TAMPA, Fla. -- When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Bruce Carter to a four-year, $17 million deal in March, they expected him to be the team's middle linebacker for years to come. But rookie linebacker Kwon Alexander, not Carter, earned the starting job in training camp.
Now with Alexander suspended for the final four games of the regular season, the Bucs turn back to Carter to play a prominent role for the defense.
"A good player isn't playing for us for a while," said coach Lovie Smith, referring to Alexander. "You have to move on.