Tampa Bay releases Jefferson
Jordan Jefferson’s pro football career may be over almost before it began.
The former LSU quarterback was waived Thursday by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, just three days after the NFC South team signed Jefferson to a free agent contract.
The Buccaneers announced Jefferson’s release via their Twitter page.
Jefferson was one of eight LSU players to sign free agent contracts or be invited to a free agent tryout after the NFL draft.
Among them was fellow quarterback Jarrett Lee, who signed with the San Diego Chargers and remains with the team.
Thursday, the New Orleans Saints announced that former LSU linebacker Ryan Baker was on their list of free agent tryouts for their minicamp, which begins Friday in Metairie.
Baker was originally signed to a free agent contract by Tampa Bay but was cut by the team on Monday, the same day the Bucs signed Jefferson.
Four other former Tigers have been signed to free agent contracts and remained with their respective teams as of Thursday afternoon: defensive end Kendrick Adams with the Jacksonville Jaguars, offensive guard Will Blackwell with the Carolina Panthers, and offensive lineman T-Bob Hebert and tight end Deangelo Peterson with the St. Louis Rams.
Three other ex-LSU players were invited to free agent tryouts but have not been signed by any teams: deep snapper Alex Russian (invited by the Pittsburgh Steelers), offensive tackle Greg Shaw (Detroit Lions) and fullback James Stampley (Seattle Seahawks).
Five LSU players were drafted: Morris Claiborne (first round, Dallas Cowboys), Michael Brockers (first, St. Louis), Rueben Randle (second, New York Giants), Brandon Taylor (third, San Diego) and Ron Brooks (fourth, Buffalo Bills).
Project firms selected
LSU and the Tiger Athletic Foundation have selected firms for the design and pre-construction planning of the south stadium expansion project in Tiger Stadium.
Dallas-based HKS, Inc., will serve as architect for the project, according to a news release by the firm.
The Lemoine Company of Lafayette and Birmingham, Ala.-based Brasfield & Gorrie have been retained in a joint venture to handle the stadium expansion’s planning, scheduling and budgeting process, according to LSU senior associate athletic director Herb Vincent.
TAF is currently negotiating with those firms to serve as joint contractors for the project, Vincent said.
HKS designed Cowboys Stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and spearheaded a recent renovation of 50-year-old Dodger Stadium.
HKS also designed LSU’s football operations center, which opened in 2005.
The south stadium project is scheduled to be completed for the start of the 2014 season, which will mark Tiger Stadium’s 90th anniversary as LSU’s football home. Construction is expected to begin this fall.
The project will add 60 suites, 3,000 club seats and 1,500 general admission seats (plus a standing room only section) in layers that will wrap around the top of the existing south rim of the stadium.
Tiger Stadium’s capacity will increase from 92,542 to near 100,000, though the exact
capacity has not been determined.
The addition will also include two video scoreboards, which will replace the current scoreboard behind the south end zone.
The total cost of the project, also scheduled to include facility improvements for gymnastics, track and field and tennis, is approximately $100 million and will be paid through a bond issue by TAF, LSU’s private athletic fundraising entity.