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Streaks On Line For Carter, Spires

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 7, 2007

TAMPA It appears the starting streak of Bucs defensive linemen Kevin Carter or Greg Spires will come to an end when Tampa Bay opens its season at Seattle on Sunday.

Carter has started in 99 consecutive games entering this season; Spires has started in 79 straight. With both players competing for the starting left defensive end job and Coach Jon Gruden not naming a starter, one of their milestones will come to an end this weekend.

'Everybody wants to start. Everybody wants to play. I'm no different,' Carter said. 'I know that the law of averages, situations and years you're in the league can sometimes work against you. It doesn't mean you can play 80 plays once you're out there the whole time.

'Maybe I'm better served coming off the bench. Who knows? They still haven't indicated to us who will play.'

Carter, a two-time Pro Bowler, has not missed a game in his NFL career (192 games) and is tied with LB Derrick Brooks for the longest current streak of games played among active defensive players.

Even though Carter, who joined the team as a free agent, is unsure of his status, he has tried to turn his uncertainty into something positive.

'It helps me focus. You focus on what you're doing regardless of the playing situation,' Carter said. 'You practice, and that's it. You let everything else take care of itself. That's the main thing. We have a lot of versatility. That's a good problem to have.'

SEATTLE HOMECOMING: Tight ends coach Bob Casullo might be the one person who can tell his team where the best lattes in Seattle can be found.

Casullo was a special teams coordinator the past two seasons in Seattle before accepting his position in Tampa. During Casullo's tenure, the Seahawks were 25-12 and appeared in the Super Bowl (2005).

He spent this week advising his current team on what to expect when they visit Qwest Field on Sunday.

'First of all, it's a good football team. They are very well coached, with very good players. The second thing that makes it a tough place to play is the crowd,' Casullo said. 'My first year there we were 10-0 at home. We won eight games there during the season and won our two playoff games.

'They pride themselves on what they call the 12th man. If there is such a thing as a 12th man, Seattle fans have embraced that and they are a 12th man.'

PUNT RETURNS BY COMMITTEE: Gruden said WRs Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard and CB Phillip Buchanon will return punts this season.

Mark Jones returned punts last season, but he was cut last week, leaving punt returner as the only undetermined position heading into the opener.

'I'm excited. I've punt returned my entire life,' Galloway said. 'I look forward to it. It's another chance to touch the football.'

Galloway, 35, returned 20 punts for 142 yards and one touchdown in 2004, but returned only three punts last season. He has returned five punts for touchdowns in his career.

Buchanon returned three punts for touchdowns during his three-year tenure in Oakland, while Hilliard had 24 punt returns for 163 yards last season.

'It's going to be a game-time situation, like some positions are. We have a number of candidates and we have a pretty good idea who those guys are,' Gruden said.

BUCS BITS: Gruden said he expects Arron Sears to start at left guard. The other two rookies Tampa Bay expects to start are RDE Gaines Adams and FS Tanard Jackson ... Tampa Bay re-signed WR Taye Biddle to the practice squad and released G Enoka Lucas ... LT Luke Petitgout has changed his uniform number from 79 to 77.

Anwar S. Richardson

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