Tampa Bay Buccaneers news and notes

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Bucs at Texans

8 tonight, final preseason game

TV/radio: Ch. 8; 103.5-FM, 620-AM

Web: St. Petersburg Times staff writer Stephen F. Holder will blog live from the game at tampabay.com/blogs/bucs.

Bucs assistant charged with DUI

Bucs assistant coach Chris Mosley was arrested in Tampa on Tuesday, accused of driving under the influence. Mosley, 32, a defensive assistant, was arrested about 11:40 p.m. near S Moody and W Swann avenues, police said. He had a blood-alcohol level ranging from 0.137 to 0.143. The point at which impairment is presumed in Florida is 0.08. Mosley was released from the Hillsborough County Jail on $500 bail Wednesday morning. He is in his second season with the Bucs.

Danny Valentine, Times staff writer

Poll of the day

Would you be more inclined to go to Bucs games if Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn, et al, were still on the team?

Yes, regardless of their record: 62 percent (433 votes)

No: 25 percent (175 votes)

Yes, if they were winning: 13 percent (90 votes)

Total: 698 votes

Smith's fate still murky post-Ward

It's not clear how the release of running back Derrick Ward will affect running back Clifton Smith. The Bucs are thinner at the position now, but Smith has not shown he is a reliable option, largely because of a tendency to fumble. Smith has not been among the preseason standouts, battling what appears to be gout in his knee area since midsummer. Smith got back on the field only Saturday after missing most of training camp and the first two preseason games. As a result, he has been a bit of a forgotten man and is fighting off receiver Micheal Spurlock to be the primary return man. Ward's release probably slightly improves Smith's chance of making the team, but Smith doesn't seem like much of a factor at running back. So the decision on keeping or releasing Smith will be based mostly on how much the Bucs value him as a returner. Final cuts are Saturday.

Stephen F. Holder, Times staff writer