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By Times staff reports

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 17, 2001

One of the traditions of training camp is sharing a room with a teammate. Each day, one Buccaneer is asked to describe his roommate in terms of a popular movie, television or cartoon character. Offensive tackle Jerry Wunsch said left tackle Pete Pierson reminds him of Norm from the television series Cheers.

"He's just like Norm, in the sense that he can speak on everything but would never take a side. He's always on the fence of any issue. Plus -- let's see how to put this -- he's been known to enjoy a beverage or two."

FRESH FACES

NAME: Ron Warner

HT/WT: 6-2, 265

COLLEGE: Kansas

POSITION: Defensive end

NFL EXPERIENCE: second year

HOMETOWN: Independence, Kan.

BACK IN THE DAY: For Warner, it was his first taste of big-time football. He was a 14-year-old freshman when he was moved to varsity linebacker his first season at Independence High. "That was the first time football really became important to me," he said. So how'd he do? "I got tossed around," he said, laughing.

BRUSH WITH GREATNESS: Since he entered the league as a seventh-round draft choice with New Orleans in 1998, Warner has spent his years meeting all those he once idolized. "I met Walter Payton, Sweetness, my rookie year in New Orleans," he said. "I met John Elway, Marcus Allen, Anthony Munoz, Derrick Thomas . . . now, I'm here with Simeon Rice, Warrick Dunn, and Warren Sapp. I'm still in awe."

TO MAKE THE TEAM: The bar is high for Tampa Bay's defensive linemen, and Warner knows it. A knee injury wiped out most of the Jayhawks all-time sack leader's rookie NFL season and he ended up on the Bears practice squad in 1999. He played for the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2000. He'll have to prove his worth and shine on special teams. "I've just got to keep doing what I'm doing now," he said. "Hustle and hard work, and keep a positive attitude."

WHAT'S HIS TAKE: Warner, 25, and his wife Erica, 24, have two children: son Quinton and daughter Alyssa. When he's not with his family, Warner loves to hit the weights. "I do a lot of lifting," he said. "I'm a fanatic."

-- JAMAL THALJI

QUOTABLE

"Cleveland's the rock 'n' roll capital of the world. Maybe that's our reward, getting to fly to Cleveland."

-- COACH TONY DUNGY when told the Browns had a Run DMC concert as a reward for sweating through two-a-day practices

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

TODAY: 8:30-10 a.m.

PRESEASON GAME: At Browns, 8 p.m. Saturday. TV: Ch. 44.

* Practices are free and open to public.

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