Welcome to TBO.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online

TBO > News > Breaking News

Figurs happy to reunite with Freeman on Bucs

By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 14, 2009

What do you take away from the Bucs' loss in Atlanta?

TAMPA - No wonder new Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Yamon Figurs felt so comfortable in Tuesday's tryout.

He had a familiar hand throwing him the ball.

Figurs has been reunited with rookie quarterback Josh Freeman, who was on the field when Tampa Bay worked out several receivers Tuesday.

"It was Josh,'' Figurs said Wednesday when asked who fired footballs at him. "He's gotten better, too. He's got a stronger arm from what I've seen.''

Figurs and Freeman played together at Kansas State in 2006, Freeman's freshman season. Also on hand that year for the Wildcats was defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, now the new head coach of the Bucs.

In his senior season at KSU, Figurs caught 73 passes for 1,144 yards and earned All Big-12 recognition as a return specialist.

"I'm coming here to make the best of my new opportunity,'' said Figurs, a third-round pick by Baltimore in 2007 known for his outstanding speed. "I'm going to do anything they ask me to do.''

Figurs caught only two passes in 28 games with the Ravens, but he flashed skills as a return specialist, scoring a touchdown on both a punt return and a kickoff return as a rookie in 2007.

He was picked up by Detroit in September shortly after his release by the Ravens and played three games with the Lions before he was waived two weeks ago.

"The main thing for me right now is getting the terminology down around here,'' said Figurs, who expects to receive some opportunities in the return game, despite the presence of Pro Bowler Clifton Smith.

Freeman, who has moved up to No. 2 on the depth chart behind Josh Johnson, is excited to see a familiar face added to the roster.

"We're not running the same routes as we did at K-State,'' Freeman said. "It was good to see Yamon again. Hopefully, I did a good job throwing the ball to everybody yesterday.''

Share this: