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Bucs' Adams traded to Chicago

Staff photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Oft-maligned defensive end Gaines Adams has been shipped to Chicago for a second-round pick in next year's draft.

By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 16, 2009

Updated: 10/16/2009 09:32 pm

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TAMPA – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers closed the book on Gaines Adams Friday night, ending another sad chapter in their recent draft history.

Less than two weeks after their 2007 first-round pick appeared to have a breakout game at Washington, the Bucs traded the 26-year-old defensive end to Chicago for a second-round pick in the 2010 draft.

Adams will now serve as a reclamation project for Bears defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, the former Tampa Bay assistant who was impressed with Adams after he finished his Clemson career with 28 sacks.

Adams, in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, said he understood the situation from the Bucs' perspective.

"Obviously, with the team I was with, the record shows and obviously stepping into a new team, I'm going to a good position with the Bears," Adams told the newspaper. "I am going to try to make the best of it.

"I'm just trying to get up there first and just trying to get their playbook and get all of the little things taken care of and hopefully go out and play Sunday."

The Bucs, who have drafted only two Pro Bowl players since 1998, selected Adams with the fourth pick in 2007, three choices before the Vikings tabbed Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson.

In 37 games with Tampa Bay, including 29 starts, Adams posted 13.5 sacks. He had only two sacks during the club's current nine-game losing streak heading into Sunday's home matchup against Carolina.

His former teammates weren't entirely surprised by the move.

"This is a business," said left end Jimmy Wilkerson, who leads Tampa Bay with five sacks, including a three-sack effort at Philadelphia last week. "The organization made a decision they felt was best for them. We all liked Gaines. We wish the best for him."

Adams started all five games this year at right end and his early-season struggles prompted public criticism from first-year coach Raheem Morris, who warned in training camp that Adams needed to notch double-digit sacks in 2009 to avoid being labeled a bust.

Nonetheless, Adams defended Morris' stance to the Sun-Times.

"Coach Morris wasn't too hard on me, not at all," Adams said. "Being drafted where I was at, there were high expectations for me. I still have high expectations for myself."

In a 16-13 loss to the Redskins Oct. 4, Adams looked energized from the start with a sack and a forced fumble that helped the Bucs grab a 10-0 halftime advantage. He was no factor in last week's loss against the Eagles, despite Wilkerson's brilliant effort on the opposite side.

Adams' departure should provide more playing time for Stylez G. White and rookie Kyle Moore, who is close to returning from a knee injury.

"It is unfortunate," said White, who doesn't have a sack through Tampa Bay's losing skid. "I am definitely looking forward to helping out the team to the best of my ability."

Anwar S. Richardson contributed to this story.

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