June Fitting In With Bucs In A Big Way

TAMPA - The tattoo on the right side of Cato June's chest, the one that has BIG TIMEstenciled across the bottom in big, block letters, recalls a time when the Bucs outside linebacker was in high school in Washington, D.C.

"That's what they used to call me back then," June said.

Some things never change. The 6-foot, 227-pound June is one of the smallest linebackers in the NFL, having moved to that spot after playing safety at the University of Michigan. His impact, however, always has been huge.

He was a big part of the Colts' run to their Super Bowl championship last season. Likewise, he has been a big part of the Bucs defense's resurgence. After four games, he ranks among the top 10 on the team in tackles, has one interception and has played at such a high level that the Bucs occasionally have taken Derrick Brooks off the field for June on third downs.

None of that is any surprise to his former coach, Indianapolis' Tony Dungy. The one-time Bucs coach knew June would do big things in Tampa.

"Cato is an exceptional player and, in the system he plays in there, you get to see the best of what he does," Dungy said. "He's got great range, great instincts, great ball skills, and he's got a nose for the football.

"He's very smart and competitive, and the system lets him do those things. He made a ton of big plays for us, and he's making a ton of big plays for [the Bucs]. It's no surprise he's helping them."

Some are still surprised he's here. The Bucs haven't necessarily made a habit of signing free agents who are on the cusp of entering the prime of their careers.

But that three-year, $12 million deal the Bucs offered and the opportunity to play for one of the league's most storied defenses changed June's mind. Eight months later, June doesn't regret the choice.

"It's a great defense, and it's been a great situation for me," June said as he prepared to face the Colts on Sunday. "I have great defenders around me, great coaches; I just fit in well here."

It's more than his speed, smarts and football skills that make him such a good fit. June's work ethic is exemplary as well.

The Bucs learned that shortly after he arrived.

It was mid-June. Tampa Bay was in the middle of its offseason workouts at One Buc Place. The Colts were still celebrating their Super Bowl victory over the Bears and scheduled a private ceremony to hand out the rings.

June wasn't going to miss that ceremony. He wasn't going to miss any Bucs workouts, either. So he hopped on a plane one day, flew to Indianapolis, got his ring and flew back in time for the next day's workout.

"That really showed us something," Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said. "I'm sure a lot of guys were hanging around the next day after that ceremony. But he was right back here working out.

"So he's really been accepted around here. And that's also because he came in and he put it all down on tape. He's really a quality player. We thought that when he came here, and he hasn't let us down one bit."

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning feels a little let down. Though he says he's happy for June, he also says he saw far too many teammates from last year's Super Bowl team leave during free agency.

"This is the fifth week in a row we've played against a former [teammate]," Manning said. "I was disappointed to see him leave. He was a great player for us - a great teammate, great guy in the locker room."

Now that he's in another locker room, June is being looked at as a guy who might be able to offer some of the secrets that make the Colts so good and so hard to stop.

He acknowledges he doesn't know much more than anyone else. The Colts' success, he said, is mostly a result of their ability to execute plays with flawless precision.

"Everybody's been trying to figure out Manning and the Colts for a while now," June said. "All we can do is play our defense and not worry about what they're going to do.

"They've seen our defense, and they know what we're going to do. And we've seen what they want to do on film. It's going to come down to who goes out there and executes the best."

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979 or rcummings@tampatrib.com.