TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced Friday afternoon that they have traded cornerback Eric Wright to the San Francisco 49ers for a conditional pick in the 2014 draft.
Signed as a free agent last year, Wright had a rocky first season with the Bucs. He missed part of the offseason program while dealing with an undisclosed medical condition and was suspended four games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Wright was not fulfilling expectations required of all players, a source told ESPN.com on Friday, adding that the Bucs were prepared to release Wright if they were unable to trade him. According to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department records, Wright was arrested on an unspecified misdemeanor charge July 12.
Wright played in 10 games with Tampa Bay, finishing with 37 tackles and one interception. In 2011 with the Detroit Lions, Wright started 16 games and had four interceptions.
After last season, Wright agreed to a restructured contract that included a large pay cut, which seemed to clear the way for him to stay with the Bucs.
But Tampa Bay apparently had other ideas. The departure of Wright likely clears the way for rookie Johnthan Banks to start opposite Darrelle Revis.
Bucs offensive lineman Donald Penn voiced his displeasure with the trade on Twitter:
Donald Penn ✔ @DPENN70
I can't believe this trade and I'm just gonna leave it at that smfh
<time pubdate="" class="dt-updated" datetime="2013-07-19T20:05:47+0000" title="Time posted: 19 Jul 2013, 20:05:47 (UTC)">4:05 PM - 19 Jul 2013
</time>Wright will join a crowded 49ers secondary and crop of cornerbacks, including Carlos Rogers, Tarell Brown, Chris Culliver and Nnamdi Asomugha.
The 49ers announced earlier Friday that they had waived cornerback Lowell Rose, who was signed as an undrafted free agent May 7.
Signed as a free agent last year, Wright had a rocky first season with the Bucs. He missed part of the offseason program while dealing with an undisclosed medical condition and was suspended four games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Wright was not fulfilling expectations required of all players, a source told ESPN.com on Friday, adding that the Bucs were prepared to release Wright if they were unable to trade him. According to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department records, Wright was arrested on an unspecified misdemeanor charge July 12.
Wright played in 10 games with Tampa Bay, finishing with 37 tackles and one interception. In 2011 with the Detroit Lions, Wright started 16 games and had four interceptions.
After last season, Wright agreed to a restructured contract that included a large pay cut, which seemed to clear the way for him to stay with the Bucs.
But Tampa Bay apparently had other ideas. The departure of Wright likely clears the way for rookie Johnthan Banks to start opposite Darrelle Revis.
Bucs offensive lineman Donald Penn voiced his displeasure with the trade on Twitter:
Donald Penn ✔ @DPENN70
I can't believe this trade and I'm just gonna leave it at that smfh
<time pubdate="" class="dt-updated" datetime="2013-07-19T20:05:47+0000" title="Time posted: 19 Jul 2013, 20:05:47 (UTC)">4:05 PM - 19 Jul 2013
</time>Wright will join a crowded 49ers secondary and crop of cornerbacks, including Carlos Rogers, Tarell Brown, Chris Culliver and Nnamdi Asomugha.
The 49ers announced earlier Friday that they had waived cornerback Lowell Rose, who was signed as an undrafted free agent May 7.
