By JOANNE KORTH, ROGER MILLS and JULIE WOOD
Published July 27, 2003
LAKE BUENA VISTA - Cornerback Ronde Barber did not practice for the second straight day because of soreness in his surgically repaired right knee but said the injury is not serious.
There is a chance Barber will not play Saturday against the Jets in Toyko.
"I'm going to take it easy for a little bit, just take some time to get well and feel like I'm 100 percent," he said.
Barber, who played in the playoffs despite a ligament tear, had arthroscopic surgery shortly after the Super Bowl. Soreness and swelling is common.
"If we had a game, he'd play, but we don't," coach Jon Gruden said. "We're going to get him well as soon as we can. We don't think it's anything serious. We're just letting his legs come back a little bit."
Barber, who watched practice with a compression wrap on his knee, said he is not alarmed.
"It was a pretty serious injury last year, but it's fixed," he said.
"You just have to be able to deal with the residual side effects of the whole ordeal. It's nothing I can't handle."
INJURY UPDATE: In addition to Barber, receiver Keenan McCardell (hamstring) and linebacker Justin Smith (hamstring) did not practice. McCardell has missed three days, Smith two.
BIG DEMAND: The first Saturday practice in pads drew a crowd of 2,700, the biggest yet, to the fields.
The Odoms came from Tampa for the weekend hoping to get a peek at their favorite Bucs. But for the Odoms, who are season ticket holders, and plenty of others, seats were hard to come by.
"It's been a little disappointing because we didn't get up early enough to get seats," Harvey Odom said.
The family arrived at 8:30 for the 8:35 practice start but couldn't find room in the bleachers. So Kristin, 5, and Zack, 2, played on a nearby field with their mother, Kelly.
Harvey Odom said he hadn't decided if they will come back today. GOOD TIMING: Punter Tom Tupa is back for his 15th season (the most among Bucs players) and appears to be kicking with younger legs. Although he struggled at times in 2002, Tupa was outstanding Saturday, with several long punts downed inside the 10.
"Actually, I've been punting well all of camp," said Tupa, who spent the offseason strengthening his leg. "I can't think about last year; just have to work on this year. And it's feeling good."
Tupa, who signed a one-year contract in June, is being pushed by Andy Groom, part of Ohio State's national title team.
OFFICIALLY SPEAKING: Saturday was the first practice attended by NFL officials, and everyone took notice.
Receiver Karl Williams said without officials at practice, players will try "stuff that they think is okay, stuff they think they can get away with. But when the officials are out there, even in training camp, (the players) will know exactly what they can get away with."
Williams said even after seven seasons in the league, he takes chances when there are no officials.
"When they're not there, I might do a little push-off, but it goes both ways," he said. "Psychologically, players have to change when the officials are there. When you know there's someone looking at your every move, you have to play more by the rules and use more technique. It's good to get this done in camp."
Gruden said the officials' presence helps polish techniques.
"The administration of drills was better because of their availability," he said.
Added safety Dwight Smith, "I really didn't pay too much attention to them. I know they have a few rule changes that they told us about (Friday) night that are going to be important, so we have to know about them."
