Jeff Faine bound for Tampa

The Bucs have wasted no time in addressing one of their biggest needs at the outset of the free-agent signing period.

The Times has learned New Orleans free agent center Jeff Faine has agreed to a multi-year contract that will make him the league's highest-paid player at the position, providing the Bucs with a long-term solution at a position they had targeted for a much-needed upgrade.

Faine was expected to be one of the most intriguing offensive linemen on the market, which would explain why the Bucs are willing to open the coffers to sign him. The value of his deal will surpass those of Cleveland's LeCharles Bentley and Chicago's Olin Kreutz, currently the league's highest-paid centers.

The Bucs opted not to offer free agent and former starter John Wade a contract and seemed determined to address the position through free agency. Still, there were few indications before now that they had any intention of pursuing Faine with any zeal. But with $44-million in salary-cap space available, the Bucs had the luxury of signing a high-priced player like Faine while still leaving room to negotiate with many other free agents.

The move is in direct contrast to those made by the Bucs in recent years during the signing period. The Bucs have opted to sign moderately-priced free agents rather than engage in bidding wars for stars. But this is certainly a sign that perhaps the Bucs are willing to spend. Consider that Faine's deal will be richer than Bentley's, a contract that called for the Cleveland Brown to make $36-million over six years, including $12-million in guarantees.

Entering his sixth season out of Notre Dame, the 26-year-old Faine has started all 66 games he has played in his career with the Browns and Saints. His addition instantly improves the offensive line and fortifies the unit for a long time to come. The Bucs have spent three first-day draft picks on linemen in the past two drafts (guards Davin Joseph and Arron Sears and tackle Jeremy Trueblood) while adding veteran left tackle Luke Petitgout through free agency last year.

-- STEPHEN F. HOLDER

Comments

[Ed]

What did you go to sleep Steve? Where the other news?

[Dwayne]

Good pick up, i didnt think we would make him the highest paid center in the league but good pick up i just hope he does have a mean streak cause its been said scouts say he doesnt but hopefully he does and doesnt get beat off the line, our offensive line should be real nice this year. lets go bucs

[Mr. S]

GREAT pick up.

[BudGreen]

WHOOPIE FRIGGIN DOO!

[BudGreen]

I realize that the free agency period has just started but I sure hope this isnt the biggest signing. A reciever that could catch when it counts would be nice.

[BudGreen]

Oh, Im sorry..I ment JERRAMY Stevens..you retarded non-spelling jerk.

[mkurbo]

Well, so much for the article “free agency could be a big letdown for Bus”…

Big time great way to start ! Congrats to Allen/Gruden for nailing one of the better centers, while hurting a division rival. This completes the youngest o-line in the league. Next; DT or DE before the sun comes up…

[cory]

nice. Offensive line is set in stone for many years to come. Now hopefully we have a year where we don't have to draft any o-line. I still want atleast one playmaker.

[aaron]

i have mixed feelings about this signing. Faine is one of the better centers in the league but i was hoping Dan Beunning would man that spot. he has a nasty streak and is a great run blocker. he did very well for us when he was our starting LG, then he got hurt, then we drafted Sears. i think beunning would really help solidify that line. hey, sears played tackle in the SEC, arguably the toughest conference in college football, we could adress the LT position in house by moving sears back to the tackle position and plug Dan the man in at LG...i really think we should have went after one of the top wr's or cb's in FA and settled the center position in house.

[Bryce Fischer]

WEll BudGreen .. Since Jeremy Stephens is a free agent... They don't need to release him.

[NPR- Tom]

I believe Stephens is still under contract until June, so they could release/cut him now prior to his contract ending.

[Joe]

we need a quality running back. The cadillac is pimping on 3 tires. Id also like to see them get some quality recievers.

[Mike]

HUGE PICKUP! After 32 years it is finally looking like we have established a solid offensive line. Now lets get Hackett! Thats my DJ!

[$mokey]

WHOOPIE FRIGGIN DOO???

You obviously don't know jack about football. Ask the Raiders how much it helped them to have had one of the best WR's in the game (Randy Moss) when your QB is on his back before he gets five yards down the field.
It all starts with the two lines. Good signing hopefully we have a solid lineup for a long time.

[Stephen Holder]

$mokey, you hit it on the head. He's right, people. Yes, the Bucs probably paid more they hoped for a center. But in this day and age, with the cap being as high as it is, if you get the best AVAILABLE player at a given position, it's going to cost you. And if you don't like the fact that the Bucs signed the best free agent at a critical position they had to address, then I'm not really sure what else you want them to do.

[mike j]

Not a mauler in the run game but then neither was Wade. Faine is good
at pass-blocking. Get this: he started 30 games for New Orleans the
past two seasons, & in that time the Saints threw 1232 passes, yet
surrendered only a combined 39 sacks!! Sound good?? A lot of that to
be sure is Brees' quick decision-making, but it still is a credit to
the members of the O-line.

[CW]

Love the pickup, especially since he was plucked from a division rival! That's huge! Another corner and a D-lineman would be nice, plus a receiver or Crumpler, who is as good as having an elite receiver especially in Gruden's system. I like where we're at with our RBs Graham and Bennett. BJ Askew did a great job too.

[Kurt]

Great signing. Way to go GruAllen!!! D-line from here on out. Some project receivers, corner and running backs and we are set for 2008! Go Bucs!!!

[BudGreen]

Hey smokey..I certainly know as much about football as you. Do you really think the Raiders would have done any better with a GOOD not GREAT center?They could have built a brick wall in place of the center and still wouldnt have won more than 5 games with quarterbacks like Aaron Brooks,Andrew Walters,and Marcus Tuiasosopo.Maybe if they dusted off Kenny Stabler or something.Im not saying that the bucs signing a center is a bad thing or not an upgrade but Im not ready to have a parade over this guy.Im sure there are alot bigger needs than center.Your a friggin genius there smokey...I guess we are going to the superbowl not that we have Jeff Faine.We should start a ring of honor just for him....... you dips--t.

[Casey]

Great Pick-Up and final piece for a young solid O-line... that should dominate for years. His football IQ is high and as long as he can read the defenses and make the right calls, he doesn't have to be mean... after all we have Trueblood 'The Enforcer'. Remember, Play Makers can't Make Plays without a solid O-line... the games are won in the trenches.

[Dwayne]

Bottom line is that it was great pick up and we finally have a good line wants faine steps in, for years weve complained about the line now where getting better with each year and some of you want complain, you guys just wont let gruden and allen win or give them credit look how young that o line will be imagine as time passes by and they work better together, we needed an upgarde at that spot and we got it, we need a good line it all starts up front, it was a good signing to me and for most of us buc fans.

[BenQ]

Great pick-up; it appears as though we'll be strong up front for a long time!

Hey BudGreen, looks like you're the non-spelling jerk... you may want to spell check future takes; I think you ment to write "meant"