Sports: Dungy backs full playoff schedule

Dungy backs full playoff schedule

By RICK STROUD

TAMPA -- The goal is to win the NFC Central, but the Bucs would not quibble if the league retains its original 12-team playoff format.

NFL officials are considering several plans, including playing the Super Bowl a week later than scheduled, playing the wild-card round three days after the regular season ends Jan. 7 or moving the Super Bowl to another city. If those plans don't work, the league will reduce the number of playoff teams from 12 to eight: three division winners and one wild card from each conference.

"Now that we know we're playing 16 games, the best thing that could happen would be to have our playoff format the way it is," coach Tony Dungy said. "I'd be for letting everybody in and have a tournament and play down until you have two teams left."

Tampa Bay reached the playoffs two of the past three years, but only once was it division champion, in 1999 when it reached the NFC Championship Game. The Bucs, who have a bye Sunday, will not play until Sept. 30 when they visit Minnesota.

Players were asked how difficult it would be to play three times in eight days if the league moves the wild-card round to the Wednesday after the regular season ends.

"If I had to turn around and play in two days, I would," linebacker Derrick Brooks said. "If it was a week, I'd take a week. It's all mental, to be honest with you. Yeah, your body hurts. But hell, you're out there to win. Whatever time there is allotted to the format they go to, the players will be ready to play.

"If that's what they decide to do, that's what they decide to do. I don't have an opinion one way or the other. I just want to be in the playoffs. Now what format, it don't matter to me. As long as we take care of business these next 16 weeks we'll deal with that when we get to it."

Safety John Lynch said playing three games in eight days would not be easy.

"Is that something they're talking about?" he asked. "I think we just played three at today's practice. They worked us today. I suppose you could, but it'd be tough."

Said running back Warrick Dunn on the prospect of playing three games in eight days: "I don't know. If you're forced to, you have no other choice. But ... we have a lot of old guys that play this game and I don't know if those guys could handle two games in one week."

SAFETY FIRST: Security will be beefed up at stadiums when the NFL returns to action Sunday. But Dungy doesn't worry about a terrorist attack.

"It's always going to be in your mind anywhere that you are now. But I don't think it's going to be any different in terms of us playing," Dungy said. "From what I've seen of baseball playing the last couple nights, there hasn't been any reason to think that it's going to be any different that way. Those natural thoughts will go through your mind, but I think guys will be out there participating and they'll be focused on that."

BUCS TO CHARITY: Players are making individual donations and might make some appearances for the victims of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

"We passed out a memo to everybody with a list of five different organizations approved by the NFL office, to make sure they were legitimate," said punter Mark Royals, the team's NFL Players Association representative. "They can donate whatever they decide to do. We're talking about some other things to show our support by donating our time. Those haven't been ironed out yet, but we're floating some ideas around."

INJURIES: Safety Dexter Jackson (hip flexor) did not practice but did some individual drills and running. Jackson had an interception at Dallas in his first start.

Cornerback Dwight Smith (foot) did not practice but participated in individual running and drills. Smith, a rookie from Akron, did not play in the season opener.

Receiver Keyshawn Johnson practiced without any affects of a bruised thigh sustained in the season opener.

"I feel fine," he said. "I just wish we had a game to play."