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White Will Welcome Bye Week

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 3, 2007

TAMPA - Forget about August in land-locked Lake Buena Vista, two-a-days and those triple-digit heat indexes. Ask any player inside the Bucs' locker room and he'll tell you these are the real dog days.

After eight-plus weeks of games and padded workouts, even their bruises have bruises. A respite is near, though. It comes with the bye week that follows Sunday's game against Arizona. And few will welcome that break more than rookie DE Greg White.

White isn't quite as beat up as some players, largely because he's played fewer snaps than some. He's as physically tired and mentally drained as anyone, though, because he's been playing football since February.

That's right, February. His season started about the time Cato June's ended in the Super Bowl because he played an entire Arena League season for the Orlando Predators before joining the Bucs during training camp.

Add it all up and he says he's had the equivalent of about a month off since the calendar year began. It's no wonder, then, that he's looking forward to the coming respite, no matter how brief it may be.

"It's been tough, a very long year, but it's been worth it," White said. "I mean, I'm playing in the NFL. There's nothing wrong with that. So I'm happy. But I'm a little tired."

White can't afford to be too tired. With Greg Spires expected to miss at least a week or two with a sore calf/Achilles' Heel, the Bucs plan to work White and fellow rookie Gaines Adams in a rotation at right end.

That means White's playing time likely will increase from 20-25 snaps a game to 30-35. Not surprisingly, he is eager for the opportunity to showcase his skills more.

White said he was a little upset early in the season when he was forced to play behind Spires, but he says he has a better understanding of the league now and his place in it.

"At first, as a competitor, I was like, 'Why can't I be the starter?'" White said. "But I understand the business side of it, too. I mean, I was fighting it because I wanted to play.

"I wanted all the reps. I wanted to be that guy, but I realize now that we're all in this together and I have to wait my turn. And when that turn comes, like now, I know I have to make plays. So I'm ready."

INJURY UPDATE: Bucs coach Jon Gruden said LB Quincy Black (hamstring) did not practice again on Friday so he likely will miss Sunday's game. As for RB Michael Pittman (ankle), WR Michael Clayton (ankle), WR Ike Hilliard (calf) and DE/LB Patrick Chukwurah (shoulder), Gruden said all will be game-time decisions.

Roy Cummings,

Anwar S. Richardson

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