The Tampa Bay Buccaneers completed their 2010 draft on Saturday afternoon, selecting nine players, and on Monday they added 12 more to the roster through signings of undrafted free agents. But, as is often the case at this time of the year, roster additions are often balanced by moves in the other direction.
Indeed, the Buccaneers released six players on Monday, most notably defensive tackle Chris Hovan and guard Arron Sears. Also let go were fullback B.J. Askew, guard Shawn Murphy, punter Sam Paulescu and cornerback Stoney Woodson.
Woodson and Murphy never appeared in a game for the Buccaneers, but the other four players who were released contributed significantly to the team's success in recent years.
Hovan started all 16 games last season for the Buccaneers, recording 57 tackles, one tackle for loss, 0.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Tampa Bay signed the former first-round pick after he was released by the Minnesota Vikings in 2005, and he subsequently started 79 of the team's 80 games over the next five years. He led all Tampa Bay defensive linemen in tackles in 2005, 2006 and 2008 and ranked second on the line in 2007 and 2009, recording a career-high 95 tackles in 2007.
Askew was with the team for three seasons (2007-09) playing in 28 games with 15 starts. Last season he played in five of the first six games before being placed on the Non-Football Injury List on October 20.
Sears started all 31 games he played in for the Buccaneers since being drafted in 2007 but spent the 2009 season on the Non-Football Illness List.
Paulescu joined the team on December 1, 2009 punting in five games for Tampa Bay. Murphy joined the Buccaneers on October 21, 2009 after being claimed off waivers from the Miami Dolphins and Woodson spent a portion of the 2009 season on the team's practice squad after being signed on December 10.
