Hegamin filling in, with a purpose

With Jason Odom out with a back injury, the tallest Buc is trying to earn a starting role.

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By RICK STROUD

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 8, 2000

TAMPA -- George Hegamin is the Bucs' tallest player at 6 feet 7. But even without such a rare vantage point, he could see his role wasn't likely to change after the Bucs signed him in November.

"I was pretty much an insurance policy last year," Hegamin said.

But with no assurance that injured starter Jason Odom will recover from back pain, Hegamin may be counted on to begin the regular-season at left tackle.

"I have to think like that," Hegamin said. "Although coaches may have a different scenario, I'm not thinking that I'm just doing this temporarily. I'm just going to do it for as long as they allow me to do it."

Hegamin started Friday night's preseason opener against Washington. Odom, who had back surgery in the off-season, has not practiced since the second day of camp.

On Monday, the Bucs consulted again with Dr. Craig Brigham, the Charlotte, N.C., neurologist who performed Odom's surgery. Brigham confirmed his earlier prognosis that the fifth-year tackle from Florida should be able to return to practice soon.

Trainer Todd Toriscelli said Odom has some inflammation of the nerve tissue between the vertebrae that is causing pain. He is being treated with rest and anti-inflammatories.

The Bucs received some good news Monday when Pete Pierson, who backed up Odom last season, returned after missing last week with a hamstring strain.

If Pierson, who started the NFC Championship game, is 100 percent healthy, he will start Thursday night's game at Miami, coach Tony Dungy said.

However, Hegamin is considering the left tackle job as his until the Bucs take it away.

"That's basically my plan, to make them not have to go that route," Hegamin said. "Anybody who is in a backup position to begin with, you have to take it upon yourself and say "I'm going to be prepared to do whatever it is they need me to do.' I'm thankful I've been prepared enough to make them not have to look past me."

Dungy said that while the Bucs plan to have Odom back, he is comfortable with Hegamin or Pierson, who have a combined 22 starts in 13 seasons.

"(Hegamin) is a versatile guy. He has played and been in some big games," Dungy said. "He played at Dallas when they were rolling pretty well. I think that gives you a sense of comfort that this isn't a guy who hasn't been in those situations. He has and so has Pete. Pete played in the NFC Championship game.

"Pete was back today and getting him back is going to help. We're still proceeding on the idea that Jason is going to be there."

General manager Rich McKay said the team has no target date on which Odom must return to practice in order to reclaim his left tackle job. When asked if it was possible Odom might not play this season, McKay was non-committal.

"I don't know that. I don't think we're necessarily concerned about that right now," McKay said.

Offensive line coach Chris Foerster said he was eager to get all his tackles healthy so the line, which might have three new starters, could begin to build some continuity.

"All we want is to have guys that can be there every day," Foerster said. "So whether it's George, Pete or Jason. Whoever it is, let's get them there and get to work and start to build the timing."

- Staff writer Roger Mills contributed to this report.

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