My Bucs begin planning ten-loss season

Bucs Sign Fiedler

POSTED: 5:36 pm EDT June 29, 2006

Tampa, FL -- (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers added a veteran quarterback to backup starter Chris Simms, agreeing to a contract with Jay Fiedler on Thursday.

Fielder entered the league in 1994 as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles. He spent four years with the club learning under the tutelage of Tampa head coach Jon Gruden, who was the Eagles' offensive coordinator at the time.

After two brief stints in Minnesota and Jacksonville, Fielder joined Miami in 2000 and was the Dolphins' starter for five seasons. However, injuries gradually took a toll on Fielder, limiting him to just eight games in 2004. He signed with the New York Jets before last season to serve as a backup to Chad Pennington. He eventually had a chance to play in the third week of the season once Pennington went down with a season-ending injury, but Fielder suffered his own season-ending injury in the same game, a torn labrum.

For his career, Fielder has completed 58.7 percent of his passes for 11,844 yards with 69 touchdowns and 66 interceptions. He has also rushed for 854 yards with 11 touchdowns.

Tampa also agreed to terms with tight end Matt Kranchick. To make room for Fielder and Kranchick on the training camp roster, the Buccaneers released wide receiver Ben Nelson and tackle Stefan Rodgers.