Goofy Stuff

By ROGER MILLS and RICK STROUD
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 7, 2002

[Times photo: Toni L. Sandys] From his days growing up playing soccer in Southampton, England, to his time with the Scottish Claymores in the NFL Europe, Bucs backup kicker Rob Hart has developed a unique approach to kicking the football: barefooted.

From his days growing up playing soccer in Southampton, England, to his time with the Scottish Claymores in the NFL Europe, Bucs backup kicker Rob Hart has developed a unique approach to kicking the football: barefooted. Hart has provided ample rest for fourth-year kicker Martin Gramatica.

"I used to play as an amateur in England. When I was 17 and 18, a couple of my buddies told me they saw this guy kicking (barefoot) in the NFL," he said. "They told me to give it a shot.

"I thought not, because it hurts like hell. Then I thought, 'You know what, I'll give it a go,' and it turns out I kicked the ball better."

Hart, who completed 20 of 20 extra points and all 10 of his field-goal attempts in NFL Europe last season, said there's no point going back to wearing a shoe.

"I've kicked in some terrible situations in the past," Hart said. "It's never affected me in the past."

Considering the strained political and athletically competitive relationship between England and Argentina, how entertaining is the trash talk between Hart and the Argentinian Gramatica?

"Let's just say we give each other a bit of grief," Hart said.

FRESH FACES

Name: Tim Wansley.

HT/WT: 5-8, 180.

POSITION: Cornerback.

COLLEGE: Georgia.

LAST SEASON: A mainstay in the Bulldogs secondary who also excelled as a gunner on kick coverage, Wansley earned All-Southeastern Conference first-team honors with 69 tackles with nine passes defended, two interceptions and three forced fumbles. He was a teammate of safety Jermaine Phillips, the Bucs' fifth-round pick, with whom he rooms.

BACK IN THE DAY: Wansley was a first-team All-State quarterback for Buford (Ga.) High as a junior and senior. In four seasons he recorded 6,124 yards of offense with 81 touchdowns. He also was a state champion in the 100 meters (10.7) and runner-up in the long jump.

TO HAVE AN IMPACT: Wansley faces a tough challenge to make the roster. The Bucs appear set at cornerback with Ronde Barber, Brian Kelly, Dwight Stephens and Terrell Buckley. But he could be a standout on special teams as a rookie, and the Bucs are trying to replace kick coverage-standout Rabih Abdullah, who signed as a free agent with Chicago.

A FINAL WORD: "After a week of training camp and coming down to the first preseason game, I feel really good about everything. We've been solid. I've been going over my notes every night before I go to bed and in the morning before we come out. I've been working on my fundamentals, and I feel my old self coming back."

QUOTABLES

"That's okay. I've been called worse. And that McDonald's thing, I love that. Because at McDonald's, we love to see you smile. That was my favorite spot on (Monday) night." -- WARREN SAPP, defensive tackle, responding to Giants defensive end Michael Strahan's comments that a McDonald's should be next to Sapp's house because of his weight.

"I just saw Martin when I was coming up here. That's the first time I've seen him all day. I guess he's been out there." -- BRIAN KELLY, defensive back, on if he notices kicker Martin Gramatica during practice.

'This is our environment. We have to practice in it. We have to play in it. We have to get conditioned in it. It's a way of life for us.' -- MIKE ALSTOTT, fullback, on dealing with nearly 95-degree weather.

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