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Defensive line loses White to Jets

The crowd of Bucs defensive ends helps the free agent decide to leave for New York.

By DARRELL FRY and ROGER MILLS
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 8, 2002

TAMPA -- The Bucs' hopes of keeping the core of their defensive line intact were dashed Thursday when backup lineman Steve White signed with the Jets.

White and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, met with Jets officials in New York and finalized a deal, the Jets announced. The four-year contract pays $7.25-million, including a $1.3-million signing bonus, according to the Associated Press. "I really have to take my hat off to (the Bucs). They gave me my first chance to play in this league and there will always be a special place in my heart for Tampa Bay," White said. "They made a great effort to sign me. Of course, they have a lot of veteran starting defensive ends, but they did try to make a play for me. But when it came down to it, I felt that (New York) was the place for me."

Receiver Reidel Anthony (Redskins), linebacker Jamie Duncan (Rams) and running back Rabih Abdullah (Bears) were the first free agents to leave.

Guard/center Todd Washington, receiver Jacquez Green and running back Warrick Dunn also are talking with other teams. Green reportedly visited the Rams, but his agent, Hadley Engelhard, didn't return calls.

White, who played six seasons with Tampa Bay, had 44 tackles and five sacks last season and shared playing time with starter Simeon Rice.

White, 28, will be reunited in New York with coach Herm Edwards, Bucs secondary coach before going to the Jets last offseason.

"Having been with Herm for five of my six years in the NFL, knowing what type of guy he is, I feel like we're two peas in a pod," White said. "I feel he's a high-character guy, and so am I. To be reunited with a guy like that, a guy you can trust, a guy who will go to war for you so you'll go to war for him, is a great situation to have."

Edwards also is trying to work deals for two other Bucs, cornerbacks Donnie Abraham and Brian Kelly, a free agent.

Edwards said he and Kelly dined together Tuesday night in California, and he expects Kelly to visit New York early next week. "We'll see where it goes from there," he said.

Edwards said the Jets have had talks with the Bucs about a trade for Abraham but nothing has been worked out. "(Abraham is) under contract right now, so we'll wait to see if (the Bucs) call us (again)," he said.

Edwards said it's only natural the Bucs and Jets would go after each other's free agents.

"(The Bucs) took a few of our guys (offensive line coach Bill Muir and offensive guard Kerry Jenkins) so we can take a few of theirs," he said. "It's kind of the way it goes."

The Jets trumpeted the signing of the 6-foot-2, 275-pound White, who will compete for a starting job at right defensive end.

"The thing that really jumps out about Steve White when you watch him play is his ability to play hard on every play and that he has a great motor," Edwards said. "He plays very well against the run and he's a smart player. He's the kind of player who gets around the quarterback even though his sack total might not show it."

TAKING STOCK: One month ago, offensive line coach Bill Muir, who helped make the Jets line one of the best, was hired by the Bucs to rebuild a line that surrendered 47 sacks and was part of a running game that finished 30th in the league.

Speaking for the first time since joining the Bucs, Muir said he isn't concerned about what happened in the past and plans on taking his time to evaluate his players.

"I really truly believe that you don't know a person until you work with them," Muir said. "There are some obvious things that stand out. But I know how I'm coaching them. I know what they are supposed to do. I don't know how somebody else is coaching them. I don't know what they are asking them to do. I don't know if they are fulfilling their responsibility or not."

Muir, who said he wants the line to be "hostile, mobile and agile," sent a clear message that his players are starting from scratch and that he could not care less about who started last season.

"I'm going to go by what I see," Muir said. "I'm not going to go by what their reputation is, what their draft round is, what their salary is, what their pedigree is." Muir, who said he was hired by general manager Rich McKay during the search for a head coach, said he was convinced the Bucs could win it all after watching the Patriots win the Super Bowl playing great defense and controlled offense.

"If you have a good defense and the offense can be competent, you have a chance in this league," Muir said. "Look at the history of the participants of the Super Bowl the last couple of years. Everybody booked on St. Louis. Where's St. Louis? They didn't hold up the trophy. How about the year before? (That was) Baltimore and they set offense back to the dark ages."

DUNN DEAL: After narrowly losing to the Rams in the NFC Championship Game, the Eagles are convinced Dunn could be the final piece of their puzzle.

Coach Andy Reid and the organization are anticipating a scheduled visit by Dunn today. Dunn was supposed to arrive in Philadelphia on Thursday night after visiting the Lions on Wednesday.

The Eagles are said to covet Dunn's speed and versatility in Reid's version of the West Coast offense. Philadelphia used veteran Duce Staley and rookie Corel Buckhalter last season. Staley could be released if Dunn signs.

SIGNINGS: The Bucs signed defensive tackle Buck Gurley, 23, a former Florida Gator, and cornerback Anthony Midget. Gurley (6-5, 295) played with Miami and Chicago last season, his first in the league. The 24-year-old Midget (5-11, 193) was on Tampa Bay's practice squad in November.

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