The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released linebacker Bruce Carter and re-signed safety Keith Tandy, the team announced today.
Carter was signed to a four-year, $17 million deal last year, but that quickly turned into a one-year, $4.2 million contract. He was expected to take over the starting middle linebacker role when he was signed, but lost that job to fourth-round rookie Kwon Alexander in training camp. He then lost the battle for strongside linebacker to Danny Lansanah, and saw the field sparingly until Alexander was suspended for four games for performance enhancing drugs.
Carter actually played well over his final three games (he missed one of the last four with injury), but his status as a strongside linebacker at best didn't justify his salary.