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Bucs Still Shopping For Receivers

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By ROY CUMMINGS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 12, 2008

TAMPA - Fans eager to see the Bucs sign a free-agent receiver with speed and playmaking ability other than Antonio Bryant still may get their wish.

Two of the free-agent market's fastest wide receivers and one of its best playmaking receivers remain available, and the Bucs are in the running for all three.

The Bucs have a shot at landing either Cardinals playmaker Bryant Johnson or Panthers speedster Drew Carter. Jets speedster Justin McCareins also could wind up in Tampa.

"We're going to take the next couple days and go over the offers we have and take it from there," said Joel Segal, the agent for Johnson and Carter, both of whom are considering Tampa Bay as a destination.

McCareins' agent, Cliff Brady, said the Bucs have not contacted him about his client, but McCareins is starting to schedule and make visits and could wind up on Tampa's radar.

The Bucs went into free agency looking to add speed and playmakers at receiver. They may have filled the need for a playmaker by signing Bryant, but there are question marks about him.

Bryant sat out all of last season after being released by the 49ers in March, so there's no way of knowing if he can regain the form that once made him one of the league's most promising prospects. At least, the Bucs know they would have his services from the first week of the season. Though he never served the final two games of his four-game suspension handed down in 2006, a Bucs official said Bryant would be eligible to play from the start of the 2008 season.

Even if he does regain his form, Bryant still would not fill the need for speed. The Bucs are hoping prospect Chad Lucas can provide that, but Johnson, Carter or McCareins may be better options.

Johnson, 27, is a 6-foot-3, 214-pound playmaker who has competed in the shadow of Larry Fitzgerald. Johnson was ranked fifth among receivers and 32nd overall in The Sporting News's Super 99 list of free agents.

Carter, 26, is big and fast. The 6-3, 200-pounder has the ability to stretch defenses and win jump balls in the red zone.

McCareins, 29, is an older version of Carter.

That trio makes up the best of what's left of the 2008 class of receivers. With offseason programs beginning next week, it is likely that all three will sign with a new team before the week is out.

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

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