The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have named Byron Leftwich their starting quarterback for the regular season opener, September 13 against Dallas.
Leftwich, who was signed to a two-year contract in the offseason, was tabbed as the starter over Luke McCown after a battle during training camp and the preseason.
"Byron did something a little bit more special as far as what he can do off the play-action pass, getting the ball down the field," said Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris. "Some of those things came more natural to him."
Leftwich spent the 2008 season with Pittsburgh, performing as the backup to Ben Roethlisberger after Charlie Batch was shelved with a broken right collarbone.
The Marshall product appeared in five games for the Super Bowl champion Steelers, completing 21-of-36 passes for 303 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Leftwich, the seventh overall pick of the 2003 NFL Draft, was 24-20 as a starter in four injury-plagued seasons in Jacksonville. The 29-year-old quarterback was released by the Jaguars before the 2007 campaign, and signed with the Atlanta Falcons, where he played just three games while throwing for 279 yards on 32-of-58 passing.
In 54 career games, Leftwich has thrown for 9,624 yards with 54 TDs and 38 interceptions.
McCown will serve as Leftwich's backup with rookie Josh Freeman slated in the No. 3 role.
"Luke did a great job competing," said Morris. "He was a competitor. He took chances and had some success doing it, but we thought Leftwich was the better guy."
The Bucs made some roster moves Saturday. They released defensive end Jarriett Buie, defensive back DeAngelo Willingham and guard Julius Wilson, also waived wide receiver Kelly Campbell.
No comments:
Post a Comment