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The cuts get Tampa Bay closer to making the $71.1-million salary cap fit.
By DARRELL FRY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 27, 2002
TAMPA -- Continuing their cost-cutting efforts to squeeze under the salary cap, the Bucs released punter Mark Royals, linebacker Jeff Gooch and safety Eric Vance on Tuesday.
The moves figure to save about $3.6-million, pushing within about $2-million of the $71.1-million salary cap teams must be at by Friday.
Gooch would have counted $2.15-million against the cap, while Royals and Vance would have represented hits of about $1-million and $500,000, respectively. The Bucs saved another $2-million Tuesday when future Hall of Fame guard Randall McDaniel retired.
Others who could become cost-cutting casualties if their contracts aren't restructured this week include defensive end Simeon Rice, cornerback Donnie Abraham and possibly defensive end Marcus Jones. More likely the team will dump other less prominent players, such as fullback Charles Kirby, then re-sign them.
The Bucs also are expected to offer one-year contracts to restricted free agents Shaun King and Dexter Jackson.
Rice is coming off a strong season in which he led the club with 11 sacks and was the league's defensive Player of the month in December. But keeping him would mean an $8-million cap hit unless his contract is restructured.
Abraham has been a key member of the secondary even though he lost his starting job to Brian Kelly last season. But he's scheduled to make $4-million next season.
Jones' status seems uncertain after Tuesday's cuts. The former first-round draft pickis the only one still on the team from the five players left unprotected in the recent expansion draft. He would count about $2-million toward the salary cap.
Gooch leaves after six years as a part-time starter and frequent special-teams player. He played in 13 games last season with 13 tackles.
Royals leaves for a second time after playing for Tampa Bay from 1990-91. He set a club record last season for punts inside the 20 with 26, but struggled at times, partly because of injuries.
Vance was mostly a special-teams player in four seasons and saw his final season cut short when he was placed on injured reserve in late December.
-- Times staff writer Roger Mills contributed to this report.