By JOANNE KORTH and RICK STROUD
Published December 27, 2003
TAMPA - The Bucs rarely went a week this season without adding a player to injured reserve. Why should this one be any different?
Starting left tackle Kenyatta Walker became the 11th player to finish the year on IR when he was placed on that list Friday with a torn meniscus in his right knee.
To replace Walker on the 53-man roster, the Bucs signed tackle Anthony Davis from the practice squad.
Walker, who injured his knee in the Bucs' 30-28 loss to Atlanta last weekend, is the sixth player on IR who was a starter or became one during the season. Six of the 11 players on the list were added in December.
Fourth-year pro Cornell Green will replace Walker at right tackle and make his fourth start of the season at that position.
The other news on the injury front is pretty good for the Bucs. Defensive tackle Warren Sapp, who missed practice Wednesday to rest a sore foot, returned Friday and will play Sunday at Tennessee. Center John Wade, who is nursing bruised ribs, practiced this week and is probable against the Titans.
KNOW PAIN, KNOW GAIN: The Bucs have fallen short of their goal to defend the Super Bowl title. Even worse, they will not make the playoffs for the first time since 1996.
That disappointment overrides any personal satisfaction for players who made strides during 2003.
"It's a team sport, so to me, even though I met some personal goals, you still don't feel good because the umbrella of the whole thing is the team," linebacker Ryan Nece said. "If the team doesn't do well, then I don't feel well."
Nece, a second-year player, won the starting job at strongside linebacker in training camp, beating out veteran Dwayne Rudd, who was acquired to play that spot. Nece ranks sixth on the team with 69 tackles and has one interception.
Running back Thomas Jones, receiver Charles Lee and safety Jermaine Phillips also emerged.
Jones, in his first season with the Bucs, likely has solidified a place for the future. After playing in a reserve role most of the season, Jones started the past three games and gained 296 yards.
"It's been tough for us losing," Jones said. "But when I'm out there I just try to do the best I can to help us win, and I think that's the reason why I've been successful because I've been trying to focus on winning and not anything else."
Lee was released twice by the Bucs this season - Aug. 31 and Sept. 23 - but was re-signed when Keyshawn Johnson was deactivated. Since getting the chance to play, Lee has delivered 29 catches for 373 yards and two touchdowns.
"Your personal success, when you get home you can relate on that with your friends and family, people who have been there throughout," said Lee, who signed a two-year contract in October. "But it's still a team game, and the object is to win the Super Bowl. It's frustrating for us to play the way we've played sometimes."
Phillips, a third-year player, lost the training camp battle at free safety to Dwight Smith but started seven games at free and strong safety in the injury-riddled secondary.
SOMETHING UP HIS SLEEVE: With the Bucs out of the playoffs, coach Jon Gruden could reach into his bag of tricks to put a charge into the offense and keep things fun for the players.
"There's always that possibility," Gruden said. "There's been a lot of adjustments made this year with the injuries. Who knows? Maybe we stay in the laboratory a little bit later and pull out something out of the ordinary."
