Jerramy Stevens spoke to reporters for the first time since re-signing with the Buccaneers and addressed the outcry following his return by saying that he’s moved past his problems.

He said he didn’t read the Seattle Times story in January that detailed the beginning of his long criminal record. “I didn’t read the story and I don’t have any reaction to it. I’ve dealt with that. That’s something in my past and that’s where I’m going to keep it. I’m not going to backtrack eight or nine years to talk about things I’ve already moved past. I don’t know what the point of that article was, but it’s not something that I’ve been concerning myself with.”

General Manager Bruce Allen also addressed the controversy that’s followed the signing and made it clear that Stevens isn’t going anywhere but the practice field. “I appreciate our fans’ feelings. But we do take into account everything we believe. These issues, obviously, as we said last year, were well documented in the past. We knew them in 2000. Every NFL team knew in 2000 before he entered the NFL.”

Allen also confirmed the report that Stevens will be suspended for at least two games for his 2007 “Extreme” DUI conviction. The suspension is separate from the one that he served last season and could be extended if Stevens engages in any bad behavior between now and the start of the season. He offered neither an explanation of what such behavior would be or how the Bucs would react in that case.