Kevin Carter sticking around

Kevin Carter has decided to stay in Tampa, according to his agent, Harold Lewis.

The veteran defensive end turned down more money offered by the Oakland Raiders and another undisclosed team to remain in Tampa Bay on a one-year contract.

Carter was released just prior to the start of the free agent signing period last month because of a looming $2-million roster bonus. The player and team immediately began conversations aimed structuring a contract that would allow him to return, but along the way, other teams expressed interest and began pursuing Carter.

Carter took a visit to Oakland last week and was considering making a visit to Minnesota, which was already discussing numbers in excess of what Carter will make with the Bucs.

In the end, it wasn't about money. Anyone who knows Carter wouldn't be surprised.

"He's never been happier playing football," Lewis, Carter's agent said. "He loves playing with Jon (Gruden), he loves the organization and he feels like he's started something there that he wants to finish.

"He could have made substantially more. And 99 out of 100 times, the player is going to (choose) whoever gives him the best deal. But very few people have a chance to write their own endings. He'll have a chance to do that."

[Photo: Brendan Fitterer, Times]

Comments

[the general]

why, why, why...

[Matt]

why, why, why NOT? It was an inexpensive pick up to add depth. You can't have enough rushing DE with injury's that can occur.

Why, it's the leadership stupid. Be glad he is back, Adams, White, Haye, all need leadership, and this man brings it.

[Mr. S]

Welcome back, Carter

[DR]

Kevin Carter's tears can cure cancer. Too bad he never cries.

[vikingdan]

This is GREAT! Think about it this way:
DB- Ronde Barber to set the example and lead
LB- Derrick Brooks to set the example and lead
DL- Kevin Carter to set the example and lead
-------------------------------------
This adds up to defensive leadership AND youth!

it also adds to the average age of the team

[Darren]

I think this is great news for Kevin Carter and greater news for the Bucs!

All hail Bruce Allen!!!

[glenn]

I have a better feeling every day about our chances this year. Our depth has become fantastic almost everywhere on this football team & training camp is going to be the most competitive we've ever seen. Congrats to the Bucs braintrust.

[Steven]

He still has to make the team.

[Deangelo Hall]

Who the hell is Kevin Carter?

[Chuck Norris]

Some people wear Superman pajamas. Superman wears Kevin Carter pajamas.

[epbuc16]

why,why,why don't u just stup up general. Obviously u know little about howmuch adding leadership to a team means, this is a great re-signing. Its the little things taht add to a teams continuity

[Mike]

Great guy. Never hurt. Solid Leadership (especially for Gaines Adams). You couldn't have a better mentor at the position than KC. Oh, I almost forgot...One of the greatest Gators ever!!

[jersey buc]

depth and leadership in the locker room. Good signing, I like the rotation we have, and they may add some more in the draft.

[Kurt]

I thought it was "Welcome Back Kotter?" I thought this was going to be a key resigning due to his leadership and iron-man demeanor. Ten years and never missed a game. He and Brooks are the epitome of tough. Not to mention an all-american athlete and student at UF. Not enough props go out to these types of guys, but I'm ecstatic to have him back.

And on another note: to all the Gru/Allen bashers, note his comment about coming back because he loves working for Gruden and he loves the atmosphere in Tampa. This is a guy who has a Superbowl and is a class act all the way around.

[Duane]

My sentiments exactly KURT. But what about the "Big Dog" who maintains from his anonymous sources - Rich McKay, Simeon Rice, Keyshawn Johnson - that all of the players despise playing for Gruden. That guy is such a joke.

[Str8BucIn]

This is the second most important signing this off season. We need a quality player to mentor this young line that we have. Here's a guy that will play through pain and lead by example. Quality example at that. He's not going to complain, he loves the coaches and what their trying to accomplish, as well as win a Super Bowl. This was a big win for our defense.

[mkurbo]

Great move ! Carter wanted to play for Gruden despite less money... How refreshing. I guess we won't here Deumig talking about that...

leadership is only valuable if they also have enough talent left to get on field. Old players at end of careers can not replace youth and talent. The Bucs have had a terrible offseason, soon you will realize this

[DR]

The Bucs resigned an average DE. He's an "iron" man who only had 3 sacks last year and hasn't had more than 6 sacks in the last 5 years. This is good news? Really isn't much of a signing. I'm still waiting for that "big" move the Bucs are supposedly going to make.

[Klei]

Many comments raise the leadership and the experience that Carter will provide Carter to the youth and this is true but he will also transmit is good work ethic that Fisher praise so much when he was with the Titans...

[Kurt]

Hey look; Doofus Ray is chiming in on his favorite team's blog. Too bad he still does not see the forest through the trees (probably doesn't even know what that means.) Since Carter played every position on the line and yes (leadership does mean a lot for a very young defensive line,) this is a very important signing and his numbers were good for what he earns. We still have a lot of money to spend (just to be compliant,) so don't anybody worry, we're not done yet. At this point, I don't see any glaring needs, (and I know DR will write HAHHAHAHAHAHAHA or something primitive as such, but he and his band of morons are always wrong,) so whatever we do from this point forward is going to directly translate into wins as our depth is as good as any team in the league. Excellent job Bucs!

[aaron]

Yeah DR you’re a moron… I mean, you have a band of morons.

[Voc]

Still waiting on the WR.... I guess we are solid at that position...

[Snook]

Hey Voc... what WR do you want to sign? There's NONE in Free Agency worth the money. Its called the DRAFT. Good teams build that way, not through FA. Ask the Colts, Pats and Steelers.

[DR]

Yeah, the Bucs have depth, but where's the talent that's going to get them to the next level? Are you seriously banking on a Garcia to Galloway combination to lead the way in the passing game? Future Hall of Famers, Brooks and Barber have been great for the Bucs but the light is getting brighter at the end of the tunnel just like it is for Garcia and Galloway.
Clayton is a bust and Caddy hasn't lived up to a #5 overall selection. A. Smith has been disappointing. Ruud showed some stuff but disappeared as the season went on. Adams looked to be improving but remember, 4 of his 6 sacks were against the Falcons and Saints.
The players the Bucs have signed will add to depth but will make minimal to no impact on making the team better talent wise. It's great to have a bunch of average players, but they'll just be average as a whole. Average players make an impact when there is great player to support. The Bucs don't have any great players. With the players the bucs have, a great season for them next year will be 9-7.

[DR]

Snook, are you seriously comparing the Bucs to the Steelers,Pats and Colts? Those teams have had solid drafts. The Bucs have not.

[Fred]

I see everyone is jumping all over the "leadership" bandwagon with this signing. Here's the thing...we have good teachers at the different defensive position coaches, and we have Derrick Brooks/Ronde. How does adding a guy who saw a hell of a lot of playing time and netted only three sack and got little pressure help a team? Yes he signed for little $, but wouldn't it be better to go out and find another "Jovan Haye" type player that has an upside to fill the roster spot? Are the Bucs building to get better or just trying to get older. Why don't they just go out and sign Deacon Jones! Sure he's like...70, but he's has veteran leadership right!?

[Neville]

Another example that the Gruden/Allen bashers can't stand. A player who could have signed for more elsewhere decides to come back to the organization which many have labeled intolerable as a working environment. And, more specifically, and truly heartbreaking to those bashers, the player cites Coach Gruden as the very reason he wants to return!

Shelton Quarles came back. Even Keyshawn wanted back. And now Carter.

Facts are stubborn things.

[DR]

The Bucs aren't overpaying players, they're just paying players who haven't produced much, if at all, in the NFL.
Neville, your facts are pointless. Quarles and Keyshawn's career's were over. The fact that they thought they could come back with the GruAllen bucs should say something. I mean, wow, players like Brown, garner, etc. wanted to come back and play for Gruden. What the heck did they bring to the team? NOTHING! But they got paid for doing nothing.

[Snook]

No, DR, I'm not comparing the Bucs to those teams. But the Bucs DID draft THREE starters in the 2007 draft. Point is, you build championship teams through drafts, not FA. Weak WRs like Hackett, Johnson and Walker don't add depth. They add unnecessary salaries.

[BTKSTA]

You guys are always talking the same smack. DR you are a tool. I called you out before on being wrong regarding the NFC South having the most teams/representatives in the NFC title and Super Bowl games. The Bucs are filling in team depth in a good way. No team can get through a season without back-ups stepping in when needed. I am glad they are not overpaying for mediocre free agents. There is a lot of things that can happen before next season. After the draft and camps open, teams make many trades and the Bucs will have the $ to do something. I will be pissed if they go into the season with a lot of unspent cash-but don't waste it.
The biggest need for the Bucs is SPEED. They need it at WR and RB-I hope they are planning on using Bennet more this year- and in the defensive backfield. Buchanan is weak. Every game he is burned once or twice by being out of position. He did at the UofM, at the Raiders and now. The Bucs must draft some speed at RB,WR and kick returns.

[Skylar]

DR, you still have no insight. Your Cowgirls are reeling while we are loading up and you are hating it. You dissed all the players we brought in last year and how we treated Rice and you were wrong on all counts. We'll see what you got this year when it comes to insight, but so far all I see is hate-mongering because you secretly are in love with Gruden or something sick like that. I'm sure you'll be wrong about all your predictions; just like last year and I'll be b@#chslapping you all the way to our next division championship and hopefully we'll see your steroid for crack team in the playoffs so we can b@#chlsap them like I do you. btw...where's my pizza boy?

[Kurt]

I love a good hot beef injection

[DR]

Skylar, you have no point. Rice was released from the team in a cowardly way. That's a fact. Was it a good move? Yes, but they could have released Rice in a more respectful manner. He was the best pass rusher to put a Bucs jersey on. He was a huge piece to the Bucs defense. You can't argue that.
I was wrong about EG. I shot him down immediately and paid the price. As it turns out, Kurt was right. In my opinion,EG was more productive than Caddy, has better hands and is a better blocker than Caddy.
A 9-7 season is a b-slapping? Haha! As a fan, you should be embarrassed that your team went 9-7. In a weak division with three losers, I guess it's okay. The Redskins were 9-7, with a harder schedule and finsihed 3rd. The NFC South has never put 3 teams in the playoffs in one year. The NFC East has done it for the second consecutive year.
The Bucs are going to b-slapped in Irving, Texas later this year. Get your own pizza you fat POS.

[DR]

Skylar, you have no point. Rice was released from the team in a cowardly way. That's a fact. Was it a good move? Yes, but they could have released Rice in a more respectful manner. He was the best pass rusher to put a Bucs jersey on. He was a huge piece to the Bucs defense. You can't argue that.
I was wrong about EG. I shot him down immediately and paid the price. As it turns out, Kurt was right. In my opinion,EG was more productive than Caddy, has better hands and is a better blocker than Caddy.
A 9-7 season is a b-slapping? Haha! As a fan, you should be embarrassed that your team went 9-7. In a weak division with three losers, I guess it's okay. The Redskins were 9-7, with a harder schedule and finsihed 3rd. The NFC South has never put 3 teams in the playoffs in one year. The NFC East has done it for the second consecutive year.
The Bucs are going to be b-slapped in Irving, Texas later this year. It will probably be more like first degree felony assault.
Get your own pizza you fat POS.

[Tony G]

Sorry, just checking in to confirm that DR is an idiot...carry on.

[DR]

I am a Tony Romo man loving machine!

[HA]

Any one who thinks Gruden and Allen have done good job, most likely also think presentdink Bush is also Doing good job. They need to trade for 85. He wants out of Cincy, go get him.

[RD]

Hey, HA... you are an ignorant, uneducated tool! Just thought I'd let you in on that, since you're probably too retarded to know all on your own. The only HC out there better than Gruden is Bellichek, but that's only because he cheats. So go ahead and bash Gru some more, idiot.

[KB]

I hear a lot of Gruallen bashing, but not a lot of suggestions on who we should have signed. I guess Justin Smith is the "GREAT!!11!1!" player we should have signed for.. say 8 mil a year for our D-Line? What's that? Stop stuttering and tell us what you would have done, geniouse.

[HA]

RD and KB you are oxygen thiefs, too stupid to understand how to improve a team. (you must add talent not washed up players at the end of their career like Gruden is known for adding) We should have gone after say Randy Moss, Mike Turner, etc. Bucs have to spend certain amount anyway, You will not get better players in draft, if do they will not be impact for years. McCarthy, Del Rio, Shanahan are all excellent coaches and Gruden is also good coach, just not good talent evaluator, he does good with what he has, get real GM and bring in talent and see what happens. And I do not mean McKay, he was clown!

[DR]

Gruden, second best coach in the league? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! What evidence suggests that?

[Jonathan]

"Carter wanted to play for Gruden despite less money... How refreshing. I guess we won't here Deumig talking about that..."

What's so refreshing about it? Everyone knows that the closer to 40 you are than you are to 20, the more Gruden loves you.

[RD]

DR, you, my friend, are an @ss clown! What evidence do you need? Name another HC with as many division titles and SB wins by Grudens' age? That's what I thought... THERE ISN'T ONE!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! MORON!!!
Belichek isn't even half the coah Gruden is, video tape and all.

[DR]

Gruden has done a heck of a job with Simms and Grad at the helm. The offensive guru produces such a powerful offense year in and year out. Cracking the top 15 in offense 1 year out of 6 years of coaching a team is really the definition of an offensive genius. Those 5 yard patterns he runs on 3rd and 10 completely fool the defense. This guy is such an offensive minded coach, he'll kick a field goal in the last few seconds so he'll break the big goose egg he put up for the game. Instead of a 17-0 defeat, you can count on a 17-3 defeat with an offensive guru like Gruden. His .500 record makes him one of the best coaches in the league, perhaps, even ever. Nobody has a better record than .500. Nobody.

[Oliver]

Honest question, DR, if you are a Dallas fan; why do you post regularly about the Bucs?

It would be nice if you stop criticising almost everything the Bucs organisation is doing and has ever done.

[George L Hicks]

Welcome Carter; I think his leadership has help with the new players. Tampa defense will be better than last year. Tampa IRL list must be better this year. It can't hit us back to us can it! I think that Tampa Bay coaching staff is ahead of the curve. Lets gets those players we need from the draft.Go Bucs

[RD]

Hey DR you tool, you never answered my question. Which NFL HC won more division titles and Super Bowls than Gruden at his age? It's nothing less than miraculous that Gruden has done this much with the cap hell McKay left this team in. Go find a coloring book to play with, or better yet, find a bucket of paste to eat, you retard.