Frank Murphy has faced cuts before, but this time confidence is high.
By ROGER MILLS
Published August 27, 2004
TAMPA - It makes perfect sense for receiver Frank Murphy to enter the final week of preseason wondering about his future with the Bucs.
After all, he is a bubble player trying to make the team. He has been cut before, three times to be exact. And the truth is, despite the absence of Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicius, he still is a few names back on the depth chart.
But these are different times and this is a different Murphy. The dropped passes are rare, the speed is evident, the knowledge of the offense is significantly improved. And none of that, receivers coach Richard Mann said, compares to the strides he has made in the general understanding of what is required and when.
"This time around, he knows what is expected of him and he's gotten a taste of this offense once before, so he's coming in with a good background as to what is coming," Mann said. "He still has a lot to learn because he's a guy that's changing over (from running back to receiver). He's been there for a couple of years but really hasn't played a lot as a receiver."
Entering his fourth season, Murphy has played in 17 regular-season games with eight receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. The 6-foot, 206-pounder was solid during training camp in Orlando and has a team-high five catches for 65 yards in two preseason games.
"It's been a good training camp for me. I can't ask for a better training camp," said Murphy, who sat out last season after being cut by the Texans in the preseason. "I had a good one last year, but I felt more experienced and more relaxed this time around. It's probably one of my best.
"There's no pressure on me. When they call my number I'm just going to have fun, stay hyped and stay enthusiastic."
Coach Jon Gruden said Murphy's improvements are obvious.
"He's catching the ball, he's showing versatility," Gruden said. "He can not only play split end but he can play in our three- and four-receiver sets. He's just more acclimated to the offense; he's more instinctive, more comfortable, and he's making more plays because of that."
Given the uncertain situation with McCardell's holdout and Jurevicius' surgically repaired back, the Bucs wasted little time bringing in veteran receivers Tim Brown and Bill Schroeder to fill those voids. It meant that Murphy, along with others such as Charles Lee, D'Wayne Bates, Marcus Knight, Danny Farmer and rookie Mark Jones, find themselves in a dogfight for one or two spots.
Murphy, 27, has been working on making the decision easy.
"Frank's a very explosive player," quarterback Brad Johnson said. "The thing with him is just being consistent, not only in games but in practice and walk-throughs. He's improved quite a bit over the past couple of years. And he's been very impressive so far through training camp."
And if the Bucs send him packing at the end of this week or when the final cuts are made next week, it won't be until after Murphy has made an argument for a spot on special teams.
The former running back has the downhill, running-in-a-crowd background that is helpful to a kick returner.
"I have been solid on special teams and I want to continue to take it seriously," Murphy said. "I love special teams, love it. I'm proud of what I can do on special teams. It's all about fun."
He has averaged 31.5 yards on his two returns in the preseason.
"Every time I think about it, I want to run straight, fast and take it to the house," he said. "I let my team do the job of setting up the block, and I hit the hole hard. I think we're doubting ourselves if we don't think we can score on every kickoff."
The Bucs aren't going to guarantee Murphy anything and have challenged him, and the rest of the fringe players, to find a way to impress between now and late next week.
"The problem they have now is that they know they are getting close to the end of training camp and they are getting a little bit more added pressure, self-imposed pressure," Mann said. "He's got to hold his composure and do what he's doing and hopefully do it a little bit better."
Murphy said it's counterproductive to worry.
"These two games, I don't plan on thinking about (being cut)," Murphy said. "I'm going to go out there and have fun. I know a lot of people put a lot of pressure on themselves about cuts and stuff like that, but, it's out of your control. If God has a plan for you, it's going to be."
And it may to be on special teams.
"We feel like if he has a chance to make the team," Mann said, "he has to be a real good special-teams player, and I think he realizes that."
