Bucs trade TE Alex Smith to Pats

The Bucs traded tight end Alex Smith to the New England Patriots for an undisclosed draft pick in 2010.

Smith, a third-round pick out of Stanford in 2005, became expendable when the Bucs traded two draft picks (second-round pick in '09, fifth in 2010) to the Cleveland Browns for tight end Kellen Winslow.

He had only one year remaining on his contract and scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent following the '09 season. 

In four seasons, Smith played in 58 games and caught 129 passes for 1,252 yards and 11 touchdowns.

He was plagued by a series of leg and ankle injuries and missed at least two games in each of the past three seasons.

Last year, Smith played in 14 games and caught 21 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns.

The Bucs have three veteran tight ends on the roster: Winslow, who is expected to be a featured receiver next season; Jerramy Stevens, who led all Bucs TE's in '08 with 36 receptions for 397 yards and two TDs; and John Gilmore, who is primarily a blocking tight end.

The trade was announced on the Patriots' website.The Bucs had attempted to trade Smith prior to the NFL draft last week.

Midday sports report

Prospects have legit chance to make Buccaneers roster

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will hold a weekend rookie minicamp beginning Friday at One Buc Place, an event that will feature the team's first-round pick, Josh Freeman, and the rest of the draft class.

But there also will be a slew of undrafted free agents and players on so-called "tryout contracts" who hope to make it to training camp with the club. Those players will arrive in Tampa later today knowing that is a distinct possibility.

For a number of reasons, the Buccaneers have available space, with just 68 players under contract at the moment. That number is actually higher than it appears, because the six draft picks aren't signed yet but inevitably will be. Still, that leaves the Bucs six open spots under the 80-man roster maximum during the offseason.

That means several players from this weekend's camp could earn a spot on the team, at least for the time being. A couple of those spots will be taken by players who apparently have been promised rookie free agent deals, such as University of Tennessee cornerback DeAngelo Willingham and Richmond running back Josh Vaughan.

The roster flexibility will enable the Bucs to consider signing players in whom they see potential, something that has paid dividends in the past. It was at this time last year the Bucs latched onto running back Clifton Smith, who excelled in the rookie camp and was given a contract. The rest, as you probably know, is history -- literally. Smith went on to make the Pro Bowl as the NFC's return man.

Will there be another Clifton Smith this year? The Bucs sure hope so and they begin their quest to find out this weekend.

Former Tampa Bay Bucs coach Jon Gruden finds a niche on television

Say hello to Jon Gruden, television star. Soon, he may have his own sitcom, writes Times columnist Gary Shelton.

(Jon Gruden, on right chatting with Jets pick Mark Sanchez, impressed NFL Network brass with his draft coverage work. [NFL.com])

Midday sports report

Do Jason Taylor's options include the Buccaneers? Depends on who you ask

We heard an interesting rumor today about the Bucs possibly having interest in free agent defensive end Jason Taylor.

Taylor is narrowing his choices of teams as he prepares to play another season, and we were told the Bucs are among the teams interested. They are said to be joined by the Patriots and Dolphins, his original team.

But there is some conflicting information here. A different source indicated Taylor is not someone the Bucs have targeted. The rationale is this: adding a player like Taylor, who is 34-years old, would run counter to the team's stated goal: to get younger and go in a different direction. They are so committed to the goal that Derrick Brooks, Joey Galloway, Warrick Dunn and others were released.

Yes, Jim Bates is the defensive coordinator in Tampa and coached Taylor in Miami. And, yes, the Bucs are looking for help in their pass rush. But Taylor, a pass-rush specialist, wouldn't be an ideal fit at left defensive end, where the Bucs are searching for a starter opposite right end Gaines Adams. That position would require Taylor be stouter against the run.

We learned from Taylor's camp shortly after Taylor was cut by the Redskins early in the offseason that Tampa Bay was not among the teams making an effort to sign him. We'll keep trying to determine whether that's changed.

Right now, that's less than certain.

Midday sports report

Buccaneers adding rookie free agents and tryout players

The Buccaneers are in the process of adding some rookie free agents as well as players who will help round out the roster for the weekend's rookie minicamp.

Perhaps the most interesting name is Tennessee CB DeAngelo Willingham, who was signed to a rookie free agent contract according to his agent, Ron Slavin. Willingham, a 5-foot-11, 217-pound press cornerback, had 12 teams pursuing him after he went undrafted, Slavin said. He finished 2008 with 42 tackles, 24 solo, three interceptions and four pass breakups. Some teams have also viewed him as a safety because of his impressive size.

"I was shocked he wasn't drafted," Slavin said.

Among the other players believed to have been offered rookie free agent contracts are Richmond RB Josh Vaughan and Pittsburgh DL Rashaad Duncan.

Those signed to tryout contracts include two USF prospects: TE Cedric Hill and DE Jarriett Buie. Another tryout prospect is former Tampa Bay Tech standout LB Maurice Crum of Notre Dame, who was given the impression he has a legitimate shot at being offered a contract. Because of his local ties, Drum was among the prospects evaluated by the Bucs in a workout featuring players from the region a few weeks ago.

Midday sports report

Freeman prepared for scrutiny

Josh Freeman was introduced as the Bucs' No. 1 draft pick Monday and said he's prepared for the scrutiny that comes with being considered a franchise quarterback.

"Quarterback is the most scrutinized position,'' Freeman said. "When you're winning, they love you. When you're losing, they hate you. I've been talking to a number of quarterbacks who are in the league and they tell you the same thing. They say it's not about what people are saying, it's about the attitude you carry into the office every day and your willingness to work.

"A great example is Donovan McNabb last year. I mean, they're ready to bench him and he comes back and wins six games in a row and takes them all the way to the NFC Championship game. It's all about the attitude and listening to the right people. I have a great support system in my family and also the guys that I work for.''

Freeman said he's unaware of whether he will play immediately as a rookie or be made to wait his turn on the sidelines.

"I really have no expectations, other than eventually being the starter. I mean, I don't if it's going to be this year, I don't know if it's going to be next year or what it's going to be. All I'm going to do is come in and work as hard as I can and try to put myself in the best position to make this team better.''

Freeman is not lacking for confidence. Shortly after being drafted, Freeman declated himself the best quarterback in the NFL draft -- better than Georgia's Matthew Stafford, who went No. 1 overall to the Lions and Southern Cal quarterback Mark Sanchez, who went No. 5 overall to the Jets.

"I think there's a number of things. I got to work out with those guys and I think they're tremendous players,'' Freeman said. "Honestly, I think it's my ability to make plays. I only got sacked 13 times last season and I think it's due to the fact that I'm a big, physical presence in the pocket and when you're talking about standing in the pocket, taking a hit and still delivering the ball, it's something I do well with my size. If you're talking about maybe a three technique, breaking free and getting loose, I mean, my size and my agility allows me to oftentimes escape and be able to make a play down the field as well as just being a normal pocket passer.''