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Age Just A Number For Bucs 'Seniors'

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By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 16, 2008

TAMPA - There was a time when Kevin Carter could enjoy the benefits of youth.

Carter could eat whatever he wanted. He lifted weights for fun. His body healed quickly. Stretching was something he did because it was required.

Now things are different for Tampa Bay's 34-year-old defensive end, who turns 35 on Sept. 21.

"I have to warm up before I tune up. That's something I never used to do," Carter said. "Before games, my pregame ritual takes so long. I was talking to defensive line coach Todd Wash, and he was like, 'Man, I watch you warm up forever. Is that how you prepare for the game? It's torturous. You're not tired?'

"I have to get warmed up before I can really exert myself."

Carter is one of 14 players on Tampa Bay's roster who are at least 30 years old and still playing a young man's game. With the average professional football career lasting less than five years, according to the NFL Players Association, Tampa Bay's elders could make infomercials to sell their secrets.

Jeff Garcia (38), Joey Galloway (36), Derrick Brooks (35), Ronde Barber (33), Matt Bryant (33), Warrick Dunn (33), Josh Bidwell (32), Ike Hilliard (32), Chris Hovan (30), Michael Bennett (30) and Carter all played beyond their years as starters for Tampa Bay last season. Garcia made was a Pro Bowl quarterback, Barber anchored the NFL's top secondary, while Brooks had 162 tackles at linebacker last season.

Many of Tampa Bay's elder statesmen acknowledge the years of physical pounding have lessened their athletic ability, forcing them to play smarter.

"There are some things in my mind's eye I can still do, and I see myself doing it and executing it, but it's not quite there," Carter said. "I have to be a little more mindful of special moves or things that I want to do. It's not quite as automatic as it used to be."

Although Galloway's speed and ability seem improbable for a player his age, Mike Morris, Tampa Bay's head strength and conditioning coach, is not surprised.

Morris works with his players to develop individual workout regimens, and he said it should be easier for athletes to perform as they get older.

"Kevin has already been in the wars. He's been in the trenches for years. He knows how to prepare for each year. He doesn't have to do what second-year defensive end Gaines Adams has to do," Morris said. "Gaines has to learn that perspective, learn the different moves and other skill-oriented things.

"Once you have that down, you just perfect it. You don't have to do it over and over. You will wear yourself out. Once you learn it, you condition, you rest and you keep going."

None of Tampa Bay's players can eat like Adams did during his rookie season.

Adams' "diet" consisted of many fast-food dinners last season, but even he has learned that an athlete cannot thrive without making smart food choices.

"Over the years, I've definitely learned," Dunn said. "I eat baked chicken. Grilled fish. Things to keep me energized and not weigh me down. I used to have one day a week when I would eat anything. It's kind of a hard habit to break.

"When it's game time, you definitely eat the pastas. Doing the things to make sure my body is where it needs to be on Sunday."

Hilliard's fight to keep playing on Sundays is his motivation.

Since he was drafted by the New York Giants as the seventh overall pick, teams have sought receivers to replace him. Competition remains Hilliard's main motivation for putting his body through the NFL's physical abuse.

"You've got to put your best stuff on film, and I'm no different than anyone else," Hilliard said. "I have to prove myself just like every other guy on the team. I'm fighting for my NFL life and a roster position. It drives me to do the best that I can."

Tampa Bay's seniors know a time will come when their best is not good enough.

Many players are forced to stop playing because their skills have deteriorated, but Barber learned from his brother, former New York Giants running back Tiki, that the best time to walk away is when the desire to play is gone.

"We all have the ability to leave whenever we want to, but when you don't feel like getting up and getting ready for a season anymore, then it's time to go," Barber said. "I've had a close experience with that, and it seems like most people who retire, like Warren Sapp, say the same thing. They didn't want to get ready for it again. Then you know you're done. I'm not there yet."

None of Tampa Bay's older players are ready to call it quits.

For now, they are content with contributing on the field and sharing their knowledge with younger players off the field.

Carter might not be young and care-free, but experience has benefited his career.

"It's the little things. It's the small, minute details," Carter said. "Every day, getting up on time and eating on time. Making sure you're dressed and ready and give yourself plenty of time to accomplish what you need to accomplish.

"When I was younger, I walked in the gym and just did big movements, bench, squat, do a bunch of big stuff and just get out and I was fine. These days, I do big lifting with a bunch of finite lifting. I do a lot of balance and proprioception exercises. I do functional strength stuff. I do so much just to play this game still."

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425 or arichardson@tampatrib.com

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