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Bucs training camp report

[Times photo: Toni L. Sandys] Nick Rogers, 7, of Tampa gets wedged in tight spot as he waits for Tampa Bay Buccaneer quarterback Shaun King to autograph his football after Bucs practice Friday morning. Nick was attending the practice with his mom, Tracy Rogers, at the University of Tampa's Pepin/Rood Stadium.

By MIKE READLING

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 4, 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: John Lynch has opted to change the rules and vote someone back into the game rather than out. His choice, linebacker Derrick Brooks.

"We need to get him back on. Nothing against who's here, but it's time to get him back on."

Fresh faces

NAME: Frank Rice

HT/WT: 6-0;175

COLLEGE: Colorado State

POSITION: Wide receiver

NFL EXPERIENCE: Rookie

HOMETOWN: Los Angeles

BACK IN THE DAY: Rivalry games are always the most memorable but when you contribute heavily to a win, it makes it that much better. During his senior year, Rice caught five balls for 115 yards and two touchdowns as his Rams defeated Colorado. It was the first time in 15 years Colorado State beat Colorado two times in a row.

BRUSH WITH GREATNESS: When he was growing up in L.A., Rice was one of thousands of kids who wanted to grow up to be Marcus Allen. When he got his chance to meet him at a Los Angeles car show, he didn't pass up the opportunity. "My dad gave me a piece of paper, something, anything to get his autograph on," Rice said. "I still have that paper to this day. He was one of the biggest things going."

TO MAKE THE TEAM: Rice believes he has to stay confident in order to give himself a shot to get on the roster. His speed is the one thing he thinks will set him apart. "You have to be confident. You can't second guess yourself because if you do, that's the first time you lose," he said.

WHAT'S HIS TAKE: Rice's father owns two Popeye's restaurants in Los Angeles and Rice can't get enough of the chicken. He's worked there, he's eaten there every night some weeks and he knows the secret recipe, though he's not telling that part. "We all grew up having to put in our time in the restaurant. My sister and I used to sleep on the sacks of rice and flour in the back. The spicy chicken breasts, that's what I like. But I've cooked in the past two nights because I've had so much of it lately."

Quotable

"I felt like James Brown. "I feel good.' " (You knew that he would.) -- BRAD JOHNSON, quoting the Godfather of Soul to describe his first day of practice.

Practice schedule

TODAY: 8:30-10:30 a.m. scrimmage.

SUNDAY: Off.

* Practices are free and open to public.

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