Bucs Dunn may miss a month [AP photo] Foot sprain sidelines the Bucs running back, who will be replaced by a committee. Alstott prepares to help fill Dunn void The fullback, whose role in the running game has been reduced, says he's ready to step up in the starting tailback's absence. Brooks sets team tackle mark TAMPA -- In the midst of a long day for the Bucs defense, linebacker Derrick Brooks showed why he has made four trips to the Pro Bowl.

John Romano
Tony, time to get a little wild
TAMPA -- There is a word to describe what we expect of the Bucs. It's a tantalizing word, one that sums up where the franchise has been and where it should be heading. A word with which we can all agree.

NFL
Niners get conservative to slip past Jets
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Efficiency overcame emotion Monday night as the San Francisco 49ers beat the Jets 19-17 in New York's first home game since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

New Orleans likely to keep Super Bowl
Tampa's dim prospect of hosting consecutive Super Bowls nearly vanished Monday as the NFL neared a deal to keep the game in New Orleans but move it back a week.

Devil Rays
Sturtze hits double-digit wins
The pitcher who has given the Rays a chance to win more often than not is rewarded with his 10th win, 10-3 over Boston.

Flaherty says he's likely done for '01
ST. PETERSBURG -- John Flaherty was back on the Rays bench Monday night but that doesn't mean he'll be back in the lineup anytime soon.

Lightning
Coach confronts pleasant problem
TAMPA -- Names and numbers are scribbled in a variety of combinations all over Lightning coach John Tortorella's lineup card, evidence of his ongoing personnel dilemmas.

NBA
For Orlando, it's all about blending talent
The Magic has six new players, not including the returning Grant Hill.

Motorsports
Wallace's bumbling leads to grumbling
That rumbling noise with less than 40 laps left in the Protection One 400 at Kansas Speedway was more than the roar of Winston Cup engines on the 1.5-mile track.

College football
Wyatt calls defense a name ... his
When Alvin Wyatt invests so much time, so much energy, so much attention to a facet of his team, he wants to make sure people know about it.

College football around the state
Up next for UF: LSU's struggling pass defense

Basketball
ThunderDawgs will not play upcoming season
When the American Basketball Association 2000 tips off next month, the Tampa Bay ThunderDawgs will not be in action.

Outdoors
Daily fishing report
Slightly cooler temperatures and fair amounts of rain have led to cooler flats temperatures. Coupled with the arrival of larger greenback, there now are excellent shallow water fishing opportunities.