Bucs Sign LB Koutouvides

March 2, 2009 @ 5:48pm

Tampa Bay made its first free agent signing of 2009 Monday, inking LB Niko Koutouvides (Getty)

The Buccaneers signed Broncos free agent linebacker Niko Koutouvides to a contract on Monday. The 6-foot-2, 238-pound Koutouvides was a player on Tampa Bay's radar last offseason before he signed with Denver.

Mark Dominik has officially made his first free agent signing as Tampa Bay's new general manager.

After re-signing quarterback Luke McCown, wide receiver Michael Clayton, defensive tackle Ryan Sims and safety Will Allen earlier, Dominik tapped into another resource Monday to sign Denver Broncos free agent linebacker Niko Koutouvides.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Koutouvides, 27, was a player on Tampa Bay's radar last offseason when he was a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks. Denver outbid Tampa Bay for his services, but his stint with the Broncos proved to be short-lived after his release last month.

The 6-foot-2, 238-pound Koutouvides has played in 73 career games since entering the league with Seattle as a fourth-round selection in the 2004 NFL Draft.

While he has some starting experience on defense (started two games for Seattle as a rookie), Koutouvides' biggest contributions have come on special teams, where he has notched 69 career tackles.

The Bucs have also expressed interest in several other free agents, including Buffalo free agent LB Angelo Crowell. The Bucs also met with Buffalo cornerback Jabari Greer on Monday and are scheduled to meet with New York Giants running back Derrick Ward on Tuesday.

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Comments

SHOOTERS

Kouto who?????? all of our problems on special teams are over....please sign ward tomorrow and I hope Steve D is wrong and we do have some money...

6:17pm, March 2, 2009

buddy321813

so his first signing as gm is getting a back up lb lol great things to come

6:18pm, March 2, 2009

charbeth2

This is the big free agent splash, a special teams player. Did anyone see Haynesworth comments on passing on the Bucs because they released Brooks? It is not guessing any more, free agents are wary of coming to Tampa. Way to go Dominck

6:28pm, March 2, 2009

clairvoyantent1

remember- if the Bucs are going to promote Hayes, Black, and/or Heyward to the starting line-up - they will need depth and quality backups at the position. This is clearly a guy Dominik has been very high on for years - hopefully he's another diamond in the rough ala Antono Bryant.

6:30pm, March 2, 2009

buccaneerNW

BFD

6:30pm, March 2, 2009

1bucfanjeff

I wouldn't call it a splash....bellyflop maybe. A 4th round pick, 5 year journeyman...I'll be optimistic and say he might have potential.
Please sign Ward.

6:34pm, March 2, 2009

sanders9759

sign one lose one. Now replace Haye. Guess he had the same faith the fans do so far.

6:35pm, March 2, 2009

jmekern

what's going on here???????

6:40pm, March 2, 2009

1bucfanjeff

Any chance Jason Taylor comes to Tampa?
Close to Miami, played - no, flourished with Bates before.
Just a thought..

6:41pm, March 2, 2009

jmekern

yea right ,let loose of a 35 year old legend and 1 year removed from the pro bowl and pick up a 34 year old who 3.5 sacks last year? won't sit right with anybody especially ,55 ! plus if you haven't noticed dominik's going with a youth movement ,besides a couple of vets 4 leadership

6:50pm, March 2, 2009

d.schomburg

I love all these would be GM's making these posts. What would you have done over payed for Albert, sign an old WR like TJ, or a linebaker with knee problems like vilma. This FA is not that strong relax and let them do their job.

6:52pm, March 2, 2009

1bucfanjeff

Good point, I was just thinking they need a DE, but um - you're right, that would piss off some people. (and they need more than just DE)

6:53pm, March 2, 2009

1bucfanjeff

Just saw this ESPN NFC South blog...
Jason Taylor could have a bridge to Tampa Bay

March 2, 2009 6:34 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

AFC East colleague Tim Graham throws out a logical question: Should the Dolphins bring in defensive end Jason Taylor? The Redskins released Taylor on Monday.

A move to Miami would make a lot of sense because Taylor spent most of his career there. But let's take this question and change a word.

Should the Bucs bring in Taylor?

As long as we're thinking about how Taylor's background might play into his future, Tampa Bay seems to be at least as much of a possibility as Miami. Taylor and Dolphins czar Bill Parcells, didn't exactly part on good terms. Sometimes, bridges can be reconstructed.

But there's already a bridge in Tampa Bay. Taylor had some of his best seasons when Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Jim Bates was with the Dolphins. It might be a nice idea to have a veteran guy like Taylor around to show Gaines Adams how to get to the quarterback. Also, it might be a good idea for the Bucs to sign a "big name'' before their poor fans go nuts.

So we'll ask again -- should the Bucs bring in Taylor? Go ahead and hash that out in the comments section or mailbag.

6:57pm, March 2, 2009

jmekern

alot more! hopefully d. ward or m. bush

6:58pm, March 2, 2009

jmekern

new dt's would free up gaines plus chuck smith the pass rush guru wants to work with gaines

7:04pm, March 2, 2009

jmekern

any push form the middle would solitify our d-line, anything please!

7:06pm, March 2, 2009

bucfan47

Guys there is really nothing left. The free agent pool is almost dry! The draft is where this team must hit a GRAND SLAM!

Even if they do, it's still going to be nearly impossible for them to have a good year 1.

7:18pm, March 2, 2009

Horse

Some of you all are just either negative people or idiots!.
It was just a free agent signing!. There was no draft losses or big dollar losses.
Lighten up.
Go Bucs! We are getting better!

7:21pm, March 2, 2009

SHOOTERS

jason taylor is still an upgrade from stylz...and he can teach gaines. we need to fill some holes...everybody is signing..tj to seatle? washington to the titans? is clayton our big wr signing? devery henderson is still out there...why are we sitting on our hands with the most money..free-agents should all want to visit. why are they not?

7:27pm, March 2, 2009

JFS414

Here's one for you. If the Bucs end up signing Crowell, are they going to let him wear his customary #55? While I wouldn't put it past the Glazers, I don't see it happening.

7:36pm, March 2, 2009

DLS5492

I agree with you HORSE. Some people, like Eagles' fans, aren't happy unless they're miserable. Life is too short to be in that condition.
The Bucs are getting better!
Go Bucs!!!

7:36pm, March 2, 2009

JFS414

We aren't sitting on our hands, we're waiting to get the contracts from the law office down the street. They ran out of carbon paper and erasers.

7:40pm, March 2, 2009

SHOOTERS

maybe we dont have the money to pay for the carbon paper!

7:55pm, March 2, 2009

royaltannenbomb

According to ESPN, this guy was Jay Cutler's best friend on the team.

8:08pm, March 2, 2009

architek

No Horse most of these guys are media driven, I think that it is what it is, a signing much like McCoy was last year! I have said this and I will continue to say this, we have been very cautious and smart with spending (not to discredit the SR FAB Five) but anyone in their right mind who would pay a DT $30M+ gauranteed funds in 13 months deserve what they will get, either way. Risk reward is the key.
Get Ward and maybe Henderson or McFadden and I am happy either way going into the draft. If we draft a pass rusher or a DT early we will be winners in the long run. The QB position will sort itself because Luke can really come in and show something and put all of these negative bandwagoners to shame. Take your time and build it right 'Front Office.'
Go Bucs...

9:11pm, March 2, 2009

1bucfanjeff

Sign Ward, take DL with pick 1, IF Freeman falls to 3 pick - take him, big IF though.
The draft is going to be the key for us.

9:34pm, March 2, 2009

NickForrester17

WOW! 65 million dollars in cap space and our first signing comes 4 days after the free agent signing period had begun... and its some no name linebacker that no1 has ever heard of. GREATTT!

after seeing the coach we chose to go with and the coaching staff i thought we were going in the right direction.. but after seeing what were doing in free agency im getting very frustrated with the team. we need linebackers, defensive line, cornerback, resign phillips, we need more WR's another Running back and another QB.. WHAT THE HELL ARE WE DOING?????

9:49pm, March 2, 2009

NickForrester17

ReSign BROOKS!!!!!!!!

9:51pm, March 2, 2009

buc13jcs

Why haven't you guys reported that we just signed derrick Ward

10:02pm, March 2, 2009

buc13jcs

That's what Florio says anyway...

10:04pm, March 2, 2009

cremdonado

Its peanut butter jelly time !!!! Derrick Ward is a Buccaneer !!!!!Why Pewter Report hasnt posted yet is a mystery !!! We finally got a big name to sign !!!

Running back Derrick Ward has agreed to terms with Tampa Bay on a four-year contract worth $17 million. Ward will make $6 million in guarantees in the first year, $9.25 million over two years, and $13 million over three years.

There-the story is out-I beat the pewter report to the scoop !!!

GO BUCS !!

10:05pm, March 2, 2009

Chad_tapia11

Bucs sign Derrick Ward 4 year deal.

10:06pm, March 2, 2009

cremdonado

Igor Olshansky is still out there-he is an option for a 3-4 defense..We need some D line help,we lost haye to the titans...

10:11pm, March 2, 2009

jmekern

why all offense? dont dominik remember that it was the dee that collapsed last year, and they let go of 2 of our starting dee players go, i think we should sign crowell

12:43am, March 3, 2009

jmekern

oh and dee wins championships

12:46am, March 3, 2009

Pewterdude

Niko Koutouvides is a good signing because our new starting LB's will be freed up from too much ST play and we need depth and he's only 27 and if Allen and Gruden were high on him as well as now Dominik then that's enough convincing for me. It also frees the team up from using their picks in the second day of the draft for specifically SP players and allows the team to draft for need in the later rounds. It's a move forward

3:15am, March 3, 2009

bucism1

*****let it be known****THIS GUY IS JAY CUTLERS BEST FRIEND WHEN HE WAS IN DENVER....OFF THE FIELD THEY DID EVERYTHING TOGETHER....MAYBE THIS IS A STEP IN LURING CUTLER AWAY FROM DENVER......GOOD UNDERBELLY TYPE MOVE FROM DOMINIK.....NOW REEL IN CUTLER...WHATEVER IT TAKES DOMINIK...WHATEVER IT TAKES!!!****

10:43am, March 3, 2009

bucism1

10:43am, March 3, 2009

BUCS CENTRAL

Bucs Sign LB Koutouvides

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