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Injury List Crowded After Week 1

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By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 9, 2008

TAMPA - Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden was unable to give any assurances that three key members of his team would play this Sunday against Atlanta.

In addition to declaring QB Jeff Garcia (ankle sprain) questionable for the home opener, Gruden said LB Derrick Brooks (hamstring) and WR Maurice Stovall (neck strain) are also uncertainties.

"Right now their status is they are hurt," Gruden said. "We'll just have to update you in the next couple of days."

Brooks has not missed a start since 1996. He has started in 193 consecutive games, which is tops among active NFL defensive players. New York Jets QB Brett Favre is the NFL's overall leader with 254 consecutive regular-season starts.

Tampa Bay has several backup plans if Brooks cannot play.

Adam Hayward could start for Brooks, but Gruden said he would also consider switching players around if necessary.

"Cato June could end up being the Will linebacker," Gruden said. "We could move Quincy Black into the Sam linebacker position. Let's see where Derrick is in the next 24 hours and we'll put our contingency plan in place if need be."

UPON FURTHER REVIEW: New Orleans RB Reggie Bush made some spectacular moves to score Sunday's winning 42-yard touchdown, plus evaded a possible reversal.

After Bush shook S Jermaine Phillips in the fourth quarter, CB Phillip Buchanon seemingly tackled him out of bounds at the Bucs' 3-yard-line. After a brief hesitation, game officials ruled Bush's run a touchdown.

Although it appeared Buchanon's tackle knocked Bush out of bounds, Tampa Bay did not challenge the play.

"I knew he was out of bounds because I was out of bounds," Buchanon said. "Even though he had a good stiff-arm move, he was out of bounds. It's just the luck of the draw.

"I didn't think they gave him a touchdown until they gave it to him. My ankle was hurt a little bit, so I wasn't thinking about that telling the coaches. I was thinking about my ankle. It happens."

Gruden said he thought about challenging the play, but Tampa Bay had only one timeout remaining and it was too risky. If Tampa Bay had lost the challenge, the Bucs would have been penalized their final available timeout.

"We didn't get the feed up in the press box for the coaches to review it," Gruden said. "We were limited in timeouts as it was and I wanted to challenge the holding on that play more than anything."

CLAYTON'S FINAL STAND: Bucs WR Michael Clayton's career hit its lowest point when he was declared inactive against New Orleans despite being healthy.

Clayton has struggled since amassing 1,193 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie in 2004. His statistical numbers have decreased every year, and although Clayton hoped for a breakthrough season in a contract year, he was benched.

"We wanted to have Mike up," Gruden said. "We had five receivers dress. Dexter Jackson was up for return purposes. Maurice Stovall's dynamic special teams play is what we felt was very important for this game. As you know, Ike Hilliard, Joey Galloway and Antonio Bryant were the three guys who started in our three-receiver set."

Gruden would not say if Clayton, a former first-round draft pick, would be active this week, but the receiver was bothered by his benching.

"Had we won, it would have made this a little easier, but it's a long season and really it's out of my control," Clayton said after the game. "I can only be ready to play when my number is called."

Anwar S. Richardson

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