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Bucs Cut Ties With Petitgout

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 17, 2008

TAMPA The Bucs' decision to sign Donald Penn away from the Vikings a few years ago is looking better all the time.

Without Penn, the Bucs would really be hurting at left tackle, because their one-time projected starter, Luke Petitgout, is now out for good.

The Bucs released Petitgout on Saturday, failing him on a physical less than a year after he tore up his knee in a game against the Panthers.

The release means Penn will win the starting left tackle job by default and that Anthony Davis likely will make the team as his backup.

The Bucs were hoping Petitgout would push Penn for the starting assignment this year, but Petitgout's knee prohibited him from returning to the field.

Petitgout started training camp on the physically unable to perform list and failed to meet the Bucs' internal goal of returning to the field for the first preseason game.

Petitgout told the Tribune last week he believed he was close to getting on the field but admitted he had a ways to go to regain full health.

"It's mostly the knee," Petitgout said when asked what was keeping him off the field. "I'm feeling better, but I'm just not there yet."

Bucs coach Jon Gruden expressed disappointment later that day when asked about Petitgout, saying he wasn't close to returning.

Petitgout came to the Bucs with a history of back problems that kept some teams from taking a chance on him when he hit the free-agent market in 2007.

Those back problems hindered Petitgout all through the Bucs' 2007 training camp, but he recovered to start the season and played regularly until he suffered the knee injury in Week 4.

Petitgout, who joined the Bucs after signing a three-year, $15.5 million contract, joins a long list of free-agent tackles who have not worked out for them. Others include Derrick Deese and Todd Steussie.

The Bucs filled the roster spot by signing fullback J.D. Runnels, who played collegiately at Oklahoma. He was selected by the Bears in the sixth round in 2006.

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979 or rcummings@tampatrib.com.

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