By JOANNE KORTH and GREG AUMAN
Published August 13, 2003
Don't count out Jim Miller.
The 10th-year quarterback is throwing without pain after offseason surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right throwing shoulder.
"The first two I looked like Nuke LaLoosh, missed the backstop and hit the mascot," Miller said, referring to the wild-armed pitcher in the movie Bull Durham.
"But it's the first time I've thrown at moving targets and it felt pretty good. I have no pain and I'm throwing with pretty good zip. I need to increase my arm strength a little bit more, but I was very encouraged."
The Bucs have been pleased with the training camp performances of starter Brad Johnson, backup Shaun King and rookie draft pick Chris Simms. Miller, a free-agent acquisition who took a beating last season with the Bears, hopes to play in the preseason finale Aug. 28.
"Maybe that's optimistic, I don't know," said Miller, who also had offseason surgery on his right ankle. "But I'm trying to push myself to get ready. You almost feel like an outsider looking in when you stand around all training camp and you see these guys busting their fannies and working hard. I want to be a part of that."
Miller tried to throw in June, but had a setback when his shoulder swelled. On July 15, four days before training camp started, Gruden said Miller might be placed on the physically unable to perform list, which would have sidelined him at least the first six weeks of the season.
"If anybody would have asked me four weeks ago if Jim Miller would ever throw like he did (Tuesday) ... this guy had serious surgery," Gruden said. "I'm not going to predict about Jim Miller. I'll say this - I'll bet on him. I'll bet on Jim Miller. The guy has complete intentions of coming back and competing for a job here."
FRESH FACE
NAME: John Wade.
HT./WT.: 6-5, 299.
POSITION: Center.
COLLEGE: Marshall.
BACK IN THE DAY: After switching from guard, he started every game at center as a junior in helping Randy Moss and the Thundering Herd to the 1996 Division I-AA national championship. Got first two NFL starts as rookie in 1998 playoffs, and in 1999, played every offensive snap and started all 16 games. Spent much of next two seasons limited by foot injuries, but started every game last year and signed four-year deal with Bucs to replace Jeff Christy.
TO MAKE THE TEAM: Just stay healthy. He's the starter, with rookie Austin King the only other true center likely to make the roster and not experienced enough to threaten Wade's hold on the starting job.
LITTLE-KNOWN FACT: Wade is one of eight Bucs that hail from Virginia and earned three letters in baseball and football at Harrisonburg High School.
QUOTE: "I'm a lot better than I was three weeks ago. I'm starting to have a pretty good grasp on what we're doing. I'm getting quicker with the calls. Sometimes I'm on it, sometimes I'm not. You can't be like that. You have to be on it all the time. But I'm coming along. By the first game, I want to be on the crew, no questions asked."
QUOTABLE
"I try to see if people's heads can come apart from their bodies. That's my main goal."
