Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bucs Release Lovett Purnell

Tampa Bay reduces its roster to 85 players six days before the first big cutdown

Aug 16, 2000 at 02:14 PM

TE Lovett Purnell, here cradling a pass during training camp, was released on Wednesday

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced today that they have released free agent TE Lovett Purnell.

Purnell, who signed with the Buccaneers as a free agent on March 2, played briefly for Baltimore last season after three seasons with the New England Patriots. He was originally drafted by the Patriots in the seventh round of the 1996 NFL Draft and then was acquired by Baltimore for a sixth-round pick on March 30, 1999. He has played in 36 career games with seven starts, and owns 19 career receptions for 159 yards and five TDs.

Purnell played in two games for Baltimore in 1999, catching two passes for 10 yards. His best season as a pro came in 1998, when he played in all 16 games for the Patriots and caught a career-best 12 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

The Buccaneers currently have 85 players on their roster. They must reduce that number to 65 by August 22.

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