Bucs Wright will sit against Falcons; future with team uncertain

Posted Dec 30, 2012 by Roy Cummings

Updated Dec 30, 2012 at 01:08 PM

  BY ROY CUMMINGS
The Tampa Tribune

ATLANTA – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take on the Falcons today without cornerback Eric Wright.

Wright, who came to the Bucs as a free agent last offseason, is coming off a four-week league-mandated suspension for Adderall use, but the Bucs have decided to continue using E.J. Biggers and Danny Gorrer in his place.

Bucs coach Greg Schiano said throughout the week leading up to today’s game that he was unsure whether Wright would play because he was uncertain of his physical condition following the four-week layoff.

“I’m not sure if he’ll play or not,’’ Schiano said of Wright on Friday. “He’ll be with us and I’ll have to make a decision. “(We’ll do) what we think is the best thing to do at this time of year for our team to win.’’

The decision to sit Wright may spark further controversy regarding his future with the Bucs.

When he came to the team last March, Wright signed a five-year, #38 million contract that originally included a guaranteed base salary of $7.75 million for the 2013 season.

Wright is still owed the $7.75 million for 2012 but his suspension eliminated the guarantee, meaning the Bucs could now cut him at any time and owe him nothing moving forward.

The Bucs also deactivated running back Michael Smith, linebacker Jacob Cutrera, guard Roger Allen, wide receiver Chris Owusu, defensive tackle Corvey Irvin and Matthew Masifilo.