Bucs lineman preps for sweet post-NFL life

TAMPA — Demar Dotson, an offensive lineman for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 2009, plans to open a Dickey's Barbecue Pit in the Tampa area later this year.

After his initial location in Tampa, Dotson plans to open more Dickey's throughout the South, primarily in his home state of Louisiana, according to a release. In his retirement, Dotson plans to run the day-to-day operations of his stores and be the face of his community's Dickey's Barbecue Pit after he retires, the release adds.

Dotson has played in 89 games at offensive tackle and started 65 since the Buccaneers signed him as free agent in 2009. "I wanted to open a restaurant where I could fulfill my passion while also feeding my community pit-smoked barbecue," says Dotson in the release.

"Dickey's Barbecue Pit is proud to have Demar Dotson join our family and open his first Dickey's location in Florida," adds Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants CEO Laura Rea Dickey in the release. "Dickey's is rapidly expanding nationwide and we are constantly looking for new owner/operators such as Dotson who have a passion for delicious, pit-smoked barbecue."

Travis Dickey founded Dallas-based Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants in 1941. The brand has 600 locations in 44 states.