Stuck In The Middle With Ruud — Quarles Released

And just like that there's real news.

The Buccaneers released Shelton Quarles today, who may or may nor retire as a result of this. Quarles has had some medical issues this offseason and has made it a point to keep their nature a mystery, leading many of us to speculate that this day would come sooner rather than later. And since Quarles failed a recent physical with the team, that day is here.

After Quarles came back from his injury last season, he played like a man on a mission. Barrett Ruud played well in his absence, but ultimately couldn't keep Quarles out of the starting lineup. He ended his career with the Bucs like he began it: with inspired play and vicious tackles. Congratulations on a remarkable career, Shelton.

This leaves the team with Barrett Ruud as the starter at middle linebacker and leaves the team with little depth at the position. There has been speculation that the Bucs are in talks with the Bears for Lance Briggs, and this may lend some credibility to those talks. Jonathan Vilma is also reportedly on the trading block also. I dismissed a Vilma trade (or any other linebacker trade for that matter) because of the Cato June acquisition and still think it's a bad idea because of the price either of those guys will cost the Bucs for their rights. Linebacker is more of a need now than it was yesterday, but it's not desperate. Don't sell the farm for a big name -- let Ruud do his thing. He'll be good.