Bucs' Walker has answers for any straggling doubters

By ROGER MILLS and RICK STROUD
Published April 8, 2005

TAMPA - Bucs right tackle Kenyatta Walker is proud of the strides he made in 2004. More important, he thinks those should alleviate doubts about his role this year.

"I think last year, if (I gained) anything from this team, I gained respect," Walker said. "I feel, the year before, they didn't know who I was. Now, I feel that maybe I have a sense of (what's going on). I'm going into the fourth year with this system and it's not a headache.

"Practice is not hard any more. It's more about teaching and getting better. Tackles are getting paid a lot of money now, so it's a lot of motivation out there for me."

Entering his fifth season, Walker, 26, has been the subject of speculation concerning his future. Replaced by free agent Todd Steussie at the start of 2004, Walker regained his position after five games and started every game after that. The increased playing time allowed him to reach incentives in his contract that awarded a bonus of close to $2-million, bringing his 2005 salary to $2.5-million.

"I earned every thing I got last year," Walker said. "Everything I got. ... I went from leading the NFL with penalties to five penalties. I went from not starting to rotating back in, to taking my job from somebody they gave $5-million to, up front."

A ROOKIE NO MORE: Bucs receiver Michael Clayton is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery and was unable to participate in the three voluntary workouts this week. But it's still obvious the NFL's top rookie receiver no longer acts or is treated like a first-year player.

"I'm a little bit more experienced, as far as player to coach, they respect (me) a little more," Clayton said. "I'm just coming off of knee surgery, so they're giving me basically what I need to do to get back healthy 100 percent.

"In this game, it's about longevity. That's definitely a key to being in this league, you have to take care of your body. I'm learning from the veterans, you have to pace yourself."

Despite his limitations, Clayton made himself useful as a holder on field-goal attempts this week.

"I was always the backup holder," Clayton said. "They will bring in somebody else by the time they get serious because that is a key component for winning. We'll have a specialist out there."

RUNNING BACKS 'R' US: The Bucs continue to parade running backs through One Buc Place. Cal's J.J. Arrington and Louisiana Tech's Ryan Moats visited with the Bucs on Thursday, one day after the team welcomed Texas' Cedric Benson.

Bucs coach Jon Gruden is expected to travel to Alabama to meet with Auburn running back Ronnie Brown in the next few weeks. After Brown, Auburn's Carnell Williams and Benson, Arrington is considered by many to be the next best back in the draft. Arrington (5-foot-9, 214 pounds) rushed for 2,018 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Golden Bears last season. Moats (5-8, 210) rushed for 1,774 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2004 at Louisiana Tech.

Gruden will work out Utah quarterback Alex Smith in Salt Lake City Friday and Cal's Aaron Rodgers Saturday in California.

HOME COOKING: Newly acquired cornerback Juran Bolden can't stop smiling about finally playing for the Bucs. A Tampa native, the seven-year veteran said he relishes the opportunity to play in front of hometown fans.

"I've been dreaming about this for a long time, to get to have Thanksgiving dinners with Mom ... Christmas, too," said Bolden, who attended Hillsborough High School. "But seriously, your biggest fans are the people who grew up with you and know you from when you were a kid. I have my family right here supporting me. I don't have to worry about flying an hour away."

With Ronde Barber and Brian Kelly in place as starters, Bolden's primary role will be at nickelback, though there are plans for him to get some looks at safety.

"The opportunity I got here is to bring more leadership to the secondary," he said. "We have Ronde and Brian, proven guys. But if I can bring a little bit more size and physical presence, the better. It's exciting, other teams try to copy this defense, and I'm actually here trying to see why teams copy it.

"They told me to come here and find a spot to play. Whether it's at safety or at corner, come in here and make the defense a better defense and I'm excited."

QUIET MR. BROOKS: Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Brooks is recovering from knee tendinitis and not taking part in the early stages of the voluntary team workouts. The veteran of 10 seasons said he's letting the inexperienced players learn from early mistakes.

"I've been kind of keeping my muzzle on," Brooks said. "I want these guys to get used to making their own mistakes. In the past, I would yell out checks and go out of my way to do stuff. But right now, I'm just sitting back and allowing these kids to learn to do stuff on their own. They need to make mistakes right now. It's good, so they don't make them again."

49ERS: Defensive end Marques Douglas agreed to a three-year contract, leaving the Baltimore Ravens after six seasons. Douglas has spent all but a few months of his NFL career with the Ravens, where new 49ers coach Mike Nolan was his defensive coordinator for the last three years. He started 31 games for Baltimore over the past two seasons, getting 51/2 sacks and 48 tackles last year.

STEELERS: Veteran tight end Marco Battaglia was signed as a potential replacement for the recently released Jay Riemersma. Battaglia, 32, did not play in the NFL last season and has not caught a pass since the 2001 season with Washington. He has played 96 games in eight seasons with the Bengals, Redskins, Steelers and Panthers, catching 71 passes for 660 yards and two touchdowns. He was a second-round draft pick by Cincinnati in 1996.

Information from other news sources were used in this report.

[Last modified April 8, 2005, 00:34:10]