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Tampa Bay opts to endure depth concerns in order to keep four quarterbacks on the roster.
By RICK STROUD
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 3, 2001
TAMPA -- Their offensive line may be battered, but it doesn't mean the Bucs are unable to protect the quarterback.
Tampa Bay spared all four quarterbacks -- Brad Johnson, Shaun King, Ryan Leaf and Joe Hamilton -- when its final cut to the 53-man roster was announced Sunday.
It's the first time the Bucs have begun the regular season with four quarterbacks. Only 10 NFL teams carried four last season.
What makes the move even more unusual is that the Bucs are hurting severely for healthy players at other positions.
With center Jeff Christy (knee) and rookie guard Russ Hochstein (fractured foot) possibly out for the season opener at Dallas and guard Kendell Mack (elbow) placed on injured reserve Sunday, the Bucs could be left with no backups at the interior line positions.
In addition, Tampa Bay kept just two tight ends, has no backup nose tackle and just three healthy cornerbacks.
Coach Tony Dungy didn't rule out making a roster move involving a quarterback before Sunday's game in Dallas. Leaf, who has a nagging wrist injury, could be a candidate for injured reserve.
"Every week you've got to make decisions on what's best for the team," Dungy said.
"I wouldn't say that if we have to get an offensive lineman that a quarterback's going to go. I don't think that's our plan. And we can't predict what's going to happen down the road. Right now, our best roster is with four quarterbacks. "That's unusual. But I try not to ever put it in a box and capsulize it. You're going to look and see what's best and we felt that was the best thing for us to do and we went a little bit light at tight end, but that was probably the only other surprise."
The 17 players waived by the Bucs were punter Andrew Bayes, guard Wilbert Brown, center/guard Leon Hires, tackle George Hegamin, receiver Gerald Harris, cornerback Corey Ivy, receiver Khori Ivy, defensive tackle Terry Jolly, receiver Robert Kilow, safety Than Merrill, tight end Randy Palmer, running back Pepe Pearson, linebacker Al Rice, tight end Mike Roberg, linebacker Byron Thweatt and tight end Damian Vaughn. The Bucs also reached an injury settlement with defensive end Joe Tafoya.
"We had some difficulties because we've got three or four guys who may not be able to play for a couple of weeks," Dungy said. "You not only have to think about the long run and 16 weeks, but how you're going to practice and how you're going to play. That probably caused most of the discussion."
The Bucs will select a five-member developmental squad from the players who clear waivers at 4 p.m. today.
Among the players they might want to return are Hires, Palmer, Ivy and Kilow.
"We generally like to go with the guys who have been with us. We'd hope that all five of our guys would come from our list," Dungy said. "But you have to look on the wire. Last year, Frank Murphy became available and that was a guy we liked. So you really don't know for sure."
The status of Christy, who is recovering from a sprained medial collateral ligament, could go a long way in determining the shape of the final roster. Christy is expected to listed on the early injury report as doubtful.
"We're going to wait and see what happens with Jeff. We haven't ruled him out yet," dungy said. "I guess by Wednesday we'll know where we're going to classify him, probable, doubtful or whatever. But we're just going to play that one out and wait and see what happens."
The Bucs also are short at nose tackle, where there is no one to back up Anthony McFarland. Dungy said the team will have to choose from its remaining players: rookie Ellis Wyms, defensive ends Steve White and Marcus Jones, and tackle Chartric Darby.
Twelve new players made the team, including six of the nine 2001 draftees. Four free agents earned spots: rookie linebacker Marq Cerqua, fullback Jameel Cook, long-snapper Sean McDermott and defensive end Ron Warner.
But by far the big surprise was the Bucs' decision to keep four quarterbacks.
Leaf, who did not practice Wednesday and Thursday but played briefly Friday at Atlanta, struggled throughout the preseason. But the Bucs apparently believe his wrist is strong enough to make it through the season.
"At this point, I would think so," Dungy said. "But that's like predicting the future. I don't know. It's a situation that's not perfect, but most of the time I think he's going to be okay.
"We just thought it was best for the situation for ourteam in the long run. We've got guys we're happy with, so it's a strong position for us right now."
WAIVED: P Andrew Bayes, G Wilbert Brown, C-G Leon Hires, T George Hegamin, WR Gerald Harris, CB Corey Ivy, WR Khori Ivy, DT Terry Jolly, WR Robert Kilow, S Than Merrill, TE Randy Palmer, RB Pepe Pearson, LB Al Rice, TE Mike Roberg, LB Byron Thweatt, TE Damian Vaughn.
REACHED INJURY SETTLEMENT: DE Joe Tafoya.
PUT ON INJURED RESERVE: G Kendell Mack.
UP NEXT: Bucs regular-season opener at Dallas, 1 p.m. Sunday.
TV/RADIO: Ch. 13; WQYK-AM 1010, WQYK-FM 99.5.
COMING FRIDAY: The Times preseason football section.