Photo Credit: Buccaneers.com
The National Football League announced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2012 preseason lineup Wednesday.
Tampa Bay will host the Tennessee Titans and the defending AFC champions, the New England Patriots. The team will take on the Miami Dolphins and journey up to the east coast to battle the Washington Redskins on the road.
The Bucs will travel to Miami to commence preseason play in Week 1 (August 9-13) of the 2012 NFL schedule.
The contest is a long-standing preseason tradition, as the Bucs and the Fins will meet for the 27th overall occasion, making this get down their 12th straight. The game also features the debut of two NFL head coaches, with Greg Schiano (former head coach for Rutgers University) leading the Bucs and Joe Philbin (former offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers) directing the Dolphins.
Tampa Bay has won six of the past 10 preseason meetings between the two squads, including a 17-13 victory last year.
The Tennessee Titans will come to play in the beloved Raymond James Stadium for the Buccaneers’ 2012 preseason home opener in Week 2 (Aug. 16-20). It will also be Tennessee’s first clash with Tampa Bay in postseason play on the road since 1989, when the team was known as the Houston Oilers.
In Week 3, the team will welcome the defending AFC champions. The meeting will mark the fourth get-together between the Patriots and Buccaneers during the preseason in the last six years.
And like last year, the Buccaneers will close out their exhibition season on the road at the Redskins.
None of the Buccaneers’ preseason games will be nationally televised.
Tampa Bay’s preseason lineup follows as such, unless there are changes (Bold at home):
Week 1 Aug. 9-13: at Miami
Week 2 TITANS at Raymond James Stadium Aug. 16-20
Week 3 PATRIOTS at Raymond James Stadium Aug. 23-26
Week 4 Aug. 29-30: at Washington
That wasn’t the only news surrounding the Buccaneers on Wednesday. The team also announced that wide receiver Preston Parker and running back LeGarrette Blount have signed their exclusive-rights tender offers and waived quarterback Rudy Carpenter.
Preston Parker signed with the team as an undrafted rookie free agent from North Alabama in 2010. As a rookie, Parker played nine games and recorded four catches for 42 yards. Last season, Parker played in all 16 games, as he finished fourth on the team in receptions (40), third in receiving yards (554) and tied second with three touchdown receptions.
In 14 games last season (all starts) LeGarrette Blount registered 781 yards and five scores on 184 carries (4.2 YPC). In addition, Blount racked up 15 catches for 148 yards.
Follow Barry Barnes, founder of LockerReport.com, and Gridiron Grit on Twitter!
