TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Bucs' Ruud shows up, but still seeks new deal

ADVERTISEMENT

By ROY CUMMINGS rcummings@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 17, 2009

Updated: 06/17/2009 12:22 am

TAMPA - Barrett Ruud said Tuesday that his holdout from voluntary offseason workouts was aimed squarely at sparking a series of new contract negotiations. He had to admit, however, that the ploy didn't work.

Though the Bucs' starting middle linebacker ended his weeks-long absence from team workouts and showed up for the first day of their mandatory minicamp, he did so despite the fact no negotiations have taken place on a new contract.

"I was hoping to speed things along a little bit," Ruud said of his decision to skip 14 voluntary workouts. "But there are no discussions. I'd like to think everything will take care of itself, but that remains to be seen."

Ruud, the Bucs' leader in tackles the past two seasons, is entering the final year of a contract that will pay him approximately $1.6 million in 2009. He is looking for a new deal in part because he has no desire to leave the Bucs.

"I'd like to be here a long time," Ruud said. "I've really enjoyed the organization. It's a first-class organization and a great community, and I like my teammates. In that respect, I am disappointed things haven't progressed."

Bucs general manager Mark Dominik cited his personal policy on contracts and refused to discuss any aspect of Ruud's situation. It was apparent, though, that the team was happy to have Ruud back on the field.

"He's the leader of our defense, the statue, the backbone, the quarterback," Bucs coach Raheem Morris said. "All the good terms you can think of to call Barrett Ruud, he is. So it was exciting to have him back."

Ruud said he has been working out near his home in Nebraska and suggested that may be where he stays if negotiations aimed at a new deal aren't moving along when training camp begins.

"Right now I'm just taking things day by day," Ruud said. "All I can control is what I do on the field, and I'm in good shape and I'm happy where I'm at physically.

"I feel great; I feel explosive; I feel ready. I have to kick the conditioning up a little bit for July, but I feel good about where I am going into training camp."

He doesn't feel good about his contract negotiations. And while Ruud didn't say what he's looking for in a new deal, it's possible he's looking for something similar to the package Lofa Tatupu recently got from Seattle.

Tatupu, who was drafted nine spots after Ruud in the second round of the 2005 draft and has made a Pro Bowl, last year signed a $42 million extension that will keep him with the Seahawks through 2015.

"Lofa's a guy I watch all the time," said Ruud, who has yet to make a Pro Bowl squad. "And I think I played up to his level last year, and I want to stay in that elite level of linebackers."

Ruud has some catching up to do if he hopes to stay at that level. Though he has stayed in contact with his position coach on the changes the Bucs have made defensively his knowledge of the new scheme is not what it needs to be.

And even if Ruud does catch up in that area, there's a chance a lingering contractual issue will adversely affect not only Ruud's play but that of the entire team. That's something Morris is hoping to avoid.

"Everything we do has an effect on the entire team, but we have to be bigger and better than that," Morris said. "We have to put the team above everything else."

Though he is clearly unhappy with the lack of progress being made in his contract talks, Ruud appears to be following Morris' advice and is putting the team's needs first.

"My focus is on having a good year," he said. "That's what I'm going to be doing these next five weeks - preparing to play great. As far as the rest of the stuff goes, I just hope it works out."

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT