Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Injuries again bedevil Bucs

[Times photo: Thomas M. Goethe] Linebacker Byron Thweatt closes in on running back Warrick Dunn at Monday's practice. Today's workouts are closed to the public.

By DARRELL FRY and ROGER MILLS

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 7, 2001

TAMPA -- At this rate, the Bucs won't need to make cuts to get to the 53-man roster limit.

Three players went down with injuries or illnesses Monday and two others may be more seriously injured than thought.

Backup fullback Charles Kirby ruptured his left Achilles' tendon and is out for the season. Rookie tight end Dauntae Finger was carted off the practice field and taken by ambulance to St. Joseph's Hospital after developing an irregular heartbeat. And rookie cornerback Dwight Smith was held out of the afternoon practice because of dehydration symptoms.

Quarterback Shaun King, who is nursing a strained right shoulder from Saturday, couldn't throw more than a few passes although an MRI showed no damage, and receiver Jacquez Green indicated his right hamstring injury isn't improving.

Midway through the afternoon practice, Finger complained of light-headedness and shortness of breath. An examination revealed an irregular heartbeat and a high pulse rate, prompting the trip to the hospital.

He was kept overnight for evaluation. Coach Tony Dungy said the incident was not heat-related and Finger, 24, may return to practice today.

"I didn't feel quite right out there," Finger said in a statement released by the team. "Obviously it is really hot out there, but I have been taking the necessary precautions to hydrate myself like the trainers and coaches have been talking to us about. I feel fine and I'm looking forward to getting back with my teammates."

During the morning workout, Smith had headaches and dehydration symptoms. He sat out the afternoon practice and is listed as day-to-day.

Kirby's injury, the second season-ending Achilles' injury of his career, leaves the Bucs with only two healthy fullbacks in camp (Rabih Abdullah and rookie Jameel Cook). Dungy said the team will scout for a replacement but is not likely to sign anyone.

King experienced tightness in his shoulder after only a few throws and then took it easy. He could return to practice as early as today.

"We want to get him in as soon as possible, as soon as he's comfortable and feels good throwing," Dungy said. "We're not going to rush him back if he has any discomfort at all." Green, who missed Saturday's practice, had hoped to return to the field Monday. "I thought it was okay, but then (the pain) went up my leg, all the way to my butt," Green said. "I hope to be back at least by Thursday. ... It's been frustrating."

JOINING THE BANDWAGON: Count Joe Theismann among those high on the Bucs. The NFL-quarterback-turned-broadcaster spent Monday at camp and stamped the Bucs as Super Bowl contenders.

"This team, right now, is positioned to really make a run at a championship," he said. "I think in past years they could run the ball well and play great defense, but I think they found out that only gets you into the playoffs.

"These additions they made, I think, give them a more balanced football team and one that can provide some points to help the defense.

"I think in the past guys got caught up in everyone saying they were going to be really good. Now I think they want to prove they are good."

GET BACK TO HIM TODAY: Wide receiver Reidel Anthony tested his injured ankle, completing the morning workout, but sitting out the afternoon session after feeling discomfort.

"It felt good at the beginning of practice, but towards the middle my Achilles' tightened up a little bit," he said. "But that comes with the territory because I'm trying to keep more pressure off my ankle and that messes up the Achilles'. But other than that, it felt pretty good out there."

Anthony said he expects to return to practice today.

MORE INJURIES: An MRI confirmed that Pro Bowl fullback Mike Alstott has a moderate left hamstring strain.

"He didn't have as much swelling as we thought he might, so that could be a pretty good sign," Dungy said. "We're estimating two weeks and then go from there." Linebacker Jamie Duncan (right hamstring strain) sat out of practice for the second day. Cornerback Anthony Midget (left hamstring strain) is expected to miss practice today. Punter Mark Royals (right knee strain) remains sidelined. Cornerback Terrance Parrish (right Achilles' strain) and running back Jamie Wilson (left hamstring strain) missed practice for the fourth straight day.

SAYING GOODBYE TO A FRIEND: Offensive linemen Randall McDaniel and Jeff Christy attended the funeral of Vikings lineman Korey Stringer.

McDaniel and Christy played alongside Stringer in Minnesota for five seasons. Stringer died of heatstroke last week. BY THE WAY: Today's practices are closed to the public because of the team's annual Family Day for players, coaches and staff.

THEY GOT IT RIGHT: Usually action figures bear little resemblance to their real-life counterparts, but the latest production by comic-book-artist-turned-toy-mogul Todd McFarlane has pleased Pro Bowl defensive tackle Warren Sapp.

McFarlane, creator of the Spawn comic, has created 12 NFL action figures. The first six -- Sapp, Tennessee's Eddie George, Dallas' Emmitt Smith, Minnesota's Randy Moss, Indianapolis' Edgerrin James and St. Louis' Kurt Warner -- were on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame last weekend in Canton, Ohio. They go on sale in September for $10.99 each.

The detailed Sapp figure shows the All-Pro in a three-point stance with braided hair hanging outside his helmet. The figure even has grass stains.

"I'm loving it," Sapp said. "Anything that comes from Canton, I'm loving."

The second wave of action figures, which includes Wayne Chrebet, Marvin Harrison, Brian Urlacher and Daunte Culpepper, is scheduled for release in October.

NEW TIME: The Saturday afternoon practice between the Bucs and the Dolphins has been moved to 4 p.m. and will last two hours. The teams also will practice together at 3 p.m. Friday , and at 9 a.m. Saturday.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright