At Kansas, WR Mike Chandler was the Jayhawks' leading passcatcher in 1999
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers brought more than 80 players to training camp this summer but, as usual, that won't keep them from massaging the roster once or twice over the next three weeks.
The first such move came on Tuesday, when the Bucs signed first-year WR Mike Chandler to a one-year contract. Chandler arrived at UT's Pepin-Rood Stadium in time for the second half of the afternoon special teams practice.
The Bucs contacted Chandler on Monday when it became clear that a string of minor injuries was depleting the receiving corps early in camp. The team started camp without the services of WR Reidel Anthony, who suffered an ankle sprain in early June, then quickly lost Frank Rice and Jacquay Nunnally to hamstring strains. Anthony may not return to practice until next Monday, Rice has not run any routes since the first practice of camp and Nunnally is working on a limited basis.
All of which added up to a call to Kansas City by Director of Pro Personnel Mark Dominik. Chandler, who has played in the arenafootball2 league with the Charleston Swamp Foxes and also spent time in training camp with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League, was pleased to be on the other end.
"I'm really excited," said Chandler after his first practice as a Buccaneer. "I've been messing around with Arena Football for a year, and I got a chance to come up here and jumped at it. I've got a couple of buddies from college here, too."
Chandler (5-11, 202), a four-year letterman at the University of Kansas, is reunited in Tampa with former Jayhawk teammates LS Sean McDermott and DE Ron Warner. Chandler finished his college career with 82 receptions to tie for 10th on the school's all-time list. Originally a walk-on, Chandler played in all 45 of Kansas' games from 1996-99 and caught at least one pass in 32 of his last 35 outings.
As a senior, Chandler led the Jayhawks with 36 receptions and 473 receiving yards, scoring four touchdowns.
Tampa Bay now has 87 players on its active roster. Chandler will wear jersey number 17.
