Tampa Bay gets versatility in Stinchcomb, proven talent in Dudley.
By ROGER MILLS
Published March 6, 2004
TAMPA - The Bucs continued their quest to upgrade the offense Friday when they signed Raiders offensive lineman Matt Stinchcomb and re-signed tight end Rickey Dudley.
Stinchcomb and 49ers running back Garrison Hearst were at One Buc Place on Friday.
Stinchcomb, 6 feet 6, 310 pounds, signed a reported two-year deal for about $5-million. The former first-round pick of the Raiders in 1999 has played left guard, left tackle and center. He has played in 49 games with 20 starts. It is unclear what position he will play with the Bucs.
"Matt is another versatile addition to our offensive line," coach Jon Gruden said in a statement. "We are excited about what he will bring to the Buccaneers."
Stinchcomb, 26, is reunited with Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen, who were with the Raiders in 1999.
"This is a great opportunity for me," Stinchcomb said.
The Bucs also were expecting Ravens right tackle Orlando Brown to fly into Tampa on Friday night and spend today at the facility.
At 33, Brown still is considered a mauler and one of the more intimidating tackles in the game. The Bucs will have to work to sign Brown, who was part of an offensive line that helped Jamal Lewis rush for 2,066 yards.
Though he is credited for nine seasons, Brown missed the 2000, 2001 and 2002 seasons with an eye injury sustained when he was accidentally hit by a penalty flag.
For Dudley, returning to Tampa seemed the logical decision. The former first-round pick of the Raiders (1996) is entering his ninth season and spent five of the first eight playing for Gruden.
Terms of Dudley's contract were not released.
"It has a lot to do with respect," Dudley said. "He respects what I do and I respect what he does. Now, with me being in those unfortunate situations those couple of years (struggling with injury in Cleveland, then getting cut) and then coming to Tampa, then the Super Bowl, then the ankle injury, I don't think I really had the chance to show the Bucs the type of tight end I can be. Hopefully, with some hard work and luck, as far as health goes, I'll be able to have a good season."
Long reported to be returning to the Bucs, Dudley likely will become the full-time starter with the release of Ken Dilger and the departure of Todd Yoder, who signed a three-year deal with the Jaguars on Friday.
"I can take that," Dudley said. "I was the guy that started six years of my career up until I got released from Cleveland and came to Tampa. ... Being a backup is not something I got used to. It was tough to adjust to. But now, being a starter, is a role that I'm accustomed to and definitely prepared for."
In two seasons with the Bucs, Dudley played in 21 games with five starts. He had 23 receptions for 234 yards and four touchdowns. Dudley was expected to play a major role last season but suffered a high ankle sprain at the end of the preseason and was released with an injury settlement. He returned to the Bucs on Nov.11 and played in seven games.
"I never thought I was really gone," Dudley said. "It was one of those things where I always thought I would be back. It was just a matter of getting in there early and getting it done before all the hoopla got going and all the wondering about other teams coming around. I really didn't want that to start because I felt the comfort there."
The Bucs are in negotiations with the agent for Lions linebacker Jeff Gooch, who lives in Tampa. Gooch, who played for the Bucs from 1996 to 2001, met with Gruden and former linebacker coach Joe Barry and is keen to return to his roots.
"We have actually gone back and forth and definitely talked contract," agent Rich De Luca said. "I tend to want to get these deals done quickly and not wait too much into free agency. We want to wrap this up early next week and not draw it out too much."
Gooch, who started 16 games with the Bucs in 1998 at strongside linebacker, has distinguished himself through the years on special teams as well.
"The major problem now is that (the Bucs) don't have a lot of cap space," De Luca said. "They have some issues to deal with. But if the money is close, absolutely (he would like to return)."
In other news, Bucs restricted free-agent fullback Jameel Cook visited the Browns on Friday. If Cook signs an offer sheet, the Bucs have a week to match it or lose him. The Browns then will give the Bucs their sixth-round pick this year, since Cook was a sixth-round pick in 2001.
The Browns also released running back Jamel White after attempts to trade him failed. The Bucs were among four teams reportedly interested in a possible trade, but may still look at White now that he is a free agent.
The Bucs continue talks with Leigh Steinberg, the agent for Eagles running back Duce Staley. But Staley, Steinberg said, is gearing up for another visit.
"There have been some good discussions, back and forth (Friday) and they should be ongoing," Steinberg said. "There is no pending signing. He's going to Pittsburgh on Sunday."
