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Wade Signs With Raiders |
 John Wade started all but eight games at center for the Buccaneers since 2003 (Cliff Welch) |
Tampa Bay free agent C John Wade signed with the Oakland Raiders on Monday. Wade, 33, started all but eight games for the Bucs since 2003. However, his tenure essentially ended when the Bucs made Jeff Faine the highest-paid center in the NFL on Feb. 29.
Buccaneers free agent center John Wade's five-year tenure in Tampa Bay officially came to an end Monday when he signed a contract with the Oakland Raiders.
Wade, 33, originally joined the Bucs as a free agent in 2003. He started all but eight games for Tampa Bay before becoming an unrestricted free agent on Feb. 29.
Tampa Bay entered the offseason determined to upgrade the center position and it appeared to do that when the Bucs signed New Orleans Saints free agent C Jeff Faine to a six-year, $37.5 million contract, which made the former first-round draft pick the highest-paid center in the NFL.
The Bucs were interested in keeping Wade, who has started 106 of the 126 games he's played in his career, as a reserve center, but he signed with the Raiders with hopes of starting in Oakland.
Tampa Bay still is looking to add depth to its center position as Wade is now in Oakland and C Matt Lehr signed with New Orleans earlier this month.
The Bucs still are targeting Oakland's starting center from the 2007 season, Jeremy Newberry.
The Bucs have already made a contract offer to the 6-foot-5, 310-pound Newberry, who has started 104 games but missed 36 games during a three-year period (2004-06) due to knee injuries.
Newberry, 32, is a former Pro Bowler. He has not visited One Buccaneer Place this offseason. His return to Oakland appears to be unlikely after the Raiders' signing of Wade on Monday.
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Comments
MVP
Looks like we will be trading centers with Oakland.
11:12pm, March 31, 2008
hwaii50
Picking up Newberry as a back up would be nice due to his experience but not so nice due to his injury history. Buenning looked pretty good in the center position last year in pre-season and now will be entering his second year learning the position. As I recall he was a pretty physical guard in his rookie year. I wouldn't be surprised if he was the back up.
6:48am, April 1, 2008
Hore
What is this Oakland thing? Hasn't Oakland done poorly these past few years?
Lets not go get anymore with Oakland players.
I agree with Hwaii50, lets keep Buening. He can also play a backup position as a guard.
Go Bucs
10:32am, April 1, 2008
Horse
Sorry about the above mispelling.
Go Bucs
10:33am, April 1, 2008
cremdon
Wade-have fun in Oaktown,see ya!We have upgraded at his position so i dont think this is any kind of loss.Yeah he's a vet-blah,blah,blah...He aint a Buc no more so who cares.This news is good for one thing-his family wont go hungry.....I want some real news from our team,something to get excited about-not where cast offs have landed...The draft is my next great hope for something that matters.Just hope i can make it that long...
11:18am, April 1, 2008
pinkstob
Dan Buenning is still my favorite offensive lineman. When he's at full strength he's the most consistent one we have. He's a top tier run blocker. I'm not sure he's fast enough to pull and do the other nimble things that are required of the center to make this offense flourish, but I know I'm confident having him as a backup anywhere between the tackles.
11:26am, April 1, 2008
kysteve9
Thanks John Wade for you good years. I wish him well in Oakland. Would have been nice to have kept him but he has to do what's best for him.
Horse, yes Oakland has done poorly but not because of the players, look at the turmoil in ownership, they have some good players and well let;s be honest Gruden has connections there.
On with the show.
GO BUCS !!!!!!!!!!!!!
11:39am, April 1, 2008
cremdon
News Flash-
Buccaneers are about to finish a trade to aquire Chad Johnson-
2:07pm, April 1, 2008
triplex
If we get newberry we should give him a three year contract
4:04pm, April 4, 2008
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