dmq
09-13-2004, 12:06 PM
Status Of Galloway Is `Not Good`
Published: Sep 13, 2004
LANDOVER, Md. - A groin injury that had nagged WR Joey Galloway throughout the preseason was re-aggravated in Sunday's game and will sideline the Bucs' No. 1 receiver indefinitely.
``His status for next week [against Seattle] does not look good,'' Coach Jon Gruden said.
Galloway left the game early in the second quarter after dropping what would have been a 29-yard touchdown pass from QB Brad Johnson and landing hard in the end zone. He watched the remainder of the game from the sideline, supported by crutches.
His absence affected more than the offense. Tim Brown and Bill Schroeder were forced into punt return duty. Brown was back for only one, which resulted in a touchback. Schroeder had five returns for 21 yards.
``That was very disappointing losing him in the [second] quarter and losing him for potentially a period of weeks,'' Gruden said. ``It is very much concerning.
``I think we've had some setbacks at that position throughout this preseason and this offseason, so hopefully Joe Jurevicius can come back. Charles Lee can return to play next week, and the guys that we have continue to get better.''
WALKER INACTIVE, UNHAPPY: Backup RT Kenyatta Walker was one of eight inactive players for the game and is struggling to understand why.
``I feel like deja vu,'' Walker said. ``That's exactly what I feel like. Like it's two years ago. I wonder sometimes. I've done a lot of things. Get something for me or something.''
Two years ago, Walker was benched for the opening game. Since the Bucs signed RT Todd Steussie in the offseason, Walker has weathered rumors of his trade or release.
Walker did not make the trip to Houston for the final preseason game. Gruden said a sore knee kept the 2001 first-round draft pick home.
Walker was icing his right knee in the locker room after the game. Though swelling has been a problem throughout the preseason, Walker said his knee is fine and he is capable of playing.
One of the other inactives was QB Chris Simms. In what Gruden said will be an ongoing battle, QB Brian Griese was named the backup before Sunday's game.
MARTIN CONNECTS: For Martin Gramatica, it was just another kick. But given his problematic season last year and his struggles in the preseason, it was a little bit more.
Gramatica scored the Bucs' first points Sunday with a 47-yard field goal. It was the first step back from a mini-slump in which he missed four field goals in the preseason.
``I'm taking it one game at a time,'' Gramatica said. ``It was just one kick, so I don't want to get too excited. I just want to get back into a rhythm. I'm handling the ball decently in practice, so hopefully I can keep building from that.''
Gruden was encouraged by Gramatica's kick, especially since it came in the range that had troubled the kicker throughout the preseason.
``I think he's going to be fine. He's got to put a period of games together, and [Sunday] was a good start for him,'' Gruden said.
HAPPY RETURNS: An area of concern last season, the kickoff return unit looked dramatically improved. Frank Murphy consistently set up the offense with good field position, averaging 31.3 yards on four returns.
``The kickoff return team did a great job,'' LB Ryan Nece said. ``Guys up front got their blocks. A lot of credit has to go to Frank, too. He ran the ball extremely hard. He found the holes. When you've got a returner like that, it's exciting.''
Murphy's 54-yard second-quarter kickoff return, which helped set up Gramatica's field goal, was the longest for Tampa Bay since former Buc Aaron Stecker returned one 67 yards against Detroit in 2002.
Murphy returned a kickoff for 71 yards in the first quarter, but a holding penalty by Will Allen negated it. Instead of starting the series at the Redskins' 19, the Bucs began at their own 16 and eventually punted.
BUCS BITS: Starting MLB Shelton Quarles, in his first game since breaking his wrist during the first training camp practice, led the team with 13 tackles. ... It was throw-back jersey day at FedEx Field. Some fans sported retro Brad Johnson and Doug Williams Redskins jerseys. Johnson played for Washington from 1999-2000 and Williams from 1986-89. Also spotted was an orange Williams jersey from his Bucs days. Williams, now a personnel executive with Tampa Bay, earned Super Bowl XXII MVP honors in helping guide the Redskins to a 42-10 victory against the Denver Broncos. ... Washington won its 500th game as an organization. The team set an attendance record with 90,098 at FedEx Field. The previous mark was set last year against the Bucs, with 85,490.
Katherine Smith
Published: Sep 13, 2004
LANDOVER, Md. - A groin injury that had nagged WR Joey Galloway throughout the preseason was re-aggravated in Sunday's game and will sideline the Bucs' No. 1 receiver indefinitely.
``His status for next week [against Seattle] does not look good,'' Coach Jon Gruden said.
Galloway left the game early in the second quarter after dropping what would have been a 29-yard touchdown pass from QB Brad Johnson and landing hard in the end zone. He watched the remainder of the game from the sideline, supported by crutches.
His absence affected more than the offense. Tim Brown and Bill Schroeder were forced into punt return duty. Brown was back for only one, which resulted in a touchback. Schroeder had five returns for 21 yards.
``That was very disappointing losing him in the [second] quarter and losing him for potentially a period of weeks,'' Gruden said. ``It is very much concerning.
``I think we've had some setbacks at that position throughout this preseason and this offseason, so hopefully Joe Jurevicius can come back. Charles Lee can return to play next week, and the guys that we have continue to get better.''
WALKER INACTIVE, UNHAPPY: Backup RT Kenyatta Walker was one of eight inactive players for the game and is struggling to understand why.
``I feel like deja vu,'' Walker said. ``That's exactly what I feel like. Like it's two years ago. I wonder sometimes. I've done a lot of things. Get something for me or something.''
Two years ago, Walker was benched for the opening game. Since the Bucs signed RT Todd Steussie in the offseason, Walker has weathered rumors of his trade or release.
Walker did not make the trip to Houston for the final preseason game. Gruden said a sore knee kept the 2001 first-round draft pick home.
Walker was icing his right knee in the locker room after the game. Though swelling has been a problem throughout the preseason, Walker said his knee is fine and he is capable of playing.
One of the other inactives was QB Chris Simms. In what Gruden said will be an ongoing battle, QB Brian Griese was named the backup before Sunday's game.
MARTIN CONNECTS: For Martin Gramatica, it was just another kick. But given his problematic season last year and his struggles in the preseason, it was a little bit more.
Gramatica scored the Bucs' first points Sunday with a 47-yard field goal. It was the first step back from a mini-slump in which he missed four field goals in the preseason.
``I'm taking it one game at a time,'' Gramatica said. ``It was just one kick, so I don't want to get too excited. I just want to get back into a rhythm. I'm handling the ball decently in practice, so hopefully I can keep building from that.''
Gruden was encouraged by Gramatica's kick, especially since it came in the range that had troubled the kicker throughout the preseason.
``I think he's going to be fine. He's got to put a period of games together, and [Sunday] was a good start for him,'' Gruden said.
HAPPY RETURNS: An area of concern last season, the kickoff return unit looked dramatically improved. Frank Murphy consistently set up the offense with good field position, averaging 31.3 yards on four returns.
``The kickoff return team did a great job,'' LB Ryan Nece said. ``Guys up front got their blocks. A lot of credit has to go to Frank, too. He ran the ball extremely hard. He found the holes. When you've got a returner like that, it's exciting.''
Murphy's 54-yard second-quarter kickoff return, which helped set up Gramatica's field goal, was the longest for Tampa Bay since former Buc Aaron Stecker returned one 67 yards against Detroit in 2002.
Murphy returned a kickoff for 71 yards in the first quarter, but a holding penalty by Will Allen negated it. Instead of starting the series at the Redskins' 19, the Bucs began at their own 16 and eventually punted.
BUCS BITS: Starting MLB Shelton Quarles, in his first game since breaking his wrist during the first training camp practice, led the team with 13 tackles. ... It was throw-back jersey day at FedEx Field. Some fans sported retro Brad Johnson and Doug Williams Redskins jerseys. Johnson played for Washington from 1999-2000 and Williams from 1986-89. Also spotted was an orange Williams jersey from his Bucs days. Williams, now a personnel executive with Tampa Bay, earned Super Bowl XXII MVP honors in helping guide the Redskins to a 42-10 victory against the Denver Broncos. ... Washington won its 500th game as an organization. The team set an attendance record with 90,098 at FedEx Field. The previous mark was set last year against the Bucs, with 85,490.
Katherine Smith