Buccaneers, Dungy Still Adjusting to Mouth of the South

Following the sound and fury of Week 4: There is stunned silence in Tampa Bay, unbridled elation in New York and total embarrassment in San Francisco.

THE ODD COUPLE

Tony Dungy exudes conservatism from his manner to his game plan. As a coach, Dungy preaches tough defense and grind-it-out offense. As a person, he offers as much respect as he expects to receive.

Keyshawn Johnson exudes confidence--many call it arrogance--from his manner to his personal game plan. He dares receivers to outwork and outmaneuver him. He dares anyone to out-talk him.

Solid vs. flash-and-dash.

Eyebrows were raised in April when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded two draft picks to the New York Jets for Johnson.

No one argued that the Buccaneers needed a spark in their predictable offense if they wanted to get to the next level, needed a force to match that of Warren Sapp on defense.

Everyone agreed that Johnson, a talented receiver with a flair for the big play, could be that spark, that force.

But the question was: Could he perform his act off the field as well as he does on it? Dungy treats his players like men, but expects them to act that way.

When Johnson, whose book was entitled “Just Give Me the Damn Ball,” grabbed the spotlight leading to Sunday’s battle of the unbeaten Buccaneers and Jets, Dungy didn’t protest.

Johnson talked and talked and a media army listened.

Of his former teammates, Johnson told the St. Petersburg Times: “They’re trying to prove to me that they don’t need me. They’re trying to prove to me that, since I’m not there, they’re better. . . . I didn’t put a defensive back in [Marcus Coleman a week earlier] to catch a touchdown pass.”

About his chief Jet rival, receiver Wayne Chrebet, Johnson said: “He’s a flashlight. I’m a star.”

Then Johnson took several of his former teammates to dinner before the game and announced plans for a postgame party.

It all seemed a bit much for Dungy, who, nevertheless, tried to put a positive spin on the week’s circus atmosphere.

“You have to learn how to concentrate and focus at times like this,” Dungy told the Tampa Tribune. “Whether you like it or not, this kind of attention is all part of being good in the NFL, so you have to learn to deal with it.”

He said that before the game. It was harder to deal with after Tampa Bay surrendered 15 points within 62 seconds in the final two minutes to lose to the Jets, 21-17.

The Buccaneers kept saying Johnson’s ability to siphon off the media allowed them to concentrate on football.

The Jets kept saying they weren’t paying any attention to the rantings and ravings of their former receiver, that it was just Keyshawn being Keyshawn.

But did Johnson end up distracting his new teammates and firing up his old teammates?

Dungy wanted the type of disruption Johnson can cause on opposing defenses. He doesn’t want the type of disruption that can be caused in one’s locker room.

Dungy and Johnson are going to have to grow on each other. It might take some time.

And the fate of the Buccaneers will hang in the balance.

THE CLASSY MOVE

Try as they did, reporters could not nudge the slightest slight against Johnson out of Chrebet after he caught the game-winning touchdown pass Sunday.

“You are losing sight, guys, of what’s important,” Chrebet said. “The New York Jets are 4-0. I’m not going to get involved in any finger pointing.”

Spoken like a disciple of Dungy.

THE ODD MOVE

What was going on in the head of San Francisco 49er receiver Terrell Owens when he taunted the Dallas Cowboys in their stadium by running not once, but twice to the center of the field after scoring touchdowns to punctuate the moment by stomping on the Dallas logo, a five-cornered star?

What exactly was Owens celebrating? Apparently, he was so elated at pushing Dallas into last place in the NFC East that he failed to notice that his club is tied for last in the NFC West.

Owens was suspended for one game without pay Monday by Coach Steve Mariucci, costing Owens $24,294.

“T.O. is a guy who likes to celebrate, and this time it just got a little out of hand,” quarterback Jeff Garcia said. “I don’t agree with things like that. When great things happen, we celebrate as a team.”

Good news for opposing teams: The 49ers won’t have much to celebrate this season.