Bucs release S Jackson

Date: Tue, Apr 10, 2012

The Buccaneers released S Tanard Jackson on Tuesday, citing a failed physical.

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Bucs RB Blount can count on competition

Date: Fri, Apr 6, 2012

Buccaneers RB LeGarrette Blount seems to be concerned that his days of having a firm hold on the featured-back job in Tampa could be limited.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Date: Thu, Apr 5, 2012

Here are the Tampa Bay Buccaneerstop three needs going into the draft, subject to any free-agent signings it may make before then.

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NFC South draft needs

Date: Thu, Apr 5, 2012

Alabama RB Trent Richardson could fill a primary need for the Buccaneers, as PFW's Dan Parr examines the top three draft needs for the Falcons, Panthers, Saints and Bucs.

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Blount, Parker sign ERFA tenders

Date: Wed, Apr 4, 2012

Buccaneers RB LeGarrette Blount and WR Preston Parker signed their exclusive-rights free-agent tender offers, the team announced.

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Bucs sign OT Dotson

Date: Wed, Mar 28, 2012

The Buccaneers signed OT Demar Dotson to a two-year contract, the team announced Wednesday.

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Bucs seem content with Blount

Date: Sat, Mar 24, 2012

Although they still have cap space to spend on free agents, the Buccaneers appear to be sticking with LeGarrette Blount as their featured back, according to NFC Whispers.

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49ers add depth behind Smith, sign QB Johnson

Date: Thu, Mar 22, 2012

Days after reaching a contract extension with QB Alex Smith, the 49ers signed ex-Buccaneers free-agent QB Josh Johnson.

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Buccaneers sign OT Meredith, cut DEs Crowder, Reed

Date: Thu, Mar 22, 2012

The Buccaneers signed free-agent OT Jamon Meredith to a two-year deal, and released DE Tim Crowder and DE Nick Reed.

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Bucs re-sign CB Barber

Date: Wed, Mar 21, 2012

After contemplating retirement, free-agent CB Ronde Barber has agreed to return to the Buccaneers for the 2012 season.

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Freeman, Bucs beat Panthers 20-7

Date: Sun, Sep 19, 2010

By MIKE CRANSTON, AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)— Josh Freeman and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers continued to show remarkable growth. The Carolina Panthers remained in disarray, and may be ready to turn permanently to their own young quarterback.

Freeman returned to the site of the worst game of his brief pro career and threw for 178 yards and two touchdown passes in Tampa Bay's 20-7 win over Carolina on Sunday to give the Buccaneers their first 2-0 start in five years.

A year after starting 0-7 and just over nine months removed from Freeman's five-interception nightmare against Carolina, the second-year quarterback avoided any big mistakes or turnovers. The miscues were made by the bumbling Panthers (0-2), who couldn't move the ball as Matt Moore had two more turnovers and was benched for rookie Jimmy Clausen in the fourth quarter.

Freeman threw touchdown passes to Earnest Graham and rookie Mike Williams, and also scrambled for 43 yards on four carries for the Bucs, who were 3-13 last season.

But in just the second year of their youth movement, the Buccaneers appear on the right path. After beating Cleveland with a solid second-half defensive effort in Week 1, Tampa Bay held Carolina's running game in check to end a three-game skid against the Panthers.

Moore threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith for Carolina, but had an interception and lost a fumble on a sack leading to his benching early in the fourth quarter after completing just 6 of 16 passes for 125 yards.

Clausen completed that many passes on his first drive, but it ended with Jonathan Stewart stuffed shy of the goal line. Clausen was picked off by Aqib Talib in the final minutes and finished 7 of 13 for 59 yards.

Freeman, who last season led Tampa Bay inside the Carolina 30 eight times but produced just six points, showed his versatility early in staking the Bucs to a 7-0 lead. After his 17-yard scramble on third-and-11, Freeman found an open Graham in the flat on a Carolina coverage breakdown for a 14-yard touchdown.

Freeman was even more impressive on Tampa Bay's second TD. He eluded a sack twice on third-and-long, then threw a bullet to Kellen Winslow, playing despite a sore knee, for a 40-yard gain. On the next play, he threw a 35-yard, catch-and-run TD to Williams to put Tampa Bay ahead 14-7 midway through the second quarter.

That would be all Tampa Bay would need with Carolina's anemic offense in a matchup of the NFL's youngest teams.

Moore, who started despite suffering a mild concussion in the season-opening loss at the New York Giants, had trouble finding receivers. Often he'd be forced to run out of bounds or throw the ball away despite having decent protection.

He made a poor decision - trying to jam a pass into a well-covered Smith - and Ronde Barber picked it off at the Carolina 25. But the Bucs managed just a field goal by Connor Barth to go ahead 17-7 midway through the third quarter.

On the next possession, Moore was drilled to the turf for a sack by the unblocked Quincy Black. Moore's day ended when Tim Crowder sacked him and Kyle Moore recovered the fumble.

Clausen, the former Notre Dame star, trotted on the field on the next possession with 10:03 left to loud cheers from the crowd.

The Bucs, who had allowed 299, 267 and 157 yards rushing to Carolina in the previous three meetings. limited DeAngelo Williams (54 yards) and Stewart (43 yards) to mediocre performances.

It didn't take long for the crowd, sitting in 90-degree heat, to grow restless with Moore, who replaced longtime starter Jake Delhomme. Moore failed to see an open Smith down the right sideline, then threw a third-and-11 screen pass into a sea of bodies on the ground, producing boos before the first quarter was over.

The Panthers tied it at 7 early in the second quarter when normally conservative coach John Fox decided to go for it on fourth-and-4 from the Tampa Bay 37. Moore threw a pass over the middle to Smith. Talib, the Bucs' top cornerback who made his season debut after being suspended from Week 1 for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, fell down and Smith had clear sailing to the end zone.

Game stats

Copyright 2009 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

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Bucs DT McCoy getting comfortable with versatile role

Date: Fri, Sep 17, 2010

We hear Buccaneers DT Gerald McCoy is still getting comfortable with his versatile role in Tampa Bay's hybrid defense, but an observer said McCoy doesn't seem to mind moving around to different positions on the defensive line. Tampa Bay used McCoy at four different positions on the D-line in Week One and he's expected to continue moving from spot-to-spot throughout the season. Under tackle is the primary position for McCoy, the third overall pick in this year's draft. He'll move to end when the Bucs use a three-man front. Head coach Raheem Morris wants to force offensive lines to be aware of where McCoy is lining up on every play and hopes that the shuffling will allow the rookie to find himself in more one-on-one matchups. Some consider the D-line to be one of the Bucs' weaker positions, but McCoy and fellow rookie DT Brian Price are expected to make a major difference in Year One.

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Bucs CB Talib illegally watched Week One

Date: Thu, Sep 16, 2010

Buccaneers CB Aqib Talib watched the team's Week One game from a suite at Raymond James Stadium, which is nice, except that it's against NFL rules.

Talib was suspended for the opener following an off-field altercation in August 2009. One of the terms of the suspension was that the player could not attend their team's games, even as a spectator, according to NFL spokesperson Greg Aiello. By watching the Bucs' 17-14 win over the Browns, Talib may risk a further fine from the league office.

The way we see it

It is unfortunate that Talib didn't know the rule banning him from the stadium, but even more unfortunate is that nobody in the organization bothered to tell him that he shouldn't show up to support his teammates.

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Bucs won't keep DE White after this season

Date: Sat, Sep 11, 2010

Here a couple of whispers we've heard recently from around the NFC South:

• It would be shocking if the Buccaneers re-signed DE Stylez White after this season, according to a team observer. Head coach Raheem Morris has been critical of White's effort in practice and said the Bucs will tolerate White until they can replace him. Tampa Bay is expected to spend at least one early pick on a defensive end in next year's draft.

• When PFW asked Falcons DE Kroy Biermann if he had seen signs of improvement from DT Peria Jerry this year, he said he didn't know. "He's a tackle, I'm an end," Biermann said. "I've been real focused on what I'm doing. He's obviously out there. He's obviously running around. He's eager to learn and he (wants) to get better. We'll have to see when things get rolling here." Jerry will start at nose tackle for Atlanta after missing all but two games last season with a leg injury.

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