Cap woes to restrict signings

By RICK STROUD
Published May 1, 2005

TAMPA - The Bucs would like to sign a veteran receiver such as ex-Giant Ike Hilliard or an experienced cornerback. But they are virtually out of salary cap room, coach Jon Gruden said.

"I think we had $18,000 of room at one point, so you can't sign anybody," he said. "We're out of business. The woodshed is closed. " Bruce (Allen, the general manager) has taken my cell phone away. He won't let me call anyone, he won't let me accept any calls from anyone."

The Bucs are about $1.3-million under the salary cap, according to ESPN.com. But in order to sign draft picks, they will need to clear about $6-million. Some relief might come after June1, when the Bucs can spread some of the acceleration of signing bonuses from released players over two years. Chief among the candidates to be cut are offensive tackle Todd Steussie and running back Charlie Garner.

The Bucs also will attempt to restructure more deals, similar to the one signed before the draft by linebacker Shelton Quarles. That gave them $1-million in salary cap relief.

In the meantime, the Bucs will have to spend the offseason developing rookie receivers such as Utah's Paris Warren, Louisville's J.R. Russell of Tampa and Pearl River Community College's Larry Brackins.

Warren will work at flanker behind Michael Clayton while Brackins and Russell are playing weakside split end. "(Warren) has got some really good traits," Gruden said. "He's thick. He's quick. He's very instinctive. He can catch the ball, and he's good after the catch.

"The other two guys, Brackins and Russell, will start on the weakside, where their size certainly will be helpful to them because they're on the line of scrimmage the majority of the time. Corners are more apt to get their hands on these guys, so size and strength should be an asset to them."

RUUD AWAKENING: It wouldn't be a stretch to say Barrett Ruud will see a lot of playing time as a rookie. The Bucs' second-round pick has shown terrific instincts at middle linebacker during the rookie minicamp.

Ruud will start at strongside so as not to overwhelm him with having to make defensive calls.

"He's what we thought he was when we drafted him," linebackers coach Joe Barry said. "You're talking about a kid that is very serious. He's very detailed. But the good thing is once I did get him out on the grass, he's exactly what I saw on tape. He's very natural at what he does.

"He has what I call God-given instincts. He has instincts that me, ( Monte Kiffin), freaking Vince Lombardi can't teach. He's just God-given. They're just natural instincts. For people who want to know what are instincts, turn on a football game. And if you see a guy running around making a bunch of tackles, that's instincts."

FIFTH DIMENSION: The Bucs would be happy if Carnell "Cadillac" Williams fares as well as the past three running backs taken No.5 overall in the draft: LaDainian Tomlinson by the Chargers in 2001, Jamal Lewis by the Ravens in 2000 and Ricky Williams by the Saints in 1999. In 13 seasons, they have combined to average 1,385 rushing yards.

THE FRENCH CONNECTION: If his leg doesn't get tired, Todd France might have the best chance to win the placekicking job in training camp.

Allocated to NFL Europe, France made three more field goals Saturday to lead Hamburg to a 23-6 win over Cologne.

For the season, France has made 14 of16 field goals (87.5 percent). He will compete with veteran Matt Bryant.

[Last modified April 30, 2005, 23:59:18]