TAMPA - Coach Jon Gruden didn't see it, but he heard about it. Again and again.
After being fined $50,000 by the NFL for his behavior in pregames this season, defensive tackle Warren Sapp turned into Martin Gramatica in the pregame Sunday, booting the end zone pylon out of the ground.
"We get more attention during the pregame warmups sometimes than we do during the damn game," Gruden said.
Gruden said he will sit down with Sapp and talk about, perhaps, Sapp's frustration with the league and commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who was critical of Sapp's behavior before the fine.
"Some players have certain ways of getting themselves ready to play," Gruden said. "I don't believe that Warren Sapp disrespects football. ... Although I'm concerned with the image that he's portrayed with right now because I think he's a great player and he's great for this game."
Gruden also wants to be aware of how his team is perceived.
"You're dealing with one of the more emotional people that I've ever met," Gruden said. "I'm going to be supportive of Warren. At the same time, I want to be supportive of what league policies are, and I want to be a disciplined football team and I want to have class when we do business."
BANGED UP: Receiver Joe Jurevicius, out since the third game with a sprained knee, has been upgraded to questionable for Sunday against Dallas. After that, the injury report is bad news.
The most serious injuries are to safety John Lynch (neck/shoulder) and Brian Kelly (torn pectoral). Both are listed as doubtful and Gruden sounded as if both would be out Sunday. While the Bucs are trying to remain optimistic, both could be sidelined much longer.
Lynch has had neck "stingers" several times over the past four games and had an MRI Monday. Results won't be known until today or Wednesday.
"(I'm) very concerned, honestly," Gruden said. "I'm not going to be pessimistic, I'm going to be realistic. ... He has had some recurring problems and obviously we're concerned about that."
How bad have the injuries been? Through six games, the Bucs have lost four starters, who have combined to miss nine starts; that doesn't count Jurevicius. Through six games last season, they lost two starters for a combined three games.
HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF: The Bucs are 3-3, haven't won two in a row and sit two games out of first. It doesn't look like the same team of a season ago.
Players lost their hunger?
"No, it's just the wolves that are eating the meat are a little bit different, if you know what I mean," Gruden said.
What Gruden means is injuries, free agency and other personnel changes have made this a slightly different team.
"I don't feel like the edge has dulled," Gruden said. "I just feel that this year's squad is asking on a lot of men to step up that weren't here last year."
