Sports: Lynch a happy, and healthy, new daddy

Lynch a happy, and healthy, new daddy

By ERNEST HOOPER and ROGER MILLS

TAMPA -- Things couldn't be going better for All-Pro safety John Lynch. He signed a five-year, $24-million contract in September, and Monday he became a father for the second time with the birth of daughter Lindsay.

Lynch and his wife, Linda, had the birth induced Monday, knowing the players had Tuesday off.

"The baby is doing great," Lynch said after returning Wednesday. "It's been a great weekend. Not much sleep, but it's been outstanding."

How charmed are the Lynches? John suffered a deep thigh bruise late against Packers and needed treatment over the past two days. The Bucs facilitated it by sending members of the medical training staff to St. Joseph's Hospital to treat Lynch while he was with his wife.

"I guess part of the fear was that with those injuries, if you don't get on them right away and treat them, you can't kind of break up some of the soreness and tightness," Lynch said. "The trainers came over in the delivery room and were giving me treatment in there. We were able to get some done, and I should be fine."

BLUSTERY DAY: Coach Tony Dungy does not believe potential cold and windy weather will impact the Bucs' chances of winning in Chicago Sunday, but he conceded the weather might influence his special-teams decisions.

When the ball is between midfield and the Bears 35, Dungy said he may be apt to go for it on fourth down or fake a punt.

"I think it's something you have to be aware of because it is tough to kick the ball into the wind at times on the long field goals, or 50-yard-line plays when you're punting," Dungy said. "You're always more apt to fake when you're going against the wind, and that's something we've got to be aware of, as I'm sure they are.

"I just think mentally, your team has to be prepared for it. Kicking off into the wind, you got to be ready to squib the ball possibly, you have to be ready to receive those kind of kicks when you're going with the wind."

FINE UPDATE: Defensive end Steve White, who was fined $7,500 by the league for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Falcons quarterback Chris Chandler two weeks ago, has officially appealed.

White said the appeal is in the hands of the league office, and a ruling will come Nov. 28. Meantime, White said, the NFL keeps the $7,500 it automatically deducts from his paycheck.

"I'm going to wait, it's just a couple of weeks," White said. "But, all the while, they've got my money. If I win, they'll send it back or some of it. But right now, they have my money."

CANDIDATES: As the college season nears the bowl games and the NFL season moves squarely into the second half, a number of Bucs assistants will be considered for vacancies around the country.

Secondary coach Herm Edwards has been mentioned as a candidate if Southern Cal fires Paul Hackett, or if the Chargers part with Mike Riley.

"I think he should be," Dungy said of Edwards. "I think we have a bunch of guys here who should be. You hope that that's the case, that you continue to win and people look at your staff, because we do have an outstanding staff." Dungy realizes that his good fortune in keeping his staff largely intact during his Bucs tenure may end after this season.

"Hopefully, it's just a matter of time. I think it's been great for us for five years to basically have the same group."

ALUMNI WATCH: Bears quarterback Shane Matthews is excited about making his first start of the season, but not as enthused about the Gators' chances of upsetting Florida State on Saturday.

"Florida has played a lot better than I thought they would this year," Matthews said. "They're in the hunt. Basically, this is a loser-leave-town match Saturday night. The loser is out of the big picture, but it's going to be tough because Florida is so young.

"Hopefully, there will be an upset, but I don't see it happening, especially with a guy playing quarterback (FSU's Chris Weinke) who is two years younger than me. It's ridiculous. It's not fair. I've been in the league eight years, and he's two years younger than me. I would love to go back and play college ball."

TWICE BITTEN: How hard is it to beat the same team twice in a season? The Bucs have done it 13 times in franchise history, six since 1990 and twice under Dungy.

The Bucs could make it three under Dungy with a win over Chicago, but the coach said it won't be easy.

"It's difficult," Dungy said. "We found that out with Detroit. Minnesota found that out with us. It's just something that happens. You look at the mistakes you made, you have a little more incentive, you know you're a better team than you showed the first time out when you lose, and you come in and generally play better.

"We've got to step up our play and make sure we play better than we did in that first game."