Wake-Up Call: Tampa area products head to NFL camps

The Wake-Up Call greets you each weekday with news, views and a few Tampa Bay area sports offerings to anticipate for the day and night. We encourage suggestions and contributions.

Good morning!

Most NFL teams are reporting to training camp today through the weekend (if they haven't reported already).

Players with Tampa Bay area ties are scattered throughout the league. There are productive veterans and at least one surefire Hall of Famer. There are hot shot draft picks and rookie free agents just hoping for an opportunity.

Here's a look:

Baraka Atkins (Sarasota Booker), defensive end, Seattle Seahawks: Should have good future as pass-rusher.

David Baas (Sarasota Riverview), guard, San Francisco 49ers: Still looking to make expected impact as he enters fifth NFL season.

Brodrick Bunkley (Chamberlain), defensive tackle, Philadelphia Eagles: Fourth-year pro, a former first-rounder from Florida State, is a star-in-the-making.

Andre Caldwell (Jefferson), wide receiver, Cincinnati Bengals: In the running for spot at third receiver, kick returner.

Pat Carter (Lakewood), wide receiver, Bucs: Louisville product would love to make his hometown roster.

Tim Carter (Lakewood), wide receiver, St. Louis Rams: Looking to regain form that made him second-round pick of Giants in 2002.

Desmond Clark (Kathleen), tight end, Chicago Bears: Remains a consistent contributor in his 11th NFL season.

Brian Clark (Chamberlain), wide receiver, Bucs: Hoping for a shot at third receiver spot.

Joe Clermond (Chamberlain), defensive end, Chicago Bears: Rookie free agent just wants to make an impression.

Chauncey Davis (Auburndale), defensive end, Atlanta Falcons: Will get opportunity to win a starting job.

Chris Davis (St. Petersburg Catholic), wide receiver, Tennessee Titans: Productive as return man, but must make a bigger mark on offense.

Leger Douzable (Alonso), defensive tackle, New York Giants: Taken from Vikings' practice squad last season, but didn't play in any games.

Jay Feely (Jesuit), place-kicker, New York Jets: Nine-year veteran earned one-year contract after filling in last season for the injured Mike Nugent.

Ryan Fowler (Seminole), linebacker, Tennessee Titans: Former starting middle linebacker is now a special-teamer and backup.

Cornell Green (Lakewood), offensive tackle, Oakland Raiders: One-time Buc has started 26 games for Raiders.

Kevin Hobbs (Tampa Bay Tech), cornerback, Seattle Seahawks: Entering his third season after going undrafted from Auburn.

Darren Howard (Boca Ciega), defensive end, Philadelphia Eagles: Still playing effectively in his 10th NFL season.

Matt Huners (Palm Harbor University), center-guard, San Francisco 49ers: Rookie free agent has some versatility.

D'Qwell Jackson (Seminole), linebacker, Cleveland Browns: Team's leading tackler in two consecutive seasons.

Michael Jenkins (Leto), wide receiver, Atlanta Falcons: Settling in nicely as team's No. 2 receiver (behind Roddy White).

Mike Jenkins (Bradenton Southeast), cornerback, Dallas Cowboys: More is expected from Jenkins, a 2008 USF first-rounder, who had a so-so rookie season.

Todd Johnson (Sarasota Riverview), safety, St. Louis Rams: Occasional starter and valuable special-teams player.

Ray Lewis (Kathleen), middle linebacker, Baltimore Ravens: Entering his 14th NFL season - en route to Canton.

Marshall McDuffie (Durant), cornerback, Bucs: Rookie free agent turned career around at Florida International after involvement in celebrated on-field brawl in 2006.

Tyrone McKenzie (Riverview), linebacker, New England Patriots: Third-round pick from USF is out for the season after suffering knee injury during minicamp.

Louis Murphy (Lakewood), wide receiver, Oakland Raiders: Deep threat for Florida's national-championship team was Oakland's fourth-round pick.

Marcus Paschal (Largo), safety, Atlanta Falcons: Out of football in 2008, he's looking to make an impression on special teams.

Logan Payne (Land O'Lakes), wide receiver, Seattle Seahawks: On the rebound after suffering season-ending injury in 2008.

Ryan Pickett (Zephyrhills), nose tackle, Green Bay Packers: How will he adjust to his role in 3-4 alignment of Dom Capers, the new defensive coordinator?

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Lakewood Ranch), cornerback, Arizona Cardinals: Came into his own as rookie contributor on Super Bowl team.

Garrison Sanborn (Jesuit), long snapper, Buffalo Bills: Getting his opportunity after Bills signed him in the spring.

Fabian Washington (Bradenton Bayshore), cornerback, Baltimore Ravens: Former first-round pick with Raiders (2005) turned the corner last season.

Trae Williams (Durant), cornerback, Philadelphia Eagles: The former USF Bull was drafted by Jaguars in 2008 fifth round, but spent last season on Eagles' practice squad.

Stoney Woodson (Middleton), cornerback, New York Giants: Seventh-round rookie from South Carolina hopes to stick as special-teams contributor.

The spirit of '76

Friday, the Bucs will hold a news conference to unveil their 1976 throwback uniforms, which will be worn against the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 8 at Raymond James Stadium. Several current players will serve as models.

Two notes for those who insist on authenticity.

Strangely, the 1976 Bucs did not wear their orange jerseys during the winless regular season - not once - although they were used in exhibition games.

And if the throwbacks are white jerseys, there's a tweak that was only seen in 1976. The original white jerseys featured orange numerals with red trim. That was abandoned after one season because, well, the orange tint was too light and numerals couldn't be deciphered from high atop a stadium.

From 1977 to 1996 - until the current red-and-pewter look was born - the Bucs' white jerseys featured the brighter red numerals with orange trim.

Span on a roll

Minnesota Twins center fielder Denard Span (Tampa Catholic) has a season-high eight-game hitting streak after going 2-for-3 on Wednesday night against the Chicago Whie Sox. Span, batting .287 overall, is hitting .355 in that eight-game span.

And, of course, it was Span's sixth-inning single on Tuesday night that broke up the no-hitter of Mark Buehrle, who was coming off a perfect game against the Rays.

Arenas nominated for Good Works Team

University of Alabama senior cornerback Javier Arenas (Robinson) was nominated for the Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team, which will be announced during the college football season. There are 106 nominees and eventually they will be narrowed to a pair of 11-man teams - one for the Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) and the other combining the Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA), Divisions II and III, along with the NAIA schools.

Players were nominated for their community service and charity work. Arenas has provided spiritual guidance to children of incarcerated parents, collecting money and gifts as part of Project Angel Tree. He has spoken to schoolchildren about bullying and teamwork. He read to students at Venner Elementary School in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and attended the birthday parties of physically challenged youths.

University of Florida senior quarterback Tim Tebow also was nominated for the Good Works Team. His missionary work and church background has been well-documented, but Tebow is constantly sought-after by charitable causes. He recently worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, spending an evening with a child whose last wish was to meet Tebow and play a game of catch.

FSC coach wins national titles

Florida Southern College women's tennis coach Trish Riddell, ranked No. 2 nationally in her age group, recently won national titles in the women's 35-plus singles and doubles divisions at the National Grass Court Tennis Championships. In singles, Riddell defeated MaryBeth Williams 6-1, 5-7, 7-5 in the final.

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday to former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Glen Edwards, the former Gibbs High School and Florida A&M University player. Edwards earned two Super Bowl rings with the Steel Curtain. In fact, he batted away Roger Staubach's desperation pass on the final play of Super Bowl X, preserving a 21-17 victory. Edwards also played for the San Diego Chargers and finished his career with the USFL's Tampa Bay Bandits. Friday, Edwards turns 62.

The Answer Man

Defensive lineman Ryan Pickett is the only Zephyrhills High School athlete to be drafted in the first round by a professional sports team. In 2001, after leaving Ohio State University following his junior season, Pickett was the NFL draft's 29th overall pick, going to the St. Louis Rams.

Thursday trivia

Here's our daily sports trivia question, featuring a Tampa Bay/Florida spin. Try your luck by commenting below.

Who was the first Hillsborough County football product selected for the Pro Bowl? (Hint: It was well before the 1970 AFL-NFL merger).

Check for the answer in Friday's Wake-Up Call.