Buccaneers scramble to retrieve escapees

By Darrell Laurant  |   Friday, March 24, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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It's like herding cats, as the saying goes.

Once your free agents get out of the house, they tend to scatter in all directions. So far, though, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear to have done a pretty good job of player retrieval.

That process started even before free agency began when the team re-signed quarterback Chris Simms and cornerback Juran Bolden, Ronde Barber's backup. And a good thing, too -- otherwise, with Brian Griese bolting to the Bears, the Bucs could have entered 2006 with Tim Rattay and Luke McCown as their only quarterbacks.

Simms' play has been spotty, of course, and there's still the chance that Tampa Bay might take a quarterback in the opening round of the draft if either Jay Cutler or Vince Young fall that far. That probably won't happen, though, so they may explore defensive back options with their pick.

Meanwhile, the team has re-signed six of its 11 declared free agents, losing only safety Dexter Jackson to Cincinnati. (Griese went on the market after he was cut.)

As for adding to their roster via free agency, the Bucs' only "outside" signing has been a big one, literally -- 6-4, 350-pound offensive lineman Tunio Fonoti from Minnesota.

Fonoti was an All-Pro with San Diego in 2004, but was traded to the Vikings last year and hampered by a groin injury. As with all players of his girth, weight will be an issue for the four-year veteran from American Samoa come August.

Buccaneers lured back into the fold include FB Mike Alstott, PK Matt Bryant, DT Chris Hovan, CB Torrie Cox, WR Ike Hilliard and TE Dave Moore.

Alstott had talked about retiring after last season, but was enticed to stick around. A neck injury several years ago has reduced him to being largely a goal line runner, but he still does that very well -- in a 36-35 victory over Washington last November, the 11-year veteran scored two touchdowns from in close and also vaulted over the line for a two-point conversion.

What many people forget about Alstott, though, is that he also has soft hands, ranking fifth all-time in Tampa Bay with 284 career receptions. The prototype fullback, he is also an effective lead blocker for Cadillac Williams.

The latest Tampa Bay Buccaneers signee was tight end Dave Moore, who is coming back for his 13th NFL season. The 6-2, 250-pound Pitt grad has 206 career receptions, but just one of them came last year, for five yards. He played in every 2005 game, though, mostly as a blocker and a backup for Anthony Becht and Alex Smith.

Tampa Bay won the NFC South last year with an 11-5 record before losing 17-10 to Washington in the playoffs.
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