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Don't Tell Bucs Game Doesn't Mean Much

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By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 27, 2007

Updated: 12/26/2007 10:55 pm

TAMPA - According to the latest NFL standings, Sunday's game against Carolina carries little meaning for the playoff-bound Buccaneers.

Just don't suggest that idea around Tampa Bay players.

"That's a lie," second-year RG Davin Joseph said. "We have a lot to play for - we're playing for our pride and we're playing because we can win. The Panthers are coming here on Sunday and I'm playing to win the game. You can look into it as deep as you want to, but plain and simple, when they line up in front of me, I'm a grown man and I want to win."

While the 6-9 Panthers are finishing off a miserable season, the 9-6 Bucs have earned the conference's No. 4 playoff seed as champions of the NFC South. Tampa Bay is already locked into playing host to the New York Giants on the weekend of Jan. 5-6, but a loss Sunday would send the Bucs staggering into the playoffs with only one win in their last four outings.

"It always matters how you play the game," veteran DE Kevin Carter said. "The integrity of the game says you go out there and you play your best - no matter what. When you don't put your best effort forward, that's when you get hurt, that's when you make mistakes and that's when you lose confidence in one another. There's something to be said for the tempo and the pace and the chemistry that you build."

After going winless in the division last year, the Bucs have an opportunity to sweep Carolina, New Orleans and Atlanta.

"You can be accused of us not trying to win last week ... we tried to win," Coach Jon Gruden said of the 21-19 setback at San Francisco. "We're going to try to win on Sunday."

INJURY UPDATE: CB Brian Kelly (knee) didn't practice Wednesday for the Bucs and an additional six players participated on a limited basis due to injuries, including RBs Earnest Graham (ankle) and Michael Pittman (ankle), FB B.J. Askew (ankle), WR Ike Hilliard (knee) and DE Patrick Chukwurah (hamstring).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: After a flurry of injuries to the WR position, Brian Clark was promoted from Tampa Bay's practice squad to the active roster and the former Chamberlain High standout appreciates the timing.

"It's my birthday," said Clark, who turned 24 on Wednesday. "I'm looking forward to this opportunity and I can't wait to contribute."

Clark, who helped Chamberlain to a 5A state championship as a senior, was released by the Broncos last month despite performing well as a kick returner in 2006.

He joined Denver as an undrafted free agent out of North Carolina State.

"Denver was a learning experience for me," said Clark, who averaged 22.3 yards per kickoff return last season. "When I came here, I could see right away that this is a tight football team."

The Bucs also promoted WR Chad Lucas from the practice squad and placed WR Maurice Stovall on injured reserve. TE Keith Heinrich was released and Tampa Bay signed WE Julius McLellan to the practice squad."

ALL ABOARD: Count Dan Marino as the latest member of the Buccaneer bandwagon.

On HBO's "Inside the NFL," taped Wednesday, the Hall of Fame quarterback changed his prediction for which team would emerge as NFC champion.

"Looking at the NFC and you look at how Dallas has been struggling a little bit, and the Packers, they're not playing that well," Marino said. "I'm saying Tampa, who's been under the radar, is going to the Super Bowl because they've got a really good coach and a quarterback Jeff Garcia that can get them there."

Ira Kaufman

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