Bears quarterback Erik Kramer finally utilized tight ends Ryan Wetnight, Keith Jennings and Chris Gedney, who have been strangely silent this year. The trio caught only a total of four passes for 33 yards, but it was better than last week when they were held without a reception.
Wetnight’s 3-yard catch with 7:09 left in the first quarter was his first of the season. He finished with two for 13 yards, but was on crutches after the game. Jennings, who had two catches for 9 yards, including a touchdown, against Minnesota, had one catch for 11 yards in the third quarter for a first down. Kramer completed a 9-yard pass to Gedney in the fourth quarter, his first catch of the season.
Last year the group combined for 56 catches for 548 yards and eight touchdowns.
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Hands on the ball: Jim Flanigan’s midair recovery of Courtney Hawkins’ first-quarter fumble was the first fumble recovery of his career. He also got two fingers on Trent Dilfer and yanked him down for his team-leading fourth sack of the season.
“I’m going to keep going and try to get a sack a game,” Flanigan promised.
Flanigan, who touched the ball last week when he caught a 2-yard touchdown pass, finished with two tackles.
Selmon honored: Game tickets had a drawing of former Tampa Bay defensive end Lee Roy Selmon sacking former New York Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik, and they were stamped, instead of torn, because it was Lee Roy Selmon Pro Football Hall of Fame Day.
Selmon was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last July and received his Hall of Fame ring from Hall Executive Director Pete Elliott at halftime during Tampa Bay’s home opener.
Selmon, an associate athletic director at the University of South Florida, was instrumental in bringing a football program there starting in 1997. He is rumored to be a candidate for the head coaching job.
Keep quiet: Marty Carter was pleased about the heat because it shut up the Bucs quicker than the Bears did. Some Tampa Bay players were trying to rile their former teammate with some harsh words on the field, but Carter said he refused to get drawn into a fight.
“They shut up in a hurry because of the heat–it got too hot,” he said. “But then they tried to blindside me, make late hits on me, get me to do something that would take me out of the game. But I stayed calm. “
No help: The biggest splash the Bucs made trying to prove it’s “A New Day In Tampa Bay” was the signing of free-agent wide receiver Alvin Harper, whom they lured away from the Cowboys with a four-year, $10.66 million contract. But Sunday he was again in street clothes, sidelined for the third straight game by a bum ankle.
`My fault’: Buc punter Reggie Roby had gone nearly four years without having a kick blocked, but Bears cornerback Anthony Marshall did that for a touchdown Sunday. “For some reason,” Roby said, “I didn’t see the guy. Not at all. I’m taught to look out, and I didn’t, so I figure it’s my fault. I caught the ball. I’m supposed to get it off.”
Turnovers, turnovers: Bucs coach Sam Wyche had this to say about his team’s seven turnovers: “They not only cost you field position, they also demoralize your defense, which has just stopped a team and then has to go right back out there.”