Rookie hopes legal troubles are past

By RICK STROUD
Published April 30, 2005

TAMPA - Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie fullback Rick Razzano said he does not expect to stand trial again on felony aggravated assault charges after the case was declared a mistrial Monday.

A hung jury issued a 9-3 vote for acquittal on charges that Razzano, the Bucs' seventh-round draft choice from Mississippi, beat a man and caused injuries severe enough to require the victim spend two days in intensive care.

Prosecutors claim Razzano's wife, Leah, started the fight that occurred outside an Oxford, Miss., bar April3, 2004. They have not decided whether to try the case again.

Razzano, 24, said Friday he has put the incident behind him and was just happy to participate in the Bucs' rookie minicamp this weekend.

"It was the toughest thing I've had in my life," Razzano said. "I just think it made me and my wife a lot stronger going through it, and I'm glad it's over with now.

"The cloud definitely is not as dark now. ... It's been a lifelong dream of mine to play in the NFL, and when I got that call from coach ( Jon) Gruden, it was the most exciting time of my life besides getting married."

Bucs running backs coach Art Valero, who pushed hard for the team to draft Razzano, said he never believed the Rebels fullback would be convicted.

"I heard it from him, I'd heard it from the lawyer and I heard from a lot of different people, so it didn't bother me at all," Valero said. "I knew he was going to come out of it okay."

Valero said Razzano was one of a very few true fullbacks available in the draft.

"There's very few guys that are fullbacks anymore. There are former running backs that are fullbacks, but there's not any true grinder guys," Valero said. "Rick was that way, but he was pretty elusive. ... And probably the best thing about it was that he was able to play special teams."

Razzano could play a role as lead blocker for Mike Alstott in short yardage situations.

The list of auditioning players include Florida Atlantic quarterback Jared Allen, Valdosta State quarterback Fabian Walker, South Florida defensive end Craig Kobel and Notre Dame cornerback Carlos Campbell.

"I was pleased. I thought Jared Allen, our quarterback, did a heck of a job," Gruden said. "I was really pleased with him. (Tight end) Alex Smith looked good, made some plays. The four captains here today, our two young drafted linemen( Chris Colmer and Dan Beunning), my man ( Lynn) McGruder, the big defensive tackle from Oklahoma and Barrett Ruud led our team. We had some good comraderie. It was a good beginning today, very good."

"Some of these guys have interesting bios, interesting backgrounds, so we're going to continue to dig in and research on those guys before we make a final decision."

QUOTABLE: "They call Carnell "Cadillac.' I gave Barrett the nickname "Chevy Truck' or "Dodge Durango.' - Gruden.

TRANSACTION: The Bucs released tight end Billy Baber. Baber played in the regular-season finale at Arizona after signing as a free agent in December.

[Last modified April 30, 2005, 00:51:14]