Bucs catching their breath after morning session

Bucs second-year guard Arron Sears hadn't run gassers since his junior season at the University of Tennessee, so the end of Sunday's morning practice at Disney brough back some painful memories.

"I was in trouble," he said.

Dissatisfied with his team's morning session (watch audio slide show), Bucs coach Jon Gruden lined his entire team up along the far sideline of the main practice field and made them run gassers to finish practice. Sears -- at 6-foot-3, 319 pounds -- was one of the few who fell behind the pack, hands on his hips trying to catch his breath.

"Today wasn’t one of the best practices and coach wanted us to know that," Sears said."He definitely got our attention. We have to come back (this afternoon) and be able to play throughout the whole practice."

In other news, wide receiver Antonio Bryant missed practice with a swollen right knee. He was wearing a protective sleeve on the knee.

But it appears that wideout Joey Galloway, who has missed camp with a groin injury, is well on his way to returning. He ran routes on the back field Sunday morning. He is expected to return Monday.

Center Jeff Faine returned to practice after missing a few days with a sore back.

-- EDUARDO A. ENCINA

(Pictured - Arron Sears, Jon Gruden, Antonio Bryant. Times photos - Joseph Garnett, Jr. and Brian Cassella. Click to enlarge.)

Comments

[frank c. costanza]

"Gruden got that from me. Whenever any of my four sons would screw up, I'd make em run gassers across the estate grounds. Then we'd have lemonade in the solarium and have a pep talk."

-- Malcolm "Big Daddy" Glazer