Plenty of space for the mind to roam

TAMPA - The players moved into the team's spacious new facility Monday, and it felt a little strange.

They practiced on a trio of beautifully manicured fields, changed clothes in a cavernous lockerroom, met in rooms with plenty of seating space and lifted weights using machines they'd never seen before.

Nope, they weren't at One Buc anymore.

“I think I actually could make it through the whole day and not see other teammates until I get on the field,”said tight end Dave Moore, who called One Buc home for 12 seasons.“We're used to being on top of each other. It's great; we have everything we need. There's no excuse for not being able to get it done.”

Well, maybe one.

On the team's first day at the new facility, the facility itself, apparently, was a distraction. Coach Jon Gruden was not pleased with practice, saying the offense wasn't sharp.

“We have to get over the buzz of the new facility,” Gruden said. “Everyone's excited, and rightfully so, but what we have to do is concentrate on football and take advantage of the facility at the same time. There's going to be some distraction here, I'm sure, the first day or so just to get familiarized with all there is in here and where to go. It's shocking to some degree. You don't feel like it's home yet, but that's part of making change.”

Times photo by Bill Serne; click to enlarge.