Kelly lands in Detroit

Cornerback Brian Kelly has finally inked a deal to join the team most suspected he would: the Detroit Lions.

Kelly on Saturday signed a reported three-year contract, finding a home to continue playing after buying his way out of his contract with the Bucs last month.

The Lions hosted Kelly on Wednesday and now are making him the latest ex-Buc to join the team's defense. Last year, defensive end Dewayne White signed a lucrative deal with Detroit. And last week, safety Kalvin Pearson, a restricted free agent, signed an offer sheet that the Bucs are not expected to match by Wednesday's 4 p.m. deadline.

Why the attraction to former Tampa Bay players? Well, you probably know by now that Detroit is full of former Bucs coaches. Head coach Rod Marinelli, defensive coordinator Joe Barry and defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake are all former Tampa Bay assistants.

The key for Kelly in 2008 will be staying healthy. He has missed portions of the past two seasons with a toe injury in 2006 and a groin injury in 2007. The Bucs have yet to address his loss by adding a cornerback.

Comments

[troy parker]

what did thy pay him? i loved him, but he cost us the superbowl in 99 and is NEVER healthy!

norris

[Jay]

BK cost us the SuperBowl in 99? Are you high? You're more likely to blame the ground for interfering with Bert Emanuel's reception than that. Up until the last two seasons, Kelly has been an unsung hero on that defense and deserves a lot more respect than you seem willing to give.

Aside from missing part of 2003 with a torn pectoral muscle (in case you don't remember Tim Wansley being torched on Monday Night against the Colts) and turf toe in 2006, he started and played in EVERY SINGLE GAME SINCE 1998, and you want to say he's never healthy?

The best way to gauge an impact player, is when he isn't present, when BK wasn't in the lineup, you saw the difference. He's covered some of the best WR's in the league and amassed a very good resume in the process - for a system guy. Ronde could blitz from the other side, and you don't take those kinds of gambles unless you know that you have someone you can depend on.

I wish Brian Kelly well in his new location, and hope that he is able to establish himself there like he did here. And hopefully, (but doubtful) the fans up there will show a little more appreciation for him than some of the blog commenters on here have.

[Anthony]

I say if you dont want to be a buc than the hell with you. I hope BK plays like crap.Especially against us this year

[Duane]

Hard to defend against a perfect pass n' catch which is what happened with the Bucs vs. Rams game. Can't blame Kelly for that. Would rather blame Dungy and his pathetic offensive scheme. Don't wish Kelly ill will, but playing on artificial turf only aggravates a turf toe injury. Artificial turf is what causes most turf toe injuries. With his injury problems the last two seasons I doubt if he will make it through the season, especially playing on artifical turf.

[Jam]

I agree with Anthony, to hell with him. He dumped us, we didn't dump him.

I now hope he and every other former Detwat Buc flops. That way Tampa's media will get exposed for thier continued Gruden/Allen bashing when they don't write a single word disrespecting Rod Marinelli's attempts to build the Lions with familiar faces of the Bucs' retread trash.

Thier double standards are rediculous.

[John P]

I'd never wish a guy harm, but Detroit isn't exactly paradise for an aging veteran. I hope he got what he can in signing bonus, and joins the line in giving Millen the middle finger when they boot him out of town.

L8r BK. You're over rated anyway. Enjoy your losses playing for the Detroit Bucs.

[John P]

By the way, here's the list of former Bucs players currently on the Lions:

Jon Bradley, FB (2004-06)
Chuck Darby, DT (2001-04)
Brian Kelly, CB (1998-2007)
Kalvin Pearson, S (2005-07)
Corey Smith, DE (2002-04)
Dwight Smith, S (2001-04)
Dewayne White, DE (2003-06)

[DR]

I keep hearing that only the Eagles are in talks with the Cards about Fitzgerald, are the Bucs in a conversation with the Cards about Fitz? They have the money and if they aren't, then they don't want to pay out to great players and are a joke of a franchise. Fitz will require 31M guaranteed, but he's well worth it. He'll be the best player on the Bucs, easily! He deserves top dollar.
If they aren't players in this, this should say something about this franchise and maybe you blind fans will see the truth that's right in front of your face.

[Tuol Ting]

The Bucs have blown this offseason...With all that cap room, they haven't taken advantage. You add through free agency then build through the draft. You don't "sit back" and wait for high priced players to become available through trade. What good is that? Why give up precious draft picks when you can sign guys like Bernard Berrian, Bryant Johnson or Randy Moss without compensation? Makes no sense....6-10 in 2008. Book it

[Skylar]

Doofus Ray...you're the joke. Thing is; you're the only one that doesn't get it.

[jersey buc]

This was a done deal long ago, except for minor interest from the Giants no one else pursued Kelly. He didn't want to battle PBuc for the starting job here, coudln't stay on the field anymore and is entering his 11th season...over under on games played in Detroit is 8.

[Kurt]

Ting, I hate to burst your bubble, but at this point the Bucs have been as active in FA as any other team in the NFL. Look at the transactions. It's true that we haven't overspent on underachievers, but oh that's right, that is the smart thing to do. Moss wasn't really available, Berrian and Walker are overrated and I believe Bryant is still available. This just in, we'd win 9-10 games fielding the same team from last year moron. We gave 3 away last year if you recall. 6-10 is a blowhard comment from a non-football oriented mind. Free agency is good for some things, but a trade is far more lucrative, seeing as you can get somebody that is coveted instead of dumped off. Did we let anybody we really wanted go? I bet everybody in Detroit is tickled pink about BK, but we all know that his better days are behind him, don't we? Seriously, give it a rest and wait until the season starts to pass judgment on the off-season transactions.

[Tuol Ting]

Kurt, it's clear you don't have a damn idea what you're talking about. Leon Joe? Teddy Lehman? John Gilmore? Are you freakin' kidding me? If you call that being "active", they you are right my clueless misguided friend...The Bucs are active in your mind. Signing stiffs who should be delivering pizzas will certainly get you to 6-10. Just take a look at the schedule my friend. Much more difficult this time around. And not improving your team means you're setting yourself up for a serious downfall. It happens nowadays in the NFL, you can go from 4-12 to 9-7 and the other way around in one year.

[Kurt]

Says you.

[Mac]

You're name suits you right; you're a Tuol. I agree with Kurt; there hasn't been much of anything to go after in FA. The only pickup we really needed was gotten on the first day and in dominant fashion. The team knows what it wants and what it needs and apparently you don't. You just want to see us spend, spend, spend, and that would be your means to an end. Problem is the current regime is wise and believes that the end justifies the means in this game. The Bucs have gotten better this offseason by acquiring a C, DL & LB's for starting positions and depth. What starters do we need to replace? I don't know if you've forgotten, and although he is long of tooth, we have the fastest WR in the NFL. We have a RB that scored 10 rushing TD's (6 in the NFL) in approx. 10 games. We already have our starters in every position at this point. I'm not sure I understand you're line of thinking. There were no "available" upgrades that we didn't get that weren't completely overpaid by someone else. The only thing I think we can upgrade substantially is the WR position opposity Galloway (which may come via a trade,) but there was no-one available who's price tag justified going after them (besides Moss who was never in the running.) I just think some of you are belly-achers who don't understand the process of building a long-term winning franchise. I had enough of the splash spending of skill position players and no blocking back in the Culverhouse days. It appears Tuol wants to go back there, but I'm not ready for that! GO BUCS!!!

[Kurt]

I'm glad to see some people have sense on this website. Well said Mac. I noticed that Tuol only mentioned the second tier players that we signed conveniently forgetting the others (and just to note; they were all 1st day picks - so the potential is still there.) This just in you Tuol; lots of LB's and TE's make special teams elite! You really have no clue do you? You also failed to acknowledge that I stated we should hold off judgement until training camp starts. That's when we'll really know how well we did improving our team. Anyway, I'm done bantering you around.

[Kipp]

Smooth move ex-lax, he'll be tough to replace.

[Charles in Charge]

Did the bucys keep that Jeff Garcia fella? Oh my he was surely spicy. ; )

[Joe]

He's barely been involved in the defense the past 2 years. Don't think he'll be missed at all. Actually been kind of a cancer, like when he said that this team was sending a clear message that it didn't want to pay players if they got hurt. Duh-Einstein! I mean, this is a job that requires one to be physically fit. btw...that guy and everyone who says we're on a sinking ship is a Tuol!

[Oliver]

Kelly was a great player in his time, but the Bucs are only getting younger now. Buchanon will have another good year, a drafted corner is needed.

[Bo]

Those were the same things you were saying about Haye, White, Penn and Hilliard last year huh Tuol? Probably were with DR on that 4-12 W-L prediction too! Do us a favor; find DR and the 2 of you take a long walk on a short pier. You're insight is truly respected by all the fake fans who know nothing of football and of loyalty to the team. Keep up the good work.

[Str8BucIn]

Well it's great to see we do have some fans(Kurt & Mac) that have a great understanding of how to be competitive year in and year out. As for the fool Tuol, what do you want more years of not being able to do anything. We have done great this yeaar so far in free agency with our additions. We picked up the desperately needed center to anchor our young line and depth in LB, TE and DE. Which translate to a stronger special teams to make us a more complete team. As for the glamourous position of WR and CB I think we are on the right track. We should do whatever it takes to get a guy like Larry Fitzgerald in the fold and still go after a speedy WR in the draft. We need to also focus on our 1st round pick and look at taking one of the top CB's (A. Talib, M. Jenkins, D. Rodgers-Cromartie, L. McKelvin). If we have to give up our 1st pick this year for Fritzgerald then we can go after a guy like F. Washington(former 1st round pick '05) from Oakland to fill the void at CB. We don't need to spend the extra money foolishly. We need to think about putting ourselves in this same position next year.

[DR]

Wow, I mean, really, wow! Where to start? Ting, stay strong, because there is someTing wrong with these people.
1. "...the Bucs have been as active in FA as any other team in the NFL."
Really Kurt? The Bucs put money up for Berian, Briggs, Crumpler, Walker, Moss, etc.? They have signed no namers! You felt so compelled to dog out somebody but wouldn't name a single player the Bucs have signed that you're proud about. If you really like a player they have signed, you would have named him and you didn't.
2. "...we have the fastest WR in the NFL." Wow, who cares!?! You have a WR that catches 57 balls and has his best games against the worst defense in the league! Whoopty doo! Good for you! And to think that a possible trade for Fitz, Williams or CJ would compliment Galloway???? Are you kidding??? galloway would be second fiddle to all those guys, even in his prime! Which doesn't say much about Galloway since he has never put up #1 WR numbers.
3. "competitive year in, year out." Wow, didn't know 7-9, 5-11, 11-5, 4-12, 9-7, are competitive records year in year out! Another great statement!
The Bucs do have some talent, but it's old. It's a fact that Garcia led them last year, even though he couldn't play the entire season. Galloway is old and couldn't last the entire season. Hilliard is old. The O-line is young and did improve throughout the season. They got a solid center in free agency. But name me a team that has a center anchoring their line. There isn't any. The center is the smallest guy on the line with the least responsibility. He doesn't protect Garcia's backside.
Good luck to the Bucs if they choose to not make any moves this off season. They'll certainly need it.

[Tuol TIng]

Listen up humanoids....The Bucs had just one win against winning teams in 2007. This team cannot compete against the likes of Dallas and the Giants. The sked is much tougher in 2008. And hey Straight Bucin garbage man, do you think Larry Fitzgerald comes cheap even if Arizona wanted to trade him? Wake up! It will take at least a 1 and a 2 to get him....My point from above stays the same....Why give up draft picks to get players when you can sign quality free agents(Berrian) then add to your team throught the draft??? You guys are way too optimistic and too lenient on this team....You're getting bent over with ticket prices soaring and they're doing nothing thus far to justify the price increase. You're paying through the nose....If you wanna pay 33% more to watch Teddy Lehman and Matt McCoy, go right ahead.

[Michael]

To DR and Tuol, cant wait to see how foolish you guys look when the season is over. What hurt the Bucs last year was the lack of depth. Once Cato June got injured, Derrick Brooks had to stay on the feild for the entire game. He CAN'T do that anymore. These moves will sure up any depth issues we had. Also, look at what gems Gruden/Allen have found over the last few years when people thought they were washed up or no name players: Philip Buccannen, Jovan Haye, Tanard Jackson, Donnald Penn, Earnest Graham, the list goes on further. It is begining to look like you dont want the Bucs to be sucessful.If you 2 dont want the Bucs to win, go support Rich McKay and the Atlanta Falcons, as McKay signs guys to outragious contracts just to spend money, and then puts the team in the gutter. And I know that you are going to say that Gruden/Allen caused a big part of the cap problems for the Bucs, but you are flat out wrong. The players they signed only contributed about 5% of the Bucs cap issues the last few years, according to the Pewter Report.

[Skylar]

DR, why bother? You're the one that said we would go 4-12 last year and that E Graham was crappy. You have no insight, yet you continue to come on here and speak stupidity. At least you give us someone to laugh at. Thanks for that.

[Kurt]

Berrian: quality free agent? That's why you are a tuol dude. That's just not having any football insight whatsoever. Who is Berrian better than on our team? He's not faster than Galloway, his hands are made of butter and he can't block. We will pay our ticket prices (which are not overly priced for the NFL,) and you can go blog on the Falcons sight where the stupid GM, owner and coaches are.

And DR, if you had any reading comprehension you would have noticed that I said we were working toward having a competitive team year in and year out by the things we are doing now. We have just gotten ourselves out the last regimes cap hell, so to use past records as evidence of Allens work shows that you don't use logic in your arguments. This team is just beginning to develop. Gruden has had patchwork players due to our incredible debt through the beginning of his tenure. We are just starting to see Gruden and Allen's team. This year will be the first team with depth, youth and a lot of talent. If you don't see the talent, you're a moron (which we all already know.)

I can't wait to see what you have to say mid-year.

[Dwayne]

man dont pay DR any attention i been saying this all last week and ill say it again today, Dr talks about our records saying we arent a good team, saying we suck and all types of crap, but he still never acknowledged wat i said about his team not winning any playoff games in 10 years, and there supposed to be "Americas Team". well wat has Americas team done for you lately..........ummm nothing not for the last 10 years, you can say are records werent that good all you want but weve been to the nfc championship game twice won 3 division championships and a superbowl since the last time you could win a playoff game and hey i didnt know going 5-11 three years in a row meant ur a good team. so diss us all you want but go in and diss your cowboys as well for havin ok seasons but cant win in the playoffs when it counts. so keep dissin my buccaneers all you want cause your team hasnt backed up wat your preachin this decade, so when you wanna diss out stuff about us me and my buc fans are gonna dish it right back. Lets go bucs!!!!!!!!!

[Kipp]

I'm trying to keep an open mind here, what advantages do we have by not signing free agents? I mean other than higher draft picks in the future...

[Jay]

Kipp, I think the main concern was not that we didn't sign free agents, but that we didn't overpay for marginal talent. I believe the only one we let "slip away" was Alge Crumpler, who signed with Seattle for a non-blockbuster deal. Still he's getting up there in age (30 is old in football years) and very few of the other "big names" in free agency were fits for either the position, or the team.

Additionally, it's not always about throwing money at a player to win them over. Moss was offered by Philly almost twice what he signed for in New England.

It would not have much sense to overpay for Randal Gay / Berrian / Stallworth just to name a few. Approaching it from a trade stand point means that we assess the draft by needs at the position, look at what is the most likely order based upon the combine and senior day evaluations, and then see if it's worth it to move up or down on the board, or go for existing talent on another team. For example, trading Arizona for Larry Fitzgerald in exchange for our first round pick might make sense (to the Cardinals) in a draft that's deep with WR talent to replace him. It might not make sense to us, but it all depends on what the scouting department thinks we can get with our draft position. The people here clamoring for heads are the kind of people who think a chess board is best suited for playing checkers. Thinking long term is not their forte.

[DR]

Thinking long term is not Gruden's forte jay. Garcia and Galloway are your starters, thats long term eh?
Berrian would have been a good pick up for the long term. Stallworth was a great pick up for the Browns, he'll stretch the field for Edwards and Winslow, top 5 players in their positions.
It doesn't matter who the Bucs sign, they'll have to pay top dollar.
Dwayne, whaaa whaaaa, wow, we haven't won a playoff game in a while, thats news to me. I already addressed your idiotic criticism. You can't compare the Bucs franchise to the Cowboys franchise, that's a ridiculous comparison. The Bucs haven't won a playoff game in 5 years. The Bucs have NEVER won 13 games in a regular season. Gruden had the same team, the same players, for the most part, the year after the Super Bowl and failed to make the playoffs and had a losing record. Yet, you all blame the salary cap-HAHAHAHAHA! You guys are morons!

[Jay]

DR, I'll admit that one major criticism of Gruden is that he is TERRIBLE at grooming young QB's into playmakers. In fact, his MO is that he prefers veterans because he doesn't have to teach them, nurture them, or help them grow as players. So in essence, I agree that Garcia and Galloway are not long term answers. However, considering the market, I don't think Culpepper or Joey Harrington are either. I'm still on convinced that Berrian is an impact player.

[Mike]

Berrian is a joke. He's got wheels but his hands are terrible. As far a Gruden being terrible at grooming a young QB, isn't that the QB coaches job? Gruden isn't soley responsible for bringing up a QB. His responsibilites are more focused on game-planning and puttin together a playbook. That's what assistant coaches are for.

[Dwayne]

HAHAHAHA...yea DR the bucs never won 13 games in a season, but hey they never went 5-11 three years in a row.."Americas Team" my butt..haha you cowboy fans are the ones that are morons!

[John]

Comparing the Bucs to the Cowboys is an insult to the Bucs. The Cowboys are 1-2 against the Bucs in recent years. The Bucs have owned the NFC east under Gruden 8-4....Look it up!

[DR]

Dwayne, are you kidding? Yeah, the Bucs never went 5-11 three years in a row. You must be 12 years old.
The Bucs only hold the league record for consecutive losses, 26. The Bucs had a streak of twelve consecutive seasons with 10+ losses. In fact,if the Bucs go undefeated the next 6 seasons in a row, they would still have a losing record as a franchise. If the Cowboys go 0-16 the next 6 years, they would still have an overall winning record. The Bucs franchise is the little red headed step child of the Cowboys franchise. They're nothing in comparison.
Berrian isn't a joke. He has done well with the worst starting QB in the league. If he had a QB that could throw, he'd be even better.

[Mike]

I don't see paying $42 million to a guy who hasn't made the pro bowl. That's top ten draft pick money. He's nowhere close to that caliber player. Fitz would be worth that, not Berrian.

[John]

To bring up 0-26 shows pure stupidity. EXPANSION TEAM with NO FREE AGENCY! Your a moron! You forgot to mention that the Bucs were in the NFC Championship in their 4th year of existence. They also made the playoffs 3 of their first 7 years.

[Dwayne]

naw buddy far from being 12 years old, trust me, anyway im just saying you bash us but we dont have the title of americas team so know one kisses are butts like you guys and im saying if your team is gonna have the title of americas team they shouldnt be having 3 seasons in a row witout over 5 wins or over 10 years with no playoff wins, if you guys won a playoff game then lost and made the playoffs again the following year u would get credit, but lately you guys have not earned the right to have that title.

[Darren]

Just look at all the hate BK cooked up among us! That man is a controversial killer of a team spirit. Lets celebrate that man's move to Chicago and let their fans sing the Blues.

[Tony]

You're all crazy. Not overspending is good. Alge Crumpler didn't do squat last year for the Falcons when they needed him most, and he was probably the best free agent available.

If we don't have anything really good fall in our lap, we should hold onto our money for when it does.

I'm sorry to see Brian Kelly go, he's been a great Buccaneer for a long time. But he's too old to pay, and it's time to get some youth up in the mix.

And instead of arguing with people that should be paying attention to their own team, we should be looking towards the draft. We obviously need a CB. Maybe a WR? Do we want one of these QB talents in the second round? There is a lot of great talent that might fall to us at 20.

The draft is where your team comes from. Ask the Redskins where pursuing every hot free agent gets you.

[Kurt]

You bring up a good point Tony, and I have a couple of questions for Stephen? 1) What do the coaches say about the development of the young tackle Peterson? If he is ready, that would give us him, Hovan, Haye and Sims at tackle. That's not a bad rotation if he is playing decently. Secondly, what is the story on CB's Hamilton & Hunter? Last of all, how is the progress on Warren's recovery? From what I see on the existing roster, I believe we need to address DL and CB first and move to WR from their (unless we can cover one of those via trade.)

[Dwayne]

Kurt, warren is fine and walkin around fine like the injury never happened, he headed from sacramento back to Tampa last week.

[DR]

I love Tony Romo, but that doesn't make me gay.