Bucs sign former Titans TE Troupe

TAMPA, Fla., March 10 (UPI) -- The Tampa Bay Bucs announced Monday they have signed former Tennessee tight end Ben Troupe.

Troupe, a 6-foot-4, 270-pounder, is expected to provide the pass-catching abilities to complement former Chicago blocking tight end John Gilmore, who was signed nine days ago.

Troupe caught just five passes for 47 yards with the Titans in 2007 after recovering from a broken ankle that cut his 2006 campaign short. But the former Florida star has 106 catches for 1,056 yards and seven touchdowns in his four-year NFL career, spent entirely in Tennessee.

Troupe and Gilmore will likely back up Tampa Bay's 2007 starter Alex Smith.

The Buccaneers also signed wideout Antonio Bryant Monday. Bryant, who was out of the NFL in 2007, last played in 2006 with San Francisco, when he caught 40 passes for 733 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games. In five NFL seasons, Bryant has 250 receptions for 3,837 yards and 19 TDs in 77 games with Dallas, Cleveland and San Francisco.