On paper, it must be a mismatch - 11/23/2006
Source: St. Petersburg Times Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn have a combined 22 seasons of NFL experience, nearly 20,000 combined career yards and hours of highlight tape apiece.
And whom, exactly, do the Bucs plan to match against those Cowboys receivers in Thursday's Thanksgiving matchup at Texas Stadium? At times, journeyman Torrie Cox and a player some consider a first-round bust, Phillip Buchanon.
It's not the ideal situation for a 3-7 team entering a game against one of the hottest passing teams in the NFL. But it's all the Bucs have, considering cornerback Brian Kelly's season-ending surgery last month and the injury to his replacement, Juran Bolden, who sustained a bruised fibula against Washington and looks like a long shot to play against Dallas.
So, on deck are Cox and Buchanon, who will play alongside Ronde Barber as the left cornerback Cox and nickel back (Buchanon).
It's a tough assignment, to say the least. There's Owens, who has seven receiving touchdowns (second most in the NFL) and is equally likely to leap over you or run through you. Then, there's Glenn, who has track-like speed and catlike quickness.
"They're different kinds of guys completely," Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said. "Owens is a big powerful guy with good speed. Terry is a quick, elusive guy."
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Severe Turf Toe Injury Lands Kelly On IR - 10/26/2006
Source: Tampa Tribune Immediately after the Bucs' stunning 23-21 victory against the Eagles, CB Brian Kelly made his way through the locker room to congratulate fellow DBs Juran Bolden and Ronde Barber for their interceptions.
Kelly watched the game from the sideline, a spot he will become familiar with. A problem that seriously began bothering Kelly in the offseason has ended his regular season.
The Bucs placed Kelly on injured reserve Wednesday because of a turf toe injury that is expected to require surgery. It's the second time in four years Kelly has been placed on injured reserve. The ninth-year veteran, who is under contract through the 2007 season, missed 11 games in 2003 after he tore a pectoral muscle.
"We're going to give him a chance to get his foot healed properly and hopefully come back 100 percent next year," Coach Jon Gruden said.
Bolden takes over the starting left cornerback duties, just as he did in the four games Kelly missed this season. Bolden sat out Wednesday's practice with a hip injury but is prepared to start against the New York Giants on Sunday.
"Nothing changes," Bolden said. "I've just got to keep doing what I've been doing and be prepared each week. Even when I was the nickelback, I was still preparing like I was the starter."
Torrie Cox assumes the nickelback duties. And recently acquired corner Philip Buchanon could land a larger role in the defense.
But Kelly's absence could prove to be significant.
The Kelly-Barber tandem helped the Bucs' passing defense finish in the top five, including two No. 1 rankings, in four of the five seasons since Kelly became a starter in 2001.
"It's a big, big loss for us," Gruden said. "It's a big loss for our team."
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