Chukwurah returning to Tampa Bay
With Marques Douglas' trade opening a roster spot, the Bucs have re-signed defensive end Patrick Chukwurah to a one-year contract, according to his agent.
Chukwurah played in Tampa Bay last season but was limited by knee and shoulder injuries. His ineffectiveness led to his release on June 19. But the Bucs are definitely looking to upgrade their pass rush, and that is considered Chukwurah's strength.
Chukwurah played nine games in 2007 but was not at full strength during some of those. He finished with one sack and 16 tackles. He also added 10 tackles on special teams, where he is quite a force.
Still, he fell well short of the team's expectations for him after his acqusition from the Broncos. In 2006, Chukwurah had a career-high 4.5 sacks as a backup in Denver.
(Pictured: Defensive end Patrick Chukwurah, back with the team for the first time since last season, warms up at Reliant Stadium. Times photo - Brian Cassella)
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Hopefully he can have a healthier stint this time around
Posted by: JScott | August 27, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Good move. Douglas was to slow for our scheme, at least Chukwurah has some jets.
Posted by: Ben | August 27, 2008 at 01:04 PM
this spells doom for somebody, just not sure who....haye, hovan, adams, carter, sims, and white are locks to make it...wilkerson looked good and peterson has potential, but one of them is probably out of the picture unless chukwurah is competing for his job over the span of 3 or 4 practices....maybe kevin carter is the expendable one? steady veteran but he's the only one in that group on the downside of his career.
with all the extra bodies at RB, LB, QB, and with joseph's injury forcing us to carry an extra OL, seems like 7 DL is about the max we could carry....
Posted by: skp | August 27, 2008 at 01:46 PM
Skp... You read my mind. I don't see them bringing Chuk back today to turn around and cut him on Saturday. So, using that logic, someone has to go. I will disagree with you on one point: I think it's possible they keep eight on the DL. I believe that's how many they kept last season. It's pretty intriguing to try and sort out all the puzzle pieces.
Posted by: Stephen_Holder | August 27, 2008 at 02:26 PM
Don't forget that Chuk can play a little LB if he has to, so I would suspect one of the DB's are in trouble.
Posted by: Jay | August 27, 2008 at 02:41 PM
Off topic a bit - what about a trade of clayton and simms (and perhaps a conditional draft pick) to the cardinals for anquan boldin? thoughts?
Posted by: doug | August 27, 2008 at 05:30 PM
Get over it Frank. NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.
Posted by: Frank | August 27, 2008 at 05:44 PM
Sorry. Meant to say Doug. As if the Cards woud trade one of the best receivers in the league for WR who can't catch and a quarterback who can't throw.
Posted by: Frank | August 27, 2008 at 05:47 PM
We could throw in Sammy Davis into the trade as a cornerback who can't cover
Posted by: Matt | August 27, 2008 at 06:39 PM
Stephen,
I think Chuk was only brought back for one game, unless someone else gets hurt. Carter may be on the bubble, but I have a feeling Bennett & Bradwell get cut & Dre Moore goes to the practice squad if he's lucky. They keep 8 DL = Adams,Carter,Haye,Hovan,Peterson,Sims,Wilkerson,White.
Posted by: BucJunkie | August 27, 2008 at 06:44 PM
Matt, nobody deserves that trade. Even the Patriots.
Posted by: Jay | August 27, 2008 at 08:40 PM
They will keep no less than 8 DL, possibly 9. The big questions are is Chukwurah being brought in for more than just a look and has Dre Moore shown enough to warrant the protection of being not cut? If Chuk is cut and we go with 8 I think it is between Moore and Peterson, if Chuk is to make the team and they keep 9, again it is between Moore and Peterson... of course if Chuk's cut, Moore and Peterson make the team.
Peterson is ineligible for the PS, but both Moore and Bradwell seem like good candidates.
Posted by: Brandon | August 27, 2008 at 09:20 PM
Junkie, have to agree with you on at least one point: Dre Moore has been a waste of space thus far. A lot of space, too. I really heard good things about him from the coaches after the draft and rookie camp. Not sure what they saw that I haven't.
Posted by: Stephen_Holder | August 27, 2008 at 10:24 PM
So, Chuk hangs 1 sack and 16 tackles in 07, Bucs cut him on June 19 b/c he stunk on ice last year, NOW he's the answer on the DL? His career high in sacks is 4 1/2 and that was as a backup in Denver in 06. Have to wonder who came up with the bright idea of bringing him back.
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Posted by: SC | August 28, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Moore is only a kid, the NFL is a big step up from college level. To be the best here, its a huge difference in lifestyle from what he's used to.
With the Bucs, he's in the best possible hands to succeed.
Posted by: Oliver | August 28, 2008 at 11:37 AM