Riled Gruden sends message to Clayton

By JOANNE KORTH, Times Staff Writer
Published September 24, 2007

With the Bucs driving in the final minutes of the first half, receiver Michael Clayton was wide open across the middle but didn't secure a pass from Jeff Garcia. Audio: Shelton: 'Garcia could run for mayor' Photo gallery
	[JAMES BORCHUCK | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [BRIAN CASSELLA | Times] Linebacker Derrick Brooks argues a penalty call against him that negated a touchdown by Phillip Buchanon. Brooks hit tight end Randy McMichael well after Buchanon took McMichael's legs out from under him because Brooks did not think McMichael was down.

TAMPA - After two plays on which receiver Michael Clayton failed to hold onto the ball, coach Jon Gruden had seen enough. He pulled the fourth-year pro.

Neither man was happy.

With the Bucs driving in the final minutes of the first half, Clayton was wide open across the middle but didn't secure a pass from Jeff Garcia.Two plays later, Clayton fumbled at the end of a 12-yard reception to the Rams30-yard line. Tight end Alex Smith recovered, and the drive resulted in a 27-yard field goal.

But not all was forgiven.

Gruden expressed his displeasure to Clayton, and Clayton responded. The exchange was far from heated, but each made his point known.

"He dropped the ball. Then he fumbled the ball," Gruden said. "I'm sure he's mad at me for taking him out of the football game, as I'm sure Carnell Williams is. But you know, for us to be the offensive team that we're going to be here, then we do not turn the ball over and we handle the ball better than everybody in the league."

Gruden sent a similar message to Williams after the running back fumbled the ball away early in the fourth quarter. He didn't have another carry.

Clayton was replaced by Maurice Stovall, but he returned in the series.

"Michael had a chance to make an impact play, wide open in the middle of the field," Gruden said. "You've got to secure the catch first. I don't think he's going through anything, other than he struggled with a couple of opportunities that are usually routine for him. We're going to need him. He's a talented guy. We're going to need more from him."

After the fumble, Garcia ran up to Clayton and got in his face to offer words of encouragement.

"I told him to battle through it, keep your head up," Garcia said. "He's a playmaker. It's important for me to give him those opportunities. I believe in the guy. It was just a stretch of two tough plays."

BROOKS' BEEF: Linebacker Derrick Brooks disagreed with personal foul penalties called against him and cornerbackRonde Barber for a late hit and taunting, respectively. The calls came two plays apart in the third quarter, giving the Rams first and goal at the 10.

Brooks hit tight end Randy McMichael well after cornerback Phillip Buchanontook McMichael's legs out from under him because Brooks did not think McMichael was down. Barber celebrated a hit by Barrett Ruud while standing over receiver Dante Hall.

"That was a horrible call," Brooks said of his unnecessary roughness penalty. "There was no whistle blown. Randy McMichael was not down, and one ref said he went down, and the other one said because he thought the forward progress was stopped, that's why he threw the (flag). And even worse than that was the call after that on Ronde. Those two plays, we did a good job as a veteran defense to keep our composure."

Buchanon intercepted Marc Bulger in the end zone to kill the drive, so no damage was done.

"Uncharacteristic fouls," Gruden said. "But one of those fouls (the one on Ronde) was out of excitement. ... It's one of the things the NFL is cracking down on. It might be ticky-tack in my opinion, but I'm trying to coach excitement back into our football team. I'll take that one on me."

INJURY REPORT: Safety Sabby Piscitelli, who left the game with a foot injury, said he felt something pop. He wore a boot and used crutches in the locker room.

Times staff writers Stephen F. Holder, Gary Shelton and Rick Stroud contributed to this report.

[Last modified September 23, 2007, 22:17:51]