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Ward's Top Free Agency Goal: Be A Buc

Tribune photo by JIM REED

Ward's deal is worth $17 million overall, including $3 million in guarantees and a $3 million salary.

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 3, 2009

Derrick Ward had one goal in mind when the free-agent signing period began this past weekend – get to Tampa.

"I told my agent when this first started, just get me to Tampa,'' Ward said Tuesday after signing a four-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "I just feel this is the right fit for me.''

The Bucs obviously feel Ward is a good fit. The deal is worth $17 million overall, including $3 million in guarantees and a $3 million salary.

For that, the Bucs get a player who has no qualms running in a tandem with projected starting running back Earnest Graham. In fact, Ward sounds like he's eager to run with Graham.

"We're going to turns some head this year,'' he said.

Ward helped turn heads the past two years as a member of the New York Giants' "Earth Wind & Fire" backfield with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. With Graham and "hopefully Cadillac Williams,'' Ward said, the Bucs will have the "new edition of the 'Earth Wind & Fire' backfield.''

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