The other shoe finally dropped on Derrick Ward in Tampa Bay.

It had been rumored over the last two weeks that Ward was in jeopardy of losing his roster spot, and Bucs coach Raheem Morris announced during his Tuesday news conference the veteran was one of three roster cuts.

“Every cut here is based on skill, that’s the only thing I can tell you,” Morris said of the decision to release the running back after only one season on a four-year, $17 million contract. ”We could be wrong. Derrick will go out there and try to prove us wrong. He should. … Hopefully he can go out there and prove me wrong and prove us wrong as an organization.”

After three underwhelming preseason performances and a warning shot from Morris, Ward fell behind Kareem Huggins as the primary backup to starter Cadillac Williams.

The Bucs also released WR Terrence Nunn and LB Jon Alston on Tuesday.

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