Notebook

Lynch shows team around hometown

© St. Petersburg Times
published January 22, 2003

SAN DIEGO -- Playing in the Super Bowl is one thing. Getting to do so in your hometown is something else.

Safety John Lynch, who went to Torrey Pines High in the San Diego suburb of Del Mar, played tour guide for some of his Bucs teammates Monday night, taking them around town, to his in-laws' house and to his favorite Mexican restaurant, Fidel's. "It's something special," Lynch said.

Coming back to Qualcomm Stadium was also fun, because he used to sit in the stands near the 30-yard line and root for the Chargers.

"I still remember the group of fans we sat with for years," he said. "I watched the Raiders; I hated the Raiders. There wasn't much defense played here. I didn't mind that then, but I don't think I'd like it now. But it was sure fun to watch."

FORMER RAIDERS: You can't turn a corner without hearing something about Jon Gruden being Oakland's ex-coach. The Bucs have two other former Raiders: receiver Reggie Barlow and tight end Rickey Dudley.

"I have a lot of partners I played with there and still communicate with," Barlow said. "I'm happy for them, but I'm happy for us."

Dudley said, "It's going to be a lot of fun. I don't hold any grudges against them."

WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY: So what would original Bucs coach John McKay, who died in 2001, think of the team being in the Super Bowl?

"He'd be very happy," said his son, Rich, the Bucs general manager. "I think he'd like the football team. It's his type of football team, a balanced football team. I'm not sure he would have enjoyed any game in the history of the franchise more than that game on Sunday, to go and face the adverse conditions and to play great defense even in light of making a couple early errors. That was the kind of game he always relished." McKay said his father always considered himself aligned with Southern Cal and the Bucs. "He didn't like that the perception of the franchise was not a positive one. He was awfully proud and happy that we got it turned around, but he wants to see the loop closed. That '99 loss in the championship game, I think he was more disappointed than I was."

TOO FAST: Former Cowboys star Michael Irvin said the speed of the Bucs defense is the biggest problem for opponents.

"You can't simulate Warren Sapp, you can't simulate Simeon Rice, you can't simulate Derrick Brooks," Irvin said. "If you could, you'd have them on your defense, and you'd have the No. 1 defense."

RICE'S DAY: Which Buc enjoyed the media day the most? McKay picked Rice.

"This day was invented for Simeon Rice," McKay said. "Get out all your dictionaries and books and figure it out."

NO DISTRACTIONS: Lynch put his wife, Linda, in charge of handling ticket requests from family and friends this week. Despite all the activities surrounding the Super Bowl, Lynch said the Bucs will be focused when preparing for the game.

"I've had guys I know who have played in this game who have called me during the week, and they all said, "Keep the distractions to a minimum,' " Lynch said. "It's tough, but you have to stay focused. My buddy Trent Dilfer called and said, "There's no use in going if you're not going to win."

TWIN POWERS: Even though he saw twin brother Tiki play in the Super Bowl in Tampa two years ago, Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber said he hasn't sought much advice on the big game from his brother, whose team lost to the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV.

"He said I'd understand what it's all about when you get your shot, and I'm starting to understand that," Ronde said.

Tiki has been on the sideline for both playoff games, watching his brother return interceptions for long touchdowns late in the fourth quarter of both games. A penalty brought back his run against the 49ers, but there was nothing to stop his 92-yard return against the Eagles on Sunday. Barber said his brother's presence has been good luck. "Two weeks in a row, he's been on the sidelines and I've had two huge plays," he said. "I think he needs to be there this week."

THINKING OF FRIENDS: When Lightning defenseman Nolan Pratt heard the newborn son of Bucs receiver Joe Jurevicius was having medical problems, it hit close to home. Pratt and his wife, Deborah, live around the corner from Jurevicius and his wife, Meagan, and the Pratts had their first child, Ella Brooke, on Nov. 18.

"Anybody knowing what he has gone through, especially myself as a new father, I can't imagine, mentally. To prepare and be able to play is pretty amazing," Pratt said.

Pratt said he and Jurevicius have left each other tickets to their games and occasionally run into each other walking their dogs. Deborah and Meagan also have struck a friendship.

"I feel for him and hope everything is going well," Pratt said. "They're just hoping and praying and taking things one day at a time."

MR. DRAFT CLASS: With top picks Marquise Walker and Travis Stephens on injured reserve and four other draft picks cut in preseason, safety Jermaine Phillips has been the lone Bucs pick active for more than one game this season.

"I never thought when I got drafted that the Super Bowl would be a possibility," said Phillips, a fifth-rounder out of Georgia. "I thought we could make it to the playoffs, but seeing the hard work everybody put in and for it to all pay off, I'm very fortunate and blessed to be here."

Phillips has played primarily on special teams, making 14 tackles, and has seen how much longer many teammates have worked to get to a Super Bowl.

"I'm kind of spoiled getting here my first year," said Phillips, whose Georgia teammate, cornerback Tim Wansley, was a seventh-round pick but played in only one game. "I see Lynch in the league for 10 years and Derrick and Sapp, who have been here for so long. I see that it doesn't come very often, so we want to take advantage of it."

MUTUAL ADMIRATION: Wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, asked last week who he considers a great receiver, pointed to Raiders legend Jerry Rice and Irvin. He'll go up against the former Sunday, and drew praise from the latter, in San Diego as a Fox analyst.

"(Johnson)'s one of the best receivers in the league, and coming from him, that's the ultimate compliment," Irvin said.

WHO'S WITH ME?: Sapp said he gained a deep appreciation for Gruden during a drill at training camp in August in Orlando.

"(Backup quarterback) Rob (Johnson) threw a pick in the red zone and (Gruden) went off," Sapp said. "The next turnover in the red zone, I will run the s--- out of everybody here, including myself."

Sapp said Gruden saying that he would run with the players left a lasting impression.

"I looked over to him and asked, "You too?' " Sapp said. "And then I told the guys, let's get us a pick right now, and we were out there fighting for a pick to get him running. It's one thing to say you'll run your team, it's another thing to say you'll run with them."

BUCS BITS: Jurevicius was expected to arrive in San Diego late Tuesday night, team officials said. Jurevicius missed the first two days while spending time in Tampa with his wife and son. ... From the no-respect department, receiver Keenan McCardell's name was spelled "Keenen" on the placard identifying him at media day. ... Growing up, safety Dexter Jackson had a last name and a uniform number in common with Raiders star Bo Jackson. He admired the multi-sport star, but said he chose the number with the Bucs because the only other options "were ugly numbers like 43," which belongs to fullback Jameel Cook.