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Bucs take breaks in face of heat

 
Published July 24, 1996|Updated Sept. 16, 2005

The heat is on, so some of the Bucs are off.

With temperatures routinely reaching the 90s during training camp, coach Tony Dungy plans on giving his players breaks from the normal two-a-day practice routine.

After dual practices in pads Monday, Dungy conducted a normal practice Tuesday morning, but limited the afternoon session to a short special-teams drill.

Several players were given IVs following the two-hour practice Tuesday morning. Defensive backs Clifton Abraham and Donnie Abraham both said they needed three IV bags to replenish lost liquids. Clifton said he lost 15 pounds while Donnie lost 8.

Dungy, who never has been through a training camp in such hot weather, said he talked to former Dolphins coach Don Shula and and current coach Jimmy Johnson for advice.

"Part of the schedule is set up so you do hard work and then you have a couple of days to recover," Dungy said. "We want to give the bigger guys a chance to recover."

The varied routine will continue the next two days. The Bucs will practice from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. today and then have their lone evening practice of the week at 7:30 p.m.

NO NEWS, NO RHETT: Drew Rosenhaus, agent for holdout running back Errict Rhett, said he did not speak with the Bucs on Tuesday. Rosenhaus plans on talking to GM Rich McKay but said he has no timetable.

INJURY UPDATE: The Bucs had at least a half-dozen players leave practice with various problems. Fullback Fred Lester (hamstring) and defensive end Keith Powe (ankle sprain) are listed day-to-day while tackle Steve Ingram (hyperextended knee) is out indefinitely. Receiver Charles Wilson returned to practice after twisting his right knee Monday.

Bucs training camp

WHERE: Pepin/Rood Stadium on campus of University of Tampa.

DAILY SCHEDULE: Workouts 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. are open to public. Schedule is subject to change because of weather.

_ JOHN ROMANO