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Ah, That Winning Feeling

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By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON

arichardson@tampatrib.com

Published: December 2, 2008

Updated: 12/02/2008 12:12 am

TAMPA - Bucs RB Warrick Dunn enjoyed only two victorious seasons after he signed with Atlanta in 2002.

The Falcons were 9-6 in 2002, although Tampa Bay won the Super Bowl without him that year. Atlanta also finished 11-5 in 2004 and advanced to the NFC Championship Game.

Other than that, Dunn experienced three losing seasons and finished .500 once during his six years with the Falcons. Dunn never had a losing season when in Tampa Bay from 1997-2001, but endured Michael Vick's controversy in 2007, which resulted in Atlanta's 4-12 record.

This year, Tampa Bay is 9-3 heading into Monday night's game against Carolina, and Dunn is enjoying his first winning season in four years.

"At this time of year when you have the opportunity, you're playing for something," Dunn said. "To have the opportunity, it keeps your drive and keeps you going. I'm happy. I'm looking forward to it."

Bucs C Jeff Faine is also getting used to winning.

Faine was drafted by New Orleans in 2003 and experienced only one winning season in five years. The Saints were 10-6 in 2006, finished .500 twice and were an abysmal 3-13 in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans.

"In a perfect world, you want to say no it's not hard to be motivated to play when you're losing, but it's easy to go to practice right now," Faine said. "You always want to go practice. You want to do everything you can to put yourself in the best position to go out there and win and it's huge."

NEXT UP, ATLANTA?

Tampa Bay's coaching staff spent Monday focusing on a crucial NFC South opponent.

Atlanta.

Although Tampa Bay plays against Carolina on Monday, Bucs coaches used the extra day as an opportunity to game plan for the Dec. 14 game against the Falcons.

"What we will do is work on the Atlanta Falcons and spend the next two days working on the Carolina Panthers, because we will get shortchanged, obviously, in our preparation for Atlanta coming back from the Monday night game," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "Believe me, Carolina has our complete attention. They are an outstanding football team.

"We're just trying to do the best we can from a coaching standpoint to utilize the time, the extra day, wisely to look at a little bit of Atlanta early before we center on Carolina."

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

Giants WR Plaxico Burress caught nationwide attention after he was charged with two counts of second-degree handgun possession, which is the type of negative attention every NFL team hopes to avoid.

Coach Jon Gruden said the Bucs take measures to make sure their players avoid compromising situations and explain to them the pitfalls of each situation.

"We try to do that. It's unfortunate," Gruden said. "We do during the season, at times, try to remind the guys to be careful. Eric Vance, our programs director, does a great job of tuning in and helping us there. It's very unfortunate. It concerns all of us, I think."

INJURIES

DT Jovan Haye (knee) and DE Gaines Adams (hip pointer) each sustained injuries in Sunday's victory against New Orleans. Both will be monitored this week and their playing status for Monday will be determined.

Anwar S. Richardson

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