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Bucs add former Seahawks DT Tony McDaniel

 
New Bucs defensive tackle Tony McDaniel played two of his nine seasons with the Seahawks.
New Bucs defensive tackle Tony McDaniel played two of his nine seasons with the Seahawks.
Published Aug. 11, 2015

TAMPA — Bolstering their depth at defensive tackle, the Bucs on Monday agreed to terms with Tony McDaniel, who started 29 games in the past two seasons for Seattle then was cut last week in a salary-cap move.

McDaniel, 30, a nine-year veteran who will join the Bucs today pending a physical, had 31 tackles last year and 53 in 2013, and joins a strong rotation of Gerald McCoy, Henry Melton and Clinton McDonald in Tampa Bay's interior line. The Bucs will open the season without third-year pro Akeem Spence, who is recovering from back surgery and said last week that at best he will return in October.

McDaniel, 6 feet 7 and 305 pounds, signed a one-year contract worth up to $2.5 million, according to profootballtalk.com. No corresponding roster move was announced. Before becoming a regular in Seattle, McDaniel started five games in his first seven NFL seasons, with the Jaguars and Dolphins.

THIRD PUNTER: The Bucs' punting competition is now three-wide. On Monday they signed Karl Schmitz, waived by the Broncos last week, to challenge veterans Michael Koenen and Spencer Lanning.

While Koenen and Lanning have been starting punters in the league — Koenen for 10 years, including four with the Bucs, and Lanning the last two with the Browns — Schmitz has a different background. The 28-year-old hasn't kicked in a game since 2008, when he played at Jacksonville University and had five total punts.

He was one of four punters trying out Monday, and while no corresponding move was made to open up a spot on the 90-man roster, the team will carry all three, at least for now. Koenen, whose punting averages were among the league's worst last season, is due to make $3.25 million this season, while Lanning and Schmitz would make less than $1 million if they got the job.

Contact Greg Auman at gauman@tampabay.com and (813) 310-2690. Follow @gregauman.