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Bucs Rookie Jackson Gets The Drop On Mini-Camp

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By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 17, 2008

TAMPA – It didn't take long for Amarri Jackson to grasp the importance of ball security Tuesday as Tampa Bay players gathered for the first of three mandatory mini-camp days.

The rookie wide receiver out of USF caught a flare pass down the right sidelines and took a few strides before inexplicably dropping the ball. CB Phillip Buchanon picked up the fumble and headed toward the end zone as Coach Jon Gruden watched intently.

When Jackson joined his teammates on the sidelines before the next snap, he dropped and gave the Bucs 25 pushups while Gruden checked out the guilty party.

"Coach came at me a little bit, but I know you can't fumble balls, especially at this level, because these guys here know how to scoop and score,'' said Jackson. "I was pretty upset with myself, but you have to bounce back and make plays. As players, we need to hear constructive criticism and roll with it.''

RB Earnest Graham, who wants a new contract, attended Tuesday's session after missing OTA workouts. QB Chris Simms, who criticized Gruden last week in an effort to expedite a trade or his release, was not in attendance at the facility Tuesday as teammates practiced in muggy conditions.

"Earnest looked good,'' said LB Derrick Brooks. "He made a couple of cuts and you can tell he's been working.''

Gruden was happy to get Graham back and he quickly tired of questions concerning Simms.

"Earnest is here and we're happy to see him,'' Gruden said. "He's a heck of a player and these matters have a way of working themselves out. He's a key member of our football team. I don't know where Chris is. As I said, I like him a lot and I wish him the best in his situation, but I'm going to coach the guys that are here. His situation will take care of itself.''

Dark clouds began to roll in during the late stages of the morning session, but Tampa Bay players got all their assigned work in before breaking for lunch.

The Bucs practiced without pads and no hitting was allowed as tight ends John Gilmore and Keith Heinrich made some nice catches over the middle. QB Luke McCown found targets downfield and rookie Josh Johnson completed all five of his morning pass attempts.

"We had a little faster tempo than normal this morning,'' Brooks said. "Coach wants to get rookies and new players accustomed to how practice will go at training camp. I think we got better as a team in the offseason. Our offensive line is growing together and Jeff Garcia has another year in this offense. Defensively, it's always competitive on our side of the football.''

The Bucs will move Wednesday's session to Raymond James Stadium before returning to the team facility for a final practice Thursday morning. Players and coaches will then scatter before arriving at Lake Buena Vista in five weeks for the start of training camp.

Despite all the heat and humidity, middle linebacker Barrett Ruud barely broke a sweat.

"I was bad, but practice was all right,'' he said. "Today was better than it's been around here for the past two weeks. The way I judge the heat is whether my shorts are leaking at the bottom -- then I know it's really hot. Right now, I'm midway. If my shoes are dry, I'm good.''

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