Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Connor Barth was aboard a US Air flight in North Carolina bound for Tampa on Monday night, the eve of the team's first day or organized team activities. The Bucs' franchise designee has not signed his $2.645-million tender nor reached an agreement on a long-term deal. But based on his tweet Monday night, could one be close at hand? "Headin back down to Tampa today....excited to see all my teammates again!'' Barth tweeted. The NFL deadline for teams to reach a long-term deal with their franchise players is July 15. If no deal is reached at that point, Barth would have to play the entire season under the tag. Source: Rick Stroud, The Tampa Bay Times
