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Bucs LB June Welcomes The Pressure To Perform

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By IRA KAUFMAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 19, 2008

TAMPA - Cato June proved himself to the Buccaneers well before he made his first tackle in pewter.

June's fourth season with the Colts culminated in a Vince Lombardi Trophy, six weeks before he joined Tampa Bay as a free agent. Although the Bucs did their due diligence prior to signing the 28-year-old linebacker, they didn't know exactly what baggage June would carry from Indianapolis, where he registered a team-high 162 stops during the title season.

"They had a ceremony in Indy to hand out their Super Bowl rings and we had OTAs in Tampa the next day," Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said. "Cato got his ring and then showed up here in time. That's how dedicated he is. He's a Buccaneer. He fits right in, plays with a lot of enthusiasm and loves football. He could have had an attitude, but he was very respectful of our veterans."

June took pride in being an every-down player on Indy's defense, but he was often pulled in Tampa Bay's nickel package as weakside linebacker Derrick Brooks remained on the field for the money down.

Knowing it was No. 55 made the situation more tolerable.

"I've got no regrets at all about coming here," said June, who missed the playoff game after suffering a broken foot the week before. "I watch a Derrick Brooks in his 14th year coming into meetings with a notepad. I'm like, 'What are you writing?' It's the same speech, the same defense, the same coordinator ... and he's still taking notes. That's what amazes me the most - the will of this defense to get better."

June played capably on the strong side in 2007, tying safety Jermaine Phillips for third on the team with 120 tackles, behind middle linebacker Barrett Ruud and Brooks.

But after intercepting 10 passes as a three-year starter for the Colts, June posted only one pick as a Buc. Splash plays have typically been difficult to come by for strongside linebackers in the Tampa 2.

"Cato June competed his tail off for us last year," linebackers coach Gus Bradley said. "If there was frustration on his part about coming off the field on third down, I didn't see it. The perception was that he was a good football player, but some people wondered exactly how physical he could be. All I know is he made some big hits for this defense."

Following offseason surgery, June said his foot is still not 100 percent, but he expects to be fully recovered by training camp. Meanwhile, the bitter memory of that playoff setback will serve as a motivating force.

"He tried so hard to play against the Giants, but a broken bone is a broken bone," said GM Bruce Allen. "Cato was quite depressed, but on game day he encouraged his teammates and stayed positive."

That broken foot wasn't June's only mis-step. In November, he was arrested on a misdemeanor DUI, a charge that was dropped in April.

"The bar is set so high around here that you have to come in and do extraordinary things each day," June said. "I like that kind of pressure."

June may be intense and driven, but he also knows when to provide comic relief.

"Our funniest guy on defense is definitely Cato June," wide receiver Maurice Stovall said. "He's one of those guys who is always talking trash. He knows how to keep practice going. And on those hot OTA days, he's always making jokes, keeping us loose."

In June's first season here, he helped Tampa Bay's defense vault from 17th to second overall as the Bucs won the NFC South.

"This defense is renowned around the league," June said. "Our coaches have so much energy, and I'm a high-energy guy. When you have coaches matching that intensity every day, it makes it that much more fun to come to work. Monte's defense has been out of the top 10 only one time - that's amazing. It's all about pride on defense here in Tampa. I've learned one thing about the flag on that helmet ... you have to earn it."

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