The Tampa Bay Buccaneers today announced that they have signed G Arron Sears and S Sabby Piscitelli. Terms were not disclosed. In addition, the team placed DE Charles Bennett on injured reserve and released TE T.J. Williams.
Sears, selected with Tampa Bay's first of two second-round picks (35th overall) in the 2007 NFL Draft, earned the Jacobs Award, given annually to the SEC's premier blocker, as a senior at the University of Tennessee. Sears played in 44 career games with 37 starts at UT. He experienced starting calls in four spots along the Volunteers' offensive line during his four-year career, including left tackle, right tackle, left guard and right guard.
Piscitelli, chosen with Tampa Bay's second of two second-round picks (64th overall) in the 2007 NFL Draft, earned All-Pac 10 first-team honors at Oregon State in 2006. Named a team captain as a senior, he started all 12 games and totaled 64 tackles, five interceptions, one sack and a team-leading 12 passes defensed.
Piscitelli earned All-Pac 10 honorable mention recognition in back-to-back seasons as a sophomore and junior, respectively. He finished his college career with 178 tackles, 15 interceptions, 29 passes defensed, three fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery, while playing in 48 career games with 36 starts.
