Jeremy

Zuttah

It’s ominous news for incumbent C Jeff Faine, who is due a $5.925 million base salary and roughly $8 million cap number after a miserable season, by all accounts. Zuttah has the flexibility to play both guard and center, and he’ll give the Bucs a well-put-together pivot at 6-foot-4 and 308 pounds. Look for the team to release Faine either later today or tomorrow, ahead of free agency.

Although Zuttah’s agent said Monday there was a “good chance” his client wouldn’t reach free agency, there has yet to be “substantive” talks. Unless Zuttah is making unreasonable demands, the odds are high he’ll remain in Tampa Bay.

Zuttah played for Greg Schiano at Rutgers, and will return as the Bucs’ starting left guard in 2012. RG Davin Joseph and C Jeff Faine make up the rest of Tampa Bay’s interior line. Zuttah is particularly valued for his versatility, as he can play both guard spots, center, and right tackle. The 26-year-old (in June) graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 25 overall guard in 2011. Zuttah would have been much higher if not for eight penalties, the most by a guard in the NFC.

“It seems the conversation is pointed (toward getting a deal done),” the agent said. "... Both sides want to get something done, so it’s just a matter of getting pen to paper.” Capable of playing both guard and center, Zuttah has started 44 games since entering the league as a third-round pick in 2008.

Capable of playing both guard and center, Zuttah appeared in 15 games last season, starting 14. Four months shy of his 26th birthday, he also played for new Bucs coach Greg Schiano at Rutgers. Barth converted 26-of-28 field-goal attempts in 2011. SI.com estimated Monday the Bucs are currently $67 million under the projected 2012 salary cap.

Filling in for an injured Jeff Faine, Zuttah was down on the ground for several minutes before being helped to the sideline. His day is likely through, but his injury did not appear catastrophic in nature. He’s been replaced at center by LG Ted Larsen, while Derek Hardman is now in the game at left guard.

The undersized Larsen got smoked by the Lions’ defensive line in the opener, giving up a whopping seven quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. Zuttah isn’t likely to be a huge upgrade, but couldn’t possibly be worse.

Zuttah just signed a new four-year contract last offseason. He went on to start all 16 games, seven at center and nine at left guard after Carl Nicks was injured. Zuttah has missed just two games over the last four seasons, and with Nicks and RG Davin Joseph returning to health, he’ll move back to center in 2013.

Jeremy Zuttah is penciled in as the starter for now, but 2009 fifth-rounder Xavier Fulton could push him this offseason. Fulton was drafted as a tackle and would need to take some leaps forward to win the job.

Zuttah is firmly on the bubble as the Ravens look to shake things up a bit after missing the playoffs for the second straight season. Zuttah turns 31 this summer and is an undersized center at right around 300 pounds. He was PFF’s No. 14 center out of 37 qualifiers in 2016, grading out well in run blocking.