Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp

I don't live far from the Disney Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold their pre-season training camp. Practices are held in the morning and afternoon and the public is invited to come and watch for free. Since I had never been to an NFL training camp I thought it might be fun to go and watch the boys limbering up for another grueling season of battle on the gridiron of professional football.

The Buccaneers are coached by Tampa native Jon Gruden who led them to a Super Bowl victory over his former team, the Oakland Raiders, in a laughable blowout back in 2003. Since that time, Chucky (a nickname given to him by his players because when he fixes his intense stare on something he reminds them of the evil doll from the Child's Play movies) has not had much success since then and some in the Florida sports media speculate that his time in Tampa may soon be running out if he isn't able to return the Bucs to their former glory in a hurry.

Chucky goes over the play with B. Gradkowski

All in all it was a fun morning at the Hess Sports Field where I mingled with devoted hardcore fans and members of the press corps to witness the sweat and toil of life in the NFL. I wish the Bucs the best of luck as they embark on their 2007 campaign.

Cadillac Williams eludes the lumbering horde

Jeff Garcia rolls out


Chas Gessner snags one


Josh Bidwell punts a boomer