Jeremiah Trotter has heard the whispers that he has lost a step and that some in the Philadelphia Eagles organization encouraged him to retire.

Trotter, 30, pays no attention to it. He'll answer his critics with his play on the field.

"You can't worry about that. You're going to always have critics,'' said Trotter, who signed a one-year deal with the Bucs Tuesday, two weeks after being released by the Eagles. ""You can't worry about what people say and people think. You just keep working hard and when you're in between those white lines, hit somebody in the mouth. That's all I know how to do.

"I think it's leading by example. Doing the little things. Being on the field. Some things, you really can't describe. When you're on that field and your back is against the wall, your leaders are the guys that step up and get guys to rally together and being able to get guys to play above the level they're capable of doing.''

Quarterback Jeff Garcia, a teammate of Trotter's in Philadelphia, said you get some intangibles with the 262-pound linebacker.

"I don't think that he's lost a step,'' Garcia said. ""It's one of those things where he still puts his head in the hole. He knows what he has to do to be an impact player on the defensive side of the ball. I thought he was one of the best players on our team. He brought so much emotion to the field, so many intangibles that you just can't measure.''

Notes:

Safety Sabby Piscitelli has changed his uniform number to 21 from 38. Looks like Trotter will wear No. 50.