LAKE BUENA VISTA - Running back Michael Pittman, who has stayed away from media scrutiny because of of his legal problems, has been having a strong camp and showing no signs of distraction.
Walking to the locker room after Thursday's morning session, Pittman made his first public statements since May 31 after police charged him with assault in a domestic incident in Phoenix.
"I'm doing good, just playing and having fun," said Pittman, who started 15 of 16 games and had 1,195 yards from scrimmage last season. "It's easy for me to concentrate. I can focus on football and that's it. It's not tough. ... I'm just playing football."
Pittman, who is facing two counts of aggravated assault after police said he rammed his Hummer into the Mercedes driven by his wife, Melissa, faces a probation revocation hearing Aug. 18 and a preliminary hearing on the assault charges Sept. 3. Pittman is on three years probation after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges of criminal trespass and criminal damage in another domestic dispute with Melissa in Tempe in the summer of 2001.
Pittman and his wife remain together, and she has notified authorities in Arizona she plans to support her husband.
WHAT'S IN A NAME: The Bucs starting offensive line has a variety of characters that likely make for intriguing meetings. Now the linemen have a variety of nicknames, courtesy of Gruden.
"What is an offensive lineman without a nickname?" Gruden said.
Left tackle Roman Oben? He's Big Sexy. Left guard Kerry Jenkins? Big Country.
Right guard Cosey Coleman and right tackle Kenyatta Walker? They are the Soul Patrol. Center John Wade is Dirty Red.
Naming rights didn't stop there. Rookies Sean Mahan and Lance Nimmo have been labeled Mayhem and Capt. Nemo.
FLAG FOOTBALL TRIP: A group of 12- to 14-year-olds from Tampa will head to Japan to compete in the fourth annual NFL Flag Football World Championship from Tuesday to Aug. 3.
The team, which plays in John McLaughlin's Flag4Kids League based in Westchase, joins teams from nine other countries for five-on-five, noncontact games.
"Our kids are really looking forward to the trip," Flag4Kids coach Ted Worsham said. "It's going to be a wonderful experience for them." Other participating countries are Australia, Austria, Canada, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain and Thailand.
The Bucs also will be in Tokyo, for a preseason game against the Jets on Aug. 2.
INJURY REPORT: Warren Sapp sat out the afternoon with water on his knee. "It's more precautionary than anything," Gruden said. ... Receiver Charles Lee sustained a mild foot sprain and is day-to-day. ... Receiver Keenan McCardell was held part of the afternoon with a slight hamstring strain.
