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Ross' departure saddens Dungy

By ERNEST HOOPER, ROGER MILLS and JOHN MARTIN

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 7, 2000

TAMPA -- Coach Tony Dungy said he was disappointed that Detroit Lions coach Bobby Ross had resigned.

"I was surprised to hear that coach Ross resigned," Dungy said. "Detroit came in here two weeks ago and played a very good football game. It's always tough when good coaches leave the game. I know coach Ross will do very well in whatever endeavor he chooses to pursue."

Ross departed with his team 5-4 and still in contention for a post-season spot despite Sunday's 23-8 loss to the Dolphins. His decision was another indication of how difficult coaching professionally can be. Dungy said the frustrations of losing have made him feel like leaving his job.

"You do, you feel like that every time," Dungy said. "You know you have to come in the next day. When you leave the stadium after a game like that, or it's the Raiders and it's 45-0, you do feel like quitting."

BLOCKS: Research by the Bucs' Web site staff revealed that Tampa Bay has set a team record for blocked field goals and punts in a season.

The Bucs have blocked three field goals and three punts, surpassing the previous high of four. In 1997 the Bucs blocked two field goals and two punts, and in 1990 they blocked four field goals.

The Bucs did not block their first punt until 1986.

"It's been harder to block kicks in the NFL in the last four or five years," Dungy said. "The snappers are better; everybody's keeping a guy just to do that. The rhythm is good. Usually they're tough to get, but we've had some guys that have taken advantage of little situations that we've been able to set up.

"It's kind of like turnovers. When you start to get them, then everybody feels like they can get the next one, and they go a little bit harder, and it seems to rub off."

DUNN ABSENT: Running back Warrick Dunn missed Monday's light workout to attend to an ailing family friend in Baton Rouge, La. He also was not with the team over the weekend, but he returned in time to play Sunday in the win against Atlanta.

WILL HE BE FINED? The big news out of Atlanta was defensive end Steve White's sack of Falcons quarterback Chris Chandler. White hammered Chandler, and the two appeared to collide helmet to helmet. The sack knocked the quarterback out of the game with another concussion.

Dungy defended White.

"Steve's coming in there and coming after the quarterback and trying to get a sack," Dungy said. "At that point, it wasn't like he was in the throwing motion; he was trying dodge in and out. To me, he's a ball carrier. It wasn't like the guy was throwing the ball. I thought it was okay."

Traditionally, the NFL condemns helmet-to-helmet hits on quarterbacks, particularly if the defender makes the tackle with the crown of the helmet. White could be fined.

"I would hope not, but I'm not in charge of that, and I've been fooled before," Dungy said. "I really don't know. I know players' safety is important, and we're all conscious of that and cognizant of it. But I didn't think it was too, too big."

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