TAMPA — Alterraun Verner came to town last year among the Bucs' biggest free-agent additions, a Pro Bowl cornerback proudly signed to a four-year, $26 million contract.
On Sunday, for the first time in four years, he found himself on the bench, relegated to a backup role and busy on special-teams kick coverage. That role is unlikely to change this week — at Friday's walkthrough, he wore a scout-team jersey, simulating an opposing receiver for the Bucs' starting secondary.
"The coaches decided to go a different route," Verner said Thursday. "As a competitor, everyone wants to be out there, wants to help the team out as much as we can.