By JOANNE KORTH, ROGER MILLS
Published August 16, 2004
LAKE BUENA VISTA - With little more than a dozen fans waving goodbye, the Bucs broke what turned into a bizarre training camp Sunday at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex.
A hurricane, rain storms and a postponed preseason opener altered the team's regimen the past several days, making it hard to get much accomplished.
"It hasn't really felt like training camp, to tell the truth," veteran cornerback Ronde Barber said. "We've never had this many rainouts. I think we got work done; we had at least a week and a half of good work before all this rain started hitting. But it hasn't felt like we've been doing much the last couple of days."
The Bucs were to play the Bengals in Tampa Saturday night, but the threat of Hurricane Charley and the storm's subsequent path through Orlando made for a tense two days. When Charley was projected to hit Tampa Bay, many players moved their families to Orlando as a safety precaution, but the storm changed direction.
Camp was supposed to last until Wednesday, but with the game rescheduled for tonight and another game Friday in Jacksonville, coach Jon Gruden decided to let players go home early. The team had a meeting Sunday night, after which the players were free to leave.
"I think he realizes what everybody's been through," Barber said of Gruden. "It didn't hit us in Tampa, but everybody was pretty uptight for about a day and half. We've been on an emotional roller coaster about this whole deal. It's good to get out of here."
Despite the interruptions, Gruden was pleased with the team's progress during camp.
"We got a lot done," Gruden said. "Obviously, we had some injuries that were disruptive a little bit, especially to the offensive line and linebacking corps. But we got a lot of good, quality work done. We saw some real gains in some players and now we get a real gauge as to where they are in a real game."
NASTY NATE: During his four-year tenure with the Bucs, linebacker Nate Webster played behind starter Shelton Quarles and always played well when called upon. Webster, however, never could crack the starting lineup.
But after signing with the Bengals in the offseason, Webster is penciled in as the starting middle linebacker and eager to show what he learned during his four seasons with Tampa Bay.
"It's like graduating out of school," Webster said. "Being in Tampa for four or five years, learning, learning, learning. Playing behind some great guys and just now being able to put it to the test. ... It's a fresh start and all I ever wanted to do was start and show my talents and now I'm able to."
Drafted in the third round out of Miami in 2000, Webster distinguished himself as a special-teams player who wasn't afraid to mix it up. He played behind Jamie Duncan through his first two years, then behind Quarles the last two.
Practicing on the field adjacent to the Bucs' training camp, Webster said it was unusual being around his former teammates.
"It's crazy man," Webster said. "I thought, for an instant, like I was back on their team. It was good seeing all those faces. I told (Derrick) Brooks, "Man, I can't even describe the feelings I have going on inside.' But I felt the love from a lot of the players and coaches and it was good seeing them."
Coach Marvin Lewis said Webster has adjusted nicely to the Bengals' system.
"He's been great," Lewis said. "He obviously was the guy we felt could come in and bring a lot to us in both his play and energy and he's done both of those."
Webster said he looks back fondly on his first four NFL seasons with Tampa Bay but has no regrets about moving on.
"It's been good," he said. "Football will always be football. Every coach has his own little twist to it, but it's been fun. Home is where the heart is and I've got a new home and have to make the best of it."
BACKUP 'BACKERS: With veteran linebackers Brooks and Quarles out of the lineup tonight, Keith Burns and Michael Brown will join newcomer Ian Gold as starters. Brown will play Brooks' weakside spot, Burns the middle and Gold the strongside. Ryan Nece, the starter last season at strong, and rookie Marquis Cooper also will see significant time.
PITCHING IN: Cash donations will be accepted at the gates of Raymond James Stadium tonight to aid those affected by Hurricane Charley. Collection points will be located at each of the four entry gates and two club entrances. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
INJURY REPORT: Linebackers Brooks (left knee sprain), Quarles (wrist) and Jeff Gooch (ankle), left tackle Derrick Deese (left foot bone spur), receiver Charles Lee (hamstring) and guards Matt Stinchcomb (right calf strain) and Kerry Jenkins (right ankle sprain) are out. Others, including running back Charlie Garner, who has a sore hamstring, and receiver Tim Brown, who joined the team Tuesday, will be game-time decisions.
