Jermaine Phillips Re-Signs with the Bucs

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers has decided that, along with the new coach, they should re-sign several free agents to their 2009 roster. So far, Tampa Bay has re-signed eight of its fourteen free agents and that number could rise. Among these free agents is Jermaine Phillips who is one of the NFL's hard working safeties. This was probably the best move Tampa Bay could make before someone else snatched him up as he recently had visited San Diego and Seattle. I guess they didn't want to take the chance at losing this powerful defensive player. His 2008 season ended with 86 tackles and three interceptions in eleven starts. The season also delivered his first career touchdown in a game against Green Bay when he returned a fumble for 38 yards. Unfortunately, he broke his arm and was placed on injured reserve, but he has come a long way from being the 22nd pick in the 5th round of draft picks from 2002.

Let's take a look at his past record. In 2002 he was the only rookie on the roster to see action in every game having played in all 16 regular season games and three playoff games. In 2003 he played in fourteen games with a then career high eight starts. He totaled 49 tackles, three forced fumbles and one interception. His 2004 season did not go so well as he was placed on injured reserve for a fractured right forearm in December, ending his season with only nine starts. Regardless, he was ranked third amongst defensive backs with 71 tackles for his short season. He started thirteen games in 2005 and missed the rest due to his injury, but was still ranked fifth on the team with 85 tackles in this season. In 2006, Phillips had an even better year with sixteen starts and was ranked third on the team with 124 tackles and 9 passes defensed. Also ranked tied for third on the team with two interceptions, added one sack, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, nine special teams tackles and one special teams forced fumble. He saw fifteen starts in 2007 and set a career high and led the team with four interceptions. You can review more detailed statistics at buccaneers.com.

Overall, he has played in 93 career games with 71 starts. He totaled 523 tackles, three sacks, eleven interceptions, nine forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, plus the one he returned for a touchdown. Hopefully we'll be seeing a lot more of this hard hitter in the 2009 season and with a new coach on the sidelines, this might be the Buccaneers best season yet. Only time will tell whether or not this was a good move for Tampa Bay.

Stats source: http://www.buccaneers.com/team/playerdetail.aspx?player=Phillips,Jermaine,23