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For Bucs, Chemistry Means Being There For Each Other

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By IRA KAUFMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 5, 2007

Updated: 10/05/2007 12:11 am

TAMPA - In the heat of training camp, petty differences melted away and a bond of friendship was forged.

Tampa Bay's 3-1 start shouldn't be characterized by Jeff Garcia's accurate right arm, Cato June's swift feet or the analytical mind of Derrick Brooks.

The symbol of the 2007 Buccaneers is a helping hand.

Bucs players departed that August cauldron in Lake Buena Vista with a newfound respect for each other, a camaraderie evident even during the preseason.

'The defining moment for this team in my opinion was when Paris Warren went down,' said Bucs running backs coach Art Valero, referring to the dislocated ankle suffered by the third-year wide receiver in the Aug. 30 preseason finale.

'Paris goes down, and not only is he such a beloved kid on this team, but that bench emptied. I've never seen that in sports. At that time, we had 63 guys. Each and every one went over there for one of their own.'

That startling display of kinship was repeated last week in Charlotte, N.C., when Cadillac Williams went down with a knee injury that ended his 2007 season.

Even veteran Fox broadcaster Sam Rosen was stunned when the Bucs surrounded Williams en masse on the opposing sideline before he was carted off.

'For me, when I looked up and saw everyone coming, I was speechless,' Warren said Thursday. 'I was angry to be hurt, but then I felt the support my teammates have for me. When Cadillac went down, the same thing. You try to be tough, but sometimes it really hits you to see how much other people care for you.'

Bucs players credit returning leaders such as Brooks, cornerback Ronde Barber and wide receiver Ike Hilliard for setting an all-for-one tone in the wake of a 4-12 disaster that led to a roster overhaul.

In the offseason, veteran free agents Garcia and defensive lineman Kevin Carter reiterated the message: 'We're all in this together.'

'I think the organization has done a good job bringing in key veterans, team guys,' said tight end Anthony Becht. 'Everyone here believes in each other. Everyone's into the team aspect, and this is a very tight-knit group. We understand we are surrounded by guys who work hard - Paris, Caddy, Luke Petitgout. They're important figures on this team, whether they are starters or not.'

Tampa Bay's impressive solidarity will be tested while the Bucs deal with adversity sure to crop up in the next three months. As injuries mount and weaknesses are exploited, the organization hopes to respond with better living through chemistry.

'I'm really proud of our team,' Coach Jon Gruden said. 'These guys really do like each other. It all starts in the meeting room, where we have blue-chip guys leading the way for our young players. Everyone is laying it on the line every week.'

In his 13th pro season, Carter has seen his share of selfishness and jealousy in NFL locker rooms.

This one, he said, feels different.

'We're finding our chemistry,' said Carter, who has played for the Rams, Titans and Dolphins. 'The love for one another is as tight as can be. That's an intangible, and you try to bottle it. It's the magical part of the game of football, and I know one thing - you can't win without it.'

Brooks said the Bucs have been 'a tight unit' since he arrived in Tampa in 1995.

'We've been a united football team,' he said. 'We've been through 4-12 together, 5-11 together and 15-4 together. That's something I take a lot of pride in. It's a general like for each other. That's something that is built over time, and it's going to win you two or three games a year, period.'

As the Bucs grabbed the early lead in the NFC South, Valero's thoughts kept racing back to that hot August night, when teammate after teammate raced into the south end zone of Raymond James Stadium to lift a fallen comrade.

'These guys have been through a lot,' Valero said. 'They've been through 4-12, they've been through a miserably hot camp. This is a team that's very open-armed. We have a mixed bag of nuts in this building, and all they want to do is win. They've been behind the 8-ball and they're tired of it.'

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