The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released cornerback Alterraun Verner, who first signed with the team as an unrestricted free agent in March of 2014.
Verner, who appeared in 46 games with 23 starts over three seasons with the Buccaneers, had one year remaining on the contract he signed in 2014. As a vested veteran, he immediately becomes a free agent and can sign with any team, even before the new league year and unrestricted free agency period begins on March 9.
Check out part two of the best photos shot by the photographers of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2016 season.
91 DE Robert Ayers
93 DT Gerald McCoy
28 CB Vernon Hargreaves
3 QB Jameis Winston
Team huddle
28 CB Vernon Hargreaves
44 RB Russell Hansbrough
11 WR Adam Humphries
3 QB Jameis Winston
34 RB Charles Sims and #82 TE Brandon Myers
93 DT Gerald McCoy
95 DE Howard Jones
15 WR Bernard Reedy and #89 WR Russell Shepard
37 S Keith Tandy
22 RB Doug Martin
3 QB Jameis Winston
13 WR Mike Evans
13 WR Mike Evans
Head Coach Dirk Koetter
Head Coach Dirk Koetter and #26 CB Josh Robinson
98 DT Clinton McDonald
Team huddle
93 DT Gerald McCoy, #95 DE Howard Jones, and #97 DT Akeem Spence
3 QB Jameis Winston and #34 RB Charles Sims
98 DT Clinton McDonald
32 RB Jacquizz Rodgers
Raymond James Stadium
Raymond James Stadium
30 S Bradley McDougald
28 CB Vernon Hargreaves
54 LB Lavonte David, #93 DT Gerald McCoy, and #58 LB Kwon Alexander
3 QB Jameis Winston
84 TE Cameron Brate
45 TE Alan Cross and #84 TE Cameron Brate
93 DT Gerald McCoy and #92 DE William Gholston
19 K Roberto Aguayo
28 CB Vernon Hargreaves
34 RB Charles Sims
Raymond James Stadium
83 WR Vincent Jackson
93 DT Gerald McCoy
74 G Ali Marpet
3 QB Jameis Winston
3 QB Jameis Winston
3 QB Jameis Winston
32 RB Jacquizz Rodgers
98 DT Clinton McDonald
13 WR Mike Evans
98 DT Clinton McDonald and #58 LB Kwon Alexander
84 TE Cameron Brate
Captain Fear
3 QB Jameis Winston and #58 LB Kwon Alexander
75 DT DaVonte Lambert and #30 S Bradley McDougald
19 K Roberto Aguayo
Bucs defense
3 QB Jameis Winston
13 WR Mike Evans
13 WR Mike Evans
13 WR Mike Evans
30 S Bradley McDougald
Bucs defense
92 DE William Gholston and #58 LB Kwon Alexander
Bucs offense
32 RB Jacquizz Rodgers
3 QB Jameis Winston
Bucs defense
28 CB Vernon Hargreaves
57 DE Noah Spence
91 DE Robert Ayers
Raymond James Stadium
John Lynch
28 CB Vernon Hargreaves
13 WR Mike Evans
3 QB Jameis Winston
97 DT Akeem Spence
13 WR Mike Evans
84 TE Cameron Brate
3 QB Jameis Winston
93 DT Gerald McCoy
13 WR Mike Evans
13 WR Mike Evans
58 LB Kwon Alexander
28 CB Vernon Hargreaves, #24 CB Brent Grimes, and #30 S Bradley McDougald
24 CB Brent Grimes
24 CB Brent Grimes
23 S Chris Conte
13 WR Mike Evans
Raymond James Stadium
22 RB Doug Martin
Team huddle
Captain Fear and Bucs cheerleaders
84 TE Cameron Brate
98 DT Clinton McDonald
23 S Chris Conte
58 LB Kwon Alexander
23 S Chris Conte
45 TE Alan Cross
22 RB Doug Martin
22 RB Doug Martin
Head Coach Dirk Koetter
Raymond James Stadium
Bucs defense
54 LB Lavonte David
57 DE Noah Spence
93 DT Gerald McCoy
13 WR Mike Evans
96 DE Ryan Russell
54 LB Lavonte David
3 QB Jameis Winston
98 DT Clinton McDonald
3 QB Jameis Winston and #24 CB Brent Grimes
37 S Keith Tandy
32 RB Jacquizz Rodgers
22 RB Doug Martin
54 LB Lavonte David
13 WR Mike Evans
Bucs offense
54 LB Lavonte David
92 DE William Gholston
58 LB Kwon Alexander and #91 DE Robert Ayers
37 S Keith Tandy and #58 LB Kwon Alexander
Team huddle
Team huddle
91 DE Robert Ayers
89 WR Russell Shepard
Bucs defense
26 CB Josh Robinson and #29 DB Ryan Smith
3 QB Jameis Winston
Bucs defense
3 QB Jameis Winston
11 WR Adam Humphries
Bucs defense
54 LB Lavonte David
Raymond James Stadium
32 RB Jacquizz Rodgers
Raymond James Stadium
11 WR Adam Humphries
23 S Chris Conte
37 S Keith Tandy
28 CB Vernon Hargreaves
3 QB Jameis Winston and #13 WR Mike Evans
24 CB Brent Grimes
24 CB Brent Grimes
93 DT Gerald McCoy
58 LB Kwon Alexander
Bucs defense
Head Coach Dirk Koetter and #24 CB Brent Grimes
Verner started 14 games for the Buccaneers in 2014 and recorded 75 tackles, two interceptions, nine passes defensed and two forced fumbles. However, his playing time declined to six starts in 2015 and three last year under new Defensive Coordinator Mike Smith. Verner began the 2016 season as one of the Bucs' three main cornerbacks, playing on the outside when rookie starter Vernon Hargreaves moved into the slot in nickel packages. Roughly a month into the season, the Buccaneers made a shift in the lineup, moving Hargreaves exclusively to the outside and putting Jude Adjei-Barimah in the slot.
Check out some of the best photos shot by the photographers of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2016 season.
28 CB Vernon Hargreaves and #16 WR Freddie Martino
91 DE Robert Ayers and #57 DE Noah Spence
3 QB Jameis Winston
Head Coach Dirk Koetter
98 DT Clinton McDonald
35 CB Javien Elliott
95 DE Howard Jones
98 DT Clinton McDonald, #83 WR Vincent Jackson, #37 S Keith Tandy, #58 LB Kwon Alexander, and #88 TE Luke Stocker
57 DE Noah Spence
13 WR Mike Evans
Team Huddle
34 RB Charles Sims
52 LB Cameron Lynch
11 WR Adam Humphries
28 CB Vernon Hargreaves
Raymond James Stadium
57 DE Noah Spence and #93 DT Gerald McCoy
93 DT Gerald McCoy
3 QB Jameis Winston
13 WR Mike Evans
11 WR Adam Humphries
44 RB Russell Hansbrough
26 CB Josh Robinson
Buccaneer Fans
85 WR Evan Spencer
Team Huddle
82 TE Brandon Myers and #84 TE Cameron Brate
58 LB Kwon Alexander and #54 LB Lavonte David
3 QB Jameis Winston
28 CB Vernon Hargreaves
93 DT Gerald McCoy
54 LB Lavonte David
Head Coach Dirk Koetter
51 LB Daryl Smith, #58 LB Kwon Alexander, and #28 CB Vernon Hargreaves
23 S Chris Conte
21 CB Alterraun Verner
92 DE William Gholston
13 WR Mike Evans
American Flag and Raymond James Stadium
Buccaneer Fan
83 WR Vincent Jackson
Captain Fear
Raymond James Stadium
58 LB Kwon Alexander
32 RB Jacquizz Rodgers
Raymond James Stadium
3 QB Jameis Winston
Raymond James Stadium
Buccaneer Fans
34 RB Charles Sims
Buccaneers Cheerleaders
13 WR Mike Evans
Bucs Defense
28 CB Vernon Hargreaves
Raymond James Stadium
Raymond James Stadium
83 WR Vincent Jackson
3 QB Jameis Winston
98 DT Clinton McDonald
83 WR Vincent Jackson
3 QB Jameis Winston
75 DT DaVonte Lambert
23 S Chris Conte and #28 CB Vernon Hargreaves
Helmets
Head Coach Dirk Koetter
19 K Roberto Aguayo
19 K Roberto Aguayo
36 RB Antone Smith
3 QB Jameis Winston and #13 WR Mike Evans
89 WR Russell Shepard
23 S Chris Conte and #38 CB Jude Adjei-Barimah
43 RB Peyton Barber
51 LB Daryl Smith
3 QB Jameis Winston and #43 RB Peyton Barber
93 DT Gerald McCoy
58 LB Kwon Alexander
91 DE Robert Ayers and #93 DT Gerald McCoy
3 QB Jameis Winston
57 DE Noah Spence
84 TE Cameron Brate
John Lynch, Warren Sapp. and Derrick Brooks
Raymond James Stadium
John Lynch
84 TE Cameron Brate
28 CB Vernon Hargreaves, #30 S Bradley McDougald, and #24 CB Brent Grimes
John Lynch
13 WR Mike Evans
13 WR Mike Evans
97 DT Akeem Spence
22 RB Doug Martin
23 S Chris Conte
24 CB Brent Grimes
57 DE Noah Spence
93 DT Gerald McCoy
24 CB Brent Grimes
Team Celebration
91 DE Robert Ayers, #93 DT Gerald McCoy, and #92 DE William Gholston
3 QB Jameis Winston
22 RB Doug Martin
23 S Chris Conte
21 CB Alterraun Verner and #54 LB Lavonte David
45 TE Alan Cross and #10 WR Cecil Shorts
57 DE Noah Spence
21 CB Alterraun Verner
21 CB Alterraun Verner
Bucs Defense
89 WR Russell Shepard
13 WR Mike Evans
Bucs Defense
30 S Bradley McDougald and #24 CB Brent Grimes
54 LB Lavonte David
3 QB Jameis Winston and #93 DT Gerald McCoy
28 CB Vernon Hargreaves
30 S Bradley McDougald
93 DT Gerald McCoy and #91 DE Robert Ayers
Bucs Offense
3 QB Jameis Winston
Buccaneer Fans
22 RB Doug Martin
11 WR Adam Humphries
54 LB Lavonte David
37 S Keith Tandy
54 LB Lavonte David
26 CB Josh Robinson and #29 DB Ryan Smith
24 CB Brent Grimes
Raymond James Stadium
Head Coach Dirk Koetter
Team Huddle
3 QB Jameis Winston
11 WR Adam Humphries
84 TE Cameron Brate
9 P Bryan Anger
32 RB Jacquizz Rodgers
58 LB Kwon Alexander
9 P Bryan Anger
11 WR Adam Humphries
Raymond James Stadium
24 CB Brent Grimes
91 DE Robert Ayers and #58 LB Kwon Alexander
24 CB Brent Grimes
Head Coach Dirk Koetter
75 DT DaVonte Lambert
11 WR Adam Humphries
13 WR Mike Evans
23 S Chris Conte
Verner played in all 16 games last year and recorded 12 tackles, one interception and seven passes defensed. He also pitched in on special teams, posting four kick-coverage stops. Though his playing time diminished on defense in the season's second half he did contribute a very important and emotionally resonant play in one of the Buccaneers' biggest wins of 2016. Playing just days after the surprise passing of his father, Verner intercepted a Russell Wilson pass deep in Buccaneer territory to help Tampa Bay hold on to a 14-5 victory over Seattle in Week 12.
Verner played four seasons with the Tennessee Titans before coming to Tampa. Overall, he has appeared in 110 games with 70 starts, recording 15 interceptions, 414 tackles and 70 passes defensed.
The release of Verner leaves the Buccaneers with six cornerbacks on their current roster, counting second-year man Ryan Smith, who is expected to switch back to that position after working at safety as a rookie. One of those six, Josh Robinson, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on March 9.
