According to a report from Ian Rapoport, ex-Florida Gator and Olympic silver medalist Jeff Demps will sign with the New England Patriots. (Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE)

The Buccaneers put their name in the running to try and sign Olympic silver medalist and former Florida Gator running back Jeff Demps earlier this week, but word has com down that Tampa won’t be his home this season.

Ian Rapoport is reporting that Demps will sign with the New England Patriots. No official word from Demps agent has been announced, but New England, along with the New York Jets, were two teams high on his list.

Breaking: Olympic sprinter Jeff Demps will sign a contract to play for the #Patriots, per 1 of his agents, Nohemy Baltodano. Wow!

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 17, 2012

NFL reporter Adam Caplan is standing behind this rumor, claiming it’s fact because ‘signed’ and ‘agreed’ are two different terms.

Demps skipped heading to the NFL so he could utilize his track and field skills that made him a star at FLorida, to help the men’s USA track team qualify for the 2012 London Games.

Although he didn’t race in the final 4×100, but he helped put the American’s in a position to win the silver. Had the Jamaican’s not had Usain Bolt on their side, Demps may be in possession of a gold medal at the moment. Even though Demps wasn’t on the 4×100 team that raced in the final, he still received a medal for racing in the qualifying race beforehand.

Had he come to Tampa, Demps would have added spped without a doubt. It’s hard to say where the Bucs would have put him, seeing as both the running back and wide receiver slots are pretty much full up, but he would have been utilized in some fashion, perhaps even on special team as a return man.

The Bucs will get a look at how Demps could have been used when the New England Patriots travel to Tampa and Raymond James Stadium next Friday night.

The Buccaneers have made contact with former Florida Gator running back and U.S. Olympic track star Jeff Demps. (Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-US PRESSWIRE)

Former Florida Gator Jeff Demps has announced that after competing in the 2012 Olympic Games, he is ready to start a career in the NFL, and the Bucs are one of the teams that he’ll likely play for.

Demps and the Buccaneers have had talks about a contract, Demps agent says. There are also a number of other teams that want to add the Olympian but his ties to Florida may give the Bucs a certain edge. There’s not any top flight football talent out of the gate for Demps, but the allure is that he doubled as a Track and Field star at Florida.

And it’s not like he was average, as Demps qualified for the U.S Olympic track team and helped the men’s team qualify for the 4×100 final in which they placed second behind Usain Bolt and Jamaica.

So even though his skills as a football player may need some work, he’s an Olympic track star — need I say more?

There’s no reason the Bucs shouldn’t take a chance at trying out a guy that instantly adds that kind of speed to the offense as either a running back or a slot receiver. We at The Pewter Plank have been touting the Bucs offense and all it’s weapons since the signing of Vincent Jackson, and adding an Olympic athlete is just an insanely good idea.

It’s a low risk, incredibly fast and high reward for the Bucs. This is world class speed we’re talking about in Demps, using him in the offense is just about almost unfair.

The talks with Demps haven’t yet produced numbers in terms of a contract, but there has been contact made, and positive contact at that. Demps is expected to sign with a team at some point between now and the next two preseason games. I’d put money on it being closer to the next preseason game, as Demps speed alone isn’t worth a final roster spot. He’ll need time to channel the football player in him again.