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June Likely Out With Foot Injury

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 5, 2008

TAMPA - Bucs coach Jon Gruden doesn't regret resting a lot of his regulars the past two weeks. In fact, he regrets not resting more regulars, Cato June in particular.

The starting strongside linebacker probably won't play against the Giants on Sunday after missing practice all week with a foot injury he apparently suffered during the regular-season finale.

"I probably should have rested him," Gruden said with a tinge of sarcasm. "It's unfortunate."

Fortunately for the Bucs, they have a reserve in Ryan Nece who has plenty of experience working the strongside position. With June listed as doubtful for Sunday's game, Nece is expected to start.

Nece has been working as the backup middle linebacker since the second day of training camp. He's had limited work on the strong side this year, so he hopes he can make a smooth transition back to his old spot.

"I don't know that anything in life is easy, but I think having the experience at that position is better than having someone who hasn't had that experience," Nece said. "I guess I'm a good insurance policy."

Nece has 35 career starts at the strongside spot, including one playoff start in 2005 against the Redskins. In that game, Nece had six tackles on defense and one on special teams.

He has worked primarily on special teams this year, recording 16 tackles. He also has five tackles on defense, where June ranked third on the team with 120 stops.

The likely absence of June also could mean more work for weakside linebacker Derrick Brooks, who often has come off the field during nickel situations.

In other injury news, LG Arron Sears practiced Friday and is listed as questionable with an ankle sprain. If he can't go, Matt Lehr will start.

THE BARBER SHOP: Bucs CB Ronde Barber, never afraid to tell it like it is, is taking some heat from the Giants for a recent comment in which he said the Bucs wanted to play the Giants in the playoffs because they win ugly, have lost TE Jeremy Shockey and have an inconsistent QB in Eli Manning.

"He's basically disrespecting the New York Giants in one way or another, and on Sunday it will all go down," LB Antonio Pierce told Newsday. "We really appreciate those comments."

"I don't think he needs to worry about No. 10 Manning," WR Plaxico Burress told the New York Daily News. "He needs to worry about me. Ronde says Manning is inconsistent and hasn't played well of late? When we get down there on Sunday, we'll see how good he really plays.

"It's going to be warm, it's going to be nice, and we're going to throw the ball around a little bit and make some plays."

ACCUSCORE PREDICTS BUCS WIN: AccuScore Game Forecasting lists the Bucs as a 58.9 percent favorite to beat the Giants this weekend after 10,000 simulations.

QB Jeff Garcia is predicted to pass for 221 yards, one TD and one interception, RB Earnest Graham to have nearly 70 rushing yards and Joey Galloway to add 62 receiving yards.

BUCS BITS: Garcia and wife Carmella will be among the couples featured in the players/wives section of this year's Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. "I knew my wife would be in there potentially but I never thought I'd be in there," said Garcia, whose wife was the 2004 Playboy Playmate of the Year. ... Sunday's game will mark the first time this season the Bucs are on national television.

Roy Cummings,

Anwar S. Richardson

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