Posted by  Chuck King, Palm Bch. Co. Florida on 09/04  at  09:50 AM

I said it earlier - and the Buc’s had something up their sleeves w/ our LB’s.  They had Trott on the radar all the time.  We do now have one of the premier LB corps in the league.  We keep Rudd and Niece but the next guess is - who will go to make room?  My guess - they are working out a deal for a future draft pick for Simms.  We clearly don’t need 4 QB’s and he is not in future plans.  They haven’t announced yet who will depart so that leads to the Simms speculation.  Unusual for a signing on a 53 man roster and not announcing who will go.  Gruden has lost faith in Simms and is avoiding the questions about him like the plague.

Posted by  david birch, san mateo on 09/04  at  08:46 AM

another overpriced retread…teams that compete for sustainded playoff runs realize that you have to bring in young players and let some of the vets go…look at indy, new england, philly…they don’t have any problem showing the door to anyone and they somehow seem to always be printing playoff tix…

Posted by  Ted H, Tampa on 09/03  at  09:36 PM

Ruud isn’t cutting it and Nece was a stop gap measure.  Look for Trotter to be starting along side Brooks and June by week 2.

Posted by  anthony cerullo, lakeland on 09/03  at  06:25 PM

i believe that trotters signing is strickly for depth he doesnt posses the speed and has never had the speed to play in our system but with the bucs trying out a new 3-4 scheme he will help with ruud or nece dropping back and him saying short for fullbacks and running plays not a bad move if he is signing for the league min for one year by mister simms good luck in detroit

Posted by  Erik Cottman, chester pa on 09/03  at  06:12 PM

All this move does is improve the defense. Its good moves like this and bad moves like cutting Simeon Rice that confuse me with Allen and Gruden.  I’m not sure but I think Chuckie may have made a deal with the devil for that Championship. Wow!! Should we start to believe this is a Super Bowl winning team? No but, we can have hope in this playoff team.  We know anything can happen in the playoffs!!! What’s next Gruden?

Posted by  BILL EVERMAN, WESLEY CHAPEL on 09/03  at  06:00 PM

It’s my understanding, the Buc’s D is planning to do some changes on the defense this year. According to what I’ve read and to radio, the Buc’s may use both the 3-4 and the 4-3 defense to mix things up. If this is true, Trotter could come in very handy.
The concern over Barrett Ruud’s ability to help stuff the run I think figured into this aquisition.
Remkember, the year we won the Super Bowl, we did it with a patchwork offensive line that was shortlived. Gruden has to win now.
He’d better hope that Trotter can run instead of trot!
Quick note on Simms…..I don’t think he’s the QB of the future. My opinion is he’s a true #2 QB in this league. A good living can be made there. I may be wrong. It’s just a hunch.

Posted by  Glenn Bozinski, Kingston Township, PA on 09/03  at  05:48 PM

A solid move, but clearly one that will mean more in the locker room than on the field. Trotter is a class act, driven to win, and a natural leader like Brooks but more vocal. He can sure play the run, but his lack of coverage skills really hurt him in the cover-two, so don’t expect to see much of him after second down.  Certainly has more value than a fourth-string QB

Posted by  Ricky Jamison, Eatontown NJ on 09/03  at  05:42 PM

I am a transplanted Tampan, living in Jersey, and my job is in South Jersey (Eagle Country). I’ve seen this guy (Trotter) play, and if he is still as good as he was here he’ll be a welcome, needed addition. Personally it will give me so much pleasure sticking it to all these Eagle fans, if he does well. All most as much fun as I had last year, after that kick, thanks so much Mr. Bryant. And of course I’m still reminding them about 2002 NFC Championship, heh heh. They just hate me, and it so good being hated by whining Eagle fans.

Posted by  Vern Newsome, Valrico, FL on 09/03  at  05:07 PM

I think that this is a good move for the Bucs to signed Jeremiah Trotter due to we have a problem stopping the run up the midddle. I am concern about who the Bucs going to cut to make room for Jeremiah.

Posted by  Marvin Moore, Bloomington, Minnesota on 09/03  at  04:33 PM

Not really sure that I approve of this move.  The main reason I head he was released was because he was to slow for the Eagles D.  With speed being a primary consideration on the Bucs D dont think that it could be a worthwile move.

Posted by  troy akins, bradenton on 09/03  at  04:30 PM

this is the signing that will take the attention off of a chris simms imminent release!!

Posted by  Brandon Short, Woodbridge, VA on 09/03  at  04:14 PM

So who are the Bucs going to cut to make up for this newly acquired waste of salary and space?

Posted by  Frederick Miller, Virginia Beach, VA on 09/03  at  03:29 PM

This move kinda scares me.  Trotter was released from Philadelphia because he has bad knees and he has lost his step.  I don’t like the idea of him starting in a cover-2 scheme where the Mike is expected to play deep and cover the middle of the field.  I think Ruud should keep the starting job and Trotter should be brought in for run stopping downs.

Posted by  Steven W. Hair,  on 09/03  at  03:06 PM

I think Ryan Nece may be a goner.

Posted by  Scott Scarboro, Riverview on 09/03  at  02:01 PM

Depth, leadership, experience, GOOD MOVE!

Even if he doesn’t play the Bucs got themselves a solid mentor who knows winning. They got him for a little over the league minimum… NICE!

Posted by  Tyler Ellrodt, Largo, FL on 09/03  at  01:58 PM

Awsome!  Too bad they didn’t lock him up for like 3 years but hey, they have lots of cap space which is something the Bucs have lacked in the past couple of years.  I guess they could aggree on a deal during the season or something.  Now the Bucs undoubtably have the best starting linebacking corps in the entire league!  You got June, who is just a beast with a great nose for the football when it’s in the air and now Trotter who is a complete run stopper and you can not deny that Derrick Brooks is solid all around.  I like Barrett Ruud but when you have the opportunity to sign a player like Jeremiah Trotter, you take it.

Posted by  Matthew James, TAMPA on 09/03  at  01:51 PM

I’m so excited! The AXE-MAN in TAMPA BAY!!! I was getting worried with Ruud/Nece as our MLB’s. Knowing the AXE-MAN is here, it’s a beautiful thing.