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Notebook: Faine breaks in another QB

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 30, 2009

Your thoughts on the Bucs' 38-7 loss to the Saints?

TAMPA - Bucs C Jeff Faine has endured more changes than the customers in his Orlando Forty VII clothing store.

Faine was slowed by a groin injury during training camp as he worked with QBs Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich. He was healthy enough to start in Week 1 with Leftwich, but he injured his triceps against Dallas and missed the next four games.

After returning against Carolina, Faine had to work with second-year QB Josh Johnson, who became Tampa Bay's starter during Faine's absence. Johnson and Faine played in two games together before the quarterback was benched this week.

Faine found out he is working with his third quarterback this season when Coach Raheem Morris announced that rookie Josh Freeman would be Tampa Bay's latest starter.

"I just need to make it as easy for him as I possibly can," Faine said of Freeman. "Doing everything I can to make it easy for him to throw the ball and hand the ball off. That's what I've been doing.

"In theory, it should make my job harder, but I've been doing this from the get-go."

Faine typically calls out the protection schemes, and Freeman intends to lean on him when Tampa Bay hosts Green Bay on Nov. 8.

"I feel really good about (starting), but at the same time I have a little cushion to fall back on with our center Jeff Faine," Freeman said. "He does a great job making the calls."

Not ready for the bye

Morris is giving his team some time off during the bye week, but he is not happy about it.

Tampa Bay practiced twice this week and will not resume activities until Tuesday. Although players can use a break, Morris would prefer to continue practicing.

"The bye week never comes at a good time when you don't have a win," Morris said. "You're looking for your first win. That's the only thing we're concerned about.

"The bye week is always good to get a little healthier, to get a little better, to get more in shape, but right now it makes Sunday just as miserable as it was last week for us."

Rest for the weary

While many Bucs players practiced Wednesday and Thursday, Morris did allow some to take the week off to recover.

WR Michael Clayton, CB Aqib Talib, CB Ronde Barber, TE John Gilmore and LB Geno Hayes were given the week off to nurse various injuries. Because the Bucs are on a bye week, they are not required to submit an injury report to the NFL.

Anwar S. Richardson

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