TAMPA - He was supposed to provide a spark to the Bucs' struggling offense, and he did. But running back Michael Pittman won't be celebrating his return to the lineup.
Sure, he rushed for 72 yards on 15 carries and at times looked every bit the back who ran for 124 yards in the Super Bowl XXXVII win two years ago.
But Sunday, in a 16-13 loss to the Broncos, Pittman said his solid performance meant little in the end.
"I knew I was going to have a big role," Pittman said. "Coach (Jon) Gruden was counting on me. My teammates were counting on me, and I was looking forward to getting back. ... I guess I didn't do good enough because we didn't win the game.
"I was trying to do what I can to get the offense to move the ball and to try to supply a spark for this team. But obviously, I didn't do enough for us to get the ball in the end zone."
Truth is, Pittman did plenty.
Playing in his first game since serving a three-game suspension to start the season for violating the NFL's conduct policy, Pittman didn't look like a player who had spent the past three weeks working out on his own, minus contact.
He ran strong. He waited on his blocks. He finished off each carry with a dip of the shoulder and a touch of attitude.
"It felt good," Pittman said. "Obviously, you're nervous, and when you're nervous you get winded a bit. But after that first pop, it felt good and I was ready to go."
Pittman rushed for 25 yards on his first four carries and set a tone for the rest of the running game.
"It was great to see Mike in the game," quarterback Brad Johnson said. "He really hit the hole well today, really added some explosion."
Added backup running back Jamel White: "Pitt did his thing. He was ready to come in, you could tell. But he also told me to be ready to come in when he needed a blow."
Running backs coach Art Valero said conditioning was the only concern.
"Michael certainly made some plays for us," Valero said. "He was fresh-legged. Now, he got a little winded there at one point, but that's to be expected from a guy seeing his first game in almost a month. He kept himself in good shape, and I'm sure he'll be sore tomorrow, but it'll be a good soreness."
In his seventh season, Pittman said he could not have had such a solid first game had it not been for White's work off the bench and the blocking of Mike Alstott and the offensive line.
"Every time Mike made a big block out, or the offensive line made a block there, I told them thanks," said Pittman, who led the Bucs with 751 yards last season. "Without them blocking for me, I would have no yards. They opened up lanes for me and I appreciate them. They were blocking their butts off for me."
And to prove the team effort, White picked up where Pittman left off, gaining 17 yards on four carries.
"I think having the 1-2 punch was a good thing," White said. "Having Pitt in there doing what he does, and then having me come in and do something a little different, gives us fresh legs."
The only question was Pittman's conditioning, and Gruden apparently showed no mercy.
"He got me enough (carries)," Pittman said. "I was a little winded out there, I'm not going to lie. It was my first week back. It's hard to get in football shape. You have to get out there. You have to get tackled. You have to get hit. It's a different conditioning. It's hard to get in football shape. But, he gave me the ball enough and I appreciate it; I just wish I could have done more to help us win."
Added Valero: "Seeing Mike able to do those things is proof that is something he'll be able to do as the games come along. Any time you don't get it done on the scoreboard, you're looking for positive things, and I think those things are something you can build on."
