Detroit but they are still after former Bucs... they have signed cornerback Phillip Buchanon to a 2 year $8.5 million deal to add more depth to the secondary. They signed Eric King from the Titans already and acquired Anthony Henry in the trade for Jon Kitna so the secondary will look much different next year. Henry will likely slide to safety and Buchanon will have one of the starting corner spots... The Bucs have signed former Giants RB Derrick Ward to a 4 year $17 million deal. A great signing for the Bucs who are remaking their team. Ward should fit well and doesn't have a lot of tread on his tires. That said it won't be the same as when he was running in New York... The Titans have signed a pair of free agents... former Steelers WR Nate Washington to a 6 year $27 million deal with $9 million guaranteed. He will replace Brandon Jones who signed with the 49ers. They also signed former Bucs DT Jovan Haye to a 4 year $16 million to improve the defensive line that had a gaping hole. Haye is a solid player the man he takes over for won't be easy to replace... The Bucs had the most cap room of any team.. they had money to spend, so why not just overpay average players since we have the cash? Seems that is just what the Bucs were thinking in retaining WR Michael Clayton with a 5 year deal worth $24 million, $10.5 guaranteed and $2 million more in incentives. Clayton had a great rookie year with 80 catches for almost 1200 yards but since then had had 32, 33, 22, 38 receptions and never more than 484 yards in a season and in the four years combined only two touchdowns!!! That gets you nearly $5 mil a year? He doesn't have great speed, or great hands or always the greatest attitude so what made him special to get overpaid? The 49ers signed Brandon Jones to a 5 year $16.5 million deal. He is a 4 year guy with 112 catches overall. Clayton has 125 in the last 4 years, yardage is about the same and Jones has 9 TDs in the last 4 years and good deep speed as well. The Bucs will be happy to have kept Clayton and Antonio Bryant but they definitely made Clayton and his agent smile and a few eyes roll in front offices around the league... The rumors continue to circulate about Tampa acquiring Patriots QB Matt Cassel. Not sure about this one, they have the money to spend and could use a legit quarterback but something just doesn't seem right. The new administration is definitely making over the team and this would be another big step, but a very costly one. Wise? We're just not sure... With free agency started, the trading is also on... the Browns have traded all-ego tight end Kellen Winslow to the Bucs for draft picks rumored to be a 2nd rounder this year and a 5th next year. On talent that is a steal, but Winslow has to stay health and shut up, and that is asking too much. This is the first big addition for the new regime there who has been cutting the previous leaders and no brings in trouble. Word of advice, keep some good locker room guys around to help out. The Browns needed to add some picks...
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