Bucs Tender Restricted Free Agent Penn

On the Same day that the Buccaneers released five players from its roster the decided they wanted to keep another, if only for the short term.

After failing to work out a long term contract the Bucs notified starting LT Donald Penn of their decision to tender him a top-tier restricted free agent offer making it highly unlikely he'll be able to secure a long-term deal elsewhere.

Since Penn is a restricted free agent, the Bucs can retain the right of first refusal if he obtains a competing offer. If he were to be acquired by another team, this move requires that club to compensate the Bucs with first- and third-round picks.

"They pretty much take him off the market with this," agent Rocky Arceneaux said.
"We're not really accepting this by any means," he added. "We're trying to go out and see what free agency has to offer. That's the only thing that 's afforded to us. But this is definitely prohibitive."

Penn will earn roughly $2.8-Million if he ends up playing for the tendered offer. He and his representation feel that he stood to make much more on the open market. He'll have to wait a year, as he will now be an unrestricted free agent in 2010.