Former Trojan kicker Lawrence Tynes signs with Tampa Bay
Published 11:58 am Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Former Troy Trojan kicker Lawrence Tynes, who won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants, was sined on Wednesday by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as reported by the Associated Press.
Tynes, a nine-year NFL veteran, became an unrestricted free agent in March at age 35.
Tampa Bay signed Connor Barth to a four-year deal, $13.2 million deal last offseason but was left looking for a replacement for the 2013 season after Barth tore his Achilles tendon in a charity basketball game.
“We are disappointed to lose a productive player like Connor, but are very fortunate to be able to sign an experienced kicker at this time of year,” Bucs general manager Mark Dominik told the AP. “Lawrence and his agent, Ken Harris, had other standing opportunities, but we are pleased that they thought this was the right place for Lawrence to continue his career.”
Barth will be placed on the reserve/non-football injury list.
Tampa Bay becomes the third different NFL franchise (Kansas City twice, New York and Tampa) that Tynes has kicked for in his career. He also played for the Scottish Claymores in the now defunct NFL Europe league and Ottowa Renegades in the Canadian Football League.
Tynes played for Troy from 1997-2000. He is currently third on Troy’s all-time points scored list with 273 behind just Greg Whibbs and Ted Clem. Tynes holds the school record for extra point percentage making 111 of 113 attempts (.982). He is also third on the field goal percentage list with 44 makes in 57 attempts (.772).
In 81 games for the New York Giants, Tynes made 122 of 146 field goal attempts. The Giants won the Super Bowl in 2007 and 2011, both seasons Tynes kicked the game-winning field goal in the NFC Championship game to help New York earn its berth.
Tynes was recently inducted into the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame. He started his NFL career in 2001 when Kansas City signed his as an undrafted free agent.