When their paths first crossed in Philadelphia, Jon Gruden nicknamed Charlie Garner I.O. for instant offense. Now with the Bucs, Gruden is counting on I.O.
By RICK STROUD
Published September 12, 2004
TAMPA - From time to time, Charlie Garner will catch his younger teammates staring at it, a zippered, 10-inch vertical scar on his left knee.
"That's a dinosaur cut, man," Garner said. "They don't cut like that anymore. A lot of guys (are surprised to) see that. I say, "Yeah, that's right, I was around when they used to cut like that.' "
Garner laughs. It's a nice departure because most of the time the Bucs' 32-year-old running back is as serious as a prison guard.
"I've always had a little personality, but I don't show it to a lot of people," Garner said. "You get these young kids who talk about their money, their women, their cars and their houses. The older guys? All we're pursuing is a ring. If you don't have that ring, that's all you're playing for."
No matter how you identify Garner - a tailback, halfback or scatback - he is best described as a throwback. Like the surgical scar, he wears his old school heritage as a badge of honor.
Doubters are fuel to Garner, and he's had plenty to power him. It's a lesson he learned as a student at Glasgow Intermediate in Falls Church, Va., 20 years ago when sizing up a 5-foot-8, 180-pound guest speaker, Redskins cornerback Darrell Green.
"The significant thing was him being at my school and saying, "Don't let anyone tell you you can't do this because they told me I couldn't and look at me,' " Garner recalled. "Ten years later, I'm hitting him with a stiff arm. My parents were loving it and I was having a great time. I said, "Darrell, nice to meet you.' "
At 5-10, 190, Garner will cast the largest shadow in the Bucs offense. With Michael Pittman serving a three-game suspension, coach Jon Gruden could call on Garner to touch the ball 25 to 30 times a game.
History suggests that running backs hit a wall after the age of 30. But Garner seems to get better. Since 1999, the only players who have more yards from scrimmage are the elite backs: Marshall Faulk, Curtis Martin, Edgerrin James, Ricky Williams and Priest Holmes.
Two years ago, Garner fell just short of becoming the third back in NFL history - behind Faulk in 2000 and Roger Craig in '84 - to gain 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. He led the Raiders' top-ranked offense to the Super Bowl by rushing for 962 yards and catching 90 passes for 941 yards.
In fact, four times Garner had better than 5 yards per carry. He has not fallen below a 4-yard rushing average since his rookie season.
"I know, personally, the difference he can make in a football team," Gruden said. "This guy is the Energizer Bunny."
That's why the Bucs signed Garner to a six-year, $20-million contract, including a $4-million signing bonus, even though he was coming off surgery for a torn meniscus.
Garner took the long road to the NFL. He was all-state at running back and defensive back in Virginia. He went to junior college in Arizona, where he onced rushed for 430 yards in a game, then he transferred to Tennessee. After leading the Vols in rushing for consecutive seasons, he was a second-round choice of the Eagles in 1994.
Gruden was offensive coordinator in Philadelphia from 1995 to 1997, but unfortunately for Garner, he was behind Ricky Watters, one of the most complete backs in the game. After four seasons as a backup, he signed as a free agent with the 49ers, where he posted consecutive 1,000-yard seasons before reuniting with Gruden in 2000 at Oakland.
When Gruden was with the Eagles, he nicknamed Garner I.O., instant offense.
Tim Brown, who played for four seasons with Garner in Oakland, says the moniker is well-deserved.
"If Charlie is on the football field, he's going to give you everything he has," Brown said. "He was incredible for us in Oakland for three or four years. In this offense with Gruden, knowing how to use him, if he can just stay healthy, I think he's going to have another spectacular year."
The Bucs were determined to keep Garner healthy for the season opener, limiting him to one preseason game and a few carries.
"We'll find out how he does," quarterback Brad Johnson said. "I know he makes plays. It's a little different when he's in there. He's able to make excitement happen. He has a lot of savvy. We have the luxury if he does go down, somebody can step in and the train keeps rolling. But Charlie is a special kind of guy and he's shown it with his numbers and play in the past."
Garner, of course, doesn't dwell on the past. If he did, it would be difficult for him to live with his new teammates. Linebacker Derrick Brooks needles him about having more yards on an interception return for a touchdown than Garner had at running back in the Bucs' 48-21 win over the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII.
"I tell 'em they're living in the past," Garner said. "This is my 11th year. I've learned to let that go."
Beginning today at FedEx Field, the Bucs might only go as far as Garner takes them. When he signed, he made just one prediction: "If I get my burst back, it's going to be on."
One day during the second week of training camp, Garner was asked if that burst had returned.
"Did you see practice today?" Garner asked. "It's back. It's on."
