Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman wishes he hadn't gone to the gun range during his team's bye-week. After spraining his thumb Oct. 23 against the Bears, Freeman injured his thumb again eight days later after an unexpected recoil while firing a gun at a Tampa range. Freeman, who grew up shooting guns with his dad, said Wednesday that shooting a gun with a sprained thumb wasn't the wisest decision. "I like to use the gun range as a bit of an escape," he said. "In hindsight, it wasn't the smartest decision, but I've got to learn from it. No more shooting guns in season."

A Tampa television station provided unique coverage on Sunday night when it mistakenly aired locker-room footage of an unidentified Buccaneers player naked from the waist down. The troubling postgame visual occurred while WTVT interviewed Bucs offensive tackle Donald Penn. As Penn spoke about the team's struggles, the naked player was visible in the background, a sight that generated a minor uproar around the web. The station's vice president and news director, John Hoffman, was quick to respond. "We issued the following apology during last night's 6 p.m. newscast: 'Earlier in the Bucs' postgame there was an inadvertent shot and we apologize for that,'" Hoffman told the St. Petersburg Times.

Albert Haynesworth was unapologetic in regards to his hit on Matt Schaub that ended his 2011 season. “You know me. I love to hit Schaub,” Haynesworth said. “It was on the goal line. He actually screamed like normal in the pile.”

Buccaneers defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth says he is returning to Tennessee with no ill will toward the Titans. He has played with three teams since leaving the franchise that drafted him. The defensive tackle said Wednesday players need to be careful going into free agency thinking the grass is greener with another team. Haynesworth suggests trying to work something out with the team they start with before leaving. Haynesworth left the Titans and signed a $100 million contract with the Redskins a few seasons ago.

The Buccaneers claimed defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth off waivers on Wednesday. The team admitted that the move was related to Gerald McCoy's season-ending injury. "This is predicated on losing Gerald McCoy," general manager Mark Dominik told NFL.com. "If that doesn't happen, this doesn't happen, we don't claim Haynesworth. The reality, we lost Gerald for the season, we're 4-4 and still in the thick of it, we've lost our last two and we're one game off the wild card. We don't think we're out of it." Dominik added that Haynesworth will be sent packing if he doesn't fall in line. "Sure it is," Dominik said in response to the question of whether the leash on Haynesworth is short. "He does have history, of course. But at the end of the day, you talk to anyone in the NFL, week to week, and you know you can be the hero one week, and be the villain the next. It's tough for any player under that scrutiny. But that's the nature of our business. He's gonna have a shorter leash, but if he's prepared and ready to play, he'll play."

Buccaneers defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth says he is excited to be back in a true 4-3 defense. "It feels great, it feels unbelievable. Just to get off the ball and wreak havoc, that's awesome," Haynesworth said. "Everybody can say, 'Oh, you're in a 4-3 defense.' But just because you're in a 4-3 defense doesn't mean what I did in Tennessee and I had to learn that the hard way [in New England]." The Patriots released Haynesworth on Tuesday and he was claimed Wednesday by the Buccaneers. Haynesworth, who has 30½ career sacks, emerged as one of the top tackles in the NFL during seven seasons with the Titans. But he's been a huge disappointment since signing a seven-year, $100 million free-agent contract with Washington in 2009.

The Buccaneers have claimed defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth, who was released by the Patriots on Tuesday. Tampa Bay general manager Mark Dominik confirmed the move, saying the team more than likely would not have been interested in Haynesworth if they had not lost Gerald McCoy for the season this week because of a torn right biceps. In six games with the Patriots, Haynesworth had just three tackles and no sacks. His last play came in Sunday's 24-20 loss to the Giants when left guard David Diehl blocked him to clear the way for Brandon Jacobs' 10-yard touchdown run with 9:10 left in the third quarter.

The Buccaneers have signed defensive tackle John McCargo, filling a roster spot that opened when Gerald McCoy was lost for the season with a torn right biceps. McCargo spent five seasons with the Bills after being selected in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft. McCoy was placed on injured reserve after being injured in last weekend's game at New Orleans.

Buccaneers starting defensive tackle Gerald McCoy will miss the remainder of the season with a torn biceps in his right arm. McCoy was injured during Sunday's loss to the Saints. His 2010 season also ended early because of a torn biceps in his left arm. "That's football. Matt Stafford missed two seasons for the Detroit Lions and he's probably playing his best football right now," coach Raheem Morris said. "He's got to come back, he's got to rehab, he's got to get his mind right and come back ready to play, and be ready to play a 16-game season."