Sapp says shoulder 'so much better'

LAKE BUENA VISTA -- Defensive tackle Warren Sapp has carved a reputation as a dominating player, which left many wondering why he struggled statistically last season.

Sapp played the season with a tear in the rotator cuff of his left shoulder. The injury, sustained Aug. 25 in a 20-3 preseason win against the Patriots, added to a shoulder already weakened in the 1999 season.

"I think it was the end of '99," Sapp said. "But right when I hit (former Patriots quarterback Drew) Bledsoe in the preseason game is when I really did it. We went and looked at it and saw the tear."

Sapp played the season with the shoulder bothering him, but did not use it as an excuse for finishing the season with six sacks, the lowest since his rookie season. He said the pain had an impact.

"Beyond reason because you know you can't make a play," Sapp said. "The most disheartening thing for somebody like me because I think I can make any play. It was tough, but we got through it. That's how I was groomed. No excuses, no explanations. I was on the field, so I had to get it done."

Sapp had surgery in February and said he's ready to go.

"(It's) so much better," he said. "No nagging. No, I can't move this way or move that way or defend that block the way I want to defend it. ... You can't rest a torn rotator cuff. You need a stitch in there. I got a stitch, so I'm okay now."

Also, Sapp confirmed that coach Jon Gruden has approached him about playing offense, and reminded reporters of his performance in 1995 blocking for Errict Rhett.

"I was in the backfield with Rhett," he said. "I led him on five plays. Five plays, three touchdowns. Not a bad ratio."

BACK IN PADS: The Bucs donned pads in the morning session, for the first time in training camp. There were many spirited tackles and a sense the season is approaching.

"You've got to do it at some point, so it's time for us to do that," safety John Lynch said. "We've got our legs underneath us a little bit and actually my legs felt better today than the first two days. ... I think sometimes when you put the pads on you get a little lull in the energy, but we kept our energy up, it's good."

A byproduct of putting on the pads is players become more eager to get to game-like situations.

"It's fun, the pads are on, it's football," receiver Keyshawn Johnson said. "I'm almost ready to start scrimmaging games and stuff like that. I'm already tired of practicing against my teammates."

HOWELL OUT: Backup free safety John Howell reported Sunday, but returned to Tampa for an undisclosed family issue. Howell, who started for injured Dexter Jackson against the Steelers last season and played in 14 games, has been excused by the team and his return is day to day.

Although a promising safety in his second season out of Colorado State, Howell will have catching up to do. He has missed six practice sessions.

Lynch said the team understands Howell's situation.

"Well, I think the thing to know is that it's really early in camp," Lynch said. "In the same vein, other guys have had the opportunity to step up. But I think the thing in this organization is that your family always comes first, and he has some family issues to tend to. He's taking care of that, and he'll come back and have plenty of opportunity to get back into it."

TURN THAT DOWN, COACH: With about 90 players in camp, the Celebration Hotel was expecting loud music late at night. But no one expected it to come from offensive line coach Bill Muir.

Muir, a diehard Bruce Springsteen fan, was playing the Boss' new CD, The Rising, loudly Tuesday, prompting Gruden to ask him to lower the volume.

"I love Springsteen," said Muir, who has been to four Springsteen concerts.

The Boss has a concert stop scheduled for Nov. 24 at the Ice Palace in Tampa, the night after the Bucs host the Packers. Muir said he'll focus on football during the day but won't rule out attending the concert. "If I can be, I will be," Muir said.