Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano cleared things up by saying that QB Josh Freeman is the team's starting quarterback Monday, May 20. Schiano had said previously that QB Mike Glennon could "play quickly" if necessary.
Huddle Up: It's no secret Freeman is on a short leash this year as the Bucs opted not to extend his contract. If he plays well he'll be a wealthy man following the season; if he struggles, Glennon is waiting in the wings. Given the considerable talent around him, Freeman should be able to answer the bell--and be a solid fantasy bargain in the process.
Mike Glennon - QB
Posted 5/19/13 4:05pm et
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano said he believes QB Mike Glennon can play quickly and has not ruled out the possibility of Glennon taking over the starting job from QB Josh Freeman. 'We have a starting quarterback. It's not like we're looking to find a starter. But competition is competition. Mike Glennon is a fierce competitor. I knew that when he was coming out of high school. Now being able to work with him a little, you can see it on the practice field,' Schiano said.
Huddle Up: Freeman, entering his 5th season, bounced back nicely from his 16-TD, 22-interception campaign in 2011 with a career-high 27 TDs and 4,065 yards this past season, and it's going to take a pretty sizable regression from Freeman for Glennon to get a shot.
Ronde Barber - S
Posted 5/9/13 12:54am et
Free-agent FS Ronde Barber has decided to retire from professional football.
Huddle Up: Barber puts the wraps on a distinguished 16-year NFL run. He exits Tampa Bay as the franchise leader in interceptions and defensive touchdowns. The Bucs signed Dashon Goldson to take over Barber's free safety gig.
Mike James - RB
Posted 5/3/13 4:05pm et
Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Mike James could have the inside track as the team's backup running back behind RB Doug Martin, according to general manager Mark Dominik.
Huddle Up: There's your handcuff alert, though hopefully Martin doesn't go down and your league isn't so big so as to require you to lock up Martin's backup.
LeGarrette Blount - RB
Posted 4/23/13 12:33am et
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still looking to trade RB LeGarrette Blount. Several teams have shown interest in Blount and a trade could occur during the 2013 NFL Draft.
Huddle Up: Blount could likely be had for a late-round pick, as the Bucs are set at running back with Doug Martin and Brian Leonard. He'll need to land in the right situation to regain his fantasy value.
Josh Freeman - QB
Posted 4/23/13 10:01pm et
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman said he is more disappointed in not winning than he is in not getting a new contract this offseason. 'It bothers me a lot, knowing the type of team we have and our capabilities, being close but not quite getting there," Freeman said. 'The only reason you play this game is you want to go out and win. You want to win championships and you want to walk away and have a handful of rings. That's why you play the game. The drive is there, the intensity is there. We've just got to find a way to put it all together."
Huddle Up: The Bucs are 24-32 in Freeman's 56 career starts with the QB posting one winning season (10-6 in 2010) so far. He is coming off a career year, though, with 4,065 yards and 27 TDs with a strong supporting cast (RB Doug Martin and WRs Vincent Jackson & Mike Williams) to finish just outside the fantasy top 12 with 325 points (Huddle Performance scoring).
Eric Wright - CB
Posted 4/10/13 10:38am et
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed CB Eric Wright to a restructured contract Tuesday, April 9, but the deal does not affect the team's pursuit of New York Jets CB Darrelle Revis. Wright's deal is for one-year and $1.5 million for the 2013 season. Wright originally joined the team in March 2012, signing a five-year, $37 million deal.
Huddle Up: Keeping Wright helps the Buccaneers secondary, but it doesn't mean they won't continue to pursue Darrelle Revis and/or cornerback help in the early portion of the upcoming draft.
Dan Orlovsky - QB
Posted 4/9/13 12:53am et
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have re-signed free-agent QB Dan Orlovsky. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Huddle Up: Orlovsky isn't exactly what the Bucs had in mind when they talked about bringing in competition for Josh Freeman. He'll battle Adam Weber for clipboard duty.
Dan Orlovsky - QB
Posted 4/5/13 12:02am et
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers cut QB Dan Orlovsky Thursday, April. 4.
Huddle Up: Orlovsky will be looking to hook up with his 5th NFL team in 5 seasons after spending an uneventful 2012 on the Bucs' bench.
Steve E. Smith - WR
Posted 4/2/13 2:28pm et
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed free-agent WR Steve E. Smith (Rams) to a one-year deal.
Huddle Up: This will be the fourth stop in 4 years for Smith, who had one monster season in 2009 (107-1,220-7) with the Giants, but has never been the same since undergoing knee surgery.
Nate Kaeding - PK
Posted 4/2/13 2:28pm et
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed free-agent PK Nate Kaeding (Dolphins) to an undisclosed deal.
Huddle Up: Kaeding, once one of fantasy's top kickers while with the high-powered Chargers, has only attempted 10 field goals since being tearing an ACL on his opening kickoff of the 2011 season.
Da'Quan Bowers - DE
Posted 3/20/13 6:02pm et
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano said he expects DE Da'Quan Bowers to record at least 10 sacks next season as one of the starting defensive ends.
Huddle Up: So there's your IDP tip of the day, Bowers with double-digit sacks. Enjoy.
Vincent Jackson - WR
Posted 3/19/13 12:17pm et
The San Diego Chargers were not awarded any compensatory picks in the 2013 NFL Draft for losing WR Vincent Jackson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Huddle Up: While Jackson was hitting career highs with 72 catches and 1,384 yards this past season in Tampa, QB Philip Rivers failed to throw for 4,000 yards for the first time since 2007 and clearly missed V-Jax's big-play skills.
Arrelious Benn - WR
Posted 3/15/13 6:03pm et
The Philadelphia Eagles acquired WR Arrelious Benn and a 2013 seventh-round pick from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Friday, March 15, in exchange for a 2013 sixth-round pick and a conditional pick in 2014.
Huddle Up: Benn is another piece of Chip Kelly's puzzle, a bigger target to offset the speedier Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.
Arrelious Benn - WR
Posted 3/11/13 5:50pm et
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are shopping WR Arrelious Benn. Benn was a second-round pick in 2010.
Huddle Up: The Bucs are flush at wideout with Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams so Benn is superfluous, though with quality wideouts available both in the draft and via free agency there won't be a particularly strong market. That said, there are WR-needy teams who might be willing to throw a late-round pick at the Bucs for a shot at working with Benn; that's better for Tampa Bay than getting nothing if they were to release Benn outright.
LeGarrette Blount - RB
Posted 3/9/13 11:03am et
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have re-signed RB LeGarrette Blount to a one-year deal worth $1.75 million. The deal includes a $1.25 million base salary, $350,000 reporting bonus and $150,000 workout bonus.
Huddle Up: Blount is a backup/complement to Doug Martin, who at worst case might take some goal line carries off the Muscle Hamster's plate. No reason to worry about Martin's fantasy value taking a significant hit.
LeGarrette Blount - RB
Posted 3/9/13 2:22pm et
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to trade RB LeGarrette Blount this offseason even though he signed a one-year deal. The Buccaneers could receive a mid-round pick in a trade for Blount.
Huddle Up: Easier to trade a guy with a bargain contract, and it's clear that Doug Martin is the go-to guy in Tampa Bay. Blount could wind up as a between-the-tackles member of a committee, but his fantasy value at this juncture is negligible.
LeGarrette Blount - RB
Posted 3/6/13 12:00am et
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are considering putting a first-round tender on RB LeGarrette Blount. If they did tender Blount, he would make $2.879 million in 2013 if he did not sign an extension. General manager Mark Dominik does not want to leave himself short at the running back position in the event of injury.
Huddle Up: Blount was a forgotten man with only 9 carries over the second half of the season as rookie Doug Martin took off, and it sounds like he'll be back as an insurance policy and a fantasy-handcuff to Martin.
Josh Freeman - QB
Posted 3/6/13 12:14am et
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers met with the agent for QB Josh Freeman at the NFL scouting combine. "It was really positive," agent Erik Burkhardt told The Tampa Tribune of the recent meeting he had with Bucs officials at the NFL scouting combine. "They said they definitely believe in Josh, that he is their guy, that they want to reach their goals with him and that they know he is capable of doing the job and are committed to him." Freeman is entering the final season of a five year contract.
Huddle Up: It sounds like the Bucs are looking to commit to Freeman despite the QB finishing the 2012 season with a thud (2 TDs and 9 interceptions over his last 3 games). Still, Freeman's season as a whole was a marked improvement over his 27-turnover disaster in 2011, and he has the weapons (WRs Vincent Jackson & Mike Williams and RB Doug Martin) to get it done in Tampa.
Mike Williams - WR
Posted 2/26/13 1:44pm et
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers met with Hadley Engelhard, agent for WR Mike Williams, at the NFL Scouting Combine and it was described as a "very productive meeting." The team is interested in signing Williams to a contract extension.
Huddle Up: Williams is the No. 2 man now in Tampa with Vincent Jackson's arrival last offseason, but that also helped Williams bump up his production last season. Williams actually had 2 fewer catches than he did in 2011 (63-65), but he averaged nearly 4 more yards per reception (15.8-11.9) and tripled his TD production (9-3).
Mike Williams - WR
Posted 1/31/13 12:05am et
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Williams may look to Buffalo Bills WR Stevie Johnson's five-year, $36 million deal as a benchmark as he discusses a contract extension with the team this offseason. Seattle Seahawks WR Sidney Rice signed a five-year, $41 million deal in 2011 that had more than $18 million in guaranteed money.
Huddle Up: Right now Williams is the WR2 in Tampa Bay after the Bucs spent big on Vincent Jackson last offseason. Considering they have an outstanding young running back and a question mark at quarterback, spending big on another wideout doesn't make a ton of sense. So if Williams is looking for Johnson or Rice money, he may have to leave Tampa to find it.
Mike Williams - WR
Posted 1/30/13 12:16am et
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have begun contract extension talks with WR Mike Williams.
Huddle Up: Williams tripled his 2011 number of TD catches (3 to 9) and had 225 more receiving yards on 2 fewer receptions this past season and should be in line for decent extension.
Dallas Clark - TE
Posted 1/25/13 2:53pm et
Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik said the team would like to re-sign impending free-agent TE Dallas Clark and hopes to meet with his agent soon.
Huddle Up: Clark wasn't much of a factor early in the season but acclimated himself to the Tampa Bay offense later on. He can provide a nice over-the-middle option for the Bucs while Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams work the outsides and down the field; now the Bucs just need to figure out if Josh Freeman is their long-term solution at quarterback.
Vincent Jackson - WR
Posted 1/15/13 10:31pm et
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson has been added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster to replace Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson.
Huddle Up: Jackson is most definitely deserving after he finished sixth among WRs with 186 fantasy points (Huddle Performance) in his debut season in Tampa.
Josh Freeman - QB
Posted 1/7/13 1:25pm et
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won't extend QB Josh Freeman's contract, which runs through the 2013 season. If he plays well next season, the team will either franchise tag him or try to sign him to a long-term deal. The franchise tag would likely tender a $17 million salary.
Huddle Up: Freeman isn't worthy of the franchise-tag price just yet, but he's had flashes that suggest he could still get there. The Bucs are willing to play that waiting game; in their two worst-case scenarios, either they have to fork over big money for a young quarterback on the verge of greatness or they jettison Freeman and start over at the position. If OC Mike Sullivan doesn't land a head coaching job he may have a big say in whether or not Freeman reaches a level of play worthy of franchise tag money.
Mike Sullivan - TM
Posted 1/2/13 1:42pm et
The Chicago Bears are expected to interview Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan Wednesday, Jan. 2.
Huddle Up: Sullivan was promoted from Giants' quarterbacks coach to Tampa Bay OC last year when Greg Schiano took over. His track record of developing Eli Manning and getting more out of Josh Freeman would bode well for Jay Cutler's numbers if he were to get the Chicago job.
Vincent Jackson - WR
Posted 12/28/12 1:30pm et
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson and OG Carl Nicks restructured their contracts to free up about $18 million in 2013 salary cap space. Jackson got a $12.16 million roster bonus to push his cap figure for this year to $15.43 million. But his new base salary for 2013 will be $840,000 and his cap figure will drop to $3.472 million. Jackson had been scheduled to count $13 million toward the 2013 cap. The roster bonus will be pro-rated over the remainder of Jackson's contract. Nicks had an $11.785 million roster bonus and a cap figure of $15.436 million for this year. But Nicks' base salary for 2013 had been scheduled for $12.5 million, and it now drops to just $715,000. Nicks' cap figure for 2013 had been scheduled for $12.5 million, but it now drops to $3.072 million.
Huddle Up: Savvy move by the Buccaneers, who save a big chunk of cap space to use next season. The offense was improved with Nicks, when healthy, and Jackson this season. Another good signing or two coupled with another good draft could turn the team around next year.
Mike Williams - WR
Posted 12/22/12 12:06am et
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Williams (wrist) fully participated in practice Friday, Dec. 21, and is listed as probable for Week 16.
Huddle Up: This Sunday against the Rams, Williams and Bucs will be trying to get rid of the stink from last week's 41-0 shutout loss to the Saints. Williams had TD receptions in each of the previous 2 games.
Doug Martin - RB
Posted 12/19/12 7:22pm et
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano said that he will not lighten the workload of RB Doug Martin because the team has been eliminated from playoff contention. Schiano said the team is trying to establish a culture of winning.
Huddle Up: Good news for Martin's fantasy owners who survived the RB's surprisingly dismal 35 total yards on 12 touches this past week against the Saints.
Vincent Jackson - WR
Posted 12/7/12 7:07pm et
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson (calf, hamstring) fully participated in practice Friday, Dec. 7, and is probable for Week 14.
Huddle Up: Jackson has practiced all week and is coming off a down performance (3 catches, 55 yards) so he could be in line for a bounce-back outing against a flagging Philly secondary (22nd in fewest points allowed to opposing fantasy WRs).
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