Bucs make move

Dwight Smith will get a chance to switch from cornerback and replace Super Bowl MVP Dexter Jackson at free safety.

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 27, 2003

PHOENIX -- One defensive back arguably upstaged Super Bowl XXXVII MVP Dexter Jackson.

Now he will have a chance to replace him at free safety.

Reserve cornerback Dwight Smith, who returned two interceptions for touchdowns in Tampa Bay's 48-21 win over the Raiders, is the Bucs' choice to take Jackson's spot in the secondary next season.

Bucs coach Jon Gruden revealed plans to try Smith at free safety Wednesday at the NFL owners meetings.

The Bucs have been considering how to replace Jackson since he signed a five-year, $14-million contract with the Cardinals a few weeks ago.

"We're still looking at that, and there is a possibility that we move Dwight Smith inside just because he is a hell of a football player and we want him on the field," Gruden said. "We're going to keep looking at that. We have some organized passing days here, three of them before the draft, where we might insert Dwight Smith in there and see how he feels and how he looks.

"We have some versatility because we feel we have a unique player there in Smith."

During a one-hour media session at breakfast with NFC coaches, Gruden served up several other insights into the offseason:

He indicated he would consider taking a quarterback with the 64th overall pick, the Bucs' first choice in the draft.

He said the organization needs to repair the fractured relationship with quarterback Brad Johnson, who still is seething after discovering a proposal to remove a $1.5-million guarantee in 2004 from his contract.

Linebacker Junior Seau discussed the possibility of playing strongside linebacker in a telephone conversation with Gruden last week, but Tampa Bay is not likely to trade for him.

The Bucs have had success switching players on defense. A year ago at this time, Gruden discussed a plan to move Shelton Quarles to middle linebacker. Quarles finished second on the team to Derrick Brooks in tackles last season and earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl.

According to Gruden, second-year pro Jermaine Phillips could play free safety when the Bucs go to five defensive backs, with Smith moving back to corner. Third-year pro John Howell could back up both safety positions.

"There's a chance maybe Dwight could be a safety and when we go nickel, maybe Jermaine comes in as a safety and Dwight kicks back into the third corner position," Gruden said. "So there's a lot of things we're looking at right now. All these guys are starting to get back from their vacations and lifting and running, and we'll investigate that and work toward that in the next three weeks when we do have those passing camps."

The Bucs have three quarterbacks under contract -- Johnson, Shane Matthews and college free agent Greg Zolman. Former Bears quarterback Jim Miller, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, could be signed by the end of the week. The Bucs also are attempting to sign Shaun King, who attended orientation last week.

Gruden said the Bucs still have to soothe hurt feelings between the team and Johnson.

"I was concerned about it, man," Gruden said. "The last time I saw Brad in San Diego, he was doing pretty good, you know? To see him with the comments and the feelings coming out of his camp, it very, very much concerned me and scared me. We have to work hard as a team, as an organization, to make sure there's total trust and communication and relationship between a Pro Bowl, Super Bowl quarterback. Everybody. If there's a bridge there that's damaged in some way, we better stay up all night and repair that bridge because this guy is a hell of a player and hell of a guy and we've got to come to an agreement in trying to resolve this as soon as possible."

Gruden said a quarterback might fall to the Bucs late in the second round.

"This is a good group of quarterbacks, man," he said. "And some of the reports that you see, guys' stocks are plummeting, some guys are rising. Who do you believe? You've just got to look at the film and know that there's going to be 15 or 16 of these guys drafted and prioritize who you like. ... But we're going to take the best player, some guy that gives us some life and some future hope there in the second round. And one could be a quarterback."

Just as speculative is the Bucs' ability to acquire Seau, who has been granted permission by the Chargers to seek a trade.

"I've always been interested in him as a player, as a guy I admire. I did talk to Junior last week and I'd love to have a guy like that around me," Gruden said. "He was just looking into our situation and he knew we lost a linebacker. I did tell him we had a weakside linebacker, No.55, we like a little bit named Derrick Brooks. But he's contemplating what's out there, where he'd like to go, and I think he's just doing his research and we have a strongside linebacker position available and he let me know he could play over the tight end.

"He can play anywhere on the field on defense. He's instinctive, he's tough as hell and a very inspirational guy. He'll surface somewhere and prove it to you, I've got a feeling."