Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 50

TIMES SATURDAY. OCTOBER 12, 2002 BUCSNFL Rice sets record in years 1 Tlm wlr 1 JEMS rv incentives. PANTHERS: Owner Jerry Richardson will stay in the hospital at least another week while doctors try to find out why he has an irregular heartbeat. Richardson has been at Carolinas Medical Center since Oct. 4, receiving antibiotics to treat an intestinal infection.

He missed a Panthers home game for the first time last week-. end. RAMS: Quarterback Marc Bulger will make his first regular-season start Sunday against the Raiders. Running back Marshall Faulk walked out on a conversation with Bob Costas that was being taped for use on HBO's Inside the NFL, apparently because he was frustrated in discussing the team's 0-5 start. RAVENS: Linebacker Ray Lewis will not play Sunday against the Colts.

Lewis partially dislocated his shoulder in Sunday's game while trying to recover a loose ball. Defensive end Michael McCrary also is out as he has seen limited playing time after knee surgery. i AP Jerry Rice has put up plenty of numbers in his career. But none may be more amazing than the number he will hit Sunday: 40. As in years old.

"I just want to get it over with," he said. That would give him another NFL record, oldest to play wide receiver. He shared the record at 39 years with Hall of Famer Charlie Joiner, who caught 34 passes for the Chargers in 1986. Rice caught 83 passes in 2001 and has 24 catches this season. Holder of 14 individual marks, including receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, Rice leads the Raiders in catches (24), receiving yards (340) and average yards per catch (14.2).

His reception total ranks 12th in the AFC. He also has scored two touchdowns. His numbers in 18 NFL seasons are more amazing: 1,388 catches, 20,726 yards and 197 touchdowns. He added to the long list of records in Week 4 by setting the mark for career yards from scrimmage with 21,280, passing Walter Payton. Now his teammates are making "Jerryatric" jokes.

Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon has no plans for a special gift. "I try to give Jerry something every Sunday," he said. Everyone's trying to figure out what keeps Rice going. "I think what it comes down to is desire," said linebacker Bill Ro-manowski, a former 49ers teammate reunited with Rice in Oakland. "A lot of guys, as they get older, have the ability.

But they lose the desire." OBITUARIES: Jim "Jughead" Martin, a defensive lineman and kicker who won four NFL championships with Cleveland and Detroit died Wednesday of throat cancer at age Left tackle Roman Oben, who shares his side of the field with guard Kerry Jenkins, faces his former team, the Browns, on Sunday. Bucs fromIC the That wasn't happening for me in Cleveland." The seven-year veteran turned 30 Wednesday, and as the Bucs prepare to face the Browns Sunday, Oben can't help but ponder what was and what might be. According to Oben, it was Browns coach Butch Davis who snapped his streak of consecutive starts at left tackle at 76 games, telling him the offense was going in a different direction. Still today, Oben isn't sure why he was benched. There is no lingering bitterness, but now that he has resumed his position as a starter in the league, there is some sense of vindication.

"I have very seldom been around anybody, and I have been around a lot of players in this game, with any more determination and commitment than Roman Oben," Muir said. "I think it's a product of a guy who, wherever he's been, he's had to earn his way. Nothing has ever been handed to him. "You look at his personal background, where he's come from, the lessons he's learned from his mother (Marie Oben, a single mother and immigrant from Cameroon). He's a man of character.

"I would say this, there are probably a lot of different opinions about where he is in terms of ability, but I'm awful glad we have him and I wish there are a lot of young players who would learn to I7T Timet photo JAMES BORCHUCK (left guard) Kerry Jenkins. Kerry shows up and plays with a broken leg. Well, Roman's been fighting through some things and likely will continue to fight through those physical things and he's never asked for any special considerations." Added McKay: "I don't think his knee, although he says it's fine, is 100 percent or feels great. But he doesn't miss any time." There are no guarantees the Bucs will re-sign Oben, but his recent play bodes well. The more entrenched Oben becomes at left tackle, the more likely the Bucs are going to open negotiations with his agents, Roosevelt Barnes and Eugene Parker, before Oben becomes a free agent "You mean, lock it up?" Oben said.

"Hmm. It's too early to talk about that right now. I think I'm satisfied that I'm playing hard, but the details could always be a little better, a little better technique, that can always improve." The Raiders' Jerry Rice turns 40 on Sunday, making him the NFL's oldest wide receiver. 78. Bernard H.

Ridder a former St. Paul Pioneer Press publisher who helped bring the Vikings to Minnesota, died Thursday in San Mateo, of complications from a stroke. He was 85. DOLPHINS: Offensive tackle Mark Dixon missed practice and remains questionable for Sunday's game at Denver. Coach Dave Wan-nstedt said Dixon will be a game-time decision.

Marcus Spriggs will start in Dixon's place for the second straight week. FALCONS: Michael Vick, who sprained his right shoulder last weekend, will be the emergency No. 3 quarterback Sunday against the Giants. Rookie Kurt Kittner is the backup if Doug Johnson were to leave the game. Defensive end Patrick Kerney signed a new contract that includes a team-record signing bonus and could be worth as much as $40-million.

It would go from seven years to five if he reaches certain A low As 124 Hurry! Sale Ends Monday! ja if be like Roman Oben." The Bucs feel Oben still has to prove himself but they are not surprised that Oben has settled in as left tackle. At the end of the 1999 season, his fourth with the Giants, the 6-foot-4, 304-pounder out of Louisville became a free agent and was pursued by the Bucs. "We made a strong effort to sign him and thought he would end up signing with us," Bucs general manager Rich McKay said. "We viewed him, at that point, as a guy who could play left tackle in the league and you could win with and, if need be, he could play some right tackle as well. "Where I give Roman a lot of credit is that today, No.

1, he's a much better player and, No. 2, he's a tougher player. He plays the game more aggressively than he did when he was with the Giants (and Browns)." Part of what made things go sour for Oben in Cleveland was a left knee injury that required surgery this offseason. Uncertainty about the strength of the knee likely weighed against Oben in the free market and tempered any haste by the Bucs to move former left tackle Kenyatta Walker to the right side. "When he first showed up here, I was skeptical.

I didn't know physically where he was in his rehab program," Muir said. "All I know now is he has done everything we've asked him to do, he's exceeded what we've asked him to do. He's almost maniacal in his approach to things. "In many respects, he's like on game day," coach Jon Gru-den said. "There's no question (Lynch) is a great football player.

Both those guys. If they can play, we assume they can play and play well. But they are nursing some injuries that we're concerned about" FAB FIVE: Kenyatta Walker will start at right tackle on Sunday, meaning the Bucs' five regular offensive linemen will start for only the third time. Walker was benched in the season opener and missed the past two games with an ankle injury. He is reunited with guards Cosey Coleman and Kerry Jenkins, both of whom have missed playing time with injuries.

"Luckily, (Walker) is back in action where he can get into that routine," Walker said. "That's the great thing about having Kenyatta back, Cosey is rounded into shape again. Hopefully Kerry can improve from this leg injury, and I think when they all five get healthy and get practicing and working together, hopefully that will pay off for us. But we've still got to prove it" TOM TERRIFIC: Punter Tom Tu-pa has done more than just kick the team out of trouble. "He did some things last week, hidden things," Gruden said.

"Not only downing the ball inside the 10, but a great reception of a poor snap, a great hold of a poor snap and the guy's a leader on the football team. You don't see that because you're not in the locker room every day. But he's a pro football player we're proud of. He's been outstanding, not just in the punting area." RICK STROUD, ROGER MILLS 1 mm Corporate Seal Book, Article of Incorporation. Co moral Minutes.

Bv If i'N'Jil J'llfil'l Laws, Stock Certificate, Preliminary IMjiU'JOWJ Name Search, Attorney'. Fee 5074l CorporiVona ilto ivilbblt to lnvwdtate delvcry. www.amenlawyerVcom (727) 442-5300 (BOO) 658-5900 PETifttBURQ TOLL PR EH Th hmo of i fcwyif wperWf 3oum that mjs mi I awn iwny upon mvwum mra. wro ynj airaw, mi id Mfld yw trn wnttm intormaUn geout our njWIitatiwu wiA HTfWntj If Monthly Payments As Low as $20 Twin 2 pc. set.

$529.99 529.99 I 339.99 I 999.99 I Full 2 pc. set. $639.99 King 3 pc. set $999.99 Sleeping Beauty I mIS Niomiiiy MM Payments 3J As Low as Twin 2 pc. set.

$1,109.99 Full 2 pc. set. $1,219.99 King 3 pc. set $1,779,991 you: 2701 O.W. Lowqe Hd.

Gateway Shopping Plaza (next to Books A Million) 352-854-1113 $37W Howell may fill in for Lynch at safety Posture Support Posture Care pifljh Ultimate Pillowtop bulk. Ti'" I Monthly Payments tkfk payments As Low as cnn99 $17 2 pc. set. $399'd9 2 pc. set.

$539.99 3 pc. set $849.99 ft. JIP. MOIWy AIM Till Tmlr. nr eat ivviii pu.

ooi, Full 2 pc. set. King 3 pc. set rjmj.M.N:Mi Back Supporter I Beautyrest Ann rt I td3.33 $529.99 $779.99 om QBecufttjrest flflfl93 $669.99 $729.99 $1,109.99 Twin Full 2 King Twin Full King Monthly Payments As Low Phnenix Plush KiNCSOCWN as $30 2 pc. set.

$739.99 pc. set. $919.99 3 pc. set $1,329.99 WWW. TAMPA Safety John Howell patterns his game after four-time Pro Bowl selection John Lynch.

Against the Browns on Sunday, Howell could have a chance to put what he has learned to the test. Lynch did not practice earlier this week because he sprained his knee Sunday at Atlanta. He returned Friday on a limited basis. His status will be determined on game day. Meanwhile, Howell has taken every rep at strong safety with the first team.

"It's like I called John on Monday after Sunday's game, you know I didn't get a hold of him, I just left (John) a message and told him I was thinking about him and hoped that he was all right," Howell said. "I said, 'Hey, buddy, I'd love to play, but not at that John's a Pro Bowl player, he's important to this team, he's important to me, he's a guy I've tried to pattern my game after, he's a guy I've looked up to for several years before I was here. It is kind of a gray area where you do everything you can, you prepare yourself in every way possible to get on the field. And yet, you don't like to see a guy like that go down. "Only thing I can control right now is to prepare myself to go out and play like John Lynch and that's not an easy thing to do." Howell, whose only start came at free safety last season against Pittsburgh, might not be the only new face in the defensive huddle.

Tackle Anthony McFarland (ankle sprain) did not practice until Friday and could be replaced by Chartric Darby. "Their status hasn't changed. Well make that announcement Frame Free Delivery frame (S30-S60 value) Free delivery available Bristol 9 Monthly 3 payments As Low as Twin 2 pc. set. Full 2 pc.

set. King 3 pc. set St. Petersburg 381 1 Tyrone Blvd. Across from Sports Authority 727-341-2852 $26 OitPiw Free 'HI L.

Free heavy duty 3 X3j (ififiV a minimum We will Across $499 purchase with a minimum $499 purchase beat any competitor's price by 10 guaranteed or it's FREE! Musi tx current local competitors ad or wilted pries quote not below cost or MMAP. Other area stores to serve University Co lections Brandon Lakeland Fowar Avo iaaq uu Hrond qih aaic i ic qo from Holiday Inn (next to Jason's Deli) Next to Firestone Tire on Route 60 Across from Sams (next to Pep Boys) Carrotlwood Commons 813-971-5871 813-662-3755 863-816-2783 Coming soon Richey, Daytona, Required minimum payment is 1- juthot thtscnarge (rounded lothe nearest Oouai, out at least $15.) Tne customer Apm is Prime Rate plus 12.5 win a minimum rate of 21.0 APR tor Manress Giani purchases, Piease reter to your credit card agreement for details. Encludes tax and delivery charges. "Balance must paid in full within the 6 month, no interest period, or interest will be assessed from the date of purchase at a variable annual percentage rate (21 as or MM02. Subject to credit approval.

See store tor details. Offer expires 1 01 402. While some items in this ad are sale priced, some items are at our everyday low sale price index. Illustrations for display only, see store for actual models. O2O02 Mattress Giant Corp..