Buccaneers sign Trotter to a one-year deal

Four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jeremiah Trotter signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Tuesday, two weeks after he was released in a surprise move by the Philadelphia Eagles.

It was not immediately clear how the 30-year-old middle linebacker, one of the leaders of the Eagles for most of the last decade, fits into Coach Jon Gruden’s plans. Linebacker is one of the strongest and deepest positions on the team.

To make room on the roster, the Buccaneers released receiver Taye Biddle. The team also signed receiver Michael Spurlock to the practice squad.

Trotter worked out for the Buccaneers on Aug. 23, two days after he was released by Philadelphia with three seasons remaining on a five-year, $15-million contract he signed in 2005.

Trotter started 16 regular-season and two playoff games for the Eagles last season, finishing with a team-high 161 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble. He has appeared in 131 games in seven seasons with Philadelphia and two with the Washington Redskins.

Michael Strahan dropped thoughts of retirement and returned to the New York Giants for a 15th NFL season because his desire to play football and his love of the game were rekindled.

“You know you just want to come back,” Strahan said after rejoining the team and practicing. “I felt I wanted to play football, plain and simple. I wanted to enjoy it. I wanted to come here and enjoy myself, play football, enjoy my teammates and the fans and just do it -- do it one more time.”

Strahan, who accumulated fines in excess of $500,000 during his holdout, left open the possibility he would play beyond the 2007 season, which begins for the Giants on Sunday night in Dallas.

Neither Strahan nor Coach Tom Coughlin was certain the 35-year-old would play in Dallas. The Giants have a two-game roster exemption in case he isn’t ready.

Drew Bennett did not practice for the St. Louis Rams, but the receiver said he expected to play in Sunday’s season opener against Carolina. Bennett has a strained quadriceps. The Rams have high expectations for Bennett, who led the Tennessee Titans in receptions the last two seasons.

Ryan Pontbriand, regarded as one of the NFL’s premier long snappers, signed a four-year contract extension with the Cleveland Browns, a deal that will keep the specialist with the club through 2011. . . . The Kansas City Chiefs claimed linebacker Johnny Baldwin off waivers from Detroit. . . . The Carolina Panthers released former starting tight end Michael Gaines after reaching an injury settlement. Gaines was put on injured reserve Saturday but wanted an opportunity to play elsewhere this season and elected to take the injury settlement.