Buccaneers expected to release experienced outside linebacker

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made several moves this offseason to increase depth and competition on the roster. One of those moves was signing veteran pass rusher Randy Gregory to a one-year, $3 million deal with a $1.365 million signing bonus. When OTAs and mandatory minicamp rolled around, however, Gregory was nowhere to be found.

While OTAs are voluntary, a mandatory minicamp is exactly what it says – mandatory. Even more confusing is that there was no communication between Gregory and the team.

“He wasn't here,” Bowles said at the time. “He's absent without excuse. We'll deal with it.”

While out during mandatory minicamp, Gregory racked up $101,356 in fines. Fast forward to the start of training camp and Gregory was once again a no-show and had no communication with the Bucs. He was placed on the Did Not Report list, opening up a spot on the Bucs' roster.

“We'll talk about the players who are here,” Bowles said. “He's not here. We'll work that out internally. Obviously he's on the list of players who haven't been reported. We'll see from there.”

Over the course of training camp, Gregory accumulated fines totaling $50,000 a day. After he missed the entire training camp, the Bucs were able to recoup the signing bonus they paid Gregory and will subsequently release him.

“The Bucs have come to an agreement with Randy Gregory and his agent and plan to release him this week,” local Bucs commentator Chris Meyers said during the team's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. “He was signed when they were trying to improve the pass rush and edge rush room and it just didn't work out, so they came to an agreement that he would be released.”

“There are many reasons why it didn't work out, but I think the biggest reason is that the Bucs were trying to recoup the signing bonus he signed for, which they managed to do this week. That's why they're releasing him this week,” Ronde Barber said afterward.

The Buccaneers have not officially released Gregory yet, but according to Meyers, Barber and Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, it looks like that will happen soon.

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