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Russian 'Drago' Fits Right In

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By IRA KAUFMAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 28, 2008

LAKE BUENA VISTA - Sergey Ivanov's nickname preceded his arrival at training camp.

"We were calling him 'Drago' before we even met him," Bucs CB Ronde Barber said, alluding to Russian boxer Ivan Drago, Sylvester Stallone's nemesis played by Dolph Lundgren in "Rocky IV."

Ivanov, a 6-foot-3 safety from Moscow, worked out for the first time with his new teammates during Sunday's training camp sessions and he will be on Tampa Bay's practice squad in the fall, thanks to the NFL International program.

Ivanov doesn't count against Tampa Bay's 80-man camp roster and he won't be included in the regular-season roster of 53 players. Instead, he will occupy an additional ninth practice squad spot.

"The playbook, that's the toughest thing," Ivanov said in broken English. "Tough book. The playbook, it's like, have you ever read 'War and Peace?'"

Ivanov spread his hands wide apart to suggest the thickness of the playbook.

The Buccaneers were one of Ivanov's favorite teams and former Tampa Bay S John Lynch was his favorite player.

"I think it's a great thing to let people from a foreign country participate," Coach Jon Gruden said. "You would think they might do it at the college level or at a different level ... this is tough sledding, man. He's a great kid and he's going to have a heck of an experience here."

Ivanov arrived in Orlando on Saturday evening after a two-hour delay and a 15-hour flight.

"A little visa problem," he said.

Ivanov may not have much time to unwind.

"He's going to have to play a little bit," Barber said. "We don't have a lot of safeties here and Tanard Jackson kind of cramped today, so it was like, 'Sergey, get in there.'"

Ivanov's involvement with the NFL dates to 2005, when he attended a minicamp for national players held in Tampa.

The program, founded in 2004, annually brings in a group of international players to the United States to serve on NFL practice squads on a rotating basis.

From across the globe, Ivanov already had formed an impression of the head coach he met Sunday. "I heard Jon Gruden is so tough as a coach, but I'm sure he's really a good guy," Ivanov said. "But he looks tough on the field."

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