TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers freed more salary-cap room Tuesday, releasing linebacker Jeff Gooch, safety Eric Vance and punter Mark Royals.

The Bucs were about $7.5 million over next season's projected salary cap before offensive lineman Randall McDaniel announced his retirement Monday.

McDaniel would have made $2 million in 2002. Cutting Gooch, Vance and Royals shaved another $2.138 million in salaries and left the team less than $3 million over the cap.

Gooch, who played six seasons with Tampa Bay, was due to earn $1.25 million this year. Vance, who played mostly on special teams, was set to make $448,000.

Gooch and Vance were both left unprotected in last week's expansion draft, however they were not selected by the Houston Texans.

Royals, a 14-year veteran who spent a total of five seasons with the Bucs over two stints, would have made $440,000, plus a roster bonus.