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Pastimes : Football Forum (NFL) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Augustus Gloop who wrote (13570)	3/26/2002 12:06:05 AM
From: sandintoes	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 45639

NO... Pittman agrees to deal with Bucs By Len Pasquarelli and John Clayton ESPN.com The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quickly found a replacement for Warrick Dunn, agreeing with Michael Pittman on Monday to five-year, $8.75 million contract. The deal includes a $1.75 million signing bonus. Since Dunn bolted for the Falcons, Pittman, who visited the Bucs last week, has been Jon Gruden’s main target for the backfield in free agency. Pittman, 26, rushed for 856 yards on 241 carries, but he also gives the Bucs a receiving threat out of the backfield. He caught 42 passes for 264 yards in 2001. Combined, he had seven touchdowns rushing and receiving. The pending addition of Pittman will provide the Bucs with a young and multi-talented tailback who should fit well into the offense new coach Jon Gruden will implement. A four-year veteran, the former Fresno State star has emerged the past two seasons as one of the NFL's best young all-around tailbacks. Tampa Bay officials have done plenty of background work on Pittman, who was suspended for one game in 2001 because of two domestic abuse incidents involving his estranged wife. Pittman has undergone counseling for anger management and the Buccaneers staff will closely monitor his situation in that regard. It is believed, however, that some franchises did not pursue Pittman as ardently as they otherwise would have because of his past off-field problems. "He's basically a good kid and someone is going to get a very good back whose best football is still in front of him," said Cardinals coach Dave McGinnis last week. "I'd love to be able to keep him with us, but that's not going to happen." Pittman, 26, was little-used during his first two seasons in the league, but blossomed once he was inserted full time into the starting lineup in 2000. During the past two seasons, he has rushed for 1,565 yards and caught 115 passes. He was one of just two players in 2000 to lead their team in both rushing yards and receptions. Selected in the fourth round of the 1998 draft, Pittman has played in 58 games and started 29 of them, with 26 of those starts in the last two years. He has carried 518 times for 1,945 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 131 passes for 1,039 yards and two scores. In a related item, sources said the Bucs will resume their attempts to trade fullback Mike Alstott before the draft. Allstott is due a $2 million roster bonus by April 15 and he has a $4.66 million cap number that must come down for the team to find help at the receiver position. Len Pasquarelli and John Clayton are senior writers for ESPN.com