King, now second QB, stays prepared

TAMPA -- Day after day, Shaun King has stayed long after practice, making extra throws, running sprints or lifting weights.

The extra work was rewarded Friday when Bucs coach Jon Gruden named King the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Brad Johnson. Rob Johnson was demoted to No. 3.

"I just feel it's best for our football team right now to make Shaun King the backup quarterback," Gruden said. "We'll continue to work with Shaun and Rob. Shaun's been working hard. He's a guy I've said from the beginning that I like."

King, 14-7 as a starter and 1-2 in the playoffs, has appeared in one game this season, completing his only attempt for 7 yards to set up Martin Gramatica's 47-yard field goal that clinched a 12-9 win Oct. 27 at Carolina.

When Rob Johnson was out with a gluteal strain, King was the No. 2 against Minnesota. But King admits it has been tough to watch from the sideline.

"The fun thing about football is it's a team sport," King said. "A lot of times, you have to put aside individual desires in order for the team to succeed. I just try to approach it like that every Sunday. It's never easy to not play. But I guess it's a lot easier when a team is having success to accept it.

"But I was No. 3 in '99 (and) I was on a good football team. I ended up having to play the last six or seven. You look at Philly and you ask A.J. Feeley if he was going to have to play. He might've thought he'd have to go in, but he didn't think their season is depending on him. History shows it's tough, with these athletes, for one (quarterback) to make it. So you have to have other guys ready to play."

Rob Johnson, who won the backup job in training camp, is 1-0 as a starter this season with the win at Carolina. But his rating is 59.8 and he struggled in a brief relief appearance Sunday against Green Bay. He has been sacked nine times in 54 pass plays compared with 16 for Brad Johnson in 335 attempts.

Gruden hinted a change was likely after Johnson was sacked twice and threw an interception Sunday.

"I've been the (No. 2 quarterback) before this year so I understand the situation," King said. "But I think Brad will do an excellent job. I'll be there to support him and if called upon to play, I'll play well. "I'm just grateful I got an opportunity. I've prepared well all year and I'll be ready if called on to play."

MR. HOPEFUL: Defensive tackle Anthony McFarland, who has missed three game with a broken right forearm, was downgraded to questionable for Sunday night's game at New Orleans. But Gruden isn't influenced by the injury status.

"In my mind, he's (better) than questionable; he's almost full go in my mind," Gruden said. "Whether or not we play him in this game is doubtful in some other's minds. Medically, he's doubtful."

ORANGE YOU GLAD?: It is throwback uniforms week and the Saints will wear their uniforms from 1967, their first year.

Tampa Bay had the option to wear its orange and white 1976 uniforms, complete with the stilletto-chewing pirate. The Bucs declined.

"No, we never even thought about it," Gruden said. "The Buccaneer bandito man is retired."

SAY MY NAME: Cornerback Brian Kelly is having a career season that might land him in the Pro Bowl. He leads the league in interceptions with six. But credit has been slow.

After his two-interception performance Sunday in a 21-7 win over Green Bay, ESPN referred to Kelly in game highlights as Reggie Kelly.

"There are a lot of people in unfortunate situations who should be getting respect," defensive end Simeon Rice said. "Like Brian Kelly. Reggie Kelly? C'mon. Reggie Kelly, Ben Kelly? C'mon. He's doing his thing, give him his props."

WHO'S TALKING NOW: If Warren Sapp or Keyshawn Johnson want to talk trash before Sunday's game, New Orleans receiver Joe Horn, a known trash-talker, said they won't get any argument from him.

"They have the right to stick their chest out and be cocky because they're playing that way," Horn said. "Warren Sapp has the right to say the things he says on national TV because he's playing at a high right now and his defense is playing at a high right now."

WHERE'S MY INVITATION?: The annual Bayou Classic, which pits Grambling State against Southern University at the Superdome, takes place today amid a host of related festivities and parties.

"The classic is happening. The battle of the bands is happening. And Sunday night football on national TV is happening," Horn said. "So it's going to be very exciting down here in New Orleans for the fans."

THIS IS THE BIG ONE: There are a lot scenarios that could play out but the Saints say they must beat the Bucs to have any real chance to win the NFC South. The Saints (7-4) are third, half a game behind the second-place Falcons (7-3-1) and two games behind the Bucs (9-2).

"If you're going to win your division, obviously it's important that you beat the teams in it," Saints coach Jim Haslett said. "I think the most important thing is you make the playoffs, but I think if you want a chance to win the division, yeah, you have to win this game."