Zebra sighting
NFL referee Alberto Riveron and his crew made a stop at One Buc Place on Friday to review some rules changes and new points of emphasis this season to players and media. Among the additions: The kickoff has been moved up 5 yards to the 35-yard line for safety reasons, likely increasing the number of touchbacks. For a kickoff out of bounds, the receiving team may elect to take the ball 25 yards from the spot of the kick. But the most interesting change involves replay. Only a replay official will initiate review of all scoring plays throughout the game. Before the two-minute warning in each half, a coach's challenge will be in effect. A team may challenge until the next legal snap or kick, but if a penalty prevents the next snap, the team committing the foul can no longer challenge the previous ruling. Having a replay official initiate the review of all scoring plays provides more flexibility for coaches' challenges.
Next public practice
When: 7 p.m. today, Raymond James Stadium
Where: One Buc Place, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, just east of Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
Admission: Free
Et cetera: Schedule is weather permitting and subject to change. Go to buccaneers.com for updates.
Practice and games schedule
Public practices
Tuesday: 2:30-4:35
Aug. 14: 2:30-4:35
Preseason
Aug. 12: at Kansas City, 8, Ch. 13
Aug. 18: Patriots, 7:30, Ch. 10 *
Aug. 27: Dolphins, 7:30, Ch. 10 *
Sept. 1: at Redskins, 7:30, Ch. 10
Regular season
Sept. 11: Lions, 1, Ch. 13 *
Sept. 18: at Vikings, 1, Ch. 13
Sept. 25: Falcons, 4:15, Ch. 13 *
Oct. 3: Colts, 8:30, ESPN, Ch. 28 *
Oct. 9: at 49ers, 4, Ch. 13
Oct. 16: Saints, 4:15, Ch. 13 *
Oct. 23: Bears (London), 1, Ch. 13
Nov. 6: at Saints, 1, Ch. 13
Nov. 13: Texans, 1, Ch. 10 *
Nov. 20: at Packers, 1, Ch. 13
Nov. 27: at Titans, 1, Ch. 13
Dec. 4: Panthers, 1, Ch. 13 *
Dec. 11: at Jaguars, 1, Ch. 13
Dec. 17: Cowboys, 8:20, NFL Network, TBD *
Dec. 24: at Panthers, 1, Ch. 13
Jan. 1: at Falcons, 1, Ch. 13
* Broadcast subject to NFL blackout rules
Busy day for roster moves
And you thought Jon Gruden collected quarterbacks. The Bucs added a fifth quarterback to the roster Friday, signing Tennessee's Jonathan Crompton, a fifth-round pick by the San Diego Chargers in 2010.
With backup quarterback Josh Johnson scheduled to become a free agent after this season, Crompton will battle Rudy Carpenter for the No. 3 spot. The Bucs also have Mike Coughlin, an undrafted free agent from Boise State on the roster — and, of course, Josh Freeman.
Crompton, above, was a late bloomer. After passing for 1,387 yards during his first 22 games with the Vols, his career took off in 2009 when he passed for more than 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns, the third-best single-season total in school history. Coach Raheem Morris said a 90-man roster and new rules allowing three QBs to be active were factors.
"If 'Free' has a hangnail and has to miss two snaps, you're ready to deal," Morris said.
But the Bucs didn't stop there. Tampa Bay also signed DE Tim Crowder to a two-year deal and K Jacob Rogers. The team released K Josh Jasper and DT Doug Worthington.
Quote of the day
"I would've liked that light rail, but don't worry about that."
Bucs coach Raheem Morris to Gov. Rick Scott on Friday
Next public practice
When: 7 p.m., Raymond James Stadium
Where: One Buc Place, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, just east of Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
Admission: Free
Et cetera: Schedule is weather permitting and subject to change. Go to buccaneers.com for updates.
Practice and games schedule
Public practices
Aug. 9: 2:30-4:35
Aug. 14: 2:30-4:35
Preseason
Aug. 12: at Kansas City, 8, Ch. 13
Aug. 18: Patriots, 7:30, Ch. 10 *
Aug. 27: Dolphins, 7:30, Ch. 10 *
Sept. 1: at Redskins, 7:30, Ch. 10
Regular season
Sept. 11: Lions, 1, Ch. 13 *
Sept. 18: at Vikings, 1, Ch. 13
Sept. 25: Falcons, 4:15, Ch. 13 *
Oct. 3: Colts, 8:30, ESPN, Ch. 28 *
Oct. 9: at 49ers, 4, Ch. 13
Oct. 16: Saints, 4:15, Ch. 13 *
Oct. 23: Bears (London), 1, Ch. 13
Nov. 6: at Saints, 1, Ch. 13
Nov. 13: Texans, 1, Ch. 10 *
Nov. 20: at Packers, 1, Ch. 13
Nov. 27: at Titans, 1, Ch. 13
Dec. 4: Panthers, 1, Ch. 13 *
Dec. 11: at Jaguars, 1, Ch. 13
Dec. 17: Cowboys, 8:20, NFL Network, TBD *
Dec. 24: at Panthers, 1, Ch. 13
Jan. 1: at Falcons, 1, Ch. 13
* Broadcast subject to NFL blackout rules
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