TAMPA, Fla. -- Bruce Carter's first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was far different than expected. Last March, he signed a four-year, $17 million deal as a free agent and was thought to be the incoming starter at middle linebacker.
But rookie Kwon Alexander made a strong early impression and won the starting job in training camp. Carter played sporadically until taking on a larger role late in the season, after Alexander's four-game suspension for a violation of the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
"It was very frustrating -- I can't lie," Carter said Monday, describing the season.