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Bucs Reach Terms With Backup QB McCown

Tribune file photo by JOSEPH BROWN III

Luke McCown scrambles for yardage late the fourth quarter of the Bucs' game against San Diego.

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 9, 2009

TAMPA - All those fans hoping Luke McCown would get a chance to run the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense may get their wish after all.

Though he had a chance to move elsewhere, McCown chose instead Monday to skip free agency and return to the Bucs.

Details of the contract McCown signed were not immediately available but it means McCown will battle fellow returnees Brian Griese and Josh Johnson for playing time next season.

"Luke McCown is a talented and athletic quarterback who we have gotten to know well over the last four years," Bucs coach Raheem Morris said. "I know he is looking forward to the opportunity to be an integral part of our quarterback group this season."

McCown, who will be entering his sixth NFL season and fifth with the Bucs, has served Tampa Bay primarily as a backup, starting just three of the seven games he's played here.

The signing is an indication the Bucs have no plans to wait until free agency begins to re-sign some of the potential free agents still on their roster.

The Bucs have 12 other players scheduled to become free agents, including receivers Antonio Bryant, Michael Clayton and quarterback Jeff Garcia.

Most of McCown's action as a Buccaneer came in 2007, when he started three late-season games in place of Garcia. In five games that season, McCown completed 94 of 139 passes (67.6 percent) for 1,009 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.

McCown was also pressed into service as a rookie with the injury-depleted Cleveland Browns in 2004. He started four games and threw for 608 yards, four TDs and seven interceptions.

The Browns, who selected McCown in the fourth round (106th overall) of the '04 draft, traded the Louisiana Tech product to the Bucs for a sixth-round pick.

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