Buccaneers close deal with first-round pick Doug Martin

Monday June 04, 2012 - 6:17 PM

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed first-round pick Doug Martin to a five-year contract.

The Boise State running back was the 31st selection in the draft and is expected to share the workload as a rookie with third-year pro LeGarrette Blount.

Martin rushed for 3,431 yards and 43 touchdowns while averaging more than five yards per carry. He also had 67 receptions for 715 yards and four TDs.

He ran for 1,290 yards and 16 TDs as a senior at Boise State, capping his career with a school-record 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Arizona State in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas.

Blount rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a rookie two years ago but has yet to develop into the type of every-down running back that first-year coach Greg Schiano seeks for his offense.

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

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Buccaneers trade TE Kellen Winslow to Seahawks

Posted: 11:59 PM ET May 21, 2012

By Ryan Wilson | NFL Blogger

Winslow said the Bucs would trade him and that's exactly what they did Monday evening. (US PRESSWIRE)
On the same day that the Buccaneers signed veteran tight end Dallas Clark, they also shipped three-year starter Kellen Winslow to Seattle for an undisclosed conditional pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, according to Seahawks.com.

Seattle, which lost John Carlson to the Vikings in free agency, now have another tight end to pair with Zach Miller, who was signed last August to five-year, $34 million deal.

Winslow said Monday that the Buccaneers didn't want him, in part because he hadn't participated in the team's offseason workouts. “They're not looking for my services this year.” he said during an appearance on SiriusXM, adding that new head coach Greg Schiano was "kind of upset" with Winslow's absence but that "he'd help me out with a trade. It's kind of shocking, but that's what it is.”

Now Winslow is headed to the Pacific Northwest where Seahawks coach Pete Carroll seems to take pleasure in working with players who struggled to fit in in previous NFL stops. Character concerns aside, in his three seasons in Tampa Bay, Winslow started 40 games, recorded 218 receptions for 2,377 yards and 12 touchdowns, including 75 catches for 763 yards and two touchdowns last season.

By contrast, in 15 games last season, Miller had just 25 catches for 233 yards and no touchdowns in Seattle's offense.

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Tags: John Carlson, Kellen Winslow, Zach Miller, Zach Miller, Ryan Wilson, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFL

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Report: Buccaneers sign former Colts TE Dallas Clark

Posted: 06:29 PM ET May 21, 2012

By Ryan Wilson | NFL Blogger

The Bucs reportedly signed Clark Monday, which could mean Winslow has played his last game in Tampa. (US PRESSWIRE)
On Monday, tight end Kellen Winslow announced that the Buccaneers didn't want him, in part because he hasn't participated in the team's offseason workouts. Ultimately, the team would like to trade him. That news led to reports that former Colts tight end Dallas Clark, who had visited the Bucs recently, would be signed.

That eventuality became a reality Monday afternoon, according to Scout.com's Aaron Wilson, who reports that Tampa Bay has indeed agreed to terms with Clark, the former Colts Pro Bowler. Discounting 2011, when he caught just 34 passes from Indianapolis quarterbacks not named Peyton, Clark averaged 49 receptions a season with Peyton Manning under center from 2002-2010. He'll now join a Bucs team with a young quarterback (Josh Freeman) and a rookie head coach (Greg Schiano) looking to rebound from a four-win season.

There was some speculation that Clark might retire after injuries had slowed him in recent years. He was sidelined for five games in 2011 and only played in six games the year before that. In the previous three seasons he missed just two games combined.

Clark also visited the Patriots this offseason, though conventional wisdom figured he'd end up in Denver with Manning and former teammate Brandon Stokley.

As for the Bucs, they will now have to decide what to do with Winslow, who was the No. 6 pick in the 2004 draft out of the University of Miami and is perhaps best known for his unhinged "I'm a solider!" monologue while playing for the Hurricanes. That took place nearly nine years ago, which should tell you all you need to know about his NFL career.

Rotoworld reports that Tampa Bay would save $4.8 million in the salary cap if it parts ways with Winslow, who signed a six-year, $36.1 million contract in 2009 that paid him a guaranteed $20.1 million. He is due a $3.3 million base salary this year.

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Tags: Brandon Stokley, Josh Freeman, Kellen Winslow, Peyton Manning, Ryan Wilson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFL

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Kellen Winslow says Buccaneers don't want him, will try to find trade

Posted: 10:17 AM ET May 21, 2012

By Josh Katzowitz | NFL Blogger

Sounds like Winslow has played his last game in Tampa Bay. (US Presswire) When we talk about the top tight ends in the game today, the names of Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, Vernon Davis, Jason Witten and Tony Gonzalez are usually the first to surface. As outspoken as he's been in his career, Kellen Winslow usually isn't mentioned in the same breath, but he's put together a solid-enough career, averaging 72.7 catches and four touchdowns during his past three years with the Buccaneers.

Apparently, though, he doesn't fit into new Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano's long-term plans.

On Monday morning, Winslow told Sirius XM NFL Radio that he won't play for the Buccaneers this season, saying the team doesn't want him any longer and desires to trade him. He said he believes that the Buccaneers are willing to part ways because he hasn't been participating in the team's voluntary workouts this offseason.

The trade market, though, might be tough for Winslow. He's been injured throughout much of his career, and he's coming off a 2011 season in which he scored only two touchdowns. If Winslow and the Buccaneers can't find a team to take him, it's probable the team will release him.

According to Rotoworld, the team would save $4.8 million in the salary cap if it gets rid of him. Winslow signed a six-year, $36.1 million contract in 2009 that paid him a guaranteed $20.1 million. He was due a $3.3 million base salary this year.

So, where will the Buccaneers turn next for solid tight end play? This might be a clue from ESPN.com's Adam Schefter.

Bucs worked out former Colts TE Dallas Clark last week, are expected to try to make a move on him this week.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 21, 2012

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, and subscribe to our Pick-6 Podcast and NFL newsletter. You can follow Josh Katzowitz on Twitter here: @joshkatzowitz. Tags: Jason Witten, Jimmy Graham, Kellen Winslow, Rob Gronkowski, Tony Gonzalez, Vernon Davis, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFL

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