Tampa Bay Football History Network - 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Replacing Jon Gruden with Raheem Morris was only the beginning of the changes for the 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jeff Garcia was not offered a new contract and lost to free agency, as was Phillip Buchanon.

On February 25, the Bucs cut five veteran players. Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn, Ike Hillard, Joey Galloway and Cato June were released. On the surprising release of Brooks, team co-chairman Bryan Glazer said, "The entire Tampa Bay community owes Derrick an indescribable measure of gratitude for all that he has meant over the last 14 years. His play on the field and leadership in the locker room helped resurrect our franchise, and we look forward to celebrating his certain enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame."

The team did add some players through free agency. Tight end Kellen Winslow, who played five seasons in Cleveland, running back Derrick Ward, who spent five years with the Giants, linebacker Angelo Crowell, was in Buffalo for five seasons, and quarterback Byron Leftwich, who played for Jacksonville, Atlanta and Pittsburgh. With the seventeenth overall selection in the draft, the Bucs selected quarterback Josh Freeman from Kansas State.

Back to Tampa Bay Buccaneers History Page

Back to Tampa Bay Buccaneers Main Menu

Back to Home Page