Ryan Nece's six-year Bucs career is over.

The Bucs made their roster cuts this evening to get down to the mandatory 53 and there were two moderate surprises.

Linebacker Ryan Nece and running back Kenneth Darby were two of the casualties and neither were really a surprise.

The Bucs had hinted that Nece might be expendable. The son of Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott, Nece’s six year Bucs career is now over. Nece was a standout on special teams and had filled in admirably at times as a starting linebacker.

Darby’s release was not a shock either. Once the Bucs signed Warrick Dunn, it was all but certain, barring an injury, that Darby was gone. The man has some skills and is very likely to be picked up by some running back-starved squad.

Wide receiver Michael Spurlock, who last year returned the first kickoff return for a touchdown in franchise history, also was cut. But Joe smelled that move coming some time ago.