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Bucs Report
Troupe leaves Tampa without contract


TAMPA - The Bucs may have lost out on yet another targeted free agent.

Tight end Ben Troupe, who spent all of Saturday visiting the Bucs and negotiating a contract, has left town without signing off on a deal.

This doesn’t mean he won’t come back to Tampa and eventually sign here, but the Bills now have the inside track on signing Troupe as he is headed to Buffalo for a visit there.

The Bills are also meeting today with wide receiver Bryant Johnson. The Bucs, who saw target Devery Henderson re-sign with the Saints late Saturday, have expressed interest in Johnson but he may never make it out of Buffalo.

Troupe’s decision to leave Tampa without a deal capped what appears to have been a disappointing day for the Bucs. Though they bagged tight end John Gilmore and backup defensive lineman Jimmy Wilkerson, they lost out on several players they had expressed interest in.

Among that group were Henderson and RB Aaron Stecker, both of whom re-signed with the Saints, cornerbacks Drayton Florence (Jaguars) and Jacques Reeves (Texans) and linebackers Demorrio Williams (Chiefs) and Lance Briggs (Bears).

The Bucs still have their sights set on CB Randall Gay, but he has to get out New Orleans first. He’s visiting the Saints today but is committed to at least visiting the Bucs, according to his agent.

One other thing to keep in mind on the Troupe front is the fact that Alge Crumpler, arguably the best tight end on the market, still has not signed. Many are wondering why and suggesting the health of his knees may be the reason.

It could also be a case of Crumpler asking for too much. If that’s the case, it’s possible the Bucs held firm on their offer to Trump and are back in the market for Crumpler.

The Bucs are also believed to have some interest in Eric Johnson (New Orleans) and it’s possible they’ve decided that either Anthony Becht or Jerramy Stevens can give them as much as anyone on the free market and are contemplating re-signing one or both of them.

Whatever the call, we’ll do our best to keep you up to date as the news happens.

Send Us Your Comments

Posted by  Frank Stevens, Tampa Bay on 03/05  at  12:23 PM

The Bucs have DAN FELLS, they don’t need any other FA tight end.  Fells is going to be ‘big time’ from what I hear.


Posted by  shawn sudler, greenville, NC on 03/02  at  04:24 PM

roy, why does it seem that with all the money in the world for cap room we can’t sign not a one of the free agents we targeted??? is it something in the water at one buc place or what?  this is very disappointing to the fans who listened to gruden and allen about how we will add some playmakers in the offseason.......HEY FELLAS, SHOW ME SOMETHIN! as of right now both of you are all talk.  sign some great agents and give the fans a great team that WE are paying to see!


Posted by  Joel Schaffer, Beleair Bluffs on 03/02  at  04:18 PM

LB Michael Boley still available.....tick tock, tick tock...so is OT Max Starks...and so is Randy Moss what are the Bucs waiting for? We have the greatest amount of cap space of ANY NFL team & little to show for it. It’s not like we have a top 10 1st round pick????

With all our available cap space we should be the ONE NFL team that CAN sign Randy Moss without damaging our ability to sign other free agents & our draft picks as well....there is no good reason why Tampa Bay shouldn’t sign Randy Moss abd every reason to sign him…


Posted by  Maddognavy, Jacksonville on 03/02  at  04:09 PM

Raising tickets prices and then going out and signing a center, a third string tight end and a nobody defensive end, wow that makes me as a season ticket holder feel great about what the staff is doing with our team. It makes no sense to have all that money and not throw a little bit of it around, exactly how many people are we going to “Interested in” but no sign? Seems to me that Moss is still available, what about a trade for Chad Johnson? They let Kelly, Carter and Spires go, I am thinking they could get some much needed help on defense as well. Maybe the staff hasn’t seen the tape of the N.Y. Giants kicking our Butts all over Raymond James Stadium!!
Signed Sick of Gruden and his Gang!!


Posted by  Fernando Diaz, Home on 03/02  at  03:51 PM

Patience is a virtue.We have addressed our needs. A Center that we needed it. A blocking tight end specially for all those times we had to kick cause no TD.
And a DLineman for our rotation. Keep up the good work Bruce!!!!


Posted by  buddy mckendree, stephenville, tx on 03/02  at  03:05 PM

What is this, see how many free agents we can’t sign?!?  I understand being cap smart and not throwing money around, but its starting to look like the bucs are just being cheap or aren’t trying.  As a fan, I hope they have something up their sleeve.  This is very frustrating.


Posted by  Robert still, Floralcity ,Fl. on 03/02  at  03:02 PM

We need WR in free agency one from the draft,Need another proven rb ,Either Crumpler or no more Tight Ends , Have to have Reciever with speed ,Walker orMoss OrChad Johnson


Posted by  RICHARD KINDER, TAMPA on 03/02  at  02:59 PM

CAN’T BELIEVE WE ARE TALKING DUNN, DUNN IS DONE!IF WE SIGN DUNN, AFTER SIXTEEN YEARS OF HAVING SEASON TICKETS, I’M DONE!WONDER WHY NO ONE WANTS TO COME TO TAMPA.MAYBE THE SAPP,KEYSHAWN,LYNCH ETC. WERE RIGHT AFTER ALL!


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