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By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 2, 2001
Weakest Link
In the spirit of the Weakest Link, each day of training camp one Buc will get to vote on who or what should be thrown out: Nate Webster votes off The Sun.
"With the number of problems we're having with the heat, I vote the sun off. It's too hot."
NAME: Dauntae Finger.
HT/WT: 6-3; 255.
COLLEGE: North Carolina.
POSITION: Tight end.
NFL EXPERIENCE: Rookie.
HOMETOWN: Newton, N.C.
BACK IN THE DAY: Finger's highlight is the day he scored 35 points against Maiden High during his junior year. That's right, 35 points. Basketball is his first love and the way he figured, he would become a professional athlete. Unfortunately, he "didn't grow as much as I planned." The game was during a Christmas tournament against his school's biggest rival. He finished the year averaging 25 points and 13 rebounds.
BRUSH WITH GREATNESS: Finger has practiced or played against some of the greatest linemen to come out of college the past four years, but he considers his brush with greatness to be his grandmother. She raised him from age 5 after Finger's mother "got into a little bit of trouble," and she ruled with a stern hand. "There are so many reasons why I need her," he said. That ranks ahead of seeing Michael Jordan a few times while in school.
TO MAKE THE TEAM: Finger has to show the coaches he can play special teams and catch the ball as a tight end. Everybody knows he can block, but Finger knows the impetus will be on him to prove he can add some offensive skills to lineup.
WHAT'S HIS TAKE: When he needs a chance to get away from things, Finger goes to Wayne. That's his 1992 Nissan Maxima, and they're pretty close. "I'm at peace with myself when I'm washing him. He's pearl colored. But soon I plan on getting rid of him. It's about time. It's going to be sad. We've had a whole lot of good times."
"I know sometimes at night I have to force myself to drink water. The bad thing is that then I get mad because I have to get up three or four times during the night to use the bathroom." -- JAMES CANNIDA, defensive tackle on making sure he's well hydrated before each practice
TODAY: 3:30 Special teams.
FRIDAY: 8:30 a.m., pads; 3:30 p.m., shells.
SATURDAY: 8:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m.
* Practices are free and open to public.