The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reached an agreement on a new deal with free-agent linebacker Quincy Black, reports Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune. The deal will pay Black $29 million dollars over 5 years with $11.5 dollars of guaranteed money.
Black, 27, was drafted by the Buccaneers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft and has started 23 games for the Bucs over the last two seasons. In 2010, Black recorded 61 tackles, 2 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble in an injury shortened season, making only 10 starts.
This is the first free agent signing of the off-season the Bucs who have said they prefer to build from the draft and sign from within. General manager Mark Dominik told the press that he would spend significant effort on resigning his own guys including Black, and free agent guard Davin Joseph, even resorting to "wining and dining them" if necessary.
Black will help sure up a linebacking corps that may face some turmoil and uncertainty with the pending departure of middle linebacker Barrett Ruud, whom Dominik has hinted that he does not intend to resign.