The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ player-organized minicamp started Tuesday and included almost every player who’s expected to be on the team in 2011, and some players who aren’t.
Perhaps the most surprising name in attendance was cornerback Aqib Talib, who is facing aggravated assault charges in Texas. Despite his legal issues, and despite reports that the Bucs will cut ties with him when the lockout ends, Talib showed up and participated.
“It just says that we have a hungry team and that going out and winning football games is really important to all of our guys,” Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman, who organized the minicamp, told the Tampa Tribune. “It just shows that we have a lot of passionate dudes here, and you have to love the fact that they all took time out of their schedule to come out and do something like this.”
The Bucs had more than 50 players in attendance, including unsigned rookies, free agents who might not be back and injured players who could only watch. The Bucs seem to like being around each other.