Tampa Bay Buccaneers release quarterback Brian Griese and sign rookie defensive tackle Roy Miller

TAMPA — The Bucs released veteran quarterback Brian Griese on Monday and signed third-round draft choice Roy Miller.

Griese, 34, was the odd man out in what seems to be a three-way battle for the starting job. The team now has unsigned top draft pick Josh Freeman and veterans Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich, along with second-year pro Josh Johnson.

The Bucs acquired Griese for a second stint in Tampa Bay in March 2008, sending a 2009 sixth-round draft pick to the Bears for him. Griese led the Bucs to three wins in September but was knocked out of his fourth start at Denver with an elbow injury and made only one start the rest of the season. The Bucs have actively overhauled their quarterback position, dropping the only two quarterbacks (Griese and Jeff Garcia) who completed passes for the team last season.

Miller, a defensive tackle from Texas, signed a four-year contract that includes a signing bonus of $770,000. His base salary will be the NFL minimum each season, which works out to $2.52 million over four years.

Around the league

Jaguars: With ticket sales sluggish, the team is offering half-season packages for half price.

jets: Bubba Franks was released, leaving Dustin Keller, who had a promising rookie season, and undrafted free agents J'Nathan Bullock and Jack Simmons as the only tight ends on the roster.

Patriots: Second-round pick Darius Butler signed. The cornerback was first-team All-Big East at Connecticut in 2008.

Ravens: Receiver Derrick Mason told jocklife.com he is retiring. Mason, 35, led the team in receptions (80) and yards receiving (1,037) last season. He played eight seasons with the Titans and four with the Ravens.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.