Not sure what to make of this one, but we're hearing rumblings linking the Bucs to Chicago free agent linebacker Lance Briggs.

Briggs was franchised by the Bears last season and publicly voiced his displeasure with the inability to come to terms on a long-term contract. Now, with his status as an unrestricted free agent, he is free to sign with any team with no compensation required.

The Bucs have begun their pursuit of a couple of free agent running backs.

New Orleans' Aaron Stecker received a phone call after midnight this morning from Jon Gruden and running backs coach Rich Bisaccia, expressing their interest in the 32-year old veteran. Stecker spent his first four seasons with the Bucs before joining the Saints in 2004. No visit has been scheduled and other teams also have inquired about him, but Stecker figures to remain an option until the Bucs make a decision at running back.

We're not even 12 hours into the signing period, but already news is developing all across the league.

Here in Tampa Bay, the Bucs are busy considering a lot of options. One player they're talking to is San Diego cornerback Drayton Florence, who they have a high opinion of. As of last night, the Bucs had been unable to arrange a visit with him, but those efforts continue. That might be an indication there will be considerable competition for the 27-year-old Ocala native. That story will likely develop further as the day goes on.

(There's a lot of news coming through, so I'll just update this entry when I learn something new instead of creating a new one. New stuff at the top.)

• Count DeShaun Foster out. He has agreed to terms with the 49ers.
• Just saw that John Gilmore is going to sign with the Bucs.
• Mewelde Moore (RB, Minnesota) and Marquise Douglas (DE, San Francisco) are scheduled to visit today. Moore would be a great pick-up.
• Despite talk to the contrary, Demarrio Williams will not be coming to Tampa.
• Jimmy Wilkerson has scheduled a visit to Tampa. Wilkerson is a DE from Kansas City. Not exactly Justin Smith, but we'll see.
• Aaron Stecker is a possibility for coming back to the Bucs, but the team wants to explore other options first.
• The Bucs are in talks right now to bring San Diego CB Drayton Florence in for a visit. Dollar for dollar, this would be a better value than Asante Samuel.
• The Bucs have also been in contact with Jacques Reeves (CB, Dallas) and Niko Koutouvides (LB, Seattle)
• I have heard mixed reports on D.J. Hackett. The latest is that the Bucs aren't as high on him as everyone once thought.
• The Bucs are interested in John Gilmore (TE, Chicago) to take Anthony Becht's place as a blocking tight end.

• Despite talk to the contrary, Demarrio Williams will not be coming to Tampa.
• Jimmy Wilkerson has scheduled a visit to Tampa. Wilkerson is a DE from Kansas City. Not exactly Justin Smith, but we'll see.
• Aaron Stecker is a possibility for coming back to the Bucs, but the team wants to explore other options first.
• The Bucs are in talks right now to bring San Diego CB Drayton Florence in for a visit. Dollar for dollar, this would be a better value than Asante Samuel.
• The Bucs have also been in contact with Jacques Reeves (CB, Dallas) and Niko Koutouvides (LB, Seattle)
• I have heard mixed reports on D.J. Hackett. The latest is that the Bucs aren't as high on him as everyone once thought.
• The Bucs are interested in John Gilmore (TE, Chicago) to take Anthony Becht's place as a blocking tight end.

You probably wanted Randy Moss, but it looks like you'll have to settle for Jeff Faine. I know what you're thinking: a center?

It's not sexy, but the Bucs' first move of free agency -- which we brought to you first in the wee hours of this morning -- is a sensible one. Let's start with the obvious: the Bucs, who haven't actually signed Faine just yet, will be getting the best free agent available at a position that is critical to their success. Remember, with John Wade becoming a free agent, the Bucs didn't have a proven center on the roster. And for those who have suggested Dan Buenning was an option -- that's technically true -- he's a guard and hasn't played center before. What if the projections were wrong and he struggled to make the transition?

The Buccaneers have agreed to terms with center Jeff Faine, formerly of the Saints. And it sounds like those terms are pretty sweet. For him.

The Times has learned New Orleans free agent center Jeff Faine has agreed to a multi-year contract that will make him the league's highest-paid player at the position

The Pewter Report has the Bucs contacting the agents of WR D.J. Hackett (Seattle), TE John Gilmore (Chicago), and former Bucs RB Aaron Stecker. Why the Bucs would go after an injury proned Hackett is beyond me, he's clearly damaged goods having missed 31 games in four years in the league. Thanks, but no thanks. Gilmore is considered a good run blocker and as long as his signing wouldn't prohibit a Alge Crumpler signing, by all means do it to it. Aaron Stecker though? Kenneth Darby better get a summer job, that's all I can say. The Bucs are also not interested in DE Justin Smith (Cincy), clearly they're holding out for Peppers next off-season and who can blame them? The Bucs have also tendered offers to Jovan Haye and Greg White. Busy Busy Day!!!

Getting a deal done right off the bat, the Bucs have themselves their first free agent of 2008, as the team has come to terms with Saints center Jeff Faine according to the St.Petersburg Times. The report states that the team has signed Faine, a former first-round pick of the Browns, to a multi-year deal that will make him the league’s highest paid center. The move provides the Bucs with great stability at a spot that they have had trouble filling the past few seasons. Faine was expected to visit a number of teams before deciding where to end up, but the Bucs swooped in with a sweetheart deal that has yet to be disclosed. The deal for Faine will surpass that of Browns injured center LeCharles Bentley as the highest paid center in the game.

Getting a deal done right off the bat, the Bucs have themselves their first free agent of 2008, as the team has come to terms with Saints center Jeff Faine according to the St.Petersburg Times. The report states that the team has signed Faine, a former first-round pick of the Browns, to a multi-year deal that will make him the league’s highest paid center. The move provides the Bucs with great stability at a spot that they have had trouble filling the past few seasons. Faine was expected to visit a number of teams before deciding where to end up, but the Bucs swooped in with a sweetheart deal that has yet to be disclosed. The deal for Faine will surpass that of Browns injured center LeCharles Bentley as the highest paid center in the game.