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Shelton's Agent: Bucs A Good Fit

By KATHERINE SMITH ksmith@tampatrib.com
Published: Feb 18, 2005

TAMPA - The agent for Arizona offensive tackle L.J. Shelton said Thursday he expects the Bucs to be among teams interested in trading for his client.
The Cardinals granted Shelton, who has started for them at both tackle positions, permission to seek a trade two weeks ago and at least 10 teams have inquired, agent Vance Larimer said.

``We believe the Bucs will be interested. We intend to speak to them at next week's [NFL Scouting] Combine,'' Larimer said.

Trade offers have included as high as a second-round draft pick, Larimer said. The Bucs have 11 picks in April's draft to work with, including the No. 5 overall choice and an early second-rounder.

The available talent pool at tackle was thinned considerably Wednesday when Pro Bowler Walter Jones, a potential free agent, signed a seven- year contract to stay with Seattle. There are no offensive linemen projected to be drafted high in the first round.

Shelton (6-foot-6, 335 pounds) signed a five-year contract extension in 2003 that included a $5 million signing bonus, but got on new coach Dennis Green's bad side last year when he showed up at training camp overweight and missed offseason workouts because of ankle surgery.


Though he has played mostly left tackle, the six-year veteran was moved to the right side last season and finished the year on injured reserve with a knee injury. Shelton, a No. 1 draft pick in 1999, is slated to earn $3 million each of the next four seasons.

Bucs general manager Bruce Allen said he could not comment on Shelton.

In other Bucs news:


Allen said contract talks are continuing with the agent for quarterback Brian Griese;

Former offensive lineman (1994-97) and assistant coach Jim Pyne has been hired by the Saints as an assistant offensive line coach. Pyne served as the Bucs' offensive quality control coach the past two seasons.

http://bucs.tbo.com/bucs/MGB5K88UB5E.html

I would bet good money that we're one of the ten teams who've inquired.

Bills to swap Henry for Shelton?

By John Clayton
ESPN.com

Arizona Cardinals tackle L.J. Shelton visited the Buffalo Bills Thursday to help to possibly facilitate a trade between the two teams.

The Bills were given permission early this week to meet with Shelton, who was told he could shop his services in exchange for a draft choice in the first day of April's draft. The Bills are looking for left tackle options because they aren't expected to re-sign their starting left tackle, Jonas Jennings, who is an unrestricted free agent.

Shelton, 28, has also received interest from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos and St. Louis Rams.

Shelton's visit to Buffalo creates some interesting possibilities. Because the Cardinals are in need of a starting running back, the Bills could swap halfback Travis Henry to Arizona in a player-for-player trade. Henry wants out of Buffalo after losing his starting job to Willis McGahee and is in the final year of his contract.

The Bills have decided to go with J.P. Losman as their starting quarterback and are also looking to upgrade their offensive line. Jennings wants a signing bonus of around $10 million because he's one of the top tackles on the market, and the Bills aren't willing to meet those demands. They released Drew Bledsoe earlier this week to give Losman the starting job.

Shelton, 6-6, 335 pounds, was the Cardinals' first-round pick in 1999. Dennis Green gave his starting left tackle job to Leonard Davis last season. He has four years remaining on his contract at $3 million a year.

If the Bills decide Shelton is the right fit at left tackle, the financial aspects of this deal are very appealing.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/s ... id=1994672