Barrett Ruud and Elbert Mack sign Tenders; Big Ben Out for Bucs Game!

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced Wednesday that restricted Free Agents Barrett Ruud and Elbert Mack have signed their tender offers. Ruud started all 16 games for the Buccaneers in 2009 collecting a team and career-high 205 tackles, the second-most in team history behind Hardy Nickerson who had 214 tackles in 1993. It also marked just the second time in team history a player has recorded 200-plus tackles in a single season. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2007, he has led the team in tackles in each of the past three seasons. In his career, Ruud has played in 79 games with 52 starts for Tampa Bay amassing 618 tackles, three sacks, five interceptions, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and 19 passes defensed. Mack played in 15 games with three starts for Tampa Bay in 2009 recording 30 tackles, three interceptions and four passes defensed. He also added seven special teams tackles last season. This means Ruud will be a restricted Free Agent again at the end of this season. He wil make a guaranteed 3.268 Million dollars. Roethlisberger will miss Bucs game

Big Ben will NOT play against the Bucs in week three next year, as he will face a 6 game suspension from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. that could be reduced down to 4. This increases the likelihood that the Bucs will face off against last years starter at the beginning of the season, Byron Leftwich. Coincidentally, Leftwich was benched after a terrible outing in week 3 of last year. Roethlisberger is being suspended for conduct detrimental to the NFL for violating its Personal Conduct Policy. With former Steeler Santonio Holmes also in deep water before being traded, the Steelers are starting to take the dirty boys title away from the Cincinnati Bengals.