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Posted: Tuesday July 31, 2001 5:05 PM
Updated: Tuesday July 31, 2001 5:52 PM
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SI's Don Banks check in from Tampa, Fla., to tackle three questions that matter to Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans.
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How concerned should Bucs fans be about linebacker Derrick Brooks’ surprise contract holdout? |
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Derrick Brooks has 815 total tackles in six seasons with the Buccaneers. Allsport/Andy Lyons |
Increasingly. While there’s still a chance this could be a two-week story that’s long forgotten come the season’s stretch drive, there are indications that the Bucs are bracing for a protracted absence by Brooks. One member of organization told me Monday he would be pleasantly surprised if Brooks missed only the preseason.
Bucs general manager Rich McKay takes a common sense stance at almost all times and won’t take the confrontational, hard-line stance just to show off his authority. He prefers to work quietly outside of the spotlight and usually has success in finessing a fair-to-both-sides settlement. Brooks has been a model player, teammate and member of the community. He’s smart, thinks before he talks and isn’t the type to cut off his nose in spite of his face.
So something will get done, and probably soon, right? Don’t bet the season-ticket money on it. Brooks feels he is acting on principle and has been overlooked by the front office in part due to his patience and low-key approach. He is playing the only card he believes he has and has stored up a pretty deep resevoir of good will among the fans and the media. His heels appear very dug in. For their part, the Bucs say they have already made Brooks some very lucrative extension offers, and they weren’t even taken seriously. They don’t seem in the mood to give ground any time soon, and don’t appreciate Brooks disrupting the early tone of what they hope is a Super Bowl season.
Head coach Tony Dungy’s mantra is that no one player comes before the good of the team and he will not let his squad become hamstrung by the absence of the four-time Pro Bowl selection at weakside linebacker. But Brooks, the team’s three-time reigning MVP, is a special player who might warrant special consideration.
It just may not get to that point for a while yet. When both sides keep saying the ball is in the other guy’s court, very little productive volleying takes place.
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Will reclamation project quarterback Ryan Leaf push either starter Brad Johnson or backup Shaun King any time soon? |
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Former Chargers first-round pick Ryan Leaf has been inaccurate thus far during training camp. AP |
In a word, no. After showing some decent flashes in minicamp, Leaf has done nothing but spray balls all over the field early in training camp. He battled some heat stroke on the first day of drills -- what, it’s not hot in San Diego? -- and a pool has been started as to when he’ll throw two sharp passes in a row.
It was once thought that Leaf could supplant King by the end of the preseason, but that isn’t too likely. While King isn’t thrilled to be the deposed starter behind Johnson, he couldn’t handle the No. 3 from a confidence standpoint. Leaf, having nearly bottomed out in the NFL, can and will have to deal with it.
In truth, the Bucs don’t even want Leaf thinking about playing time. They just want him to go back to quarterback school and relearn the position, hopefully rebuilding some of his shattered confidence along the way.
It’s questionable how much time offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen and new quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell will have to pour into Leaf. But much of that is probably up to Leaf. If he shows the willingness and commitment to stay long hours and work on his game, there will be a coach available for plenty of one-on-one.
Just don’t expect to see Leaf dropping into the pocket on game day any time soon. His reclamation may wind up being a full year’s work.
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At the beginning of training camp, which three Bucs look poised to come up big this year? |
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Warrick Dunn is hoping to build on last season's career highs of 1,555 total yards and nine touchdowns. AP |
In order of likelihood, running back Warrick Dunn, receiver Keyshawn Johnson, and defensive end Simeon Rice.
Christensen says Tampa Bay found out what a hoss Dunn was when fullback Mike Alstott went down with a knee injury late last year, and you can only wonder why it took them so long to figure it out. For Christensen, the charge of getting the multi-faceted Dunn the ball in a variety of ways should be his personal equivalent of James Carville’s old campaign ‘92 slogan: “It’s the economy, stupid!”
Rest assured, quarterback Brad Johnson, who is adept at dumping off to running backs as a safety valve, will know where his fellow Florida State alum is at all times. And Johnson also will feed his fellow Johnson, the always ball-hungry veteran receiver. With his pinpoint passing touch, look for Brad Johnson to develop a strong rhythm with Keyshawn, putting the ball where only his 6-4, 212-pound receiver can get it.
As for Rice, he should be singled up at right end virtually all season. With Warren Sapp and Anthony McFarland clogging up blockers inside, and Marcus Jones developing into a force of his own at left end, there’s no way opponents should be able to consistently shut down Rice’s speed rush. That offensive left tackle is a bit of a position in flux in the NFC Central -- see Minnesota and Green Bay -- also could play a role in Rice’s emergence.
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