Boston saved; Shepherd waived

The Bucs made their final cuts Saturday evening, reducing the roster to the NFL-mandated 53 players.

There weren't too many tough calls with so many players back from last season's NFC South championship team. But one such decision was required in the receiving corps. The Bucs opted to keep veteran David Boston and second-year player Paris Warren, while waiving Edell Shepherd, an up-and-coming receiver who has struggled to overcome one of the most infamous dropped passes in franchise history in last season's wildcard game loss to the Redskins.

Elsewhere, the Bucs kept linebackers Wesly Mallard and Antoine Cash, while apparently closing the book on one-time third-round pick Marquis Cooper, who also was waived.

Other notable cuts were rookie tight end Tim Massaquoi, a seventh-round pick this year, fullback Rick Razzano, a seventh-round pick last year, guard Toniu Fonoti, an offseason acqusition, defensive tackle Anthony Bryant, a 2005 sixth-round pick and safety Donte Nicholson, a fifth-round pick in 2005 who showed much promise.

Also Saturday, the Bucs moved offensive tackle Torrin Tucker to injured reserve, which effectively sidelines him for the season. Tucker, signed as a restricted free agent from Dallas over the summer, has been experiencing chronic knee pain throughout the preseason.

The complete list of cuts:

TE Mark Anelli

DE Charles Bennett

DE Jon Bradley

DT Anthony Bryant

S Steve Cargile

C Jonathan Clinkscale

LB Marquis Cooper

FB Carey Davis

CB Dwight Ellick

G Toniu Fonoti

WR Chas Gessner

OL Scott Jackson

TE Tim Massaquoi

S Donte Nicholson

CB James Patrick

FB Rick Razzano

WR Edell Shepherd

LB Anthony Trucks

RB Derek Watson

DE Andrew Williams

DE Keith Wright

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