The Tampa Bay Buccaneers plan to release veteran running back Leonard Fournette when free agency begins in on March 15th, but that’s just fine with him.
Fournette told Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times that he requested his release from the Bucs following the 2022 season.
“I asked after the season to be (released), and they respected my wishes,” Fournette told Stroud. “So no bad blood.”
Fournette made it clear that he’s not interested in going through a rebuild in Tampa Bay, especially after the departure of quarterback Tom Brady.
“Winning is everything,” Fournette said. “That’s all. And in my last three years here, that’s all we’ve done. But since my guy (Brady) left, that’s why I came, so my time here was up.”
Even if Fournette had wanted to stay, he was always a likely candidate for release. The Bucs have a daunting salary cap situation, and Fournette took a back seat last season to third-round rookie Rachaad White. “Playoff Lenny” would have likely had an even more reduced role this season behind White, if he were to return.
Instead, he’ll hit the open market, looking to latch on with a contender, while the Bucs do their best to get under the salary cap and keep enough talent on the roster to compete for a third straight NFC South crown.
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