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End of the line? Gruber hasn't decided if he'll return next season
Posted: Thursday January 20, 2000 10:34 PM
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Paul Gruber was already contemplating retirement, so the prospect of this being his last NFL season didn't faze him. He just never expected it might end with his teammates battling through the playoffs without him. No one on Tampa Bay's roster has waited longer for an opportunity to get into the Super Bowl than the 34-year-old offensive tackle, who broke his right leg in the Buccaneers' regular-season finale. Gruber will be on the sideline when the Bucs face the St. Louis Rams in Sunday's NFC championship game, however he won't be in uniform. He hasn't decided if he'll suit up for a 13th season. "I haven't really given it much thought," he said. "Right now, I'd just like to get healthy again and just take my time and evaluate the total situation, and then we'll see." Gruber was pass protecting when he was injured during the second half of a victory over the Chicago Bears that clinched Tampa Bay's first NFC Central title in 18 years. While his teammates celebrated in the locker room at Soldier Field, the cornerstone of the franchise was stretched out on a medical table in a nearby trainer's room. Hundreds of screaming fans greeted the team when they returned home, while Gruber was met by an ambulance. The Bucs expect a full recovery after months of rehabilitation, however Gruber isn't in a hurry to make up his mind about returning. He's only missed nine regular-season games - four because of injuries and five due to a contract holdout -- while starting a club-record 183 since the Bucs picked him in the first round of the 1988 draft. He said his injury won't play into his decision. Nor will the prospect of the Bucs, should they remain championship contenders in 2000, appearing in the Super Bowl in their home stadium next season. Instead, Gruber intends to weigh whether he still wants to play and still thinks he can play well. "I've been around a long time and there's no guarantees. There's injuries. There's a ton of things that could happen and this team could be completely different next year than it is this year, so who knows what the situation will be," Gruber said. Despite being on crutches, Gruber accepted Coach Tony Dungy's offer to accompany the other co-captains to midfield for the coin toss before last weekend's playoff victory over the Washington Redskins. For Dungy, it was an easy call. "If anyone symbolizes hanging in there, going through tough times and, when things look bad, still playing hard, that's Paul," said Dungy, who also presented the 12-year veteran with a game ball after the Bucs' 14-13 victory. Teammates said the injury was a prime example of why the Bucs (12-5) can't take their success for granted. The Bucs are a young team with a seemingly bright future, however they aren't assured of reaching the playoffs year after year -- let alone the NFC title game. "You never know when the opportunity is going to rise for you to go," defensive tackle Warren Sapp said. "Paul Gruber's played in this thing 12 years and he's had two playoff games, so it doesn't happen much. The opportunity we have now is rare, and we've created it. Now it's time for us to take advantage of it."
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