Bucs lineman soaks up scenes with camcorder

Todd Washington has been documenting everything since the final moments of the NFC Championship Game.

By ROGER MILLS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 22, 2003

For Bucs offensive tackle/guard Todd Washington, a fifth-year player who re-signed at the start of the season, the past 48 hours have been worthy of documentation. In fact, that's precisely what he has been doing.

Washington entered Tuesday's Media Day carrying his digital camcorder, as did a number of teammates.

"It's been very electric," Washington said. "I started filming with three minutes left in the NFC Championship Game and I've been going ever since. I have footage of everything."

Nothing more important, in his eyes, than the footage of coach Jon Gruden getting his Gatorade bath in the final seconds of the game.

"That dunk was cool; the presentation of the NFC championship trophy, I have that, too," Washington said. "That's stuff to cherish forever."

Washington said he always will remember the chaos of getting from Philadelphia to San Diego. He said the Bucs arrived in Tampa around 2 a.m. Monday and he got about four hours' sleep.

He said he then had to pack and run some errands, and was slowed even more by a flat tire. He said he was unable to sleep on the flight to San Diego but was in his bed by 10 p.m. Monday.

"Of course, we had to be up by 6 a.m. (Tuesday)," Washington said.