TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Bucs Add Mahan For Depth On Line

ADVERTISEMENT

By ROY CUMMINGS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 3, 2008

TAMPA - If experience stands for anything, the Bucs got a little stronger behind Jeff Faine at center on Tuesday.

In separate trades, the Bucs dealt projected backup C Dan Buenning to the Bears and sent a 2009 draft pick to the Steelers for 2006 starting C Sean Mahan.

The latter deal brings Mahan back to the organization that drafted him out of Notre Dame six years ago and gives the Bucs a little more experience behind Faine.

Unlike Buenning, a converted guard who is learning the center position, Mahan is a natural center with 52 NFL starts, including 24 at center. Mahan started every game at center for the Steelers last year.

He proved to be a little small for the position, however, and was deemed expendable after Justin Hartwig joined Pittsburgh as a free agent.

With most of his starts coming at left guard, Mahan gives the Bucs increased depth where they had only Buenning and untried rookie James Lee as backups.

Mahan was drafted by the Bucs in the fifth round in 2003. In 2004, he started the second half of the season at center for John Wade, who was lost to a knee injury.

Mahan signed with the Steelers in the spring of 2007 and became their starting center, but he struggled to fend off quick and powerful defensive tackles and blitzers.

SUPERDOME UPDATE: Hurricane Gustav created less havoc than expected in New Orleans, so the Saints have scrapped their contingency plans and committed to playing their opener against the Bucs in the Superdome.

"We have been assured by Superdome officials that the stadium is ready to host our fans and our team for a sold-out game this Sunday, and we have been assured by our political leaders that we have their support in making this happen," Saints owner Tom Benson said Tuesday. "We will once again showcase to a national audience that the city of New Orleans is made up of resilient people and that we are ready to stand our city back up as quickly as possible, put this storm behind us and move on with our lives."

Meanwhile, the Saints continued to prepare for the opener by working out at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the new home of the Colts. The Saints moved their operations there Friday in an effort to avoid the storm.

Apart from an exterior marquee being torn apart, the Superdome reportedly suffered no major structural damage when Hurricane Gustav struck near New Orleans on Monday. The facility was not used as a shelter for citizens of the New Orleans area, making it possible for the Saints to host the game properly, Benson said.

KICKING THE HABIT: Former Jesuit standout Jay Feely was among the kickers who tried out for the Bucs on Monday.

Obviously worried about the status of K Matt Bryant, who missed five of 12 field goal tries during the preseason, the Bucs worked out three kickers. None have been signed.

The Bucs are not at a loss for aid in helping Bryant out of his slump. Even former Bucs P Mark Royals has offered his help.

Roy Cummings

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT