Bucs release RB Ward
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released running back Derrick Ward just one year after signing him to a four-year, $17 million contract. Ward signed with the Bucs after spending his first five seasons with the New York Giants as their backup and third-down specialist.
Ward signed with Tampa Bay after coming off his best season in 2008. He had 182 carries for 1,025 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 41 receptions for 384 yards. The Giants had to let Ward walk into free agency because they already had to resign their starting back Brandon Jacobs.
Ward was a disappointment for the Buccaneers last season. He rushed for just 409 yards on 114 attempts and scored one touchdown. His receptions also dropped to 20 for 150 yards. Ward only started one game in 2009 as Cadillac Williams returned from a long-term knee injury and earned the starting job back. Williams has impressed thus far in training camp and there was no room for a highly-paid backup. Ward was upset about losing his starting job but he hasn’t done much to win coaches over.
“Every cut here is based on skill, that’s the only thing I can tell you,” Bucs’ coach Raheem Morris said. ”We could be wrong. Derrick will go out there and try to prove us wrong. He should. … Hopefully he can go out there and prove me wrong and prove us wrong as an organization.”
Kareem Huggins will now be the Buccaneers’ primary backup to Williams. Huggins is younger, cheaper to keep and he has had a much better pre-season than Ward. That’s the nature of the NFL as teams have to cut their rosters to 75 by today and will have to make their final cuts for a 53-man roster next week. Meanwhile, Morris said it was just the nature of the game.
"It's just like any other profession when it is time for you to depart. It's not a surprise anytime in our profession anytime we tell you to go -- can't say you're surprised. You have every day to go out there and prove yourself."
Tags: