Time is ticking for King

Tonight's game against Jacksonville might be the QB's last chance to impress coaches.

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 16, 2002

LAKE BUENA VISTA -- The ovation was louder and longer than expected as he ran to the huddle, bouncing like a kid joining his friends at recess.

It was a Monday night football game at Raymond James Stadium, on national television, the same way he burst onto the scene as a rookie by winning his first NFL start.

[Times photo: James Damaske] Quarterback Shaun King believes he will be back in Tampa and the starting lineup.

It did not matter to Shaun King he was the No. 3 quarterback again, playing mop-up duty in a preseason game.

He enjoyed the moment, letting the warmth of the applause wash over him. The fire, extinguished during the 31 months since he led the Bucs to the NFC Championship game, burned brightly again.

King avoided the rush, squeezed pinpoint throws under pressure, made first downs with his feet, watched a touchdown pass bounce between his receiver's fingertips and had the crowd eating from his hand.

Brad Johnson is the Bucs' steady and heady starter. Rob Johnson is the athletic new backup. But Tampa Bay fans have a soft spot for King.

"I know there's a lot of people out there pulling for me, and I'm just so grateful that all of them have stuck behind me and continued to support me," King said. "And to come on the field and get an ovation when I haven't played in a while, it shows that people sometimes look more at your position and like the person that you are and the person you're trying to be."

Has any NFL quarterback lived a dream like King, only to wake up one morning and feel as useless as yesterday's newspaper?

As a wide-eyed 22-year-old rookie, he suddenly was leading the team he cheered for growing up in St. Petersburg, a hometown hero riding to the rescue after injuries to Trent Dilfer and Eric Zeier.

King, who debuted by throwing two touchdowns in a 24-17 victory over the Vikings on Monday Night Football, went 4-1 as a starter. His only regular-season loss came to Jon Gruden and the Raiders.

Maybe it was too much success too fast. He helped the Bucs clinch their first NFC Central title in 17 seasons and came within four minutes of becoming the first rookie to lead a team to the Super Bowl.

Since that 11-6 loss to the Rams in the NFC Championship game, King has felt the heat and humility. Though he led the Bucs to a 10-6 record and a playoff appearance in 2000, King was displaced by Brad Johnson last season.

Gruden represents the fourth offensive coordinator in as many seasons for King, and his system is the most challenging. But the Bucs coach had no loyalties, and King believed it was his best chance to regain the throne. Then the Bucs signed Rob Johnson to a one-year deal and King was pushed to the bottom of the depth chart.

Though he will become an unrestricted free agent after the season, King not only believes he will be back in Tampa, but back in the starting lineup.

"I love being here. I love the city of Tampa. I love the city of St. Pete, and I love the whole area," King said. "My family's there. I love being here, and I think I'm going to be the guy here. I've always said that. I've always approached it like that. I've kind of had a taste of being in the background, but that's cool."

Perhaps, but at times last season, King openly sulked and struggled with the benching.

"It's hard on him," general manager Rich McKay said. "Because he was a young guy who had a lot of success early, and when that happens, you tend to expect that to continue."

King worked tirelessly during the offseason and reported to camp in the best physical shape of his career. But he has never been a great practice player, and Gruden rode King hard to become more consistent.

"Everybody expects these guys to pick an offense up and go out there and take off with it right away," Gruden said. "A relationship between the coach and a player ... it doesn't all happen in 51/2 months."

King agrees.

"I understand the offense. I know what I'm doing," he said. "I'm comfortable running it, and what I've got to do is try and practice a little better. I think I played pretty well in the game, but to be a complete quarterback, you've got to do it every day in practice. I think I've learned to do that now."

Gruden was impressed by King's performance against Miami on Monday, calling him "a gamer." But King's playing time will be reduced after tonight's game at Jacksonville, where he likely will not play until the fourth quarter.

No problem, King said.

"I'm not a bitter person," he said. "What I try to do is understand that God puts different things in our lives and try to see what good he wants us to get from it.

"I think I've grown immensely. I think I'm more professional. I understand the day-to-day efficiency that it takes for an NFL team and lead that team where they're capable of going."

Unless Brad Johnson falters or is injured, the Bucs must choose between re-signing King or Rob Johnson.

Gruden's not ruling out another coronation.

"This is a guy who could really grow up fast in this system, and that's what I'm counting on," Gruden said. "Whether that's the opening game or whether it's four or five games or four or five years in the future."

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