Chargers Acquire McCardell
Keenan McCardell wanted out of Tampa Bay, and the Buccaneers obliged Tuesday by trading the holdout wide receiver to the San Diego Chargers for a third-round pick and a sixth-round pick in next year’s draft.
“Keenan obviously made a decision a long time ago that he was not going to be happy with the economics of his contract,” Buccaneer General Manager Bruce Allen said. “I don’t think we need that coming back to the locker room.”
McCardell, 34, stayed away from training camp and vowed to sit out the season if the Buccaneers did not give him a substantial raise over the $2.5 million he was scheduled to earn.
Tampa Bay has filed a grievance seeking half of the $2-million signing bonus McCardell received when he signed a four-year, $10-million contract as a free agent two years ago.
Charger General Manager A.J. Smith said the team did not renegotiate McCardell’s contract.
The Chargers’ leading wide receiver, Reche Caldwell, injured his right knee Sunday and is out for the season.
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In a trade of receivers, Antonio Bryant was sent from the Dallas Cowboys to the Cleveland Browns for Quincy Morgan.
Bryant threw a sweaty jersey at Dallas Coach Bill Parcells’ face in June because he was upset about his status playing behind Keyshawn Johnson and Terry Glenn. Bryant was removed by security from the practice and didn’t rejoin the team until training camp.
He has 16 catches for 266 yards this season, and had only one for 22 yards in a loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Morgan caught three touchdown passes for the Browns this season but was disappointed with his reduced role over the last 1 1/2 seasons.
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Jerry Rice, acquired by Seattle in a trade with the Oakland Raiders, will wear No. 80, which was worn by former Seahawk wide receiver Steve Largent from 1976 to 1989.
Largent was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1995. The number was retired by the team in 1995 and hasn’t been worn by a Seahawk player since he left.
Rice asked Largent for permission to unretire the number, which Rice has worn throughout his NFL career, and received his blessing.
“It meant the world to me,” Rice said. “I know what he did for this team. When you think about the Seattle Seahawks, you think about Steve Largent.”
Seattle gave up a seventh-round draft choice in 2005 to acquire Rice. To make room on their roster, the Seahawks released rookie punter Donnie Jones.
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The Baltimore Ravens signed wide receiver Patrick Johnson to his second stint with the team.
Johnson spent four seasons with the Ravens after being drafted in the second round in 1998.
The seven-year veteran has yet to play a down this season after breaking his hand during the exhibition season and receiving an injury waiver from the Cincinnati Bengals.