The Buccaneers have signed linebacker Dane Fletcher, tweets Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. The deal is for one year (via Twitter). The team has also confirmed the transaction (Twitter link). NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the contract contains $1.2MM guaranteed, and Mike Garafolo of FoxSports1 tweets that the deal has a maximum value of over $2MM.
Fletcher, 27, signed with the Patriots in 2010 as an undrafted free agent out of Montana State. He started just one game last season, but his value comes in the form of depth and special teams prowess. He will likely act as a backup to an impressive Bucs linebacking unit that includes Lavonte David and Mason Foster.