Sports: With Brooks out, linebackers shifted

With Brooks out, linebackers shifted

By RICK STROUD and ROGER MILLS

TAMPA -- Fearing the holdout of All-Pro Derrick Brooks could be a long one, the Bucs moved Shelton Quarles to Brooks' spot at weakside linebacker.

It means fifth-year backup Al Singleton is the new starter at Quarles' strongside linebacker spot. Singleton made his first appearance of training camp with the starting unit Wednesday night.

"We've moved Shelton over to the weakside and that has moved Al up to the first team on the strongside position," coach Tony Dungy said. "That's where we're heading right now."

Singleton's presence with the starting unit Wednesday was unexpected considering the initial plan was to keep Quarles at his position and move former starter Jeff Gooch into Brooks' spot. A former standout at Temple, Singleton, who turns 26 Tuesday, has been a steady backup for the Bucs the past four seasons and has excelled mostly on special teams. Regardless of what happens when Brooks returns, Dungy said Singleton has an opportunity to prove himself.

"He feels, "This is my shot and I'm going to get a chance to show what I can do,' " Dungy said. "Now, he's not happy that Derrick's not here, but he's very happy about getting a shot to play and show what he can do and get in there with the starting group. He's going to make the most of it and guys have done that and done well."

Safety John Lynch said Singleton is one of the team's fiercest competitors.

"I don't know if the untrained eye recognizes what a competitor he is," Lynch said. "He plays the game so violently. I mean violently. It's kind of like how (former Buc) Hardy Nickerson used to.

"When he makes a move it's not a subtle move it's a powerful one. He plays it so violently. If you can use it to your advantage you can become a hell of a player."

B. JOHNSON, ANTHONY EXPECTED BACK: Starting quarterback Brad Johnson will return to practice today but be limited to mostly individual drills.

Johnson has missed five workouts with a laceration about his left knee that required 15 stitches. Doctors have decided not to remove the stitches as of yet, but cleared Johnson for limited duty.

"We'll probably start him in individual drills (today) and let him kind of work his way back in," Dungy said. "We're happy with the way it's coming, and it doesn't look like it's going to be a long-term problem."

Johnson said doctors are cautious about removing the stitches because they don't want to risk infection or reinjuring the knee.

"It's a deep cut," Johnson said. "We want to make sure it heals. I'll probably just be held out of the team work for a little while."

Receiver Reidel Anthony, who has not practiced because of an ankle sprain in off-season workouts, will return to practice at least by Monday.

"There's a chance he might be able to do a little something Saturday, but we'll probably wait and just have him start on Monday. He's coming along just fine," Dungy said.

Anthony, who caught 15 passes -- four for touchdowns -- could play a bigger role.

"He made a lot of big catches last year," Dungy said. "He didn't make a lot of catches, but the ones he made were big and there's no reason he shouldn't be a 40 to 45 catch guy. He's got that type of talent."

POLICIES REVIEWED: The Bucs will comply with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue's request to review their policies and procedures in preventing heat related incidents.

Dungy said the team monitors the heat index before each workout but was uncertain at what temperature they would be prohibited from practicing.

"I suppose there probably is one. To be honest, I don't know what it is," he said. "I know we're in a situation where we probably have 25 days a year where we're not comfortable being out there. So I don't think you can go by that. But we've gotten to the point since I've been here when they've said you can't go out.

"When I was in Kansas City we had that. Again, it never got to the point where we couldn't go out. But it was always discussed, the heat index is such and such today.

Dungy said players have to seek treatment when they recognize the signs of heat exhaustion.

"The heat is physiological and you have to understand that and understand there are some things working when you get overheated, you can't just will your way out of it or think your way out of it," Dungy said.

DUAL ROLES: Dungy said what has made Dexter Jackson valuable is his ability to play both corner and safety. At 5 feet 10, 210 pounds, rookie cornerback Dwight Smith has the build of a safety and has a chance to play both positions, Dungy said.

"He may be able to (do both) eventually," Dungy said. "We're working him so much at corner now we really aren't thinking of him at safety. But eventually, I think that's something we could do."

BUCS BITS: Dungy said he expected left guard Randall McDaniel and center Jeff Christy, both former Vikings who played several seasons with Korey Stringer, to attend his funeral, scheduled for Monday. ... Running back Rabih Abdullah, on excused leave since camp opened Sunday, was expected in Thursday night.

INJURY REPORT: Receiver Alex Willis (mild concussion) is expected to return to practice Friday. Guard Russ Hochstein (right hand fracture) is expected to see limited action on Friday. Receiver Frank Murphy sprained the AC joint in his right shoulder in Wednesday morning's practice but has not missed practice. Anthony (sprained left ankle) and punter Mark Royals (right MCL sprain) remain sidelined. Receiver Frank Rice (right hamstring strain), cornerback Terrance Parrish (right Achilles' strain) and running back Jamie Wilson (left hamstring strain) all missed practice for the second straight day.