Buccaneers release former Pro Bowl guard Joseph

Davin Joseph's time in Tampa Bay reportedly is over. (USATSI)

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With Buccaneers guard Davin Joseph struggling last season, the team reportedly has recently tried to gauge his trade value. Apparently, the team didn't find much of anything.

Thus ...

#Bucs have released G Davin Joseph, the Times has learned.

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) March 8, 2014

Later on Saturday, the team confirmed the release.

“Decisions like this are never easy when it comes to parting ways with players such as Davin," Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said in a statement. “We thank Davin for his contributions on and off the field during his eight years in Tampa Bay and we wish him well in the future. Every decision we make during this time leading up to free agency is with the intention of improving our roster and building towards becoming a championship team once again.”

Joseph, the team's first-round pick in 2006, signed a seven-year, $52.5 million contract before the 2011 season, and he embarked on a Pro Bowl season that year (the second Pro Bowl honor of his career). But he missed all of 2012 with a knee injury, and after returning in 2013, he was rated by Pro Football Focus' measurements as the second-worst guard in the league.

Joseph was owed a $6 million salary to go with a $6 million cap hit, but the good news for Tampa Bay is that he doesn't leave behind any dead money. So, the Buccaneers save $6 million on the salary cap with his release.

As for where the 30-year-old Joseph could wind up next, PFF makes a convincing case that perhaps nobody should go after him.

For any team thinking of trading for Davin Joseph here are his year by year grades: pic.twitter.com/bZhgtHCswz

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) March 8, 2014

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