GREEN BAY -- As one of two players who have shared the daunting task of playing left tackle for the Bucs, George Hegamin has had to devote almost all his focus on clearing paths for running back Warrick Dunn and protecting quarterback Shaun King's backside.

[Times photo: James Borchuck]
Damien Robinson didn't play long with Philadelphia, but he says he “can't wait" to go back. Two other Bucs, offensive tackle George Hegamin and defensive end Steve White, have ties to the Eagles.

His head is almost always on a swivel as he looks to slow the pursuit of defensive ends and blitzing linebackers, but Hegamin has managed to pick up something else in his peripheral vision: the performance of his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles.

"I've got a lot of boys on that squad, and I've been watching them out of the corner of my eye," Hegamin said. "They're playing well, particularly on defense. They're playing well enough on offense to go down and put points on the board when they have to."

You would think Hegamin would be looking to make a point when the Eagles battle Tampa Bay in Sunday's NFC wild-card game at Philadelphia.

During the 1999 preseason, Eagles coach Andy Reid forced Hegamin to push a blocking sled the length of the practice field after Hegamin, upset at being demoted, skipped a practice. Reid went so far as to notify the media so it would see Hegamin's punishment.

Shortly afterward, Hegamin was released, making many wonder why Reid bothered to punish him in the first place. Hegamin, however, won't push the issue.

"Even though I left on rocky terms, I know that's part of the business," said Hegamin, who grew up near Philadelphia, in Camden, N.J. "That's gone and done with."

Hegamin joined the Bucs in November 1999 and played on special teams during Tampa Bay's playoff win. This season he has been a steady alternate for starter Pete Pierson, and hestarted for Pierson, who was injured, in the playoff-clinching victory against St. Louis on Dec.18.

Against Philadelphia, Hegamin will have the task of challenging speed-rushing defensive end Hugh Douglas, who has 15 sacks.

"It's going to be a tough football game," Hegamin said. "It's not going to be a walk in the park, not by any stretch of the imagination. However, I do believe we'll get it done as long as we prepare like we need to prepare and focus on execution."

Two other Bucs expected to have added focus are former Eagles Damien Robinson and Steve White. But unlike Hegamin, Robinson and White did not play for the current Philadelphia regime.

"I'm looking forward to it, can't wait, been there," Robinson said. "We ain't playing in Green Bay, so ... "

Said White: "They're just the next people on the schedule. We've got to just go out there and get a win."

As a group, the Bucs, who had Monday off, conceded their work will be more difficult playing at Veterans Stadium on the league's worst turf. It won't help that Philadelphia has a quality team and a potential weather advantage, with the Bucs facing another game in which the temperature likely will be below 40 degrees at kickoff.

The Weather Channel is forecasting a high of 37 and a low of 24 for Sunday.

"It's the worst-case scenario, going to Philly," offensive guard Frank Middleton said. "We're playing on the worst turf in the league. It's going to be cold. Once again, we're going to have to answer the question, "Can we win in the cold?'

"They're playing great. They got a young team, and they fly around and have fun. But we know that, and we fly around and have fun, too. It's going to be a great game."

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