Houston Texans

Swearinger happy to start over in Tampa Bay

Published May. 19, 2015 12:19 p.m. ET

foxsports

Former Houston Texans safety D.J. Swearinger met with reporters for the first time in Tampa Bay on Monday, and while he didn't want to go into detail about what went wrong in Houston, he didn make it clear he was happy to have another chance to prove himself.

Talk that Swearinger might be in trouble with the Texans began when his name popped up in trade talk just prior to last month's NFL draft.

"I did hear trade rumors," Swearinger said, according to ESPN's Pat Yasinskas. "It was what it was. I saw it as a plus for me if I leave and somebody else might get a great player."

But he didn't end up leaving via a trade. Instead, the Texans elected to release the former second-round pick last week. He was claimed shortly after by the Buccaneers, who will give him the chance to win a starting job.

"I think it's a plus for me to get a new start," Swearinger said. "A new city, new coaches and new players around me. Just to start over again, that's a big key for me and it's something that I'm looking forward to."

Swearinger is expected to compete with veterans Chris Conte and Major Wright for one of the starting safety spots in Tampa Bay's defensive backfield.

(H/t ESPN)
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