Originally published April 30, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified May 9, 2007 at 9:04 PM

Ex-Hawk Stevens finds new home in Tampa Bay

Tight end Jerramy Stevens has never played for a football team outside the state of Washington. Now he's joined a team that's in the opposite...

By Danny O'Neil

Seattle Times staff reporter

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ROD MAR / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Jerramy Stevens, heading for the end zone on a 37-yard reception against the Cowboys in the playoffs, has never played for a non-Washington team.

Tight end Jerramy Stevens has never played for a football team outside the state of Washington.

Now he's joined a team that's in the opposite corner of the country as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced Sunday they had signed Stevens.

Stevens played the past five seasons for the Seahawks after he was a first-round draft choice in 2002. He was an unrestricted free agent the Seahawks did not re-sign.

He was arrested in Arizona in March and charged with driving under the influence after his blood-alcohol content was measured at .204 percent, more than twice the state's legal limit. He faces two counts for driving under the influence, failure to provide proof of insurance and other traffic infractions. A pre-trial hearing was scheduled for May 8 in Arizona. It's not clear whether Stevens will be disciplined by the league for the incident.

Stevens was previously arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in 2003, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of reckless driving.

Tampa Bay was the only team Stevens visited as a free agent prior to his arrest in Arizona. General manager Bruce Allen was quoted in an announcement of the signing on the team's Web site.

"He's a good player," Allen said. "He is a big, powerful, speedy tight end. He has had some off-the-field issues that have hampered him a bit. We had a very serious talk with him today. I think Jerramy Stevens is a good young man.

"He is focused on doing things right. More importantly, he has to do things right."

Stevens caught a career-high 45 passes in 2005 and set a team record for receiving yards by a tight end with 554. He underwent two knee surgeries in 2006.

The Buccaneers play in Seattle to open the 2007 season on Sept. 9.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com

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