According to the St. Petersburg Times, the Buccaneers have no intentions of releasing quarterback Byron Leftwich in the near future. Leftwich didn’t get enough playing time in 2009 to trigger his previously scheduled $3.5 million roster bonus, which was set to come due in March.
Thus, the Bucs aren’t on the hook to pay Leftwich any money before Week 1. They can hold on in hopes of a desperate team offering a late-round pick for the 30-year-old passer. Such a scenario is unlikely, but the absence of the roster bonus gives the team no urgency to make a move.
Leftwich made three starts last season, completing 54.2 percent of his passes for 594 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions. The numbers don’t look overly poor, but the Bucs were forced to use constant max protections in Weeks One through Three because Leftwich is a sack waiting to happen.
He also missed open receivers routinely.
Leftwich was benched in favor of Josh Johnson before Week Four. Johnson was benched for franchise quarterback Josh Freeman in Week Eight. Neither benching was injury related.
