Whisky Dog
09-03-2007, 11:25 PM
Trotter catches on with Bucs, signing one-year deal
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Updated: September 3, 2007, 10:26 PM ET
Four-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter reached agreement with the Tampa Bay Bucs on a one-year contract Monday afternoon.
Trotter was released by the Philadelphia Eagles on Aug. 21 in a surprising move. He will fly to Tampa and officially sign the contract on Monday evening, and is expected to join his new teammates on the field this week as the Bucs prepare for the season opener at Seattle.
Financial details of the contract were not immediately available, but sources said it is for more than the league minimum.
After he was released, Tampa Bay quickly scheduled a meeting with Trotter and the Bucs were the frontunners all along to land the nine-year veteran. He will likely play middle linebacker, but how that affects the Tampa Bay lineup remains to be seen. It could be that Trotter was merely added as insurance, given that the Bucs have installed third-year veteran Barrett Ruud, who has just five career starts, as their starting middle linebacker.
Trotter, who was seeking a team where he could remain the starter, could challenge Rudd for the No. 1 job. Or the Bucs could play him as an inside linebacker when they deploy in the 3-4 defense that they have used some in training camp this summer.
Clayton: Trotter Sitting?
Jeremiah Trotter may not start for the Buccaneers despite the hoopla surrounding his signing, John Clayton writes.
Most observers felt Tampa Bay was already relatively deep at linebacker, having signed former Indianapolis Pro Bowl defender Cato June in the spring. But coach Jon Gruden and defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin never feel they have enough quality veterans on the roster, and they had been seeking help at the middle linebacker spot.
Trotter was abruptly informed of the Eagles' plans to release him in an Aug. 20 meeting with coach Andy Reid. The Eagles suggested that Trotter consider retirement, but his preference was to continue playing, and he feels he can still perform at a high level for a few more seasons. The Eagles have installed second-year veteran Omar Gaither as the new starter in the middle.
A former Stephen F. Austin star, Trotter is one of just four linebackers in Eagles history to earn four or more Pro Bowl invitations. He joined Hall of Fame member Chuck Bednarik, Maxie Baughan and Bill Bergey in that select group.
In 131 games with the Eagles (1998-2001, 2004-2006) and Redskins (2002-2003), Trotter has 1,184 tackles, 12½ sacks and nine interceptions. He has notched 100 or more tackles in seven seasons, and 150-plus tackles five times, and had 202 stops in 1999.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3002968&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Updated: September 3, 2007, 10:26 PM ET
Four-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter reached agreement with the Tampa Bay Bucs on a one-year contract Monday afternoon.
Trotter was released by the Philadelphia Eagles on Aug. 21 in a surprising move. He will fly to Tampa and officially sign the contract on Monday evening, and is expected to join his new teammates on the field this week as the Bucs prepare for the season opener at Seattle.
Financial details of the contract were not immediately available, but sources said it is for more than the league minimum.
After he was released, Tampa Bay quickly scheduled a meeting with Trotter and the Bucs were the frontunners all along to land the nine-year veteran. He will likely play middle linebacker, but how that affects the Tampa Bay lineup remains to be seen. It could be that Trotter was merely added as insurance, given that the Bucs have installed third-year veteran Barrett Ruud, who has just five career starts, as their starting middle linebacker.
Trotter, who was seeking a team where he could remain the starter, could challenge Rudd for the No. 1 job. Or the Bucs could play him as an inside linebacker when they deploy in the 3-4 defense that they have used some in training camp this summer.
Clayton: Trotter Sitting?
Jeremiah Trotter may not start for the Buccaneers despite the hoopla surrounding his signing, John Clayton writes.
Most observers felt Tampa Bay was already relatively deep at linebacker, having signed former Indianapolis Pro Bowl defender Cato June in the spring. But coach Jon Gruden and defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin never feel they have enough quality veterans on the roster, and they had been seeking help at the middle linebacker spot.
Trotter was abruptly informed of the Eagles' plans to release him in an Aug. 20 meeting with coach Andy Reid. The Eagles suggested that Trotter consider retirement, but his preference was to continue playing, and he feels he can still perform at a high level for a few more seasons. The Eagles have installed second-year veteran Omar Gaither as the new starter in the middle.
A former Stephen F. Austin star, Trotter is one of just four linebackers in Eagles history to earn four or more Pro Bowl invitations. He joined Hall of Fame member Chuck Bednarik, Maxie Baughan and Bill Bergey in that select group.
In 131 games with the Eagles (1998-2001, 2004-2006) and Redskins (2002-2003), Trotter has 1,184 tackles, 12½ sacks and nine interceptions. He has notched 100 or more tackles in seven seasons, and 150-plus tackles five times, and had 202 stops in 1999.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3002968&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines