By GREG AUMAN and ROGER MILLS
Published March 25, 2004
Bucs running back Michael Pittman will meet today with prosecutors and the Arizona judge scheduled to preside over his domestic violence trial next week, potentially to accept a plea agreement on lesser charges.
Pittman's meeting is listed as a "potential change of plea hearing," and if no agreement is reached today, he will stand trial Monday on two felony counts of aggravated assault and one felony count of aggravated domestic violence, all stemming from an arrest in May.
Pittman, 28, is accused of driving his Hummer into a Mercedes-Benz carrying his wife, Melissa, their 2-year-old son and their 18-year-old babysitter in the couple's suburban Phoenix neighborhood. Prosecutors are proceeding with the case despite Melissa Pittman's request to drop all charges.
An agreement could be reached that would keep Pittman from serving time in jail on the current charges, but two obstacles remain for the Bucs' leading rusher last season. Pleading guilty or no contest to a lesser offense could lead to Pittman being found in violation of probation from previous charges in 2001, which could result in six months in jail.
Such an agreement could result in a multigame suspension for a second violation of the league's personal conduct policy. Pittman was suspended one game during the 2001 season.
DILGER BACK IN THE MIX: Tight end Ken Dilger, released before the start of free agency to make room for other signings, rejoined the Bucs on Wednesday. Dilger, who had 56 catches for 573 yards and three touchdowns the past two seasons, signed a one-year deal for a little more than the league minimum.
Since releasing Dilger, the Bucs re-signed Rickey Dudley and added veteran Dave Moore. They have second-year player Will Heller on the roster. Dilger started 15 games last season, but it is unclear who will start this season.
SUPER TOWN?: Future Super Bowls sites are not on the agenda when the owners meetings convene in Palm Beach next week, but Tampa Bay appears to be among those in consideration for the next available date in 2009.
"We expect that Super Bowl to be awarded no earlier than next October's league meetings, and no later than March (2005)," league spokesman Greg Aiello said. "There are no official candidate cities yet for that game, but we know that Houston, New Orleans, Tampa and New York are possible candidates."
The 2005 Super Bowl will be held in Jacksonville, followed by Detroit in 2006, Miami in 2007 and Glendale, Ariz., in 2008.
