Sideline

U.S. legislators set bet's terms

Rep. Jim Davis is willing to bet lunch on Sunday's game. The Tampa Democrat has a wager with his Oakland counterpart, Democrat Barbara Lee. If the Bucs win, Lee must provide Davis' office with delicacies from her district, a pound of Peet's free-trade coffee, a tray of gingerbread cookies from T.J.'s Gingerbread House and a gallon of Dreyer's ice cream. If the Raiders win, Davis will provide Lee's office with Cuban sandwiches, black beans and guava turnovers. Davis said he is so confident, he can smell the coffee. "The Bucs are coming off a huge victory on Sunday," Davis said. "They're focused. There's a lot of momentum in their favor."

Out of bounds

Cha-ching!!!

Two of the top three teams in NFL merchandising play Sunday. Oakland is No. 1, according to NFLShop.com. Tampa Bay is No. 3, behind Chicago. Of the top 10 teams, seven made the playoffs: the Raiders, Bucs, 49ers (fourth), Steelers (sixth), Eagles (eighth), Packers (ninth) and Titans (10th). The ones who didn't were the Bears, Dolphins (fifth) and Patriots (seventh). Of Super Bowl players, Warren Sapp's jersey is the best seller, just ahead of Jerry Rice. Other players in top 25: Mike Alstott, Rich Gannon, Tim Brown, Charles Woodson, John Lynch and Keyshawn Johnson. Chicago's Brian Urlacher is No. 1.

Question of the day

How much was the expansion fee when Tampa Bay was awarded a team to start play in 1976?

Answer below.

Quotable

"Not everyone here is convicts and thugs." -- FIDEL MURGA, on the Raider Nation

Check it out

ONLINE: Follow the Bucs all day on www.sptimes.com with updates, same-day photos and a notebook.

Answer

$16-million, or about 23 percent of the 2002 salary cap.