General manager Bruce Allen just addressed the widespread criticism of the Bucs' decision to re-sign Jerramy Stevens in light of details of an alleged rape and other offenses published in a story earlier this year.

Among his statements was an admission that the Bucs, along with every team, was aware of the rape allegations long ago when Stevens was drafted out of Washington in 2000. Charges were later dropped, though Stevens reportedly settled a civil suit filed by the victim for $300,000.

Regarding the public outcry about a story that has dominated sports talk radio all week, Allen said, "I apprecicate our fans' feelings. But we do take into account everything we believe. These issues, obviously, as we said last year, were well documented in the past. We knew them in 2000. Every NFL team knew in 2000 before he entered the NFL."

Asked whether any of the eye-opening, graphic details contained in the Seattle Times article were new to him, Allen said, "There were some comments from the police detectives on their individual
feelings. But obviously, if charges are brought in any case, there is
some sense that a policeman or some type of investigator felt some
wrongdoing was there. When the district attorney cleared him, I'm sure
that's why Seattle ended up taking him in the first round.

"Before the draft, every team does their own investigation and the
league does an extensive investigation. The charges were dismissed, but
we knew about the accusation. You had the information, you had the
district attorney's comment and the lead prosecutor and why he
dismissed it."

We addressed this with Jerramy last season beforehand, as I'm sure the
Seahawks did when he was on their team when that settlement was done, I
think in 2004."