RZR
Sun-kissed & restless
Bucs Website Reports:
Nov 03, 2009 - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have 53 spots on their active roster. They are working hard to make sure all of them matter.
Virtually every week of the Buccaneers' 2009 season has featured a tweak or two to the active roster, and Week Nine is no different. The latest addition: rookie cornerback Mike Mickens, who was plucked off the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad on Tuesday. To make room for Mickens among those 53 spots, the team released third-year cornerback Marcus McCauley.
Both Mickens and McCauley, who was signed on October 20, represent the team's efforts to find players who will "drive the bus from the bottom up," as is Head Coach Raheem Morris' chosen phrase. Other players the Buccaneers have signed since the season started with the intention of improving overall roster depth have included fullback Chris Pressley, guard Shawn Murphy, wide receiver Yamon Figurs, safety Corey Lynch and defensive ends Tim Crowder and Michael Bennett.
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New Kicker for Bucs: Connor Barth
Nov 03, 2009 - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have changed kickers for a second time in 2009.
In is Connor Barth, a second-year pro who turned in a strong 10 games with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008.
The Buccaneers made those roster moves early Tuesday afternoon, hours after also signing cornerback Mike Mickens off the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad. While Mickens, a rookie seventh-rounder out of Cincinnati, may need some time to work up the Bucs' depth chart, Barth obviously has an opportunity to make an immediate impact.
The 23-year-old Barth (5-11, 193) was a standout at the University of North Carolina, known for both his accuracy and a booming leg on kickoffs. He originally joined Kansas City in 2008 as an undrafted free agent and battled veteran Nick Novak for the Chiefs' kicking job last summer. Novak won the job to begin the season but was released and replaced by Barth after six games.
Barth made the most of his 10-game opportunity last year, converting 10 of 12 field goal attempts and all 24 extra point tries. He made his first nine attempts as a pro and also hit 31 of his 46 kickoffs inside the 10 or in the end zone, leading to four touchbacks.
Are these roster moves too little too late? Or is Raheem working to make the best of whats left of this season?
Nov 03, 2009 - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have 53 spots on their active roster. They are working hard to make sure all of them matter.
Virtually every week of the Buccaneers' 2009 season has featured a tweak or two to the active roster, and Week Nine is no different. The latest addition: rookie cornerback Mike Mickens, who was plucked off the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad on Tuesday. To make room for Mickens among those 53 spots, the team released third-year cornerback Marcus McCauley.
Both Mickens and McCauley, who was signed on October 20, represent the team's efforts to find players who will "drive the bus from the bottom up," as is Head Coach Raheem Morris' chosen phrase. Other players the Buccaneers have signed since the season started with the intention of improving overall roster depth have included fullback Chris Pressley, guard Shawn Murphy, wide receiver Yamon Figurs, safety Corey Lynch and defensive ends Tim Crowder and Michael Bennett.
--------AND--------
New Kicker for Bucs: Connor Barth
Nov 03, 2009 - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have changed kickers for a second time in 2009.
In is Connor Barth, a second-year pro who turned in a strong 10 games with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008.
The Buccaneers made those roster moves early Tuesday afternoon, hours after also signing cornerback Mike Mickens off the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad. While Mickens, a rookie seventh-rounder out of Cincinnati, may need some time to work up the Bucs' depth chart, Barth obviously has an opportunity to make an immediate impact.
The 23-year-old Barth (5-11, 193) was a standout at the University of North Carolina, known for both his accuracy and a booming leg on kickoffs. He originally joined Kansas City in 2008 as an undrafted free agent and battled veteran Nick Novak for the Chiefs' kicking job last summer. Novak won the job to begin the season but was released and replaced by Barth after six games.
Barth made the most of his 10-game opportunity last year, converting 10 of 12 field goal attempts and all 24 extra point tries. He made his first nine attempts as a pro and also hit 31 of his 46 kickoffs inside the 10 or in the end zone, leading to four touchbacks.
Are these roster moves too little too late? Or is Raheem working to make the best of whats left of this season?
