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Derrick Ward Signs With Bucs

by Anthony De Rosa on March 2nd, 2009 at 9:56 pm

Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk reports that Giants running back Derrick Ward has signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Adam Schefter at NFL.com confirms the deal as well.

According to a league source, Ward has agreed to terms on a four-year, $17 million deal.

He’ll earn $6 million guaranteed in the first year, $9.25 million over the first two, and $13 million over the first three.

Hat tip to yrmomsaninja for the news.
  • ih8olives

    What does this mean for the backfield? Does bradshaws role expand? Do they look to the free agent market? I think Ward is a very god back, but I feel it was more the o-line, and jacobs wearing down the defense that made wards numbers so good.

    I wouldn’t mind seeing the giants look for a late round running back, maybe shon greene or javon ringer. don’t waste an early pick but expand bradshaws role while taking a gamble on a late round pick or an unproven free agent

  • MeatTrain

    Don’t forget about Danny Ware. He’s a bit of an unproven guy who may see more action this year but I think Bradshaw can do what Ward did last year and more. But with what the Giants have done already in free agency by getting another LB and patching up the D-Line, I think their first priority in the draft will be a WR but I wouldn’t mind seeing them use one of those second rounders on another RB. I think a guy like Donald Brown can be had around there and he would be a nice fit in the backfield.

    Maybe that’s just me?

  • http://Miami2010 Miami2010

    First off, Derrick Ward was a great Giant and I am happy that he got the contract he deserved. Good luck to him in TB and I won’t enjoy watching him get beheaded by the D-line when they go down there this season (or will I?). That being said, as good as Ward was, Bradshaw is exponentially better. Sure there’s been less production from Bradshaw for me to lean on in this point, but I think if you look at the 88-yard TD run in Buffalo and that ridiculous run in GB during the NFC Championship game that got called back, you can agree that Bradshaw has certain desirable qualities that Ward did not (explosiveness, both in speed and quickness).

    The only real concern is if Bradshaw can 1) hold up for a whole season and 2) catch the ball. Also there is the concern of who will be our #3 (or #2 if Jacobs or Bradshaw go down, God forbid). I think the Giants have the backfield by committee down pat, personally. I’m not worried about Bradshaw’s health or even diminishing skills throughout the season due to fatigue, because I don’t see him exceeding 20 touches often. I don’t think Reese would let Ward go if he didn’t think Bradshaw was a realistic #2. While Ward was considered our “pass-catching” back, or I guess just the most skilled pass catcher because we didn’t do a whole lot of passing to them, Ward dropped a lot of passes and we still obtained the #1 seed in the NFC. Not too worried about that. As for our #3, Danny Ware seems to have some skill and we’ll get to see more of that with his increased role. OR, since we don’t have that many needs after the FA signings, I could see Reese grabbing a Javon Ringer-type in the 3rd round or so.

    All in all, Ward leaving saves the Giants money and arguably makes us a better running team overall.