Bucs release TE Stevens two days after drug arrest

Jerramy Stevens was released by the Buccaneers Monday, two days after the controversial tight end was arrested in Tampa on drug charges.

Stevens, 30, was signed by Tampa Bay in the 2007 offseason after being plagued by a series of legal issues with the Seahawks and during his days at the University of Washington. The most serious incident was an arrest for sexual assault in 2000, but formal charges were never filed because prosecutors said they lacked enough evidence.

A Tampa police officer stopped Stevens' 2006 Ford pickup Saturday night after hearing loud music coming from the truck, according to a Tampa Police Department news release. After smelling marijuana, the officer searched the vehicle and found 38 grams of marijuana, police said.

Stevens was arrested on felony charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell and possession, along with a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. He didn't play in Tampa Bay's 18-17 victory Sunday against the St. Louis Rams at Raymond James Stadium.

"I feel bad for Jerramy,'' said Tampa Bay's leader with 29 catches, tight end Kellen Winslow. "He just made a bad decision, but we will miss him around here. It's tough. I'm sure he's going to have to face a suspension and not knowing about a lockout next year, it's going to be hard for him to find a job. We love him like a brother and wish him the best.''

Stevens played 49 games for the Bucs, catching 72 passes and scoring seven touchdowns. He was billed as a threat in the red zone, but after his scoring reception in Week 2 of the 2009 season, Stevens failed to catch a touchdown in his final 18 games as a Buccaneer.

"It's always tough to see anyone on your team leave, for whatever reason, but you always have to go out and do what's in the best interests of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,'' said head coach Raheem Morris.

The Bucs promoted tight end Ryan Purvis to join Winslow and John Gilmore at the position. Purvis, signed as an undrafted free agent out of Boston College in 2009, had been on Tampa Bay's practice squad.