Buccaneers hire Duke Preston as director of player development

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have hired Duke Preston as their director of player development, the team announced today. Preston replaces Isaiah Harris, who was fired in October after a DUi arrest.

Preston is a former NFL offensive lineman who played for five years, including 20 starts, with the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys. He spent the past years working with the University of Notre Dame in a similar role to the one he'll be taking on now.

Harris spoke about his desire to advise NFL players with the Dallas Morning News back in 2010, when he had rebuked an offer from the Dallas Cowboys to continue his NFL career, preferring to start a study at the Dallas Theological Seminary instead.

Preston will be working with the Bucs' players to, in the Bucs' words, "focus on the personal and professional growth of players through guidance and support, with a focus in five core areas: career development, career transition assistance, continuing education, financial education and player assistance services."