Bucs Sign Fiedler

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers increased their quarterback options with the signing of free-agent Jay Fiedler. He’s expected to compete for a backup job with fellow quarterback Chris Simms. Fiedler is a better quarterback than Simms, but he has his issues. Fiedler has been in the NFL for 10 seasons and has started in 60 games. He was let go earlier this year by the Dolphins to make room under the cap.

Fiedler is now 34 and last season he suffered a shoulder injury in the third game of the season, which knocked him out for 2005. Last month he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum and is on the road back to playing. When asked about it, Fiedler said, “Every day I go out there and throw, it feels a little bit better. I’m throwing three, four times a week right now, hoping to get to a point where I’m throwing it every day pretty soon, working up the strength and getting the range of motion back.”

The Bucs and Fiedler believe he will be at 100% in about a month. The exhibition season will be starting shortly after that. The signing of Fiedler gives the Bucs a viable backup option. Chris Simms is there as well, but right now he’s probably 3rd best on the team. However, sometimes arm injuries don’t heal as planned. It will be worth keeping an eye on the situation, but for now, the Bucs have plenty of options at quarterback.