Buccaneers sign QB Blaine Gabbert
Bruce Arians has added a familiar face to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback room.
The Bucs announced on Wednesday that they’ve signed Blaine Gabbert to a one-year contract.
Gabbert played for Arians in Arizona
Gabbert, now entering his ninth NFL season, started five games for the Arizona Cardinals in 2017, Arians’ last season as the Cardinals’ head coach. Arizona was 2-3 in that stretch, as Gabbert completed 55.6 percent of 171 pass attempts, with six touchdowns and six interceptions.
He was with the Tennessee Titans last year.
Arians told media at the NFL meetings in Phoenix on Tuesday that Gabbert would be joining the team, and that he likes the one-time first-round pick as Jameis Winston’s primary backup.
“We really liked what we saw from [third-string QB Ryan Griffin] but the game tape isn’t there,” Arians said. “So let’s find another guy that has game tape and let them compete. Blaine has been in this offense and I love him.”
But not long after saying Gabbert and Griffin would compete to be the No. 2, Arians made it fairly clear it will be Gabbert’s job.
“It’s an open competition, but it’s probably not,” he said.
Griffin, who played at Tulane, signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted rookie in 2013 and has been with Tampa Bay since 2015. He has never gotten into a game with the Buccaneers.
More from Yahoo Sports:
