The Bucs released QB Jevan Snead shortly after signing DT Gerald McCoy. Tampa Bay will go with three quarterbacks: Josh Freeman, Josh Johnson and Rudy Carpenter.

PLAYER NOTES

--DT Brian Price is working at nose tackle alongside first-round pick Gerald McCoy. Price played under tackle at UCLA but doesn't mind the switch. "It's all the same in the trenches," he said.

--OT Xavier Fulton, who spent his rookie season in injured reserve, is getting reps at left tackle behind Donald Penn and Demar Dotson.

--WR Terrence Nunn made a spectacular catch Sunday, going up between CB Elbert Mack and S Sabby Piscitelli and coming down with the ball before sprinting 40 yards for a touchdown.

--TE Ryan Purvis is getting lot of reps with starter Kellen Winslow and Jerramy Stevens missing several practices.

BATTLE OF THE WEEK
Rookie Mike Williams wasn't the first receiver taken by the Bucs in the draft, but he is the first to earn a spot with the starting offense in training camp.

Williams, a fourth-round pick from Syracuse, is working as the starting "X" receiver (or split-end on the line of scrimmage opposite the tight end).

"He's been out there a lot of the time. You also see Sammie Stroughter at the "X" position," coach Raheem Morris said. "Mike Williams had a dynamic off-season. He's come in, he's done everything we've asked. He's been one of the guys who has caught the ball, he's stood out and he's been standing out since he's been here.

"He's a big, tall fast guy who can go out there and make plays and right now he's running with the ones. So he'll have an opportunity to go out there and prove himself in the preseason. Depth charts don't come out until we play Cleveland (the first regular season game). But right now, he's running with the ones and he's having a ball and his teammates are having a ball with him."

Illinois receiver Arrelious Benn was the first receiver taken in the draft by the Bucs last April when they selected him in the second round. But he didn't flash as much in the offseason and still has some catching up to do. Both players are expected to figure prominently in the offense this year.

"You don't want to compare him to Mike because Mike is having a little earlier success than he is," Morris said of Benn. "But he's doing a good job, he's doing everything we've asked. You saw flashes of him at the end of OTAs. At the beginning, he struggled, then he got better and better as he practiced."

OTHER BATTLE FRONTS
Clifton Smith and Kareem Huggins are battling for the third running back spot.

Smith, who primarily is a kick returner, has had some trouble holding onto the football on offense.

Huggins made his way onto the roster last season from the practice squad and shows promise as a third down back.

"He's very explosive, he's fast," said coach Raheem Morris. "He has a dynamic jump cut. And he's one of those guys that once you get to the preseason, you've got to let him go out there and play and let him determine his fate. He's a classic example of an angry worker. He went to Hofstra. They shut down the football program. He should've gone to Rutgers. He should've been drafted. And now he's come to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers via video YouTube."

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
DT Gerald McCoy -- Not only did he sign a five-year, $63 million contract with $35 million guaranteed, he was able to convince everyone that he wants to be a great player and the money is secondary.

McCoy didn't waste any time impressing. He shot the gap several times the first day of practice and was very disruptive against the run and the pass.

"He'd better be making an impact," coach Morris said.

ROOKIE REPORT
CB Myron Lewis missed much of the off-season nursing a hamstring injury. He looked lost on several plays during 11-on-11 drills on Sunday. Lewis is battling for the nickel cornerback spot with Elbert Mack and E.J. Biggers.

--P Brent Bowden is the first rookie punter the Bucs are counting on since Mark Royals in 1990.

--S Cody Grimm has an interception in Sunday's practice.

INJURY REPORT
It's always a scary thing when running back Cadillac Williams has to leave practice with the trainer.

Williams suffered a mild sprain midway through Sunday's practice. Morris said Williams will be "day to day."

Tight ends Kellen Winslow and Jerramy Stevens were held out of practice as part of a plan to keep them healthy. Winslow has participated in one of the Bucs' three workouts. He underwent his sixth knee surgery in the off-season.

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