SUN BLOCK AND TACKLE: Cornerback Brian Kelly has a nose for the football as evidenced by his career-high eight interceptions in 2002. But the Florida sun can damage skin, and during training camp, Kelly is protecting his nose - and the rest of his face - by wearing a shield on his helmet.
"Last year, I burned my nose," Kelly said. "It took me about two weeks to get my pigment back in my nose. The doctors said to try and block the sun out a little bit. I won't be wearing it in a game or anything; just while I'm out there in the heat. I'm just trying it out, which is killing me right now because I've dropped about two balls trying to wear that thing. I can't see out of it, but that's the only reason."
That explains why Kelly dropped a pass intended for Mike Alstott on Wednesday morning that would have resulted in a touchdown.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"We really were flat last year at this time; maybe hung over a little bit. We were a bit complacent. We didn't have that drive, and we acknowledged it and accepted it. And we're coming back this year with a new vigor for more things." - Kelly.
FRESH FACE
NAME: JOSH BIDWELL
POS: Punter
HT./WT.: 6-3, 220
COLLEGE: Oregon
BACK IN THE DAY: Bidwell was a three-sport standout in high school. He was an option quarterback in football, the leading scorer for his basketball team as a senior and a catcher on a state championship baseball squad. The Bucs media guide says he "had a passion for Wiffleball before recently giving up the game."
TO MAKE THE TEAM: Bidwell is the only punter on the roster, so barring injury or a late signing, he has, literally, no competition.
LITTLE-KNOWN FACT: Strong legs are expected of punters, but Bidwell is strong, period. In training camp last year, he bench-pressed 225 pounds 25 times, the highest mark by any Packers nonlineman or nonlinebacker.
QUOTE: "Weather is a huge issue for me. It's been noticeably easier for me to kick down here than it was (at Lambeau Field), especially late in the year. I chose the Bucs because this is a winning program, and coming to work every day when you're winning is a lot easier."
