Shepherd makes first score count

Three years spent waiting, working and wishing for a chance are culminated in one spectacular catch.

By JOANNE KORTH
Published November 14, 2005

TAMPA - Diving in the end zone to catch his first career touchdown in the game's final minute was a priceless experience for Edell Shepherd. Keeping the ball as a souvenir will cost him 50 bucks.

Worth every penny.

After two seasons spent toiling on practice squads and another languishing on injured reserve, Shepherd finally got the chance he'd been working toward Sunday. With starting receiver Michael Clayton sidelined with a knee injury, Shepherd was promoted to the No.3 receiver position against the Redskins.

He wasn't about to fail.

Shepherd's 30-yard touchdown with 58 seconds left helped save the Bucs from a heartbreaking loss.

"Unbelievable," coach Jon Gruden said.

Somehow, Shepherd took it in stride.

"I don't feel pressure," said Shepherd, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound native of Los Angeles who played at San Jose State. "My position coach came up to me before the game and asked me if I had butterflies. I said, "My stomach is hard as a rock.' I've been waiting for this for too long to be scared. Finally, I got an opportunity to make plays."

The Bucs are accustomed to getting big performances from veteran receiver Joey Galloway, who again delivered with a team-high seven catches for 131 yards and a touchdown. But Shepherd and Ike Hilliard, who made his first start of the season in Clayton's absence, gave the passing game a boost in what turned out to be a high-scoring shootout.

Shepherd caught three passes for 87 yards, including acareer-long 46-yarder on a deep pass from Chris Simms that set up a touchdown. Hilliard caught three passes for 37 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown, his first since joining the Bucs as a free agent in the offseason. Both scores came in the second half.

Hilliard was disappointed he didn't make a sliding catch in the end zone for what would have been his second touchdown with the Bucs trailing by seven late in the fourth quarter. But he was glad Shepherd came through on the next possession.

"Edell Shepherd has been here for some years now, had some injuries and worked his butt off," said Hilliard, a former Florida star who was a starter the past eight seasons with the Giants.

"With the injury to Mike, to come out here and make plays, it speaks volumes about his character and what we have here in the receiving corps. We have a lot of talent."

Shepherd, who entered the game with five career catches for 50 yards, still had a football tucked under his arm in the locker room well after changing into street clothes. The third-year player acted cool, but Galloway gave away just how excited Shepherd was after making the biggest play of his career.

"You owe me $50," Galloway said.

"What for?" Shepherd asked.

"For going and retrieving your ball," Galloway said.

"I had to go to the referee and get it. You were so excited, you threw it away."

It won't happen again.

[Last modified November 14, 2005, 01:04:15]