The Buccaneers announced Monday that they have released FB B.J. Askew, DT Chris Hovan, G Shawn Murphy, P Sam Paulescu, G Arron Sears, and CB Stoney Woodson. 

Hovan started all 16 games last season for the Buccaneers recording 57 tackles, one TFL, 0.5 sacks and one forced fumble. He started 79-of-80 games for the Buccaneers since joining the team in 2005. He led all Tampa Bay defensive linemen in tackles in 2005, 2006 and 2008 and ranked second on the line in 2007 and 2009, recording a career-high 95 tackles in 2007. 

Askew was with the team for three seasons (2007-09) playing in 28 games with 15 starts. Last season he played in five of the first six games for Tampa Bay before being placed on the Non-Football Injury List on October 20. 

Sears started all 31 games he played in for the Buccaneers since being drafted in 2007 but spent the 2009 season on the Non-Football Illness List. 

Paulescu joined the team on December 1, 2009 punting in five games for Tampa Bay. Murphy joined the Buccaneers on October 21, 2009 after being claimed off waivers from the Miami Dolphins and Woodson spent a portion of the 2009 season on the team’s practice squad after being signed on December 10.