By ROGER MILLS
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 31, 2001
Position-by-position breakdown of the competition for the final roster spots. The Bucs have 71 players in camp and will reduce the roster to the NFL-mandated 53 when they make final cuts Sunday. Here is a projection on how things may shake down:
QUARTERBACKS: On the roster -- Brad Johnson, Shaun King. On the bubble -- Ryan Leaf, Joe Hamilton.
RUNNING BACKS: On the roster -- Warrick Dunn, Mike Alstott, Aaron Stecker, Jameel Cook, Rabih Abdullah. On the bubble -- Pepe Pearson.
WIDE RECEIVERS: On the roster -- Keyshawn Johnson, Jacquez Green, Reidel Anthony, Karl Williams. On the bubble -- Frank Murphy, Khori Ivy, Robert Kilow. Long shot -- Gerald Harris.
TIGHT ENDS: On the roster -- Dave Moore, Todd Yoder; On the bubble -- Damian Vaughn; Long shot -- Mike Roberg, Randy Palmer.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: On the roster -- Randall McDaniel, Jeff Christy, Jerry Wunsch, Todd Washington, Cosey Coleman, Kenyatta Walker, George Hegamin, DeMarcus Curry. On the bubble -- Kendall Mack, Russ Hochstein, Leon Hires. Long shot -- Wilbert Brown.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: On the roster -- Warren Sapp, Anthony McFarland, Marcus Jones, Simeon Rice, James Cannida, Chartric Darby, Steve White. On the bubble -- Ellis Wyms, Terry Jolly, Ron Warner. Long shot -- Joe Tafoya.
LINEBACKERS: On the roster -- Derrick Brooks, Jamie Duncan, Shelton Quarles, Nate Webster, Jeff Gooch, Al Singleton. On the bubble -- Marq Cerqua, Byron Thweat. Long shot -- Al Rice.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: On the roster -- John Lynch, Donnie Abraham, Ronde Barber, Dexter Jackson, Brian Kelly, Dwight Smith. On the bubble -- Eric Vance, John Howell, David Gibson, Than Merrill. Long shot -- Corey Ivy.
SPECIAL TEAMS: On the roster -- Martin Gramatica (K), Mark Royals (P), Sean McDermott (LS). On the bubble -- Andrew Bayes (P).