It was an insult to Shaun King and his friends and fans, not to mention the St. Petersburg area, when the local hero went 5-for-7 and threw one TD (another was dropped in the end zone) during his few minutes on the field against New England Saturday, and his name is not even mentioned in Gary Shelton's column. Ample space is given to Brad Johnson, as if to justify his questionable presence here, and to Ryan Leaf, as if to beg the team to hold him here.

Why does the Times sports department continue to give short shrift to King's on-field performance? He has looked better, down-for-down, than any other Bucs QB this preseason.
-- Pete Gallagher Jr., St. Petersburg

Regarding the letter from Scott Brickey (Bucs Chat, Aug. 25), I have said for four years that I've never seen a football coach with less emotion than Coach Dungy. I know he is a good man, role model, etc., but he reminds me of Jack Benny on the sideline with his arms folded and his hand up to the side of his face. He needs to show some emotion to motivate the players. He needs to get in their face when they've done something wrong. He needs to let them know he is the coach.
-- Jacqueline A. Darr, via e-mail

How much of a chance does Ryan Leaf need? After all, he was given a fair chance to show his potential playing with the third and fourth offensive units (all the guys who are going to get cut) for a grand total of about 10 minutes, while the other three quarterbacks played longer, and with the first and second units. What's fair is fair, right?

Ryan, take a tip from a wise old sports fan and move on to another team -- and take it to a Super Bowl like Trent Dilfer.
-- Lou Faiella, Spring Hill

Watching the Bucs offense is like watching a remake of Titanic. The cast may change but the story line and ending are always the same. Tony Dungy needs to learn from Florida's Steve Spurrier and FSU's Bobby Bowden. Do what you know and hire someone to do what you don't know. Dungy knows defense, he doesn't know offense.
-- Ralph Hudson, Tarpon Springs

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From the Times sports desk

Bucs
Roster chase hits finish line

Awaiting their fate

Leaf uncertain about his wrist

Bucs chat

NFL
Waiting for the right call

NFL frets as gaming gets closer

College football
It's 1 that got away

WR Rubin provides target for Blackwell

USF sidelines

Bulls seem to surprise themselves
12 Marshall players suspended

Motorsports
Intimidator still inspires

Dale Jr. no fan of track

Devil Rays
With loss, Rays look at future

Vaughn frustrated with umpire's calls

Rays: Up next A's

Sports TV/Radio
Options are limited for Lightning

Colleges
Volleyball capsules

Soccer capsules

New scoring might help Gators win

FSU pins hopes on freshman goalie

Et cetera
Sports briefs

Labor Day boxing

Preps
Tonight's games

Tampa Bay top 10

District predictions

Dunedin to travel more than planned

Twelve categories, three opinions

Another new era begins at Gaither

Knights hand mighty Cobras thorough defeat

From the wire

From the state sports wire Jacksonville's Spicer placed on IR after leg surgery
FIU-Western Kentucky game postponed because of Jeanne
Brown anxious to face old team for first time
Dolphins' desperate defense readies for Roethlisberger
Former Sarasota lineman sheds tough-guy image with Michigan
Rothstein rejoins Heat as assistant
No. 16 Florida has history on its side against Kentucky
FSU and Clemson QBs both off to slow starts