http://www.tampabay.com/sports/foot...rback-luke-mccown-to-the-jacksonville/1034098
TAMPA — Luke McCown's two touchdown passes at Jacksonville three weeks ago didn't help him earn the Bucs' starting quarterback job.
But he did win over the Jaguars, who traded an undisclosed 2010 draft pick to the Bucs on Saturday night in exchange for the 28-year-old quarterback.
Terms of the deal, contingent on McCown passing a physical, were not released. But the Bucs are expected to receive a conditional sixth-round pick that becomes a fifth-rounder based on McCown's playing time.
He will be the Jaguars' No. 2 quarterback behind starter David Garrard.
Meanwhile, kicker Matt Bryant was among 21 players cut by the Bucs, enabling them to trim the roster to one below the 53-player limit. The McCown trade leaves them with 51 players.
Safety Tanard Jackson will begin serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's drug-testing policy and not count against the roster.
McCown, who played in seven games for the Bucs and went 1-3 as a starter, was told by coach Raheem Morris in January that he would be given every opportunity to compete for the starting job. He decided to forgo free agency, signing a two-year, $7.5 million deal that included a $2.5 million signing bonus.
But he lost a battle with free agent Byron Leftwich.
The Bucs had kept all four quarterbacks when they trimmed their roster by 6 p.m. Several hours later, it became apparent why.
By trading McCown, the Bucs can accelerate the development of first-round pick Josh Freeman, who will be the team's No. 2 quarterback.
Second-year pro Josh Johnson, who played well in Friday's 27-20 preseason loss to Houston, will serve as No. 3.
Instead of running the scout squad, Freeman will be able to take a few reps with the starting offense in practice each week and prepare knowing he is a heartbeat away from entering the game.
TAMPA — Luke McCown's two touchdown passes at Jacksonville three weeks ago didn't help him earn the Bucs' starting quarterback job.
But he did win over the Jaguars, who traded an undisclosed 2010 draft pick to the Bucs on Saturday night in exchange for the 28-year-old quarterback.
Terms of the deal, contingent on McCown passing a physical, were not released. But the Bucs are expected to receive a conditional sixth-round pick that becomes a fifth-rounder based on McCown's playing time.
He will be the Jaguars' No. 2 quarterback behind starter David Garrard.
Meanwhile, kicker Matt Bryant was among 21 players cut by the Bucs, enabling them to trim the roster to one below the 53-player limit. The McCown trade leaves them with 51 players.
Safety Tanard Jackson will begin serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's drug-testing policy and not count against the roster.
McCown, who played in seven games for the Bucs and went 1-3 as a starter, was told by coach Raheem Morris in January that he would be given every opportunity to compete for the starting job. He decided to forgo free agency, signing a two-year, $7.5 million deal that included a $2.5 million signing bonus.
But he lost a battle with free agent Byron Leftwich.
The Bucs had kept all four quarterbacks when they trimmed their roster by 6 p.m. Several hours later, it became apparent why.
By trading McCown, the Bucs can accelerate the development of first-round pick Josh Freeman, who will be the team's No. 2 quarterback.
Second-year pro Josh Johnson, who played well in Friday's 27-20 preseason loss to Houston, will serve as No. 3.
Instead of running the scout squad, Freeman will be able to take a few reps with the starting offense in practice each week and prepare knowing he is a heartbeat away from entering the game.
