In Season Of Giving, 'Tis Better To Recover

TAMPA - Bucs defensive end Greg White recently joked with Jovan Haye when asked if he deserved a Christmas present for aiding his teammate's success.

"Hey man, what are you going to get me for Christmas? You owe me," White said.

"I know. I'm going to take care of you. I will," Haye said.

There might not be a tie or gift certificate adequate enough for Haye to show his appreciation to White, or even Gaines Adams, for igniting his recent explosion.

Haye has recovered four fumbles in Tampa Bay's past three games and is one away from tying Bill Kollar's team record of five set in 1979.

Last week against Atlanta, Haye recovered a fumble after Adams sacked Chris Redman and popped the ball loose. White caused two fumbles against Houston and Haye picked up both of those balls, but his most noteworthy recovery occurred against New Orleans.

Tampa Bay trailed 23-20 with less than four minutes remaining when Reggie Bush's awkward reverse toss to receiver Devery Henderson was mishandled and Haye recovered on the Saints' 49-yard line. Eight plays later, backup quarterback Luke McCown threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jerramy Stevens with 17 seconds remaining to grab a 23-20 victory, Tampa Bay's biggest win this season.

"It's just being in the right place at the right time," Haye said. "All of the fumble recoveries I've recovered, I didn't cause them. It's the guys around me forcing the fumble. I credit the defense. Guys flying around. I just happen to be at the right place at the right time."

Although Haye credits good fortune, White unconditionally says his teammate's success can be attributed to hard work, not luck.

"Running to the ball. Being relentless. It's just what he does," White said. "He works hard. In practice he runs out of control because he just wants to run the ball and catch the ball. He's been working in practice, in games, and I'm not surprised he gets all those fumbles."

Some might be surprised at how Haye has resurrected his football career.

Haye left Vanderbilt early after believing he could be a second-round draft pick in 2005, but was eventually picked in the sixth-round. He landed on Carolina's roster as a rookie and appeared in two games before being released the following season.

He eventually signed with Cleveland's practice squad on Sept. 14, 2006, and was released a few weeks later. Haye was signed by Tampa Bay on Oct. 26, 2006, and appeared in nine games last season, recording 25 tackles.

In addition to Haye's four fumble recoveries this season, he also has five sacks and 84 tackles.

"He busts his butt. He gets after it. He's always around the football. He hustles to the ball every play," Bucs defensive line coach Larry Coyer said. "It's the old cliche, when you're always there, something good happens.

"He makes a great effort. He's after it. When they do drills out there, he's after it. Coincidence? Not with this guy."

It is also no coincidence why Haye owes White a really nice Christmas gift.

"It's only right. How about you fill up my gas tank or something?" White said to Haye.

"Get me to five or six recoveries," Haye jokingly said.

"You see this? What's the record? Five? OK, I'll do it," White said.