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Bucs sign 11 undrafted rookies, cut three players

 
Published May 13, 2014

TAMPA— The Bucs announced 11 signings of undrafted rookies Monday and cut three players to make room for the new arrivals.

The cuts — tight ends Josh Baker and Steve Maneri and cornerback Bobby Felder — were added since the end of last season. Baker and Maneri have NFL experience elsewhere; Felder spent part of last season on the Bucs' practice squad as a rookie.

The undrafted rookies include two who played at Florida, OT Matt Patchan (also Boston College and Armwood High) and WR Solomon Patton. The others: Louisiana-Monroe OG Josh Allen, Texas A&M LB Nate Askew, Boise State WR Aaron Burks, Georgia Tech DT Euclid Cummings, Virginia-Lynchburg CB Keith Lewis, Virginia Tech G Andrew Miller, Wyoming QB Brett Smith, South Carolina DE Chaz Sutton and Eastern Michigan S Mycal Swaim.

The Bucs are expected to sign a few more undrafted rookies before three-day rookie minicamp starts Friday. Others who said they had signed, such as USF and Armwood DE Ryne Giddins, will only participate in minicamp as tryout players.

Browns owner says Manziel a backup: Johnny Manziel has a Heisman Trophy, celebrity friends and fame. But he doesn't have a starting job.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said the team told last week's No. 22 overall draft pick to start acting like a backup quarterback.

At a Pro Football Hall of Fame luncheon in Canton, Ohio, Haslam said the Browns were excited to select Texas A&M's playmaking quarterback.

But despite the buzz Manziel brings to Cleveland, "we were very frank with him that, 'You're the backup quarterback. This is a hardworking, blue-collar town. This isn't Hollywood,' " Haslam said. "…He's not the starter. Brian Hoyer is our starting quarterback. Johnny is the backup."

The Browns also released quarterback Vince Young, signed last week.

Bengals: Former Bucs quarterback Josh Johnson was released.

Dolphins: Former USF defensive end Tevin Mims signed as an undrafted free agent.

Jaguars: Guard Will Rackley, who started 25 games over three seasons, was released.

Rams: Receiver Stedman Bailey was suspended for the first four games of 2014 for a performance-enhancing substance violation.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.