Coming as no surprise to anyone, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers released injured linebacker Quincy Black on Thursday. Black had not played since suffering serious nerve damage to his shoulder and neck after a backfield collision with San Diego running back Ryan Mathews last November at Raymond James Stadium.

That injury placed him on injured reserve, and he had nerve graft surgery in late January that has left his future as an NFL player in doubt.

General manager Mark Dominik recently talked about Black's future.



“You generally like to walk out of any surgery and say that it was a successful surgery, but the reality is, that because of the nerve damage and the nerve grafting and everything, you won’t know if it’s successful or not for several months,” Dominik told the Tampa Tribune at the combine. “It’s a tough injury and a unique injury and ... it’s hard for us to have any timetable or feel for it.”



Black was unable to pass the Buccaneers physical. The Chicago, Ill. native just turned 29 and would most have to start the season on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list if by chance he is signed by another team.

Black played in 81 games for the Buccaneers, starting 40, recording 299 tackles, 13 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries, while also contributing 62 special teams tackles.

Black entered the league as a third-round selection (68th overall) of the Buccaneers in the 2007 NFL but didn’t emerge as a starter until the 2009 season after starring on special teams while he learned the defense for his first two years. While the chiseled Black looked the part physically, he seemed to lack instincts and playmaking ability.



As a strongside linebacker Black didn’t typically play more than 60 percent of the snaps in Tampa Bay’s defense due to being on the sidelines when the team deploys nickel and dime defenses. That wasn’t a whole lot of production for someone that was scheduled to make $5.5 million and another $250,000 for an offseason workout bonus that would have brought his 2013 total compensation to $5.75 million.



Black is eligible for $1 million worth of injury protection insurance per terms in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association, and another $500,000 if Black’s injury is deemed career-ending.


Tampa Bay currently have linebackers Najee Goode, Jacob Cutrera, Adam Hayward, Dekoda Watson and newly signed former Saints linebacker Jonathan Casillas who will compete to replace Black in the starting lineup.