More than he bargained for?

Bucs receiver Michael Clayton has a contract and may soon have a starting role to go with it.

By RICK STROUD
Published July 24, 2004

TAMPA - Michael Clayton is signed, sealed and may have to deliver more quickly than ever expected.

A news conference arranged by the Bucs Friday to celebrate signing their No. 1 pick to a six-year, $13-million contract turned a bit somber when team officials openly questioned whether they can expect to start the season with Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicius.

It's been nearly a year since the Bucs have seen Jurevicius, who played a huge role in their run to the Super Bowl title in 2002, completely healthy.

Jurevicius tore the medial collateral ligament in his right knee after a collision with fullback Mike Alstott in Week 2 against the Panthers that eventually knocked both players out for the year.

Despite a deliberately slow recovery from surgery and keeping him out of team drills, the Bucs still have concerns that Jurevicius' knee won't be sufficiently healed when players report to training camp July 30.

"We hope to get Jurevicius back," coach Jon Gruden said. "There is still some concern as to his physical status. We'll find that out next week.

"I think Joe has had a long battle with the rehabilitation. All signs are good. But once again, we'll know the finality of it all late this week or early next week."

Jurevicius was limited to individual running during the team's offseason workout program and made it through just one of the practices during the three-day mandatory minicamp last month. At best, the Bucs will have to spoon feed his participation in training camp.

"We're hopeful," general manager Bruce Allen said. "Joe's been cleared to play, but we're going to take it easy. Let's just see how it goes. We haven't been able to use pads and these are different practices. When you start hitting, things get a little more sore."

At least the Bucs will be able to monitor Jurevicius' progress in training camp. That's not expected to be the case with McCardell, the Pro Bowl receiver who missed offseason workouts and the mandatory minicamp and has said he's prepared to sit out the season unless he receives a salary increase.

McCardell is coming off a career year in which he led the Bucs with 84 catches for 1,174 yards and scored a career-high nine touchdowns. He is scheduled to earn $2.5-million this season but has said he wants to be paid like a No. 1 receiver.

But Allen has been adamant that the team has no intentions to extend the contract of a 34-year-old receiver with two years remaining on his deal.

"Keenan's situation disturbs me, as it does Bruce," Gruden said. "We're concerned.

"The message is clear: not going to be at minicamp, not going to be at passing camp, not going to be at training camp and they want a new contract. But the message we're sending as a football team is we're going to work now July 30. That's mandatory reporting date. We're going to roll up our fists and start to pound that rock and dig ourselves out of a 7-9 hole. That's all I'm really concentrating on. Who's ever there, we welcome them with open arms. And if you're not there, you're not there. Bruce will handle it."

If McCardell and Jurevicius are not available, Clayton may have to handle starting as a rookie with Joey Galloway. Although Gruden figured to find playing time for the former LSU star, the Bucs didn't draft Clayton with the 15th overall pick with the intention of swapping him out for McCardell.

As Gruden noted, not many receivers make a big impact in their first season the way the Cardinals' Anquan Boldin did in winning the NFL rookie of the year.

"I don't have that history," Gruden said. "I'm sure there are players who have come in and been exceptional. Anquan Boldin, what he did with the Arizona Cardinals last year, speaks to what a rookie can do coming out of the third round, I believe. Players have exploded onto the scene quickly and others have taken some time. Michael Clayton will get every opportunity to be a player here for us and make an impact in our games."

The Bucs also signed cornerback Lenny Williams, the last of three seventh-round picks. Terms were not disclosed. The team also released guard/tackle Mike Moroz.

[Last modified July 24, 2004, 01:09:19]