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Bucs Re-Sign RB Bennett |
 Bucs RB Michael Bennett scored two touchdowns last year (Cliff Welch) |
With two weeks left before the start of free agency, the Bucs got an early jump on acquiring players as they re-signed RB Michael Bennett. Bennett was acquired in a trade with Kansas City last year after Tampa Bay lost Cadillac Williams to a season-ending knee injury. Bennett averaged 4.6 yards per carry and scored two TDs in 2007.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered 2008 with the running back position in disarray with the retirement of fullback and goal line specialist Mike Alstott, the continued rehab of starting running back Cadillac Williams' knee and the departure of running backs coach Art Valero grabbing the offseason headlines.
The position became more settled this week when PewterReport.com reported that special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia would coach Tampa Bay's running backs, but as of Thursday, Earnest Graham was the only proven halfback under contract as both Michael Pittman and Michael Bennett were scheduled to be unrestricted free agents on February 29.
However, the Buccaneers took a big step in solidfying the running back position with the re-signing of running back Michael Bennett, 29, to a multi-year contract, according to Buccaneers.com. Bennett was acquired in a trade with Kansas City on October 16 just prior to the NFL trading deadline after Williams suffered a torn patellar tendon in Week 4.
Seeing only limited duty as he learned head coach Jon Gruden's playbook, Bennett, a former first-round pick by Minnesota in 2001, rushed for 189 yards and one touchdown on 41 carries (4.6 avg.) and caught five passes for 54 yards and another touchdown in 2007.
The 5-foot-9, 207-pound Bennett has the speed that Gruden craves on offense and was used in screen passes as a running back and also in bubble screens as a wide receiver. He has rushed for 3,615 yards and 13 touchdowns on 810 carries (4.5 avg.), and has also caught 150 passes for 1,218 yards (13.7 avg.) and six scores throughout his career.
His best season in the NFL came in Minnesota in 2002 when he made the Pro Bowl after rushing for 1,296 yards and five touchdowns on 255 carries (5.1 avg.), in addition to hauling in 37 receptions for 351 yards and one touchdown.
The signing of Bennett gives Tampa Bay four halfbacks under contract in 2008: Williams, Graham, Kenneth Darby and Bennett.
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Comments
Bucsitaly
Good move , and now with cadillac ,bennett,graham under contract no rb in fa and draft?
8:56am, February 15, 2008
Horse
Okay, one down, one to go. We need to extend Grahams contrac for two more years.
Now we can focus back on our No1 draft pick to be a Defensive Lineman and our No2 pick to be a Linebacker.
Then we can use 3 ,4,5 for Center, WR, RB, QB.
My guess is that Gruden and Allen will sign up at least two WRs from free agency. We should all have learned by now that rating Wide Receivers is unpredictable . . We should not waste anymore high picks on them. By now after 22 years of seeing the waste when we select tWR's in the first three rounds, it's time to put them in the position where they belong in the draft; 4 & lower. I can only think of Lawrence Dawsey ,who was drafted in the third round many years ago, to be the highest successful WR we have picked.
9:19am, February 15, 2008
0utkast22
Yeah, great move....now we can focus on signing a WR in FA like Stallworth....and draft another in like the 3rd round and use the first pick on Derrick Harvey or Trevor Laws and the second on Joe Flacco....now we need to go ahead, jump on the grenade and resign Stevens and Graham to an extension
1:02pm, February 15, 2008
pinkstob
With the type of injury Cadillac has I don't think he's factoring in Gruden's plans much this year. This year's crop of RB's is so deep that I think it would be better to err on the side of caution and use a 2nd, 3rd or 4th rounder on a RB. Maybe Justin Forsett, Chris Johnson or Ray Rice if they were available.
2:18pm, February 15, 2008
pinkstob
Speaking of FA's, I just read that the Falcons released a lot of players, but I couldn't believe Rod Coleman was among them. We have got to sign this guy!! He isn't a great run stopper, but with the way Coyer likes to rotate guys he'd be great on 2nd and 3rd downs as a pass rusher. If nothing else Alge Crumpler would be a great pick up to replace Anthony Becht, although Crumpler is getting older.
2:44pm, February 15, 2008
japerez3
This is great news! We now have Graham's power and Bennett's speed under contract. We probably still need Mewelde Moore's versitiliy b4 we're thru. Moore can be in the m ix and also return kicks for us.
I like Coleman, but I would rather sign Corey Williams as he is much younger.
4:32pm, February 15, 2008
TD_Johnny
Does anybody know the terms of the contract? I think this was a great move if the price and length are right...
3:51pm, February 16, 2008
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