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Notebook
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 25, 2003
SAN DIEGO -- The Bucs wrapped up their practice week with a 90-minute session at the University of California-San Diego that left coach Jon Gruden eager for Sunday's Super Bowl XXXVII against Oakland.
"We worked the short area of the field and got a lot of work done," Gruden told a pool reporter. "We cleaned things up from (Thursday) and the day before. The guys were focused and we had good energy."
Two players hindered by injury, guard Cosey Coleman (knee) and defensive tackle Chartric Darby (calf) practiced. The only item on the Bucs' itinerary between Friday's practice and Sunday's 6:25 p.m. kickoff is a short walkthrough at Qualcomm Stadium today.
"I chatted with our team honestly this morning and told them to focus on a normal Friday in Tampa before a Sunday game," Gruden said. "You're going to have free time Friday afternoon. There are some distractions here. A lot of these men have their families here and we encourage them to be with their families. If they get lonely and want to talk, I'll be up in (my) room."
RICE PICKS: Super Bowl predictions are worthless. Unless they come from someone actually playing in the game.
That's what makes Simeon Rice's victory guarantee so bold.
After practice Friday, Rice said the Bucs would beat the Raiders.
"Of course we're going to win," Rice said. "As a matter of fact, I know we're going to win. We're not playing to lose."
BARBER TALK: Cornerback Ronde Barber was still drawing raves for his performance in the NFC Championship Game. He had a 92-yard interception returned to seal a 27-10 win over Philadelphia, plus four passes defensed, three tackles. a sack and a forced fumble.
"Ronde Barber was all over the place," defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said. "I don't think I've seen a DB make as many plays in one game as he did."
Barber joked Thursday about his ill-fated attempt to return a Philadelphia punt. He lined up to the left of returner Karl Williams and muffed the kick when he was hit by Sheldon Brown, who was flagged for interfering with the catch, resulting in a 15-yard penalty.
"I hadn't returned a punt in a game since college, but we were in a situation where they were kicking into the wind and trying to kick away from our returner," Barber said. "(Special teams coach Richard Bisaccia) thought we needed to get another guy back there, so we could cover more of the field."
Barber returned a deflected punt 23 yards for a touchdown against Chicago in 1998 and said he'd be fine dropping back to receive one if asked Sunday.
"I'm comfortable doing anything," he said. "When I'm on that punt return unit, I'm covering guys, trying to block them, but I'll do whatever's called of me."
BUCS BITS: The team held a reception Thursday night for players and families, with the main attraction a large ice sculpture of the Lombardi Trophy. ... Gruden, asked where Warren Sapp's personality ranks among the players he has coached: "He's way up there on the list ... Warren Sapp, you could look under every rock in America and not find a guy like this. He's something else. He's a fun guy to be around. He loves football, he's a leader and a great perfectionist."
SOFT HANDS, DEEP POCKETS: After reminiscing about the unpleasantries of playing for former owner Hugh Culverhouse, Sapp expressed appreciation for current owner Malcolm Glazer.
"(Glazer) has been a godsend for us," Sapp said. "He's put us in lovely uniforms, took us out of icicle orange, built us a lovely stadium to play in and has a whole city just crazy about us. There are 50,000 people on the waiting list to get a ticket. He's got the softest hands I have ever shook in my life. They're unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable."
OTHER CONCERNS: Besides preparing for his second Super Bowl, tackle Lomas Brown has been busy finalizing details for getting his father to San Diego for the game.
Lomas Brown Sr., 78, has chronic heart and kidney problems that require dialysis.
"I've got to set up dialysis for him because he goes three days a week (in Miami)," Brown said. "He didn't want to miss this game, and I didn't want to miss this game."
RING'S THE THING: It's a theme addressed before every Super Bowl, but it bears repeating. This time it's Sapp and Keyshawn Johnson, noted for their individual skills and flamboyant personalities, who say they would love nothing more than to receive rings as big as their resumes.
The two have always talked and played a good game. But without an oversized Super Bowl ring, they know history might record them as hot air rather than hot stuff.
"I'm standing at the door that lets you into immortality with all the great ones," Sapp said. "To say you have a ring, that validates it all."
Said Johnson: "A ring is my ultimate prize and goal. I've got plenty of money, plenty of good numbers, playing a lot of games, done well in them, but the one thing I don't have is a Super Bowl ring. That's the one prize that I chase when I play."
HE SAID IT: "I played in Tampa for four years and all we ever did was run the ball on every play. Now, I can go outside and pick up my daughter. Back in Tampa, my body was beat up by this time of the year." -- Raiders right guard Frank Middleton on what it's like to play on an offensive line that throws a lot.