Tim Jennings Signs Contract with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Veteran cornerback Tim Jennings found a new home with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team announced. He was released by the Chicago Bears after spending five seasons with the franchise after the team decided it was "going to go younger" at the position.

ESPN's Josina Anderson provided a statement from Jennings following his initial visit with the Buccaneers, who announced they had met with Jennings on Sept. 1:

Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith coached Jennings during his tenure with the Bears, and the corner thrived in his system, making him a logical fit in Tampa. 

Jennings served as one of the league's top playmakers in the defensive backfield in 2012 and 2013, intercepting 13 passes and scoring three touchdowns. He also racked up 117 combined tackles and defended 34 passes over that stretch.

The 31-year-old corner didn't make any interceptions last season, though, and he admitted after his release the new coaching staff had alerted him ahead of time his place on the roster was up in the air, as Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune noted: "Once the (new) regime came in and everybody was here, I kind of knew and the writing was on the wall. But they also gave me a heads-up and told me I would be out there competing for a job."

Landing with the Buccaneers will allow him to quickly transition into a system he already knows well from Smith's time in Chicago. That's key with the start of the regular season now less than one week away.

Alterraun Verner and Johnthan Banks are currently slated to start, but there are limited options behind them. Jennings will provide stability and give the coaching staff a little more flexibility to move players around the defensive backfield to create better matchups.

It's a terrific fit on paper, and it isn't surprising to see a deal get done.