| Pittman signed a five-year contract worth $8.75 million, which included a $1.75 million signing bonus during the 2002 offseason. Pittman, formerly of the Arizona Cardinals, will be the team's primary ballcarrier, and his rushing and receiving skills are expected to flourish in Jon Gruden's new system.
The 26-year old rusher is entering his fifth NFL season out of Fresno State.
Pittman (6-foot, 218) was selected by Arizona in the fourth round of the 1998 draft. He played in 58 games for the Cardinals with 29 starts, including 26 of those starts in the last two years when he beat out 2000 first-round pick Thomas Jones. Pittman has rushed for 1,945 yards and 11 touchdowns on 518 carries. He also has 131 receptions for 1,039 yards and two scores.
Pittman brings speed and tackle-breaking ability to Tampa Bay, along with great receiving ability, as evidenced by his career-high 73 catches for 579 yards and two TDs during the 2000 season. He also rushed for 719 yards (3.9 avg.) and four scores that season. In 2001, he rushed for a career-high 846 yards (3.5 avg.) with five scores, and caught 42 passes for 264 yards.
The Bucs are hoping that he has a breakthrough season the way Priest Holmes did in Kansas City after producing sporadically in Baltimore for his first three seasons. Holmes rushed for 1,008 yards as a rookie in 1998, then rushed for 506 and 588 yards the next two seasons. In 2001, his first year with the Chiefs, Holmes led all NFL rushers with 1,555 yards. Pittman has yet to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, but both he and the Bucs hope that changes in 2002.
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