Sports: Give Brooks a week to catch up, Rice says

Give Brooks a week to catch up, Rice says

By ROGER MILLS and RICK STROUD

TAMPA -- Linebacker Derrick Brooks returned to the team Wednesday night after missing the first 11 days of training camp. But don't think the layoff will put the four-time Pro Bowl player too far behind his teammates.

One Buc who has been through a far more lengthy holdout said an athlete of Brooks' skill will be in shape in no time.

Defensive end Simeon Rice, who held out the entire training camp and missed the first game last season with the Cardinals, said he didn't take long to get into the groove.

"Basically, I got up every day and trained and worked out for about eight hours," Rice said of his holdout. "I kept trying to get in mock situations that I figured I was going to be getting into and I did a lot of running and conditioning.

"Now there's nothing like football training, but if you're an elite athlete and in good condition, it doesn't take that long to get it back. Your muscle transfer is so easy. It's easy to go from what you were doing away from the team to what you're doing with the team, actual training with the team, actual practices. It'll be probably a week or two and then he'll be cool."

Rice said he did have to do some extra homework when he reported and added that it took him a few practices to get down the fine points of the system. But, he added, his holdout was five weeks long.

"Things did hurt me for the simple fact that I didn't get the repetitions that I needed to get," Rice said. "You're going to suffer a little bit. But you get those back quickly.

"Don't get me wrong, you need the football drills. But it would only be a problem if it was an average player. Most of the time, the average player is not the one holding out. I did it in my rookie year and I was rookie of the year. So it all depends on the athlete.

RUN SUPPORT: If you listen to defensive tackle Anthony McFarland, Rice, is more than just a pass rusher.

McFarland said Rice's speed will help neutralize his lack of size (6 foot 5, 268 pounds).

"He's going to be a great benefit in (containing) the running game," McFarland said. "I think people overlook that because he's always been looked at as a pass rusher. ... We depend on speed and quickness to play the run as well as our toughness. I think he's going to bring that to our defense."

ELIMINATE THE MISTAKES: Going into the second week of training camp, the Bucs have some time to prepare for the Monday night game against the Dolphins, while paying attention to working on fundamentals.

Coach Tony Dungy said his expectations for how players practice rises.

"You kind of want to view everything the same but as you go you expect less mistakes," Dungy said. "The guys who can cut down on their mistakes going into Week 2 or Week 3, those are the guys you want to work with. The amount of errors guys make has to go down if they are going to keep progressing."

And, presumably, make the team.

EXCUSED: Quarterback Ryan Leaf and offensive tackle George Hegamin were excused from practice by Dungy for personal reasons.

Leaf learned Tuesday about the death of his grandfather and left camp.

Hegamin, an eighth-year veteran, also did not attend practice on Tuesday, prompting speculation that he may be mulling plans for retirement.

"I don't have the exact time of when they'll be back," Dungy said.

"They've got some things they've got to resolve first that are a little more important than football."

HERE COME THE DOLPHINS: The Bucs will scrimmage the Dolphins at Pepin/Rood Stadium from 3-5 p.m. Friday and from 9-11 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. Saturday.

It's the third straight season the Bucs have held joint workouts with the Dolphins.

The Bucs kick off the preseason against Miami on Monday at Raymond James Stadium in a nationally televised game on ESPN.

"It's really good for us because it's a different style of offense and defense than what we play, so it gives us a chance to look at some things from a different attack and against a different defense," Dungy said. "And special teams-wise, it really gives us a chance to get some action almost live. It gives the young guys especially a taste of what it's like.

"It's been good. We've had some great work against them ever since we've started."

KING FOR A DAY: Quarterback Shaun King returned to practice. He had not practiced since bruising his right shoulder in a collision with defensive end Marcus Jones in a scrimmage Saturday. "He's taking his turns," Dungy said. "He didn't say anything to me after practice as far as not feeling well so we think he's okay."

INJURY REPORT: Defensive end John McLaughlin (right hip fracture) is out six to eight weeks. Fullback Rabih Abdullah (left hamstring strain) is day-to-day.

Receiver Jacquez Green (right hamstring strain), safety Dexter Jackson (left hamstring strain), cornerback Anthony Midget (left hamstring strain), running back Jamie Wilson (left hamstring strain), linebacker Jamie Duncan (right hamstring strain), cornerback Terrance Parrish (right Achilles' strain) sat out.

Punter Mark Royals (right knee sprain) and fullback Mike Alstott (left hamstring strain) remain sidelined. Fullback Charles Kirby (left Achilles' tendon rupture) is out for the season.