Bucs: King to Jags report dismissed

King to Jags report dismissed

By ROGER MILLS, Times Staff Writer

TAMPA -- With training camp only 16 days away, Bucs reserve quarterback Shaun King still must deal with speculation about his future.

The latest nugget came from ESPN.com, which reported Friday the Bucs are discussing trading King to the Jaguars for offensive lineman Zach Wiegert.

King would back up Mark Brunell, and Wiegert would provide the Bucs with insurance at several positions.

"There is absolutely no basis to the rumor," Bucs general manager Rich McKay said.

King said he was surprised.

"It's complete news to me," he said. "I have heard nothing about that nor heard anything from my agent.

"But then again, they don't have to let me know if they are doing something like that."

Since the arrival of coach Jon Gruden and the signing of Rob Johnson, King's future has become a hot topic around the league.

A rookie quarterback in 1999 who led the Bucs to the NFC Championship Game, King is fighting for playing time. During the minicamp in June, incumbent starter Brad Johnson worked with the starters, Rob Johnson with the second team and King with the third.

Gruden said that was not an indication Rob Johnson was ahead of King, stressed there is no depth chart and said the starter would be decided during training camp.

But Friday's report, described by ESPN.com as "totally unsubstantiated," said: "Folks close to King told (ESPN) this week that he is itching to move on to get into a situation where he could again compete for the starting job."

King, who has strong ties to the bay area, said his thoughts still were with the Bucs and he still is in the mix for the starting job.

"As far as I'm concerned, the situation, as far as who starts against the Saints on opening day, is still to be resolved," King said. "That will be decided in training camp.

"All I can do is continue to work hard and get better. I can't control those other things."

King and Bucs officials said ESPN.com's report was another Internet rumor.

"Didn't the Internet say the Bucs were trying to trade (Warren) Sapp, too?" King said.

RECEIVER CUT: Receiver Keith Poole, who was signed in March, was released.