Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
PALM BEACH - John Lynch is a Bronco. Warren Sapp is a Raider. But the A-Train isn't leaving the station in Tampa Bay.
Mike Alstott has been cleared to resume playing after offseason surgery to repair a herniated disc in his neck and coach Jon Gruden expects him to be ready for training camp.
"I've just gotten good reports," Gruden said. "That's all I can go by, what the doctors say and what he says. He's been in there every day early in the morning. He looks great, feels great and has been cleared to play.
"I think he's just got to go out there and take some hits this preseason and regain his confidence, which I'm sure he will. We need him, we missed him. But I'm very confident he's going to be a key performer for us."
While the Bucs expressed concern over Lynch's neck injury, which was repaired when he had bone fragments removed during offseason surgery, they apparently are convinced Alstott will have no trouble handling the punishment.
"I don't know if the common person can distinguish the difference in Sterling Sharpe's neck injury to Michael Irvin's neck injury to Mike Alstott's injury to even John Lynch's injury," Gruden said. "You have to rely on medical people to help you make those decisions. I am told, we are told, that Alstott's ready to roll. With that being said, let's roll. And that's what he wants to do. Once you get that consent, it's time to go and play.
"We missed him a lot. In short-yardage, physical situations, as a pass protector, as a receiver. As a physical presence and a threat in the backfied. When we move our formations around, he's still a feared back. When we lost that element, it changed the dynamics of what we were doing."
FOUR FLINGERS: The Bucs are preparing to keep three quarterbacks to back up starter Brad Johnson when the regular season begins.
Gruden said second-year pro Chris Simms could start a preseason game while veteran Brian Griese will see extensive playing time. Veteran Jason Garrett would seem to be the odd man out if the team opts for three QBs.
Gruden said he is attempting to convince former 49ers quarterback Steve Young to attend training camp to work with Simms, who also is a lefty.
"He worked with Michael Vick, but that guy is a jet ski," Gruden said.
DON'T BE LATE: Troubled defensive tackle Darrell Russell needs to improve his work habits, Gruden said. The Bucs won't tolerate tardiness that led to the Redskins making Russell inactive for the final game last season.
"That can't happen here," Gruden said. "Once again, I don't want a guy coming to work the first day talking about an anvil hitting you in the head. We're going to support the guy, we're going to help the guy. I've heard a lot of stories about the discipline in Washington. Maybe he wasn't the only guy, I don't know. All I know is he ain't going to be late here."
BOOGER IN PLACE: With the signing of Russell, the Bucs will move tackle Anthony "Booger" McFarland to the under tackle spot left vacant by Sapp's departure. Russell, Ellis Wyms and Chuck Darby will compete for playing time at nose tackle.
"Yes, we're going to move him to the under tackle spot," Gruden said. "We'll miss Warren, but at the same time, we're very excited about McFarland. Not just a little bit, but very excited."
McFarland, who has played nose tackle for most of his Bucs career, flourished in spot duty last season in Sapp's spot.
"He played against Jacksonville in a preseason game when Warren was a late scratch and played extremely well," Gruden said. "And then, against the Texans, we thought McFarland played outstanding. He's a first-round draft pick and a guy that we re-signed with the intention at some point of taking the torch from Warren and being a great player."
STEUSSIE TO RIGHT SIDE: He has played all 173 games of his 10-year NFL career at left tackle, but the Bucs are ready to move newly acquired free agent Todd Steussie to right tackle.
"I think he's excited about that," Gruden said. "He's a team man and will do what we ask him to do to win. Derrick Deese is the same thing, he'll play left guard, right tackle, center, he doesn't care. It's what's going to give our team a chance to win."
Steussie's move to the right side signals the likely benching of Kenyatta Walker, the former first-round pick who struggled last season with penalties.
GRIESE FAN: Count Broncos coach Mike Shanahan among those who believe Griese will have success in Tampa Bay.
"I think a lot of quarterbacks get better with age and I think Brian's experience will do nothing but help him," Shanahan said of his former quarterback, who spent last season with the Dolphins. "I think Tampa Bay is a great fit for him and Jon's offense, with the pressure he puts on the quarterback to make the right read and multiple formations, will be something Brian will excel at."
WARREN'S WORLD: The Raiders' image and Sapp appear to be a perfect fit. But he has to adapt to a 3-4 defense rather than the 4-3 alignment he enjoyed for nine seasons in Tampa Bay.
That shouldn't be a problem, according to first-year Raiders coach Norv Turner.
"Everyone gets caught up in the 3-4 or 4-3 - whatever," Turner said. "You can be in there with 3-4 personnel and he can play the exact same position and the exact same technique he played in Tampa. We're going to use the system in terms of installing it and making sure everyone understands exactly what we're doing.
"And as a coach, it's your responsibility to put a guy in position to be successful. Whether he's on the outside shading a guard or an inside shade of the tackle, you're talking about six inches. He can use the same technique and style he's used throughout his career and maybe line up a half a man wider and still be very effective for us."