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Bucs Grab Nugent

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By ROY CUMMINGS

rcummings@tampatrib.com

Published: March 5, 2009

TAMPA - That youth kick the Bucs are on extends all the way to the special teams units.

Obviously concerned that 33-year-old Matt Bryant may be losing some of his leg power, the Bucs on Wednesday created a competition for the place-kicker's job by signing 27-year-old Mike Nugent to a one-year contract.

"It is an open competition," Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said during a radio interview with 620 AM. "Matt just set a Bucs single-season point record last year, but we want to increase the competition."

Nugent should have no trouble doing that. Like Bryant, he has made good on 82 percent of his field-goal attempts during his four-year career and has hit on 98 percent of his extra points.

The difference comes in the two kickers' success rates on kicks of 40 yards or more. Since the beginning of the 2006 season Nugent has gone 10-for-12 on field goal tries of 40 to 49 yards and 3-for-7 on tries of 50 yards or more.

Bryant, meanwhile, has gone 16-for-24 on tries of 40 to 49 yards and 1-for-8 on tries of 50 yards or more, with the one good kick being the 62-yarder he made to beat the Eagles on Oct. 22, 2006.

Bryant, of course, spent a good part of the 2008 season kicking under great duress following the sudden death Sept. 24 of his 3-month-old son, Matthew Tryson.

He performed admirably under those conditions, however, hitting on 32 of 38 field goal tries and 35 of 36 extra points, establishing a team record for points with 131.

Nugent, meanwhile, missed all but the first game of last season because of a quad muscle injury. Nevertheless, the 2005 second-round pick of the Jets was still considered the top place-kicker in free agency.

"We feel it's going to be a real healthy competition and we're excited to watch that one unfold throughout the offseason," Dominik told 620.

Warner Stays With Cardinals

TEMPE, Ariz. - Kurt Warner is staying with the Arizona Cardinals, agreeing to a two-year, $23 million contract and ready to play after a season in which he led his team to the Super Bowl.

"I'm excited about building on what we started last year, the last couple of years," the 37-year-old quarterback said at a news conference.

BENGALS: Cincinnati moved quickly to replace departed receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, reaching a four-year contract agreement with former Jets receiver Laveranues Coles.

FALCONS: Re-signed defensive end Chauncey Davis to a $14 million, four-year contract.

RAVENS: Agreed to terms with middle linebacker Ray Lewis on a multiyear contract, and reached an agreement on a three-year deal with six-time Pro Bowl center Matt Birk.

SAINTS: Deep threat wide receiver Devery Henderson re-signed for four more years.

The Associated Press

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

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