BillsFever
08-04-2003, 02:22 AM
TAMPA, Fla. -- The voice coming through the telephone sounded weary.
Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden is known for his boundless energy and unbridled enthusiasm. But not even he could endure a 15-hour flight home from Japan without catching up on rest. So Gruden canceled Monday's practice, even though the move will delay the start of preparation for Friday's preseason game at Miami.
"It's a new experience for me, as it is I think for most of the coaches and players. ... We've researched this carefully in terms of what other teams have done on the return from Tokyo,'' Gruden said. "It's just as challenging as going to Tokyo. I'm a little sluggish right now.''
Sunday was a scheduled day off for the Super Bowl champions, who beat the New York Jets 30-14 in the American Bowl on Saturday. Coaches are getting a full day off, Gruden said, while players are getting a day and a half away before returning to camp for a meeting Monday night.
They'll watch film of the Jets game at the Monday meeting and pass out a basic game plan for the preseason matchup with the Dolphins, Gruden said.
"It's a very short week. ... Thursday we board an airline and we're heading down to Miami to play the game,'' Gruden said. "It's going to be a challenge.''
Starters played sparingly against the Jets and Gruden reported just three injuries from the game, the most serious being to reserve running back Tony Taylor, who is out for the season with ligament damage in his right knee.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2003/0803/1589547.html
Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden is known for his boundless energy and unbridled enthusiasm. But not even he could endure a 15-hour flight home from Japan without catching up on rest. So Gruden canceled Monday's practice, even though the move will delay the start of preparation for Friday's preseason game at Miami.
"It's a new experience for me, as it is I think for most of the coaches and players. ... We've researched this carefully in terms of what other teams have done on the return from Tokyo,'' Gruden said. "It's just as challenging as going to Tokyo. I'm a little sluggish right now.''
Sunday was a scheduled day off for the Super Bowl champions, who beat the New York Jets 30-14 in the American Bowl on Saturday. Coaches are getting a full day off, Gruden said, while players are getting a day and a half away before returning to camp for a meeting Monday night.
They'll watch film of the Jets game at the Monday meeting and pass out a basic game plan for the preseason matchup with the Dolphins, Gruden said.
"It's a very short week. ... Thursday we board an airline and we're heading down to Miami to play the game,'' Gruden said. "It's going to be a challenge.''
Starters played sparingly against the Jets and Gruden reported just three injuries from the game, the most serious being to reserve running back Tony Taylor, who is out for the season with ligament damage in his right knee.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2003/0803/1589547.html