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Starting TE Moore is let go

The team is likely to try to re-sign the popular player at a lower salary.

By ROGER MILLS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 28, 2002

TAMPA -- Needing to shave about $2-million to get down to the salary cap of about $71-million by Friday, the Bucs released starting tight end Dave Moore on Wednesday.

The 10-year veteran, who led the team with four touchdown receptions last season, was scheduled to make $1.3-million in salary. The Bucs are likely to try to re-sign Moore, 32, at a lower price when the free-agency period begins Friday.

A popular and community-conscious player, Moore had started 65 consecutive games, the second-longest active streak on the team behind Derrick Brooks' 109.

"Dave has been a good player and a good soldier for us," general manager Rich McKay said in a statement. "This system sometimes creates situations such as this one, where you are forced into very tough decisions."

At the start of the week, the Bucs needed to reduce projected payroll by more than $7-million by Friday's deadline. Monday, veteran offensive guard Randall McDaniel announced his retirement, saving the Bucs about $2-million, and Tuesday, the team released veteran punter Mark Royals, linebacker Jeff Gooch and safety Eric Vance, clearing about $3.5-million.

Moore, who began his Bucs career in 1992 after spending the first half of the season on and off the Dolphins practice squad, has started every game in the past four seasons. He has 179 receptions for 1,774 yards and 24 touchdowns with the Bucs. Last season, he recorded a career-high 35 receptions for 285 yards.

Meanwhile, the agent for former Colts tight end Ken Dilger said Wednesday the Bucs have contacted him about bringing in Dilger for a visit.

"We have talked to them quite a bit (in the past week)," Mark Bartelstein said. "But it's very preliminary at this point. Nothing is set. I think they would like to set the time when he can pay a visit."

Bartelstein said Dilger, who has been one of the most consistent tight ends in the league since beginning his career with the Colts in 1995, is receiving offers from a number of teams, including the Patriots, and will settle into a visit schedule soon.

In seven seasons, the 6-foot-5, 253-pounder from Illinois has missed three of 112 regular-season games, starting every game the past two seasons. His best season among several productive ones was in 1997 when he caught 47 passes for 538 yards and three touchdowns. For his career, he has 261 receptions and 51 scores.

It is unclear how tight ends will figure into new coach Jon Gruden's offense. But when Gruden was with the Raiders, tight ends were prominent. Former first-round draft pick Rickey Dudley averaged 37 catches and six touchdowns in five seasons with the Raiders and enjoyed one of his best seasons in his second year under Gruden. In 1999, Dudley had 39 catches for 555 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns.

Oakland signed former Rams tight end Roland Williams before last season, and he caught 33 passes for 298 yards and had three scores.

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