TAMPA — The Buccaneers on Tuesday threw linebacker Bruce Carter onto the ever-growing pile of free agents who never played up to the level of his contract.
Signed a year ago to a four-year, $17-million contract, Carter was brought in to be the Bucs’ starting middle linebacker, but his failure to win that job prompted his release.
By cutting Carter, the Bucs save the $750,000 roster bonus he was due on Wednesday, the first day of the 2016 league year that officially begins at 4 p.m.
The Bucs also saved Carter’s $3.5 million base salary in 2016, giving the team more than $64 million in available cap space.