Wide Right: Return works out for Spurlock

Buccaneers receiver Micheal Spurlock has enjoyed a more successful return in 2009 than a G.I. Joe movie.

Spurlock was re-signed by Tampa Bay in late December and scored on a 77-yard punt return against New Orleans a few days later. He is most remembered for becoming the first player in franchise history to return a kickoff for a touchdown, 90 yards against Atlanta on Dec. 16, 2007.

The Bucs hope a win against the Falcons will catapult their return to winning into 2010, and Spurlock spoke about "returns" for this week's column.

Anwar: What was your return to Tampa like last week?

Micheal: It was good to see familiar faces and feel like you're back at home, to feel like you're around family. That's one thing the Bucs are about. Being here the last two years, all the guys pretty much get along. It just feels good to be back home.

Anwar: Which is your more memorable return - last week's punt return for a touchdown or your 90-yard kickoff return in 2007?

Micheal: It was last week's return, because it came at a pivotal point of the game. We were down and we needed a big play. We were driving, but we were kind of shooting ourselves in the foot. To tie the game up and to beat one of the top teams in the NFC, it was a big thing. I'm from Mississippi, which is right up the road, so that was also big.

Anwar: So your historic return would be second?

Micheal: Making history is still up there, but like I was telling some of the other guys, they asked me why I didn't want to wear number 17 again. Everybody associated 17 with me running a kick back, but I talked to my wife and she said, 'Let's go with 81.' She said the numbers don't make you. You make the number.

Anwar: Where did you wear 81?

Micheal: I wore it in the (United Football League).

Anwar: Did you ever think you would return to the NFL after playing with the Florida Tuskers?

Micheal: Oh yeah. Unless you go and check it out, you don't know that it's a great league. For guys that want to make to the (NFL), it's something to keep you going. If you're sitting at the house for two months, and I don't care how much shape you're in, you're not in football shape, because you're not going up against somebody everyday.

Anwar: What was it like to return to practice and have (special teams coach) Rich Bisaccia yelling at you again?

Micheal: It was great. It's been a long time. In San Francisco we had a coach that yelled a lot as well, but there's just something about hearing that Italian voice. He'll curse you out one minute and love on you the next. It feels good. It's like I'm back in college again. When I was in college, he was like, 'How are you doing and is everything good?' Next, he was calling me every name in the book. It feels great to be back home again.

Anwar: If you could return to high school, what would you do differently?

Micheal: I don't think I would do anything differently. I enjoyed high school. That was probably one of the purest times of playing sports and just being a youngster. You were a kid and everything was pure. Your mom would give you $20 to go to the game and you had to make that stretch for a long time. That's a lot of money. Everybody wants to be grown, but you don't realize being a kid is a wonderful thing. When those bills starting coming in, you wish you could go back.

Anwar: How tough was it losing your return job in 2008?

Micheal: Losing your job anywhere is tough, but I think it helped me build character. It humbled me as well, because nothing is guaranteed.

Anwar: What would it be like to beat Atlanta and return to winning in 2010?

Micheal: It would be great. The way we would look at is, 'We're 3-0 going into next year.' We would try to roll that over into a great 2010. Our special teams have been something we could hang our hat on. If we can go out and get a win again, that's going to be even better.