TAMPA - The Bucs added to their collection of receivers by reaching an agreement on a contract with Sylvester Morris, the Chiefs' first-round pick in 2000.
That brings the number of receivers signed since the end of the season to six, all cheap by NFL standards and players with whom coach Jon Gruden hopes to strike it rich.
The Bucs also have signed Danny Farmer, Marcus Knight, Frank Murphy, Justin Skaggs and Fabian Davis.
Morris, who caught passes from Texans draft pick Drew Henson during a workout the Bucs attended Thursday, hasn't played since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the summer of 2001.
In his rookie season, he caught 48 passes for 678 yards and three touchdowns.
After spending a season each on injured reserve and the physically unable to perform list, he was released by the Chiefs in October.
Morris, drafted 21st overall out of Jackson State, also will compete with veterans Joe Jurevicius, Keenan McCardell and Charles Lee.
The Bucs also signed tackle Chris Ziemann, allocating him to NFL Europe. Ziemann, who played in eight games as a rookie for the Giants in 2000, was waived by the Jaguars on May 1 after spending 2002 on injured reserve.
Redskins allow Bailey to talk to other teams
ASHBURN, Va. - The Redskins have given four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey permission to pursue a trade.
Bailey's agent, Jack Reale, said he spoke to "seven or eight" teams Friday after receiving a call Thursday from Redskins owner Dan Snyder.
"I think they're curious to see what the interest level is," Reale said.
Bailey's contract expires next month, and talks for a new deal have gone nowhere. The Redskins offered a nine-year, $55-million contract with $14.7-million in bonus money before the start of last season. But Bailey was unhappy with the structure and clauses.
Negotiations resumed this month, with the Redskins essentially making the same offer, except over eight years. Bailey has said he wants a deal that would make him one of the highest paid defensive players in the league.
If the Redskins don't re-sign Bailey or trade him by Feb. 24, they probably will designate him as a franchise player, which means they would have to tender him a one-year, $6.8-million offer.
RAMS: Kurt Warner still wants to play in St. Louis, and he's not making any trade demands, at least not yet. But the quarterback said it would be a shame if the team kept him and Marc Bulger.
"I know we've got two quality quarterbacks; two guys that can start in the league," Warner said. "It's going to be unfortunate because some guy that deserves to be starting in this league won't be, whether it's myself or Marc."
This week, coach Mike Martz declined to discuss his plans. But Warner said he's confident he will get a chance to win the starting job.
"From all indications ... I'm definitely going to get an opportunity to go back out and show what I can do," he said. "A lot of times, that's all you can ask for."
- Times staff writer Joanne Korth contributed to this report, which used information from the Associated Press.
