Steve Cargile

Donte Whitner returned an interception 76 yards for a touchdown and Terrell Owens — after being negated most of the game — scored on a 43-yard catch in his home debut to cap a 33-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Whitner also made a key stop on fourth down less than a week after he was left crying in frustration after the Bills squandered an 11-point lead in a 25-24 season-opening loss at New England. Buffalo (1-1) ended a five-game home losing streak. The Buccaneers (0-2) have lost six straight and continue to struggle on defense after allowing 438 yards. Read Full Story

Gaines Adams is the first to admit he's underachieved with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So when coach Raheem Morris singled out the defensive end on the opening day of training camp, saying Adams would be a flop if he doesn't post double-digit sacks this season, the third-year pro agreed. "In football you need that. Players tend to get in their own element and do things that they want to do. They need to be called out sometimes. He's the coach. Whatever he says, goes," Adams said. "I take it as a challenge. Being drafted fourth overall, that comes with the territory. It's year three ... Read Full Story

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers say linebacker Angelo Crowell will miss the season with a torn biceps muscle. The seventh-year pro was hurt during Saturday night's preseason victory at Jacksonville. The former Buffalo defensive captain signed with the Bucs as a free agent after sitting out all of 2008 because of a knee injury. Crowell was slowed much of training camp by a sore hamstring. Third-year pro Quincy Black becomes the likely starter at strongside linebacker. The 28-year-old spent six seasons in Buffalo after entering the NFL as a third-round draft pick in 2003. He had his best season in 2007, leading the Bills with ... Read Full Story

Rookie quarterback Josh Freeman has signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will be given an opportunity to compete for the starting job. Freeman was the 17th player selected in the draft following a standout career at Kansas State. He agreed to a five-year contract on Friday, the day before the start of training camp. Freeman was impressive enough during offseason workouts that coach Raheem Morris has not ruled out the possibility of playing him right away. The other quarterbacks competing for the No. 1 job are Luke McCown, Byron Leftwich and Josh Johnson. Terms of Freeman's deal were not announced. ESPN reported it ... Read Full Story

TAMPA, Fla. — Authorities say the girlfriend of Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Geno Hayes stabbed him in the head and in the neck. A Hillsborough County Sheriff's spokeswoman says Hayes was taken to a hospital by a friend Saturday. The 21-year-old former Florida State player was treated and later released. Deputies arrested 19-year-old Shevelle Bagley on Saturday afternoon. The sheriff's spokeswoman says Hayes and Bagley got into an argument, which led to Bagley grabbing a pair of scissors and stabbing Hayes in the head. He managed to get the scissors away from her, but authorities say she then grabbed a knife and stabbed him ... Read Full Story