Ward Scheduled To Visit Bucs On Tuesday

March 1, 2009 @ 3:16pm

Giants free agent running back Derrick Ward will visit the Bucs on Tuesday (Getty Images)

New York Giants free agent running back Derrick Ward is scheduled to visit Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Ward, 28, rushed for over 1,000 yards last season. The Bucs did not have interest in Ward when free agency began, but the team apparently has had a change of heart over the last 24 hours.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have scheduled a visit with New York Giants free agent running back Derrick Ward.

Ward, 28, is scheduled to visit the Bucs on Tuesday. He reportedly is wrapping up a visit in Denver.

Sources close to the situation informed PewterReport.com that Ward was not a player the Buccaneers were interested in signing when the free agency signing period began on Friday morning.

The Bucs have apparently had a change of heart in Ward, who rushed for 1,025 yards (5.1 avg.) and five touchdowns while catching a career-high 41 passes (9.4 avg.) and one touchdown in 2008.

The 5-foot-11, 228-pound Ward has carried the ball 342 times for 1,750 yards (5.1 avg.) and five touchdowns and caught 69 passes for 576 yards (8.3 avg.) and one score during his five-year career with the Giants. He has spent most of his career playing behind running backs Tiki Barber and Brandon Jacobs.

Ward also has return experience on special teams. He has averaged 23.1 yards per kickoff return and scored one touchdown on 40 attempts.

The Bucs, who released RB Warrick Dunn on Feb. 25, have also expressed interest in trading for Raiders RB Michael Bush.

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Comments

buddy321813

wow a visit too bad thats all its gonna be we cant sign anybody

3:53pm, March 1, 2009

royaltannenbomb

GO GET HIM MARK!

3:54pm, March 1, 2009

reymatos55

we could draft a running back in the middle rounds. This draft is full of running back talent!!

This guy benefited from the "Giants" offensive line. I am not sure his all That!!

I rather get Michael Bush from da "Raiders". In this style of Offense we R going to run he would be a LOAD"

4:04pm, March 1, 2009

trapper

Thanks for all your hard work PR........i appreciate all you guys do.Keep it up.

4:15pm, March 1, 2009

ALong13

A visit is a nice start, I'd love to have Bush from the Raiders, but I'm not willing to give up too many more draft picks...Ward is a good player who I'd be willing to give him the contract he wants...he's no Tiger Woods...but he'd be a nice Zack Johnson or Retief Goosen type player....

4:18pm, March 1, 2009

trapper

Great,any great young player that we can pick up in FA just gives us more options with our draft picks to really turn this team around quick from the fearless Bucs we were under Gruden.Nobody was scared of this team.Not even our SB year.
That will change soon.....GO BUCS........I BELIEVE !

4:20pm, March 1, 2009

theossie

Ward's cool.. I like Jones.. hear TB was interested in him as well..

4:21pm, March 1, 2009

JDouble

Ward is not worth the $$ He is overrated and will be overpaid becuase of the shortage of RBs in FA. Just draft our own RB in the 3rd round, or trade our 3rd rounder for Mike Bush.

4:41pm, March 1, 2009

LordJim

Yeah, I have to agree with JDouble. The problem is that Davis won't trade to us except for a king's ransom.

5:29pm, March 1, 2009

1bucfanjeff

Ward is a little overrated, agreed, but with a visit on Tuesday, that means he has had no takers and his price will (should) drop some. He is a descent talent and could combine well with EG. Bush is a college QB turned RB who had 1 good game against us when we were beaten and the season was over. Trading a pick for him would be a waste.

5:42pm, March 1, 2009

vapagano

bye bye Canty that's great de officially done dt's pretty much done

5:43pm, March 1, 2009

vapagano

oh wait ivy and carlisle might still be interested that depth chart has taken a quick swing up we def need ivy back and our guards are our best position depth and starters our guards probably best in football no need to worry though we are bringing in another 31 year old gaurd to help our young studs out im sure they appreciate it what wiould they do with out carlisle

5:46pm, March 1, 2009

johnnybuc#1

The ineptitude of our new front office has once again made the Buccaneers the laughingstock of the league. They weren't originally interested in him? Well, that has changed since they've realized they're too incompetent to get anyone they actually wanted and they HAVE to spend some money so let's just sign anyone to make it look like we know what we're doing. I honestly believe there are some on this board that could have done a better job than Dominick has.

6:00pm, March 1, 2009

NickForrester17

If only we could actually get these players that visit us..

what happened with TJ WHOsYOUr mama

6:29pm, March 1, 2009

JFS414

You'd have to assume his price has dropped down to the range that Dominik is more comfortable with. I could bash on how we overpaid on Clayton, but that is getting old. I'd be more interested on saving a little money on Kevin Jones and using the extra to sign Cole. My bad, he's gone. Maybe up our offer on Haynesworth or Vilma... oops. Might as well get it over with now and resign Phillips, Buchanon, Carter, Haye,and Grammatica.

6:34pm, March 1, 2009

1bucfanjeff

Re-sign phillips. He may be a little injury prone, but he's good and best one available.
The most sad part of FA at this time is that there really isn't anybody left. Who'sYourMama doesn't want to come here (unless we break the bank - which gives me Alvin Harper flash backs), Ward would be nice, McFadden too.
With Bates D scheme wanting big D line, forget that this year - whose left? I mean really, who?
Turner, Stewart, Williams, hell..Pierre Thomas - their going to eat us alive. You have to figure DT or DE were a must, they know that..oops! Maybe they can trade...

6:58pm, March 1, 2009

jlhaynes

Poor Mark D. He was sent to war with a water pistol. The blame is on the Glazers not Dominik for stripping this franchises front office. Expect a top 3 pick next year fellas.

8:43pm, March 1, 2009

sanders9759

Take this all with a grain of salt gang. Remember all the other information. Now we have Greer Monday, Ward Tuesday. They are interested in Ward, No their not. Now they are. Are they really set up for a visit?? PR reprters don't really know unless they are now making the calls for the front office. It's Sunday night. I can't wait for Sports Zone. On ABC 28. Lets see how bad Al and Tom fry the Glazers tonight.

9:39pm, March 1, 2009

vapagano

i agree clearly set him up for failure he is probably stressed out maybe even because of this blog but we all read all the pappers as fans we always stay ready for this bucs have been really good lately with the free agents not the huge over paid kinds like Washington always makes but good sound management he in the end will be good learned a lot this weekend i'm sure

10:21pm, March 1, 2009

mostlarge

The front office was set up for failure with the way the staff was dismantled so late into the off season. Changes to almost all coaching positions. New coordinators. To many questions marks.
You can have all the money in the world but the best FA's will sign somewhere else with less ???'s and more stability.
It is obvious that we will need to build through the draft. It will take a full year for the players in the league to see the direction of the team and front office before anyone of quality to sign here.
Stop trading draft picks.

9:53am, March 2, 2009

clasper

Resign Phillips. Put lightweught casts on his forearms. Give him an exoskeleton. He's a great player, just a little on the brittle side. Perhaps a milk endorsement deal.

2:43pm, March 2, 2009

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Ward Scheduled To Visit Bucs On Tuesday

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