The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed outside linebacker Randy Gregory, the team announced on Thursday.
According to Mike Garafolo, it’s a one-year deal worth $3 million with the ability to get up to $5 million.
Last season, the 31-year-old Gregory, who recorded 3.5 sacks, started the season with the Denver Broncos but was traded to the 49ers in October.
Gregory, who had been suspended on a few occasions for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, started his career with the Cowboys and spent five seasons in Dallas before signing a five-year, $70 million deal with the Broncos in 2022.
With the Buccaneers, Gregory does not expect to have a specific role but is ready to contribute.
“At this point in my career, I don’t go in expecting or anything like that,” Gregory said via a Zoom call on Saturday. “I don’t really expect to start or anything like that. I don’t go in with my mind made up about [that] stuff. I’m going to go in there every rep I have, and when I’m not in there, I’m going to try to help out the guys that are in there.”
The six-year veteran has battled mental health during his NFL career. Gregory believes many players in the league deal with mental health without knowing it, and he hopes to help his new teammates.
“Mental health is a real thing that a majority of guys are probably dealing with and don’t really realize it,” Gregory said. “If that is out of whack, your game is going to be out of whack, too. For me, I don’t want to dive too deep into it with the guys – I want to be as organic as possible. There is a time and place for it, but I’m going to do what I need to do as far as making the right influence on them. I’m obviously going to be one of the older guys in the D-line room and [in] the defense in general. I think it’s my duty to kind of pass on my experiences in the right way and kind of influence them the right way and lead them in the right direction the best way I know I can.”
Last season, the 31-year-old Gregory, who recorded 3.5 sacks, started the season with the Denver Broncos but was traded to the 49ers in October.
Gregory, who had been suspended on a few occasions for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, started his career with the Cowboys and spent five seasons in Dallas before signing a five-year, $70 million deal with the Broncos in 2022.
Gregory does not expect to have a specific role but is ready to contribute.
“At this point in my career, I don’t go in expecting or anything like that,” Gregory said. “I don’t really expect to start or anything like that. I don’t go in with my mind made up about [that] stuff. I’m going to go in there every rep I have, and when I’m not in there, I’m going to try to help out the guys that are in there.”
Gregory has battled mental health during his NFL career. The six-year veteran believes many players in the league deal with mental health without knowing it, and he hopes to help his new teammates.
“Mental health is a real thing that a majority of guys are probably dealing with and don’t really realize it,” Gregory said. “If that is out of whack, your game is going to be out of whack, too. For me, I don’t want to dive too deep into it with the guys – I want to be as organic as possible. There is a time and place for it, but I’m going to do what I need to do as far as making the right influence on them. I’m obviously going to be one of the older guys in the D-line room and [in] the defense in general. I think it’s my duty to kind of pass on my experiences in the right way and kind of influence them the right way and lead them in the right direction the best way I know I can.”
Gregory is worth the risk for the Buccaneers, and hopefully, for him and Tampa Bay, he can help the team in 2024.
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