Belongings of husband's new flame fanned fire

The wife of ex-Buc "Ricky" Reynolds says he violated a no-overnight-guest agreement.

By LISA BUIE, Times Staff Writer
Published August 28, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Victor Junco | Times] In 1987, Reynolds was a second-round pick by the Bucs out of Washington State. He played seven years with Tampa Bay, and had 17 interceptions. He then spent three years with the New England Patriots, where he earned his AFC Championship ring in 1995.

ST. LEO - Pamela Reynolds knew her estranged husband was seeing other women.

After a 20-year marriage, ex-Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Derrick "Ricky" Reynolds and his wife filed for divorce in May. The former high school sweethearts no longer shared a bedroom in their two-story home at the Lake Jovita private golf course community. For the sake of their three kids, they agreed not to have overnight guests.

But Sunday, after returning home two days early from an out-of-town trip, Pamela Reynolds found a black suitcase. She says it was in the bedroom; he says it was in the living room.

But no one disputes that Pamela Reynolds took the woman's clothes from the suitcase - along with some of her husband's football pictures, a laptop and a football - piled them in the brick-paved circular driveway and set them on fire, according to a Pasco County sheriff's report.

"He was going to put that woman in my bed," Pamela Reynolds, 41, said Monday. "That was a strict violation of our agreement."

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Derrick Reynolds, 42, told sheriff's deputies he and girlfriend, Lori Smith, 41, were with his children at Pin Chaser Bowling Lanes on Sunday when his wife called.

"Pamela told him he needed to get home because she was burning Lori's belongings that were left in the house," the report said. Derrick dropped Smith off at a Chili's in Zephyrhills while he went to calm Pamela. When he arrived at home, firefighters had extinguished the blaze, which was confined to the driveway. He noticed a large pile of ashes and what appeared to be some of his football pictures burned. He also expressed concern about his AFC Championship ring, which was missing from its case.

He didn't want his wife to go to jail, he told deputies, for the sake of their children, ages 16, 13 and 10.

Derrick Reynolds, who is listed on the sheriff's report as a coach for Lakeland High School, could not be reached for comment. A woman who answered the phone at the school said Reynolds was not a coach there. His wife said he delivers the Bucs report with sports anchor Chip Carter on Fox's WTVT-Ch. 13.

Fox officials did not return a call seeking comment.

In 1987, Reynolds was a second-round pick by the Bucs out of Washington State. He played seven years with Tampa Bay, and had 17 interceptions. He then spent three years with the New England Patriots, where he earned his AFC Championship ring in 1995.

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At Chili's on Sunday, a deputy questioned Smith. The Ohio woman said she came to the house so Reynolds' daughter could shower before the bowling trip. She said Derrick asked her to stay the night because his wife was not due back in town until Tuesday.

Pamela said she knows about her husband's relationship with Smith. What goes on between them off the property is their business, she said.

"I don't have a problem with what they do at a motel or what they do at her house in Ohio," she said. "But I have a problem with her belongings in my bedroom."

She offered no regrets about burning Smith's clothes and her husband's football memorabilia - for which she got a burn warning from deputies.

She couldn't give an inventory of the charred remains, which appeared to be two pairs of jeans, a necktie, an aerosol can, a squashed football, a framed photo that said Super Bowl XXXI, New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers. Another item, burned nearly beyond recognition, said "Fox Sports."

"I don't know what it was," she said. "It was all just garbage to me."

Lisa Buie can be reached at 813 909-4604 or toll free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 4604. Her e-mail address is buie@sptimes.com.

[Last modified August 27, 2007, 22:59:05]