Bucs' acquisitions Ward, Baker frustrated by lack of playing time

T.J. Ward's resume hasn't translated to snaps on his new team, and he's none too pleased about it.

The three-time Pro Bowl safety has played sparingly as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer this year, and he vented over his lack of snaps following the squad's 30-27 loss to the Buffalo Bills Sunday.

"I came here to be an impact player," said Ward, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. "I can't do that if I'm not out on the field."

Ward joined the team on a one-year deal just before the start of the season after the Denver Broncos sent him packing to lighten the payroll, and while many believed his addition would bolster a porous secondary, the 30-year-old has remained a rotational player in four games of action - much to his befuddlement.

"You have to ask (defensive coordinator) Mike Smith and (coach) Dirk Koetter about that, but I'm at my wit's end. I did not come here to rotate. I did not come here to be a part-time player."

Smith himself reportedly chalked up Ward's lack of playing time to injury and the efforts of a group led by Chris Conte and rookie second-rounder Justin Evans, although the former Bronco maintains he's been healthy for several weeks.

Ward's stance was soon echoed on Twitter by defensive lineman Chris Baker, who also joined the Bucs this past offseason on a three-year deal worth nearly $16 million with $9M guaranteed.

In last week's date with the Arizona Cardinals, Ward and Baker played 55 and 51 percent of the Bucs' defensive snaps, respectively.