Bucs to play in Tokyo Bowl

• King: Bucs' defense rests its case • Banks: Bucs' Johnson validated • Banks: No. 1 D the difference • Donovan: Raiders too slow • Donovan: Controversy burns Raiders • Statitudes: Havenots can have faith • Statitudes: By The Numbers • Mandel: Broadcast took its time • George: Super Bowl ads fun again

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers practiced less than 30 minutes Friday and head coach Jon Gruden got some good news about taking his Super Bowl team "global."

The NFC Champions will open next summer's NFL preseason schedule in Japan, where they'll face the New York Jets in the American Bowl.

"I'm not the most experienced traveler," said Gruden, who has never been overseas. "I'm worried how it's going to affect me. But I've got more things to concern myself with right now."

Gruden got the news after the brief workout at the University of California-San Diego. Injured guard Cosey Coleman (knee) and defensive tackle (calf) Chartric Darby participated and are probable for Sunday's game.

The Bucs will have a walk-through at Qualcomm Stadium on Saturday.

Bucs executive vice president Joel Glazer said one of the first things Gruden told the team in February was "we can take this thing global."

"And he's said it all season," Glazer said. "When we go to Japan, we'll definitely be going global. This exposes the Buccaneers to another whole continent."

General manager Rich McKay said "it certainly is a positive for the franchise."

"We just need to figure out the logistics and try to use it to our advantage having an extra preseason week," he said.

 

Related information

Stories

Notebook: Bucs have experience at backup QB Bucs QB Johnson named Pro Bowl replacement Peter King: Gruden the Great?

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video