Updated: November 30, 2004, 9:58 PM ET

Gruden brings in Arena kicker Taylor

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Struggling kicker Martin Gramatica was released by the Bucs on Tuesday and replaced with Arena Football League kicker Jay Taylor.

Gramatica, the team's career scoring leader, missed three field goals in Sunday's 21-14 loss at Carolina and was 11-for-19 overall this season. He missed seven of his last nine attempts and had not made a field goal over 22 yards since Oct. 10.

Gramatica hooked a 37-yard attempt that would have snapped a 14-14 tie with less than two minutes remaining against the Panthers. He also missed a 39-yarder and had a 26-yarder blocked by Julius Peppers.

Three weeks ago, the Bucs lost 24-14 at Atlanta after coach Jon Gruden passed up an opportunity to attempt a 45-yard field goal that would have made it 17-all in the fourth quarter. The Falcons stopped a run on fourth-and-1, then scored the decisive touchdown a few plays later.

Carolina drove 73 yards for the winning TD after Gramatica's third miss Sunday.

  • Schroeder released: Guard Matt O'Dwyer was activated from the physically-unable-to-perform list and veteran receiver Bill Schroeder was released.

    O'Dwyer signed as a free agent with the Buccaneers last March, but sustained a left pectoral tear while lifting weights in July and missed all of training camp and the first 11 games of the season.

    O'Dwyer, 32, spent four years with the New York Jets and five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, starting 109 games at both guard spots.

    Schroeder, 33, signed as a free agent with the Bucs last summer and started two of seven games. He had four catches for 126 yards in a September 26 game at Oakland, but just three receptions for 30 yards in his other six games. Schroeder also returned six punts for 21 yards and two kickoffs for 29 yards.

    New England Patriots: Wide receiver Kevin Kasper was re-signed and defensive back Omar Lowe was waived by the team.

    Kasper had been released before Sunday's 24-3 victory over Baltimore to make room for Lowe, who the team activated from its practice squad because of injuries to cornerbacks Ty Law, Tyrone Poole and Asante Samuel.

    Kasper first signed with the Patriots as a free agent on Oct. 6 and played primarily on special teams. Lowe played sparingly last Sunday against the Ravens.

    Green Bay Packers: Tight end David Martin's fourth straight disappointing season ended when the Packers placed him on injured reserve with a strained left knee.

    Martin, the primary backup to three-time Pro Bowl pick Bubba Franks, was hurt Nov. 14 after making a career-long 35-yard reception against Minnesota.

    "I wanted to wait and give him a couple weeks and see if he was going to come around," coach Mike Sherman said. "We worked him out this morning, visited with the doctor and the prognosis was not very good."

    Martin, who finished with a career-low five catches for 88 yards and had three special-teams tackles, has flashed enormous potential but little production since his selection in the sixth round of the 2001 draft out of Tennessee, where he was a wide receiver.

    In four seasons with the Packers, he's caught just 39 passes for 344 yards and four touchdowns.

    The Packers promoted 320-pound defensive tackle Colin Cole, a first-year pro from Iowa, to take Martin's spot on the 53-man roster.

    Denver Broncos: Broncos defensive lineman Trevor Pryce is getting better but is still not cleared to practice.

    Pryce underwent back surgery in September and has not played since the season opener. He has said his back feels fine, but he is still having trouble regaining strength in his legs.

    Pryce's doctor, Robert Watkins, said Pryce's leg strength has improved and he can increase his work on the field, but he has not been cleared to practice. His status for Sunday's game at San Diego has not been determined.

    Walls come crumbling down: Cornerback Lenny Walls was placed on the injured list and linebacker Louis Green of the practice squad was signed to replace Walls.

    Walls dislocated his shoulder for the third time this season in Sunday's game against the Raiders and will undergo season-ending surgery.

    San Diego Chargers: Cornerback Robb Butler was activated from the practice squad, two days after cornerback Sammy Davis sustained a hairline fracture in his right leg.

    The Chargers also signed wide receiver Carl Morris and cornerback Jonathan Cox to the practice squad. To make room on the roster, the Chargers waived tight end Billy Baber from the active roster and running back Ahmaad Galloway from the practice squad.

    Arizona Cardinals: Wide receiver Reggie Newhouse was activated from the practice squad and released cornerback Dyshod Carter. The team also signed cornerback Clarence Curry to the practice squad.

    Newhouse, signed to the practice squad on Nov. 2, has appeared in two games for the Cardinals this season. He also dressed for the season opener at St. Louis but did not play

    Carter had 10 tackles in six games for Arizona, including seven on special teams.

    Curry was invited to the Cardinals' training camp as an undrafted rookie free agent and was released Aug. 22.