March 2nd, 2009 
Matt Loede 
Posted in 
The Buccaneers evidently feel the need to shore up the running game, as reports are coming in that the team has signed Giants free agent running back Derrick Ward to a four-year, $17 million dollar deal.
Last season as part of a 1-2 punch with Brandon Jacobs, Ward ran for 1025 yards in 16 games with two touchdowns and a 5.2 yards per carry average. Ward also hauled in 41 catches for 384 yards.
The Bucs must not have a lot of hope for Carnell Williams being able to come back from another injury, and they must have liked Ward an awful lot to give him the type of money they did. They also have Earnest Graham, who they gave a deal to last season, but who also is coming off an injury after just 10 games.
Ward was the best running back on the free agent market, and it’s the second big move the Bucs have made so far in free agency, as they also traded for TE Kellen Winslow on Friday.
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