LAKE BUENA VISTA - During the offseason, Dwight Smith let his teammates know he did not want to play under his existing contract.
Smith is an integral part of the defense, a starting safety for the second straight year. To him, playing for $455,000, which he is due to earn in the final year of his original deal, meant he would be considerably underpaid.
The Bucs recognized Smith is a player they would like to lock up before he becomes an unrestricted free agent, and attempted to negotiate a contract extension.
But no agreement was reached by the time the team reported to training camp Friday.
There also was no sign of Smith.
Instead, Smith telephoned coach Jon Gruden. That conversation remains private, but the result is that Smith is not at work.
"He talked to Jon and he just wanted to have a weekend and Jon said he could," general manager Bruce Allen said. "It's personal." Odd timing?
"Well, yeah," Allen said. "I mean, it's football season."
So odd, in fact, that Raiders defensive tackle Warren Sapp, a close friend of Smith, called some former Bucs teammates when he heard the news.
According to Allen, the Bucs expect Smith to report Monday.
"Yeah, that's what he had told Coach Gruden," Allen said.
Maybe Smith truly needed to take care of some personal matters, but a lot of teammates are happy to connect the dots for you.
Remember when Keenan McCardell missed the first series of organized team activities in the offseason? The excuse given by his representatives was that it was not contract-related, just a scheduling conflict.
Of course, now we know that wasn't whole story. He was making it known to the Bucs that he was not a happy camper.
Smith could be doing the same thing, even if Allen tries to convince you otherwise.
"If he feels that, he would tell you," Allen said. "Any conversation I've had with Dwight, he's a forthright guy."
It's interesting. When McCardell doesn't report to camp, the Bucs want half his signing bonus and fine him $5,000 per day. He is 34. Smith turns 26 on Aug. 13, but he is allowed to take the weekend off. Maybe he has a excuse, maybe not.
One thing is certain. The Bucs are willing to move ahead without McCardell.
"I don't even think about it," Allen said. "I'm really thinking about the guys that are here and really excited about everyone that's trying to get better. If you're not here, you're not getting better. He has a contract and we've had this conversation before. If he wants to play, play."
Allen was asked if McCardell has reached the point of no return.
"We've passed that," Allen said. "It started yesterday, the players reported, we've had outstanding work. ... In our sport, it's no different than if a player got hurt the first day of practice. Someone will do great things and we're looking forward."
