NFL teams can start signing free agents at 3 p.m. CDT Wednesday, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did on Tuesday what they need to do to make sure their leading rusher wasn't among the players changing teams.
The Bucs signed former Auburn standout Peyton Barber to a one-year contract worth $630,000.
Two seasons after entering the NFL as an undrafted player, Barber carried the designation of exclusive-rights free agent into this offseason. Under that level of free agency, Tampa Bay needed only to offer Barber a contract at the minimum salary before 3 p.m. Wednesday to retain him for the 2018 season. And that's what the Buccaneers did, ESPN reported.
In 2017, Barber had a base salary of $540,000.
Barber emerged as Tampa Bay's top ball-carrier in December. In Tampa Bay's first 11 games of 2017, Barber played 69 snaps with the Bucs' offense, ran for 88 yards on 30 carries and caught four passes for 31 yards. But in the final five games of 2017, he played 185 offensive snaps, ran for 335 yards on 78 carries and caught 12 passes for 83 yards.
The December surge allowed Barber to finish as the Bucs' leading rusher with 423 yards -- 17 more than Doug Martin on 30 fewer rushing attempts.
After rushing for 1,402 yards in 2015, Martin played in 19 of Tampa Bay's next 32 games, ran for 827 yards and averaged 2.9 yards per carry. The Buccaneers released Martin on Feb. 20.
With Charles Sims set to become a free agent on Wednesday afternoon, Tampa Bay will be left with Barber, Jacquizz Rodgers and Dalton Crossan as the running backs on its roster.
Rodgers is an eight-year veteran with 14 career starts and 1,961 NFL rushing yards. Crossan has never played in an NFL game.
Barber left Auburn after running for 1,047 yards and 13 touchdowns during his sophomore season.
The Buccaneers cut Barber at the end of the preseason in 2016, and Tampa Bay re-signed him for its practice squad. Before the first game of his rookie season, Barber was promoted to the active roster and stayed there throughout 2016, even getting a starting assignment because of injuries. Barber had 55 rushing attempts for 223 yards and one touchdown - a 44-yard run on his 10th NFL carry -- and caught five passes for 28 yards during his rookie season.
During his career, Barber has 646 yards and four touchdowns on 163 rushing attempts and 21 receptions for 142 yards. He's been on the field for 390 offensive snaps and 352 special-teams plays.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.
The Bucs signed former Auburn standout Peyton Barber to a one-year contract worth $630,000.
Two seasons after entering the NFL as an undrafted player, Barber carried the designation of exclusive-rights free agent into this offseason. Under that level of free agency, Tampa Bay needed only to offer Barber a contract at the minimum salary before 3 p.m. Wednesday to retain him for the 2018 season. And that's what the Buccaneers did, ESPN reported.
In 2017, Barber had a base salary of $540,000.
Barber emerged as Tampa Bay's top ball-carrier in December. In Tampa Bay's first 11 games of 2017, Barber played 69 snaps with the Bucs' offense, ran for 88 yards on 30 carries and caught four passes for 31 yards. But in the final five games of 2017, he played 185 offensive snaps, ran for 335 yards on 78 carries and caught 12 passes for 83 yards.
The December surge allowed Barber to finish as the Bucs' leading rusher with 423 yards -- 17 more than Doug Martin on 30 fewer rushing attempts.
After rushing for 1,402 yards in 2015, Martin played in 19 of Tampa Bay's next 32 games, ran for 827 yards and averaged 2.9 yards per carry. The Buccaneers released Martin on Feb. 20.
With Charles Sims set to become a free agent on Wednesday afternoon, Tampa Bay will be left with Barber, Jacquizz Rodgers and Dalton Crossan as the running backs on its roster.
Rodgers is an eight-year veteran with 14 career starts and 1,961 NFL rushing yards. Crossan has never played in an NFL game.
Barber left Auburn after running for 1,047 yards and 13 touchdowns during his sophomore season.
The Buccaneers cut Barber at the end of the preseason in 2016, and Tampa Bay re-signed him for its practice squad. Before the first game of his rookie season, Barber was promoted to the active roster and stayed there throughout 2016, even getting a starting assignment because of injuries. Barber had 55 rushing attempts for 223 yards and one touchdown - a 44-yard run on his 10th NFL carry -- and caught five passes for 28 yards during his rookie season.
During his career, Barber has 646 yards and four touchdowns on 163 rushing attempts and 21 receptions for 142 yards. He's been on the field for 390 offensive snaps and 352 special-teams plays.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM'S COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.
from Auburn Sports Impact http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2018/03/tampa_bay_buccaneers_re-sign_p.html
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