"Wind," as Derrick Ward was known in New York, will team with Earnest Graham in the Bucs backfield, reports The Tampa Tribune

If the Glazers Boys had any hope of getting people to buy season tickets (but they have that waiting list right? ppppfffffttt!), the Bucs needed to make a splash. If they didn’t have the cash then they needed to hock some money from that damned kickball team of theirs. Whether they used a Mexican loan shark or not remains to be seen, but Mark Dominik gave Bucs fans reason for some optimism next season by landing one of the big fish in the free agent lake: Giants running back Derrick Ward, so reports Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.

The deal has yet to be announced because Ward must still pass a physical, but it calls for the former Giants back to receive $3 million guaranteed and is worth $17 million overall.

Given the Bucs solid offensive line, the Bucs now have a formidable running attack which should, at the very least, take pressure off (potential) starting quarterback Luke McCown as defenses won’t be able to key on him as much. Joe is more than pleased with this signing. Joe can sleep well tonight without the aid of any Tanqueray.