Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs retained a pair of their own unrestricted free agents, signing punter Tom Tupa and wide receiver Reggie Barlow to one-year contracts, each believed to be at the NFL minimum.

Tupa, 37, returns for his second season as the Bucs' punter, with the 14-year veteran getting a base salary of $755,000. He punted in all 16 regular-season games for Tampa Bay in 2002 after signing a one-year deal then as an unrestricted free agent.

He averaged 42.8 yards gross and had a 35.4-yard net average, and also punted in all three of the Bucs' playoff contests. Tupa set a franchise record in 2002, with 30 punts inside the opposition 20-yard line.

Head coach Jon Gruden said earlier this week that he expected Tupa to re-sign within a few days.

"I am glad to be back," Tupa said. "I'm looking forward to getting back at it."

For his career, Tupa has a 43.3-yard gross average and a net average of 37.9 yards. In addition to the Bucs, he has also played with Arizona (1988-91), Indianapolis (1992), Cleveland (1993-95), New England (1996-98) and the New York Jets (1999-2001).

The former Ohio State star, who has appeared in 188 games, also played quarterback earlier in his career. In fact, it wasn't until 1994 that he became a full-time punter. He has 13 starts to his credit at quarterback and has completed 259 of 505 passes for 3,340 yards, with 12 touchdown passes, 24 interceptions and a 60.5 passer rating.

Tupa has not started a game at quarterback since 1991 and has just 17 pass attempts over the last 10 seasons. His competition in camp will come from another former Ohio State punter, Andy Groom, who signed with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent.

Barlow, 30, joined the Bucs just before the start of the 2002 season but then appeared in only two games, with one start. He had three catches for 23 yards. For his career, he has 36 receptions for 495 yards and no touchdowns in 71 appearances and five starts.

The former Alabama State wide receiver is, however, an accomplished return specialist and probably will have the opportunity to compete for that role in camp. Barlow has 70 career kickoff returns for a 23.3-yard average and one touchdown. He has averaged 10.8 yards on 146 punt returns and had two touchdowns.

Barlow, who will earn a base salary of $530,000, began his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a fourth-round draft choice in 1996.

--Len Pasquarelli

Indianapolis Colts: Defensive lineman DeVonte Peterson, who spent the recently concluded 2003 NFL Europe League season with the Scottish Claymores, has reached a contract agreement with the Colts, ESPN.com has learned.

Peterson played at both tackle and end and posted 22 tackles, one sack and one pass defensed on a unit that was arguably NFLE's best defensive line. Peterson was in the Buffalo Bills' training camp in 2001.

He becomes the second former Catawba College defensive lineman, who played in NFL Europe in 2003, to reach a contract agreement. Radell Lockhard, who also played for the Claymores, agreed to a deal with the New York Giants on Monday afternoon.

--Len Pasquarelli

Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars announced that defensive end Tony Brackens underwent an appendectomy on Sunday in Tyler, Texas, and that follow-up testing will determine when the seven-year veteran can return to unlimited physical activity.

It is not yet certain if the surgery will keep Brackens from being able to participate at the outset of training camp, which for the Jaguars begins on July 25. In a statement, the club said there were no complications to the operation.

Brackens, 28, is still recovering from the controversial microfracture surgery that is aimed at reducing the knee problems he has experienced in recent seasons. It marked a second consecutive year in which Brackens underwent knee surgery.

The former Texas star was limited to just five games in 2002 and has played just one full, 16-game season, in 2000, during his career. His practice time has also been limited by his knee injuries.

The franchise career sack leader, with 49 sacks, Brackens earlier this spring restructured his contract to avoid being a potential post-June 1 salary cap casualty. He has appeared in 92 games, but just 17 in the last two seasons, and has 322 tackles, 26 forced fumbles, four interceptions and 46 pass deflections.

--Len Pasquarelli

Philadelphia Eagles: Free agent cornerback Daryon Brutley, one of the top defenders in the NFL Europe League this spring, reached a two-year contract agreement with the Eagles, just one day after visiting with team officials and coaches.

Contract details were not immediately available, but it is believed that Brutley signed for the NFL minimum base salaries.

Brutley, 24, played for the Berlin Thunder this spring and, as one of the few unallocated players overseas, performed well enough to merit considerable interest when the NFLE season concluded. He likely will compete for the No. 5 cornerback spot on the very deep Philadelphia depth chart.

The former Northern Iowa star, who played three seasons at Southern Mississippi before he transferred for his senior year, was in the Bills camp in 2002 but was released. He had 20 tackles, two interceptions and had seven passes defensed for the Thunder and also averaged 18.6 yards on five kickoff returns.

--Len Pasquarelli