Sports: McFarland's injury could shuffle line

McFarland's injury could shuffle line

By ROGER MILLS and RICK STROUD

TAMPA -- Defensive tackle James Cannida had a solid preseason but wasn't expected to see many snaps with the improved play of second-year starter Anthony McFarland.

That might change Sunday.

McFarland missed practice Thursday with a left triceps strain and his status is questionable.

"He's got a strained muscle, and I think it's going to be how it feels and how he recovers (over the next two days)," coach Tony Dungy said. "Right now, I would say it's probably 50-50."

If McFarland can't go, Cannida likely will start and share time evenly with veteran backup Tyoka Jackson.

"It probably will be a combination of those two guys playing," Dungy said. "James would probably play on first down, Tyoka on third down."

Cannida, in his third season out of Nevada, has seen limited action the past two seasons but played in two games last year when Warren Sapp was out with a hand injury.

"I knew from the start it was big shoes, even when I knew I was going to get into the rotation this year," Cannida said. "You've got to get in and perform with these guys and everybody on our line plays hard and they will all the time. It's a high standard. The bar is set high and every time you get close to it, they raise it. It's like you never can be satisfied. I've just got to take responsibility and be ready to go out there and go."

Cannida has a slight right hamstring strain, but it is not expected to limit his availability.

GO FIGURE: The Vikings are unbeaten, and have the NFL's best running game and arguably the best receiver combination. By comparison, the Bucs have lost four straight, have problems scoring and have looked vulnerable on the defensive side of the ball.

Yet, Tampa Bay is a three-point favorite over the Vikings. Are the oddsmakers figuring the Vikings must lose sometime?

"I guess that's the logic of the NFL this year," Dungy said. "I do think there's a certain amount to that. It's hard to figure the spread sometimes. ... That's all you can say."

Whatever the spread, in the locker room few are concerned about who is favored or what record the Bucs have against the Vikings in Tampa.

"It doesn't matter," linebacker Derrick Brooks said. "We still have to go out there and play. We feel our backs are against the wall regardless of whether we're favored to win this game or not. We put ourselves in a position we don't want to be in."

ALL HEADS ARE UP: After dropping four straight and falling the same number of games behind the Vikings, the Bucs were primed for a bout of self-doubt. But judging from the upbeat atmosphere, one thing not lacking is confidence.

"There's not a better team than Minnesota to get things started, so we just have to go out there and play hard," offensive guard Frank Middleton said. "I don't know about the team, but my confidence is pretty good and I know we played pretty well up there so hopefully we can do that again.

"Mentally, a little bit, (the losing streak) did take a toll. But come Sunday we got to get rid of all the negative thoughts and play positive ball, do a lot of things to make things better."

Dungy said he told the team that bad starts, like the Jets' in Monday night's come-from-behind win, can be overcome.

"You look at the NFL and it's not what you do the last week, or the last three quarters, if you look at Monday night," Dungy said, referring to how the Jets scored 30 points in the fourth quarter to defeat the Dolphins in overtime. "You just have to keep playing and when you get the opportunity to make plays, do it. I think we've got enough guys that realize how much talent we have, but talent doesn't win for you. You've got to do it on the field."

INJURY REPORT: Offensive guard Randall McDaniel (right quadriceps strain) returned to practice, although in limited fashion, and is expected to play against the Vikings. McDaniel has started 177 consecutive regular-season games. Linebacker Jeff Gooch (right shoulder sprain), linebacker Shelton Quarles (right groin strain), defensive end Steve White (right ankle sprain) and receiver Karl Williams (left knee sprain) are probable.