The official NFL statistics say Bucs rookie RB LeGarrette Blount has fumbled three times and lost two, but that’s more than he is willing to accept. Blount had a big game against Seattle on Sunday, rushing for 164 yards on 18 attempts, but he fumbled for the second time in three games. He quickly hopped on the loose ball but doesn’t want to be associated with any more fumbles. Continue reading →

“I’m more focused on a chance to step further into the playoffs,” said Bucs RB Cadillac Williams, who is an unrestricted free agent next year. “I’m going to try to approach it the same and try to get a win, but it’s been a blessing to be here. “The Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization, these fans, they have meant a lot to me. I’ve been here six years. I’ve had good times and down times, but through it all, I’ve always felt like the fans have had my back. As a player, that makes you feel good.” — Tampa Tribune

Buccaneers WR Maurice Stovall went from a potential starter early in training camp to a fringe player because of the development of Tampa Bay’s younger receivers, and he’s made just two catches all season. He’ll be a free agent in 2011, and the Bucs have to decide if he’s worth bringing back as purely a special-teams contributor. One source said it wouldn’t be a surprise if Tampa Bay let him go, and Stovall may welcome a change of scenery since he’s not going to get a chance to start for the Bucs. He’s been a big disappointment since they drafted him in the third round in ’06. — Pro Football Weekly

The pain in cornerback Aqib Talib’s hip during Sunday’s game against the Falcons was the result of a tendon that tore from the bone. Center Jeff Faine tore the triceps in his right arm. Neither player will need surgery, and both are expected to make a full recovery. But there’s no apparent end to the suffering for the Bucs. For the second straight week, coach Raheem Morris’ team lost two starters to the season-ending injured reserve list. “There’s no place for excuses; those young men have to be replaced,” Morris said Monday. “They’re always tough losses when you lose anyone.” — St. Petersburg Times

The Bucs received word that cornerback Aqib Talib won’t be fined for a profanity-laced postgame verbal altercation with a game official Sunday. Talib, whom teammates had to restrain after the official responded to the cornerback’s profane comments with one of his own, was protesting a pass interference call that positioned the Ravens for a touchdown late in the first half that proved to be the winner. Talib and the official talked after the play and as the team and the officiating crew made their way off the field through the same tunnel after the game. Based on the NFL’s statement, the official won’t be disciplined, either. — St. Petersburg Times

The NFL is “looking into” a profanity-laced altercation between Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib and a member of the officiating crew after the Bucs’ 17-10 loss at Baltimore, said Greg Aiello, the league’s senior vice president of public relations. Talib expressed displeasure with a pass-interference penalty called on rookie Myron Lewis late in the second quarter by field judge Boris Cheek, and the two exchanged words on the field. After the game, while walking through the tunnel to the locker room, Talib volleyed a series of expletives at the officiating crew, whose locker room was a short distance from that of the Bucs. That prompted an unidentified member of referee Carl Cheffers’ crew to respond, “You play like a (expletive).” Talib became more demonstrative and was restrained by teammates, then he responded by telling the official, “I’ll (hit) you in your (expletive) mouth.” — St. Petersburg Times

Rookie WR Mike Williams, charged early Friday with driving under the influence, voluntarily gave the Bucs organization the results of a urine test taken with an independent agency only hours later to help prove his innocence. Williams, who was charged after failing a field sobriety test with a blood-alcohol level below the limit of 0.08 at which the state presumes impairment, offered to take an optional urine test with law enforcement officials. Coach Raheem Morris said Monday that he also went through an independent agency to show the team the results by Friday morning. “We’re very pleased with the results that we got,” Morris said. “We’re confident that he’s completely clean, and we’ll let our law enforcement do their due process.” Morris added that the test was for several substances, including those banned by the NFL, and the organization will fine Williams “a lot of money” for the incident. If Williams’ pending test comes back clean, the case could be thrown out. — St. Petersburg Times

Raheem Morris is approaching the end of his two guaranteed years as Bucs coach. There is an option for a third if the team’s owner, the Glazer family, exercises it. Ownership has not approached the coach about signing an extension, according to Morris. But after a 5-3 start with one of the youngest teams in the NFL, Morris said he isn’t worried about his future. “I’ve been Mr. One-Year Contract Boy for a long time,” he said. “I kind of like being a free agent. It makes you hotter. “A lot of people are not confident in that situation. But I’ve got a lot of confidence and belief in myself and in what we’re doing that things will work itself out.” — St. Petersburg Times

Maybe coach Raheem Morris should help in the ticket office. He seems to have his sales pitch down pat. Asked Monday whether the Bucs were creating a buzz with recent performances, Morris had this to say: “If you came to our game (Sunday), you saw a flea-flicker, an onside kick, a reverse, you saw your banzai blitzes, all-out blitzes, 50-yard touchdown (passes), back-shoulder catches in the end zone, a fourth-and-inches that we got stopped on. … It’s just an exciting brand of football that we’re trying to sell to people. You have to have a buzz about it. Coming out of the game, you all felt like you watched a good game.” — St. Petersburg Times

First place in the NFC South is on the line Sunday in Atlanta, but Bucs T Donald Penn said a win over the Falcons could go a long way in the club earning the respect he believes it hasn’t received so far. “I think a lot of people are doubting us, in the media, not giving us our respect,” he said. “We’re not really listening … though. I think this really would make a statement if we come out with a win here. We have our work cut out for us, but I think we’ll really make a big statement, maybe we’ll get a little respect in this league.” — St. Petersburg Times