Gruden ends trip to Disney bit early

By JOANNE KORTH
Published August 17, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [AP photo] Coach Jon Gruden canceled the final practice of training camp and sent everyone home early.

LAKE BUENA VISTA - Players awoke Thursday to good news. Coach Jon Gruden canceled the final practice of training camp and sent everyone home early.

By 8:30 a.m., the last of the training tables was being loaded into a moving van and Hotel Celebration was getting back to normal after catering to the team for three weeks.

The Bucs have scheduled a walkthrough for today at MacDill Air Force base with all military personnel invited to the final preparation for Saturday night's preseason game at Jacksonville.

The event is closed to the public.

FAMILY TREE: Newly signed fullback Zach Tuiasosopo, 25, has a ways to go to make the final roster, but he won't be lacking for advice on how to succeed in athletics.

The Tuiasosopo family features several immediate and extended members who have played in the NFL, including brother Marques and father Manu, in addition to at least five uncles and cousins. Several others played Division I football.

Also, Zach's older sister, Leslie, was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection in volleyball at Washington, and his brother Matt played in the Mariners' minor-league system.

While Marques, a standout quarterback at Washington now with the Jets, might be the best known, Zach said, "I know about what my uncles have done and what my family members have done.

"I'm just really proud of them like any family member would be."

So what are gatherings like for this Samoan family?

"Our family reunions are pretty big," said Zach, who is 6 feet 2, 245 pounds.

"And there's a lot of football talk. And in the culture we come from, a lot of guys do play because of their size."

FINAL FEAST: In keeping with tradition, the players celebrated the end of training camp Wednesday night by dining out. The entire defense had reservations at Emeril's with the rookie class required to pick up what was sure to be a hefty tab.

"That's really the only hazing we do," veteran defensive lineman Ellis Wyms said. "We don't make guys sing or throw guys in tubs. We just make them pay for everything. We get them in the wallet."

For the first time in several years, there were a few rookie defenders to split the bill. The Bucs used seven of their 10 draft picks on defense. End Gaines Adams, the No. 4 overall pick, signed a six-year, $46-million deal.

"We actually had a guy one year who had to call his financial adviser to get a loan to pay for the bill," Wyms said. "It's all in fun. Guys have to pay their dues coming into the league."

LET'S GET PHYSICAL: One of the offseason goals was to become a bigger, more physical team.

That will be tested by the Jaguars, who like to run on offense and intimidate with the strength of their front seven on defense.

"They have physically taken it to us," Gruden said. "Their defense has been more physical than we've been offensively in the last two or three outings. You're not going to find a defense that's more physical than the Jaguars."

Times staff writer Stephen F. Holder contributed to this report. Joanne Korth can be reached at korth@sptimes com or 727 893-8810.

[Last modified August 17, 2007, 00:27:48]