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Disgruntled Penn Not Being Singled Out By Bucs

Posted Jul 29, 2010 by Roy Cummings

Updated Jul 29, 2010 at 10:05 AM

 

By ROY CUMMINGS
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TAMPA – Lest you get the idea that disgruntled left tackle Donald Penn is being singled out in some way, the Bucs have made it cleat that they have not entered into long-term contract negotiations with any of their restricted free agents.

Nor, it seems, do they intend to anytime soon.

With training camp reporting day now just a day away, the Bucs appear poised to wait possibly until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached before opening long-term contract talks with their RFAs.

Penn, who is expected to skip several days (if not weeks) of workouts to further display his displeasure with that stance, has become the poster child for a group that also includes running back Cadillac Williams, linebacker Barrett Ruud and right tackle Jeremy Trueblood.

He has already made it clear through his absence from offseason workouts that he is unhappy with the Bucs decision to tender him nothing more than the one-year, $3.168 million contract offer that the current CBA binds them to offer to retain his rights.

Penn has so far refused to sign that tender, but all of the Bucs other restricted free agents, including wide receiver Maurice Stovall, have signed their tenders and are expected to be in camp on time.

Uncertainty over the contract rules they will be working under when a new collective bargaining is finally in place is one reason the Bucs have been slow to negotiate new deals for their restricted free agents, but it’s not the only one.

The Bucs are also trying to avoid the flood of demands from other restricted free agents for new contracts that is sure to come should they decide to sign one restricted free agent such as Penn to a new deal now.

And, in some cases, the Bucs are trying to determine if the player they currently have on their roster is indeed the player they want to move forward with as they continue a rebuilding project that is aimed at retruning the team to respectability and Super Bowl contention.

Bucs general manager Mark Dominik, who was the Bucs director of pro personnel when he signed Penn off the Minnesota Vikings practice squad in 2006, said he’s hopeful Penn will come to grips with his situation and report to camp.

“I hope (he doesn’t stay away) but I can’t say I’m certain in either direction,’’ Dominik said. “My whole goal is to lessen the drama around Donald and we’ll see where that takes us.’’