QB King: Bucs an option

Shaun King says his agent has spoken to Bucs GM Bruce Allen.

By ROGER MILLS
Published March 12, 2005

TAMPA - With little room under the salary cap, the Bucs have made the signing of free-agent tight end Anthony Becht, the 6-foot-5, 272-pound former Jet, a priority and hope to get receiver Joe Jurevicius back in the mix.

While those negotiations are ongoing, they may have found an affordable and familiar option at quarterback.

Shaun King, released after Arizona signed Kurt Warner, said his agent, Eugene Parker, has talked to Bucs general manager Bruce Allen about King rejoining the team he started for in 2000.

King said the Seahawks, Bears and Lions, all in the market for backups, also are possibilities.

"I know Eugene and Bruce talked (on Thursday) about the Bucs and we're not ruling out the chance to come back to Tampa," said King, a St. Petersburg native. "It's like coming home. I love that community. We're going to weigh all the options and then see what happens."

The Bucs would not comment on whether they have an interest in the 6-foot-1, 228-pound King.

King played five seasons with Tampa Bay before signing a two-year deal with the Cardinals. King was 368-of-654 for 4,064 yards with 26 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. He played two seasons for coach Jon Gruden.

King, however, saw limited action playing behind the Cardinals' Josh McCown last season. He was 47-of-84 for 502 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.

"I don't look at (my release) as bad news," King said. "We came to a mutual agreement."

Kristen Kuliga, the agent for Doug Flutie, 42, who was released by the Chargers on Friday, named several teams that need a veteran quarterback and said, "The Bucs will certainly be a team we're going to reach out to."

Former Eagles quarterback Jeff Blake could be a fit. His agent, Ralph Cindrich, who also represents Bucs starter Brian Griese, talked with the team about Blake early in free agency but said there has been no developments.

Neil Cornrich, the agent for Jurevicius, indicated Friday that his client could be close to making a decision. The Bucs have made an offer to the 30-year-old they released March 2, but he has been looking at other opportunities.

"We continue to talk to a number of people and we continue to make progress," Cornrich said.

While the Bucs downplayed their interest in trading for Colts running back Edgerrin James, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, continued to fan the fire.

"We are interested in Edgerrin playing for the Dolphins, the Bucs, the Cardinals, the 49ers and potentially for the Chicago Bears, Houston and Cleveland," Rosenhaus said on ESPN Radio. "Those are the teams we think are interested in having Edgerrin James on their roster."

James, one of the game's elite running backs and the Colts' franchise player, is seeking a trade. Money, however, would seem to eliminate the Bucs.

"We negotiated the (Clinton) Portis deal for $50-million, so we would like to be in the upper echelon of running backs in the NFL," Rosenhaus said.

[Last modified March 12, 2005, 00:50:11]