Sports: Slight injury won't dismay upbeat Leaf

Slight injury won't dismay upbeat Leaf

By RICK STROUD and ROGER MILLS

TAMPA -- Quarterback Ryan Leaf grimaced, then shook his right wrist after a throw in passing drills Sunday. It was an injury that forced him to miss most of the final minicamp workout.

Leaf sprained his wrist, aggravating an injury sustained in October against the Seattle Seahawks.

Leaf said the injury is not considered serious and he should be healthy when the Bucs resume off-season workouts in two weeks.

"It's just a lot of throwing in minicamp," the quarterback said. "I've got a week off so I can rest it and get back to work."

Competition among Brad Johnson, Shaun King and Leaf is fierce.

"It was great. I'll tell you what, it was a great tempo," Leaf said. "And that's great because it's going to get you in shape. It gets everyone on a good pace. I'm really enjoying it right now."

Leaf said he will remain in Tampa during the off-season and tour the area this week: "We're going to do Tampa. We haven't really been around."

LAST WORD: The three-day minicamp concluded Sunday.

"I thought it was a very good weekend," coach Tony Dungy said. "I thought our young guys did a good job of trying to learn what we want to get done and I thought our veterans did a good job of leading."

The rookies return May 15 for a month of workouts. The Bucs have 14 practices scheduled the last week in May and the first week in June.

"It's strictly voluntary," Dungy said. "But we get a lot of participation."

NEW SKIPPER: Former Rays manager Larry Rothschild made an appearance at minicamp as a guest of general manager Rich McKay. Rothschild appeared rested and relaxed.

CATCHING A BREAK: Wide receiver Jacquay Nunnally, 5 feet 10 and 200 pounds, was overlooked in the draft. So the NCAA Division I and I-AA career leader in catches signed as a free agent with the Bucs.

"I know I have the skills to play on this league," said Nunnally, who broke Jerry Rice's record while playing four years at Florida A&M. "It's just that I can't get nervous and let my skills diminish when the coach is watching. I've got to keep focused and play the same way I've been playing all time."

As prolific as Nunnally was in FAMU's pass-happy Gulf Coast offense, he is far down the depth chart.

"I proved that I could catch the ball on the college level but I haven't proven anything on the NFL level," he said. "Until I prove that on the professional level, it's like I have never caught a ball in my life."