Advertisement

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Eric LeGrand retires; coach Greg Schiano's catchphrase

 
Published July 27, 2012

Training camp

Where: One Buc Place, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, just east of Raymond James Stadium, Tampa

Admission: Free

Et cetera: All practices are weather permitting and subject to change. For updates, go to Buccaneers.com.

Schedules

Public practices

Today: 8:45 to 11:30 a.m.

Sat.: 8:45 to 11:30 a.m.

Sun.: 8:45 to 11:30 a.m.

Wed.: 8:45 to 11:30 a.m.

Aug. 3: 8:45 to 11:30 a.m.

Aug. 4: 6:30 to 9 p.m. *

Aug. 6: 8:45 to 11:30 a.m.

Aug. 7: 8:45 to 11:30 a.m.

* Intrasquad scrimmage at Raymond James Stadium; free parking, autograph sessions, $1 hot dogs and soft drinks, and fireworks

Preseason

Aug. 10: at Dolphins, 7:30, Ch. 10

Aug. 17: Titans, 7:30, Ch. 10 *

Aug. 24: Patriots, 7:30, Ch. 10 *

Aug. 29: at Redskins, 7:30, Ch. 10

* Subject to blackout

Paralyzed tackle 'retires' before camp opens

Eric LeGrand's pro career won't include highlights or memorable wins. And he'll never enjoy the thrill of running out of a tunnel in a stadium packed with fans.

But having been a part of an NFL roster is more than enough.

LeGrand, coach Greg Schiano's paralyzed former defensive tackle at Rutgers, announced his retirement Thursday. The Bucs signed LeGrand in May to allow him to fulfill a dream that seemed impossible after he broke two vertebrae and sustained a spinal cord injury Oct. 16, 2010, during a kickoff return against Army.

"Making it to the NFL was my dream," LeGrand said in a statement released by the Bucs. "But now I want to see my team as strong as possible at the start of training camp. I'm a Buc for life."

It's expected LeGrand will have a relationship with the team as long as Schiano is the coach. Look for him to attend a game or two in Tampa this season in his motorized wheelchair. And LeGrand, a New Jersey resident, plans to meet up with the Bucs when they travel to the Meadowlands to play the Giants on Sept. 16.

Schiano said LeGrand suggested it was time to give up his roster spot for the good of the team. (Officially, he was moved to the reserve/retired list.)

"Typical Eric," Schiano said. "He wanted us to be at full strength. Obviously, you know he's not going to play. At some point, you knew he was going to retire. But he's hook, line and sinker.

"He's all Bucs."

One-liner

Schiano's first practice in Tampa, an April minicamp, became famous for one line he never thought would catch on.

He didn't know the line would stick when he barked at players to get on the yard lines during stretching, yelling, "Toes on the line! Toes on the line!"

When it came up Thursday, Schiano laughed.

"Wow did that line get blown out of proportion," he said. "My own children hit me with it."

Stephen F. Holder, Times staff writer