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Around the NFL

By ROGER MILLS

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 20, 2001

TAMPA -- With starting safety Damien Robinson and cornerback Ronde Barber unrestricted free agents, the Bucs are expected to look for help at defensive back in the April draft.

They got insurance Monday when they signed Antonious Bonner, a cornerback/safety who recently played with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.

Bonner, 28, is a five-year CFL veteran who played two seasons at Mississippi Delta Community College before finishing his collegiate career at Ole Miss.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder signed a one-year contract.

He played with the CFL's Ottawa Rough Riders in 1995 and was with the Argonauts from 1997-00.

"He has great size for a cornerback/safety, and we like his toughness," Bucs coordinator of pro personnel Mark Dominik said in a release.

In the pass-happy CFL, Bonner produced decent numbers: 186 tackles, 14 interceptions, 10 fumble recoveries, 5 passes knocked down and 3 sacks.

Last season he led the Argonauts with four interceptions and had 33 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries and 3 special teams tackles.

Signing a player out of the CFL has worked before for the Bucs. Starting strong-side linebacker Shelton Quarles spent two seasons with the British Columbia Lions before signing with Tampa Bay.

DOLPHINS: Linebacker Nate Hemsley signed a two-year contract. He was signed to the practice squad in November.

PACKERS: Safety Gary Berry will retire after one season rather than risk the possibility of paralysis from a spinal injury, according to cbs.sportsline.com. The move likely will not become official until June 1 for salary-cap purposes. "It happens in this game, but you hate to see it happen to such a good kid," agent Joel Segal said. Berry, 23, was the team's fourth-round pick out of Ohio State in the 2000 draft. His injury occurred in an Oct. 1 game against the Bears.

RAMS: Defensive end Kevin Carter will be designated a franchise free agent this week, team president Jay Zygmunt told the player's agent, according to cbs.sportsline.com. The move, which must be made by 4 p.m. Thursday, would assure the team of retaining a right of first refusal on the six-year veteran, but it would hardly guarantee the former Florida player would remain with St. Louis. The franchise label would restrict Carter's mobility, but it would guarantee him a one-year qualifying offer of $5.39-million. It also would permit the team to continue trade talks.

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