Buccaneers Expected to Release Veteran Outside Linebacker

After a drawn-out saga with veteran outside linebacker Randy Gregory, the Bucs are set to move on from him this week.

Dec 10, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Randy Gregory (5) before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports / Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made several moves this offseason to try to bolster the depth and the competition on the roster. One of those moves was signing veteran pass rusher Randy Gregory to a one-year, $3 million deal with a $1.365 million signing bonus. When OTA's and mandatory minicamp rolled around, however, Gregory was nowhere to be found.

While OTA's are voluntary, mandatory minicamp is just what it implies — mandatory. Even more perplexing is that there was no communication between Gregory and the team.

“He wasn’t out here," Bowles said at the time. "He has an unexcused absence. We’ll deal with it.”

While he was out during mandatory minicamp, Gregory accrued fines of $101,356. Fast forward to the start of training camp and Gregory was again a no-show with zero communication with the Bucs. He was placed on the Did Not Report list, freeing up a roster spot for the Bucs

“We’re going to talk about the players that are here," Bowles said. "He’s not here. We’ll deal with that internally. Obviously, he’s on the Did Not Report list. We’ll go from there.”

As training camp rolled on, Gregory accrued fines of $50,000 per day. After missing all of camp, the Bucs were able to recoup the signing bonus they paid Gregory and will be subsequently releasing him.

“The Bucs have reached an agreement with Randy Gregory and his agent and they plan on releasing him this week,” local Bucs broadcaster Chris Meyers said during the team's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. “He was added as they tried to improve the pass rush and edge rush room and it just hasn't worked out, so they reached an agreement that he will be released.”

Per the broadcast the #Bucs will release AWOL OLB Randy Gregory this week #Buccaneers

— JC Allen (@JCAllenNFL) August 18, 2024

“There's a lot of reasons it didn't work out, but I think the big thing is the Bucs were trying to recoup that signing bonus that he signed which they did this week, so they will be releasing him this week,” Ronde Barber said after.

The Buccaneers have not officially released Gregory as of yet, but per Meyers, Barber and the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud, it looks like it's coming soon.

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