According to a report by Tampa Bay Times beat writer Stephen Holder, the Buccaneers and free agent guard/center Jeremy Zuttah are on the verge of reaching an agreement which will keep the four-year veteran offensive lineman in Tampa and off the free agent market which opens next Tuesday.

Zuttah played his college ball for new Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano at Rutgers, and most felt Zuttah’s preference was to work out a deal that would reunite him with his former boss.

The organization also felt strongly about keeping Zuttah, who started 14 games for the Buccaneers in 2011, with 13 starts at guard and one a center, filling in for an injured Jeff Faine. Zuttah's versatility would have most likely drawn considerable interest on the open market.

It is believed that Tampa Bay’s long-term plan is for Zuttah is to be the eventual replacement for Faine at some point. Faine is scheduled to earn $5.925 million this upcoming season.

In other Buccaneers news FOXSports.com’s Alex Marvez is reporting the Buccaneers have added former Bears and Colts assistant Ron Turner to Schiano’s staff as quarterbacks coach. Turner has five years of NFL experience as a quarterbacks coach, serving in the same capacity in Chicago from 1993 through 1996 while also coordinating Chicago’s offense. He was part the Colts’ staff for the last two seasons, coaching wide receivers in 2010 and quarterbacks in 2011.