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Reidel Anthony signs with Redskins; Bucs focus on keeping top players content.
By DARRELL FRY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 2, 2002
INDIANAPOLIS -- On the first day of free agency, the Bucs were somewhat quiet, losing a receiver but apparently keeping a defensive star.
Former first-round pick Reidel Anthony, an unrestricted free agent who never dazzled as he did at the University of Florida, signed a one-year deal with the Redskins, reuniting him with former Gators coach Steve Spurrier.
Defensive end Simeon Rice appears to be staying after the Bucs paid him a $2-million roster bonus Friday, general manager Rich McKay said from the NFL combine.
But Anthony's departure and Rice's apparent commitment only scratches the surface of what appears will be a busy offseason. For the first time, Bucs officials admitted publicly there is a growing problem between receiver Keyshawn Johnson and defensive tackle Warren Sapp. McKay said the Bucs had work to do patching things up between Johnson and Sapp, who are said to be at odds over last season's disappointing finish.
Johnson and Sapp have said they don't have a problem, but McKay said coach Jon Gruden likely will look into it.
"There's been a lot written and said, a lot of which probably didn't need to be written or said," McKay said. "And it needs to be addressed. I think Jon knows that. I think he will address it. The bottom line on those two players is that they're both very good football players, so you want to find ways to make it work, which I think we will. But it's not something you pretend didn't come to the surface."
The Bucs have seven days to exercise an option that will put Rice under contract four more years.
"We're prepared to do that," McKay said, adding the team likely will wait until the last day to officially exercise the option.
A free-agent signee the past offseason, Rice had a team-high 11 sacks and the most tackles among linemen. "He got a lot better as the year went on and as he got more comfortable in our scheme and got more comfortable with our football team," McKay said. "And with us keeping the same scheme and the same (defensive) staff (for next season), we felt like his effectiveness will only increase over time. I mean, I felt in the last half of the year he was at times dominant."
Anthony leaves after five seasons playing largely as backup. This past season he had 13 catches for 162 yards and no touchdowns.
"He's a player who had talent for us. It just never all came together with him," McKay said. "I don't know if it was a mixture of our scheme and how we were trying to use him. But it did not work out the way we intended it. And he had some good moments. He just didn't have consistent moments."
Spurrier told the Washington Post Anthony might start.
"Maybe he just hasn't had much of an opportunity," Spurrier said of Anthony's production with the Bucs.
Though teams wheeled and dealed Friday, McKay stressed the Bucs will take time signing and re-signing free agents, such as running back Warrick Dunn.