Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib has been suspended one game and fined an additional game check for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. Talib was arrested last year for assaulting a cab driver. He was scheduled to earn $83,382.35 for each game check in 2010.

The Buccaneers have released running back Derrick Ward. "After practice today we were able to notify Mr. Ward," coach Raheem Morris said. "It's just like any other profession when it is time for you to depart. It's not a surprise anytime in our profession anytime we tell you to go -- can't say you're surprised. You have every day to go out there and prove yourself." Tampa Bay signed Ward to a big free-agent deal prior to the 2009 season after he rushed for 1,025 yards with the Giants in 2008.

Buccaneers running back Derrick Ward isn't a lock to make the team's final roster. Kareem Huggins has drawn even with Ward as the No. 2 tailback behind Cadillac Williams, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman fractured the thumb on his throwing hand in the team's preseason victory against the Chiefs on Saturday night. He will be sidelined at least until the opening week of the regular season, when Tampa Bay hopes he'll be able to face Cleveland. "It's one of those things that happens in football," Freeman said. "It hit a helmet, or it hit something. I haven't seen the film, but it hit something harder than my thumb. "It's a little sore, obviously. It's a little minor fracture, so it's going to be a little sore. But it's nothing that I don't think we can get cleared up by the first week."

The Buccaneers could end up releasing running back Derrick Ward, according to Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune. "GM Mark Dominik has a lot invested in Ward, besides the big contract. Releasing or trading Ward would be an acknowledgment that Tampa Bay made a mistake, but the Bucs have vowed to go with their best 53 players coming out of camp," Kaufman writes.

Derrick Ward is witnessing the second-year development of Josh Freeman, several seasons after he was with the Giants during Eli Manning's second-year. "The kid is light years ahead of any quarterback I've seen going into his second year," said Ward. "I was telling him the other day that I got drafted with Eli and Eli going from his first year to his second year he is light years ahead of Eli. Eli has won a Super Bowl and been to the Pro Bowl. [Freeman] is doing great. I don't want to get his head too big, but he is very grounded for a franchise quarterback."