Lynch to work as analyst for Bucs' preseason telecasts

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety John Lynch will be a color analyst for Bucs preseason telecasts on WFLA-TV this season.

Lynch will be a part of three preseason broadcasts with Chris Myers, who is entering his sixth season as the Bucs' preseason play-by-play commentator.

The games Lynch will broadcast are at Tennessee (Aug. 15), at Jacksonville (Aug. 22) and against Houston (Sept. 4). Tampa Bay will play against Miami at home on Aug. 27, but the game will be broadcast nationally on Fox.

"I was blessed to play in the National Football League for 15 years," Lynch said in a Bucs news release. "During that time, I took great pride in playing the game of football with the utmost passion. I look forward to bringing that same passion into the broadcast booth and communicate my love for the game to the viewers."

In addition to his preseason duties, Lynch will be an analyst on Fox for regular-season games in 2009.

"I am excited to begin this new chapter of my career in Tampa, the city where my playing career began. It is a community that has been so meaningful and supportive to me and my family throughout the years, and I look forward to connecting to the great Buccaneer fans once again. I am excited to work with Chris, and thank WFLA and the Buccaneers for this opportunity."

Lynch, a nine-time Pro Bowler and captain on Tampa Bay's 2002 Super Bowl team, will join a growing line of former Buccaneers working in broadcasting.

NBC announced today that former coach Tony Dungy will serve as a studio analyst for "Football Night in America."

Former receiver Keyshawn Johnson, quarterback Trent Dilfer, quarterback Shaun King and former assistant Herm Edwards are employed as on-air personalities with ESPN, while former defensive tackle Warren Sapp is on Showtime's "Inside the NFL" and works for the NFL Network. In addition, former Bucs coach Jon Gruden was recently hired to work as a commentator on ESPN's "Monday Night Football."

One of the most respected players in Bucs history, Lynch retired in 2008. He spent his first 11 seasons (1993-2003) with the Bucs before joining the Denver Broncos for four seasons (2004-07). He played in 224 career games with 191 starts during his career, finishing his career with 1,277 tackles, 26 interceptions, 13 sacks, 16 forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries.

A captain on the Bucs' Super Bowl team, Lynch still ranks fifth in games played (164), sixth in games started (132), fifth in tackles (973) and sixth in interceptions (23) in team history.

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