Champs get warm welcome

HONOLULU -- Heavy is the helmet that wears the crown, but the Bucs received a proper coronation at the Pro Bowl on Thursday.

Making their first appearance at practice for the NFC team, the five members of the Super Bowl XXXVII champions were congratulated by their peers.

"I remember especially the year that St. Louis (Pro Bowl players) came and how much that hurt," safety John Lynch said. "But also, you have the ultimate respect.

"I think there's kind of an unspoken rule amongst players that, regardless of what went on -- you get a little nervous because there's been a lot of heated rivalries -- but it's neat to see that everybody kind of pays their respects. I think every player I've seen here has come right up and said congratulations, you guys earned it. And I think the great thing is, a lot of people are saying you guys went and took it. You didn't have anything handed to you, you guys went and got it. That makes it extra special."

The Bucs' arrival was especially difficult for the Eagles, whose coaching staff is directing an NFC squad that includes seven players from the Philadelphia team that lost to the Bucs in the NFC Championship Game.

"I think what is so awesome is the respect level from everybody. Everyone is so happy for you," Bucs quarterback Brad Johnson said. "Even if they don't mean it, they say congratulations. But genuinely, from the Philadelphia coaches, they've only been very, very happy for us.

"And it's going to be a rivalry for a long time to come. But they're happy, and we both know that game could have gone either way. You kept it in the NFC. And I know whenever I lost in the playoffs, I wished that that team would win it. But everyone over here has only been nice and congratulatory."

The reception from Pro Bowl teammates was a vindication of sorts for players like defensive end Simeon Rice, who is appearing in the game for the second time.

"Everybody has respect for you. They were like, "Yo, you had a hell of a game,' " Rice said. "They really get to see how good you are on the big stage. Everybody is like, man, you're the truth, Sim. They're giving all my credentials, my peers are, so that's what it's all about. People that can't normally (watch the games) see you in those last couple of games, the NFC championship and the Super Bowl, it don't get any better than that. Then you win it and you're one of the impact players that do it. They're giving me my props. They're looking at me like I'm a star. They're giving me love like that. A lot of cats can play, but there ain't no player-hating going on. They've got to give them up to you."

BUCS BITS: Coach Jon Gruden will appear on Late Night with David Letterman on Tuesday. ... Linebacker Derrick Brooks, Lynch and Rice taped a segment with ESPN after practice that will air before Sunday's game. The three defensive stars also will appear on a Maxim magazine television special that they taped with actor Jennifer Love Hewitt on Thursday. ... Rams running back Marshall Faulk said he was not surprised that the Bucs defense shut down the Raiders: "No, not at all. I wasn't surprised by no means. Because, when you become one-dimensional against Tampa Bay, they'll hurt you. We've played them an ample amount of times, and the times we're balanced are the times we beat them."