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Price on his sister's death: "She was my guardian angel.'
Brian Price closes his eyes but sleep rarely comes, not more than for an hour a day, not since the hit-and-run automobile accident last week that killed his sister and left two nephews who call him dad without their mother.
“Yeah, she was like my personal cheerleader, like my No. 1 fan,'' Price said Friday of his sister, Bridget James, 33, who died in surgery from injuries sustained in an accident in Los Angeles as he waited to board a plane. "She would be there every day, especially after every game, win, lose or draw, she was like, “Go get them next time.
“She was a special person. We had a bond. We definitely had a bond. She was real protective. You couldn’t say nothing about me, nothing wrong about me or she would get on you. She didn’t care. She talked the most trash – ever. She was my guardian angel and she’s my guardian angel now. It’s just very unfortunate what happened. I know she’s looking down on me now.'' ... Read more
Bucs sign LB Lavonte David, their second round pick, to a four-year deal
The Bucs are slowly signing their draft picks from the bottom up.
Linebacker Lavonte David, Tampa Bay's second-round pick, signed a four-year contract, the club announced Friday.
David was the 58th overall choice from Nebraska, where he started all 27 games he played. In just two seasons, he recorded the fourth-most tackles with 285 along with 28 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks.
David is expected to start at weakside linebacker for the Bucs.
Only the Bucs' two, first-round picks remain unsigned: Alabama safety Mark Barron (7th overall) and Boise State running back Doug Martin (31st overall).
Tragedy strikes Bucs DT Price again as sister dies in car accident
Bucs defensive tackle Brian Price was at Los Angeles International Airport last week preparing to board a flight to Tampa when he got a phone call informing him that his sister Bridget had been involved an automobile accident.
For Price, who lost a second brother to a gang-related shooting eight years ago, the news was nearly too much to bear.
"He got the call, and it might have been his dad who told him Bridget has been in an accident and I don't think it looks good,''said his agent Charles Price, who is no relation to Brian. "I don't think Brian got to see her alive.''
Bridget, 30, the mother of 7- and 9-year boys, died almost immediately of injuries sustained in a car accident last week. The resulting grief and mental exhaustion led to a three day hospital stay for Brian in Tampa that ended Thursday afternoon, his agent said.
According to Charles Price, Bridget was responsible for helping Brian overcome the shooting death of his two older brothers. ... Read more
Bucs franchise PK Barth signs 4-year, $13.2-million deal
Franchise place-kicker Connor Barth showed up to watch the Bucs' first week of Organized Team Activities despite not having a contract. But by the time the workouts ended Thursday, Barth signed a four-year deal.
Terms of the contract were not released, but agent Robert Roche confirmed it is worth $13.2-million with $4-million guaranteed.
The Bucs placed the franchise player tag on Barth on March 1, which was worth $2.65-million on a 1-year deal. But both Barth and the Bucs were hopeful of reaching a long-term extension, and the one he signed Thursday will average $3.3-million per year.
“For the Bucs organization, (General Manager) Mark Dominik, Coach (Greg) Schiano and everyone to believe in me, to know that I'll be their kicker for the next four years, is awesome,” Barth said in a statement released by the team. “It's just an amazing opportunity and I want to continue to perform like I have and live up to their expectations. I want to thank everyone – the fans, everybody, the team behind me – and I'm looking forward to getting back on the field.” ... Read more
Ronde Barber still at safety for Bucs
The Bucs don't have a game that matters for four months, but if they played tomorrow, Ronde Barber would start at free safety.
Barber, 37, took most of his repetitions alongside rookie safety Mark Barron Tuesday. Bucs coach Greg Schiano remains somewhat non-committal, but it's clear he has no problem moving the 16th year veteran from cornerback to safety.
"I like the way he’s performed so far,'' Schiano said. "The final piece will obviously be live play. but I don’t have any hesitation. I’ve watched enough of him playing nickel and playing dime and he’s sitting in the box and he’s a fearless guy. I think he can do it. it’s just a matter of what’s our best 11 guys. Right now, that’s where he’s still playing.''
That's not to say Barber won't play his traditional role in the slot on occassion during passing downs. In fact, the outcome of Aqib Talib's trial in Dallas June 25 will have an impact on the cornerback position. But in the first OTA Tuesday, Talib and Lions free agent Eric Wright were at cornerback with Barron and Barber at safety. ... Read more
After Bowers injury, Bucs standing pat at defensive end
Now that starting left defensive end Da’Quan Bowers has suffered a possible season-ending Achilles tendon tear, what are the Bucs going to do in response?
Right now, nothing.
That’s according to general manager Mark Dominik, who said the team wants to continue to evaluate its current lineup of defensive linemen before making any possible transactions. However, acquiring outside help has not been ruled out.
“Right now I think we’re just trying to evaluate these men that we have here for a little bit before we feel like we need to do something,” Dominik said. “But if it gets to the point where we feel like we have to do something, it’s an important position.”
His position was echoed by coach Greg Schiano.
“That’s the nature of team sports,” he said. “When someone goes down, it’s another man’s opportunity. We’ll work at it and Michael Bennett and George Johnson are going to step up. Certainly Adrian (Clayborn) on the other side. We’ll make sure we have a group out there.” ... Read more
Blount: "Nobody can affect my carries but me.''
Not unlike his bulldozing running style, LeGarrette Blount is not going to dance around an issue when he can plow through it. So when asked how the Bucs selection of Boise State running back Doug Martin will affect his workload, Blount did not stiff-arm the topic.
"I think nobody can affect my carries but me,'' Blount said. "They drafted him because we needed him. But at the end of the day, we're both going to play. Don't nobody affect my carries but me, not what he does, not what anybody else does, just how I practice and how fast I get the offense down pat and everything like that. That's the only thing that will affect my carries.''
So despite the addition of Martin and Utah State running back Michael Smith, does Blount see himself as the starting tailback?
"Yeah,'' he said smiling, "until they take it away.''
That's not to suggest that Blount couldn't see what was happening at the running back position shortly after coach Greg Schiano was hired from Rutgers. In March, Schiano was critical of Blount's lack of ball security. In two pro seasons, Blount has fumbled nine times, losing six. ... Read more
Long-term deal still possible between Bucs, kicker Connor Barth
No, Bucs kicker Connor Barth hasn’t signed his franchise tender, nor has he agreed to a long-term contract extension.
So, why was he at the team’s first OTA workout this morning? To show solidarity with his teammates, according to general manager Mark Dominik.
And Barth’s mere presence is an indication that his relationship with the team remains amicable, suggesting the sides could come to an accord on a multi-year contract extension.
“I think that’s what we both want,” Dominik said this morning at One Buc Place. We’re talking about one of the youngest kickers to hit free agency. . . He’s been a consistent guy. I understand where his agent’s coming from. We just had a good talk just now. That’s what makes Connor great. He’s a good teammate.”
Barth was tagged as the Bucs’ franchise player in February, thereby limiting his ability to test the market as an unrestricted free agent. He is scheduled to make $2.645 million in 2012 if he agrees to sign the deal, but has thus far declined to do so. ... Read more
Is Tampa-bound Bucs franchise K Barth close to long-term deal?
Bucs kicker Connor Barth was aboard a US Air flight in North Carolina bound for Tampa on Monday night, the eve of the team's first day or organized team activities.
The Bucs' franchise designee has not signed his $2.645-million tender nor reached an agreement on a long-term deal. But based on his tweet Monday night, could one be close at hand?
"Headin back down to Tampa today....excited to see all my teammates again!'' Barth tweeted.
Barth set a franchise-record by connecting on 26-of-28 field goal attempts last season (92.9 percent). He is believed to be seeking a long-term deal in excess of $3-million per year. He did not participate in the Bucs voluntary veteran minicamp prior to the NFL draft.
The NFL deadline for teams to reach a long-term deal with their franchise players is July 15. If no deal is reached at that point, Barth would have to play the entire season under the tag.
Bengals place-kicker Mike Nugent signed his franchise tender late last month. ... Read more
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