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Ex-USF LB Mitchell Limps Back To Tampa

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 3, 2008

TAMPA - Kawika Mitchell returns to familiar surroundings Sunday, intent on playing well in front of friends and family while helping the Giants end a seven-year postseason drought.

The former South Florida standout signed with the Giants as a free agent this spring and finished as New York's third-leading tackler. After earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors at Buffalo, Mitchell suffered a sprained knee during Saturday's night's 38-35 loss against New England.

"It's not as bad as I feared," Mitchell said Wednesday. "It's a first-degree sprain and I definitely plan on being out there against the Bucs."

After playing middle linebacker in Kansas City, Mitchell has been shifted to the weak-side spot.

"He's done an outstanding job, especially in the last five or six games," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "He's so fast and so fluid, we've been able to take full advantage of his skills. Kawika's playing well at the right time of year."

Once Mitchell found a place to live in Hoboken, N.J., his teammates made him comfortable from the start.

"It's been a great experience, an easy adjustment," he said. "This isn't as crazy a place to live and play as everyone warned me about. Now, I'm really looking forward to Sunday's game. Tampa's my hometown, so the ticket requests have been there. I'm taking care of people, but not all of them."

Mitchell said he watched USF's 56-21 loss to Oregon in Monday's Sun Bowl.

"I got to see most of the game," Mitchell said. "I was a little disappointed, hoping the Bulls would show out a little better. Still, they had a great season and it should set the stage for next year."

INJURY UPDATE: Bucs rookie G Arron Sears declared himself ready for Sunday's matchup, despite suffering a high ankle sprain against Carolina.

"The body feels great," said Sears, a second-round pick out of Tennessee who started all 16 games on the left side. "I've just got to get the ankle back on track - it won't be tough at all. I'll be ready to go."

Bucs coach Jon Gruden was predictably more cautious, noting Sears has made "a little improvement" since Sunday. Sears and LB Cato June (foot) didn't practice Wednesday.

Tampa Bay placed DT Greg Peterson on injured reserve and signed S Donte Nicholson to the active roster.

Mitchell is one of three Giant starters who didn't practice, joining C Shaun O'Hara (knee) and CB Sam Madison (stomach). All three were hurt Saturday as Coughlin chose to play his regulars against the Pats.

Madison's abdominal strain shouldn't keep him sidelined, but O'Hara and Mitchell appear to be more of a question mark.

"Each of them is making progress, I'm encouraged," Coughlin said, referring to O'Hara and Mitchell. "They have been fitted right away for a brace and they are in a brace, so we'll see."

BRAVE NEW WORLD: Tampa Bay's younger players are being schooled this week on how to approach the postseason.

"It's a whole different atmosphere," said WR Ike Hilliard, who is eager to face his former Giants teammates. "If you thought every play counted during the regular season, multiply that by 10 for the postseason. Everything is magnified in the playoffs."

"It's going to be a faster game," said TE Jerramy Stevens, a veteran of seven playoff games in four years at Seattle.

BUC BITS: Bucs K Matt Bryant, who converted 10 of 11 FG attempts and all 12 PATs in December, was named the NFC's Special Teams Player of the Month. ... Tampa Bay signed G Ryan Gibbons and T Alan Reuber to the practice squad and released CB Darrell Hunter and T Dennis Roland. ... Five of Joey Galloway's six TD receptions this season came on passes of at least 35 yards from Jeff Garcia. In his 13th NFL year, Galloway is still seeking his first postseason TD.

Ira Kaufman

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