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Bucs Close In On Signing LT Penn

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 25, 2009

TAMPA - The Bucs are working to keep several players out of the free agent market but one who will definitely hit the market is LT Donald Penn. Penn won't really be all that free to move, though.

A restricted free agent, the Bucs have placed a first-and-third-round tender on Penn, which means a rival team signing Penn away from the Bucs would have to compensate the Bucs by giving them both a first- and third-round draft pick.

That's the highest tender a restricted free agent can receive and while it is a sure sign the Bucs don't intend to lose their starting left tackle, Penn is not all that happy with the move.

Penn was hoping he and the Bucs could reach an agreement on a new long-term contract before free agency begins Friday at midnight. Though talks are ongoing that now seems unlikely. Even worse, as far as Penn is concerned, is the fact that the tender greatly restricts his ability to find a deal elsewhere.

Penn was hoping the Bucs would tender him at a rate that would allow other teams to at least kick the tires and help determine his true value, but with a first-and-third tender on him, the chances of Penn getting an offer from another team are near nil.

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