2008 Free Agency Tracker

I set up this page to have a permanent place to keep track of the 2008 free agency feeding frenzy. Since the Bucs went into free agency with the most cap space in the league, they figure to be pretty active. I'll post any transactions or rumors I find out about here. Newest at the top. Leave comments here.

• The below is false. Just as well.
• Just heard that Takeo Spikes might be in Tampa for a workout. The Bucs just brought in three linebackers and I don't know where Spikes would fit into the mix. Also, Gruden and Allen are at the meetings today, so this seems kind of flaky. But there you go anyway.
• Kris Wilson finally signed today. Only, it was with Philadelphia.
• I have no idea what to make of this, but I heard talk that the Bucs might be putting a package together to get Chad Johnson. This is only a weak, weak rumor and the Bengals have been adamant that Johnson will not be traded, so don't read anything into it. But someone out there is at least discussing the possibility.
• Matt Lehr did wind up signing with the Saints.
• Michael Pittman is said to be drawing interest from several different teams.
• There's talk that Kris Wilson (FB, Kansas City) not only visited with the Bucs, but he left with an offer. He's still considering it.
• Matt Lehr is considering an offer from the Saints. Does Lehr really have so many options that he needs to weigh them against each other?
• Hey, whaddya know... Kevin Carter signed with the Bucs after all.
• D.J. Hackett chose to go with Carolina, which means he'll have two chances per year to prove to Buccaneer fans just how ineffective he is.
• The Bucs visited with Kris Wilson (FB, Kansas City) on Wednesday. I suppose the team needs another fullback, but I'd probably take some of that nest egg they've been saving and extend B.J. Askew's contract, too.
• The Buccaneers made an offer to Jeremy Newberry (C, Oakland) that he has not accepted yet. With Jeff Faine already signed, this doesn't speak well of their faith that Dan Buenning can make the transition to center.
• Get this: Reporters in St. Louis are floating a rumor that the Rams are trying to negotiate a deal for Michael Clayton. Call me sentimental, but I still think there's a chance to salvage something out of Clayton.
• Eugene Wilson has signed with the Bucs, 1 year, $1.8 million.
• Bryant Johnson (WR, Arizona) finally signed with someone: San Francisco.
• The Times is reporting that Eugene Wilson doesn't want to play cornerback; he wants to play safety. The Times doesn't cite a source for this, so who knows how accurate it is, but the Bucs do not need another safety at this point.
• Detroit may bring Michael Pittman in for a visit. Sigh.
• The Bucs sign Marques Douglas (DE, San Francisco). Douglas has a good motor and is a decent swing guy. He's 31, though. I would imagine this just about ends Rod Coleman's chances of coming to Tampa.
• Justin McCareins signed with Tennessee and Drew Carter signed with Oakland. Carter will soon be on anti-depressants.
• The Bucs are said to be close to a deal with Eugene Wilson (S, New England). The Bucs would likely move Wilson to cornerback. Note to Bruce Allen: YOU STILL NEED TO DRAFT A CORNERBACK! That is all.
• D.J. Hackett (WR, Seattle) will be visiting the Bucs tomorrow. Sign him for the minimum and make him and Bryant arm wrestle (or something more degrading and entertaining) to see who goes to camp.
• Somehow, Drew Carter (WR, Carolina) is on the radar. There's also talk about Justin McCareins (WR, NY Jets), but I'm not sure how seriously to take it.
• Kevin Carter is visiting with the Raiders today - the team where the GM and the head coach aren't talking to each other about personnel decisions and the owner is clinically dead. Seriously, when was the last time going to the Raiders helped someone's career?
• For those of you holding out hope that Larry Fitzgerald would somehow be traded to the Buccanners, I applaude your optimism. But it was misplaced. Fitzgerald re-structured and extended his deal with the Cardinals.
• And for the help the Bucs need so desperately at wide receiver, the team signed... Antonio Bryant! Can you tell the exclamation point is sarcastic?
• Warrick Dunn is a Buccaneer again. So, it looks like the Bucs have a backfield of Earnest Graham, Michael Bennett and Dunn for 2008, and Cadillac Williams will probably tart out the season on injured reserve, or the PUP at the very least.
• Brian Kelly signed with Detroit which is quickly becoming the Buccaneers North.
• The Buccaneers have been one of the most active teams in free agency in signing new players. As of yesterday, they had brought in eight players from other teams, tied with the Dolphins for the most. Seems weird, doesn't it?
• Seattle signed Julius Jones and Carolina signed LaBrandon Toefield. I would guess Michael Pittman will get a call over the weekend from the Bucs.
• Tonight (Thursday), the Bucs also re-signed Sammy Davis. Smart move.
• BUCS SIGN BEN TROUPE! I had kind of given up and thought they'd go with Stevens. Sweeeeeet. I don't see a link on it right his second, but it's true.
• Anthony Becht signed with St. Louis. I would expect the Bucs to re-sign Jerramy Stevens sometime relatively soon.
• The Bucs are said to be interested in LaBrandon Toefield (RB, Jacksonville) and Jevon Kearse (DE, Philadelphia). The Bucs were interested in Toefield last year when they decided on Michael Bennett. Kearse has been injured a lot and hasn't been the same since he left Tennessee, but I can see the Bucs signing him for a reasonable price.
• Detroit signed Kalvin Pearson to an offer sheet worth $3.5 million with a $1.1 million signing bonus. The Bucs have a week to match it, but it's pretty unlikely that they will. Unfortunately, since Pearson wasn't drafted, the Bucs will not receive a draft pick when the move becomes official.
• The Bucs have "expressed an interest" in Julius Jones (RB, Dallas). He'd be a great addition, but he's not looking to split time with Earnest Graham. As much as I'd like to see him sign, I'm pretty sure it won't happen.
• Javon Walker has agreed to terms with Oakland. Has it really come to this? I feel jealous of a team I despise getting a player I didn't want?
• Marques Douglas (DE, San Francisco) visited the Bucs today.
• The Bucs sign Matt McCoy (LB, New Orleans) today. I'm tired of making jokes about how I don't know who these people are.
• The Bucs signed Teddy Lehman (LB, Detroit) today. Yup. Sure did.
• John Wade turned down a contract offer from the Bucs to be a backup.
• If the Bucs can't sign Warrick Dunn, they will probably focus their attention on re-signing Michael Pittman. Did you ever think you would read that sentence?
• We can all rest easy now; the Bucs signed LB Leon Joe.
• A few hours after getting cut, Warrick Dunn is visiting One Buc. You know they're going to sign him. So, when Bruce Allen said he was signing "Tiger Woods" players, were Warrick Dunn and Brian Griese te first names you thought of, too?
• I have yet to actually believe this, but the Times is reporting that the Bucs just TRADED for Brian Griese. In other news, Bruce Allen's head was recently replaced by a large brick of muenster cheese.
• And for those of you holding your breath on getting a Randy Moss deal done, Moss is just about done re-signing with the Patriots. Probably just as well... I don't see Moss having the same success anywhere else that he did in New England.
• The Bucs have expressed an interest in Chris Brown (RB, Tennessee). Brown has been productive at times and may be a good reclamation project, but is he the missing piece to a playoff victory? I don't think so.
• There's a rumor going around that I can't confirm that Bryant Johnson (WR, Arizona) was in Tampa yesterday. Those who are talking are saying that the Bucs signing him is unlikely, which does indeed suck. Signing Johnson would make up for a lot of the misses so far.
• Bucs are now showing interest in William James (CB, Philadelphia). Also, Eugene Wilson would be probably play CB in Tampa instead of safety.
• Mewelde Moore is close to signing with Pittsburgh. It would truly suck if the Bucs didn't even take a shot at him.
• Michael Turner signed with the Falcons, making Warrick Dunn expendable. Look for Dunn to be released Monday or Tuesday.
• Just heard that Alge Crumpler signed with the Titans. Do the Bucs get a prize for having the most cap space at the end of the year or something?
• Eugene Wilson (S, New England) is visiting with the Bucs today. And I've just about stopped caring.
• Ben Troupe leaves Tampa without signing a contract. Does anyone know what the hell is going on?
• Randall Gay signs with New Orleans before he can even come to Tampa.
• DeMarrio Williams signed with the Chiefs. Seems like the Bucs are content to let the market shake out for a while.
• Lance Briggs re-signs with the Bears. A lot of people were saying he was actually visiting One Buc today, but it never happened.
• A strong rumor is circulating that Devery Henderson re-signed with the Saints. Gruden must be planning something at receiver.
• Donte Stallworth signs with Cleveland according to NFL Network. The receiver pool is starting to get a little shallow.
• Drayton Florance and Jacques Reeves have signed with Jacksonville and Houston respectively. Randall Gay is now the best option at cornerback.
• The Bucs just signed Jimmy Wilkerson, a defensive end, to a two year deal. Sounds like he was added for depth and not really to compete as a starter.
• The winner of the Jeff Goldblum look-alike contest "hears" that the Bucs have interest in trading for Chad Johnson. This will not happen.
• By the way, that Randall Gay rumor I mentioned yesterday really did have legs. He'll be in town today (Saturday).
• The Bucs let Antoine Cash test the market for a day then he re-signed with the team. I like Cash, but I'm not sure what kind of long-term answer he is at linebacker.
• Justin Smith signs with the 49ers. So much for that idea. His contract is 6 year, $45 million, $20 million guaranteed. Big, but not exorbitant.
• Ben Troupe is visiting Tampa tomorrow. Hell yeah!
• The Broncos have released Javon Walker into free agency. He is available for no compensation to Denver. They also released Ian Gold, who was with Tampa Bay for one season a couple years back. Gold didn't have nice things to say about the Bucs when he returned to Denver, so I'd guess he's not in a hurry to come back.
• Speaking of linebackers, it looks like the visit for Demorrio Williams (LB, Atlanta) was not canceled, just postponed until Monday. That doesn't mean it can't be canceled if he signs somewhere else in the meantime, but for now that's the story.
• It looks like Asante Samuel is a done deal in Philly and Jerry Porter seems to have something worked out with Jacksonville.
• Alge Crumpler will not be a Seahawk.
• Very shaky rumor that the Bucs are trying to set up a visit with Randall Gay (CB, New England).
• ESPN just ran a story that said Lance Briggs is visiting the Bucs. What the fuck? I'll need to see this confirmed before I believe it. At this stage, it would be a waste of money.
• In case you hadn't heard, Antoine Cash was not tendered a RFA offer, so he is free to sign with anyone. This puts linebacker depth a little higher up the priority list (but not much.) Also, Jovan Haye was tendered his RFA offer, so the Bucs will be due a first round pick if he signs with someone else.
• Devery Henderson (WR, New Orleans) will visit Tampa. This would be a decent addition.
• Count DeShaun Foster out. He has agreed to terms with the 49ers.
• Just saw that John Gilmore is going to sign with the Bucs.
• Mewelde Moore (RB, Minnesota) and Marquise Douglas (DE, San Francisco) are scheduled to visit today. Moore would be a great pick-up.
• Despite talk to the contrary, Demorrio Williams will not be coming to Tampa.
• Jimmy Wilkerson has scheduled a visit to Tampa. Wilkerson is a DE from Kansas City. Not exactly Justin Smith, but we'll see.
• Aaron Stecker is a possibility for coming back to the Bucs, but the team wants to explore other options first.
• The Bucs are in talks right now to bring San Diego CB Drayton Florence in for a visit. Dollar for dollar, this would be a better value than Asante Samuel.
• The Bucs have also been in contact with Jacques Reeves (CB, Dallas) and Niko Koutouvides (LB, Seattle)
• I have heard mixed reports on D.J. Hackett. The latest is that the Bucs aren't as high on him as everyone once thought.
• The Bucs are interested in John Gilmore (TE, Chicago) to take Anthony Becht's place as a blocking tight end.