Buccaneers Signing of Eric LeGrand More Than Just a Symbolic Gesture

New Tampa Bay head coach Greg Schiano has already set the tone for what he expects from his team. No one plays for Schiano without giving 100 percent effort and dedication.

In meeting with his new team in April—a gesture allowed by the NFL because the Buccaneers coaching staff is entirely new in 2012—Schiano laid down the law. He cut safety Tanard Jackson because the defensive back hadn't been rehabbing with the effort Schiano expected.

Schiano also put the team through a grueling session of workouts that focused on discipline, excruciating effort and team-building.

On Wednesday, Schiano may have shown his new team something even more valuable than the new Buccaneers work ethic he expects.

Former Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand fractured two vertebrae and seriously injured his spinal cord during a game against Army on Oct. 16, 2010. The incident left LeGrand paralyzed.

At the time, LeGrand was playing for then-Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano.

Schiano called LeGrand’s mother Tuesday and told her that the Buccaneers wanted to sign LeGrand to a contract. LeGrand is still paralyzed with no chance of taking the field to play, but Schiano felt that he wanted to make a dream come true for a player who poured his heart and soul out for his team.

"Leading up to the draft, I couldn't help but think that this should've been Eric's draft class," Schiano said in a statement released today by the Buccaneers. "This small gesture is the least we could do to recognize his character, spirit, and perseverance. The way Eric lives his life epitomizes what we are looking for in Buccaneer Men."

Schiano called LeGrand Wednesday and told him the Buccaneers wanted to use their final roster spot to sign him as a free agent.

LeGrand was floored.

"It's unreal," LeGrand told ESPN. "It just shows the type of person he [Schiano] is. I feel great now being a part of that organization with him."

The Buccaneers are going to give LeGrand his old number at Rutgers, No. 52. And they're going to get LeGrand a uniform, helmet and a contract on Friday.

As for the type of person Schiano is. Well, he had already showed his new team that he expects excellent and extreme effort, and he's pushed them to the limits to make Tampa Bay a better team.

This gesture now shows Schiano's team that he's compassionate and willing to bend over backwards for players—whether current or former—who follow Schiano's methods.

If the Buccaneers weren't ready to run through a brick wall for Schiano before Wednesday, they surely are now. Coach and players learned more about each other through adding LeGrand to the roster than any week of workouts could provide.

The Buccaneers franchise took a huge step forward Wednesday on the back of a man who can no longer walk. And everyone's the better.