Broncos report: Bucs will see Pittman's many roles

The Rocky

Published October 1, 2008 at 6:41 p.m.

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Steve Nesius / Associated Press/2004

Broncos running back Michael Pittman holds the Buccaneers record for the longest touchdown run, 78 yards in 2004. On Sunday, Pittman will face his former team for the first time.

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Broncos running back Michael Pittman might be gone from the Buccaneers locker room, but he is not forgotten in the team's record book.

"Oh, I'm definitely proud of that. I have one record that still stands there," Pittman said Wednesday.

There is a spot where Pittman might be the unexpected answer to the question, where his name is above the likes of Warrick Dunn, James Wilder, Gary Anderson, Carnell Williams and Reggie Cobb.

It is Pittman, who leads the Broncos with four touchdowns, who has the longest run in Buccaneers history.

Pittman went 78 yards for a touchdown against the Chiefs in 2004, his third of six seasons with the Buccaneers.

And Pittman still can recall it like snapshot.

"It was a play we called 'Bunch Crunch,' and my fullback at the time was Jameel Cook," Pittman said. "It was to the right side, and the offensive line blocked great, Jameel came around and got the (middle) linebacker and I just saw a big opening to the right side.

"Then I just tried to outrun the defense, 78 yards. A memorable moment for me, but I enjoyed my time there and I'm enjoying my time here.

"I'm a Bronco now, and this is where I want to be."

Free agency has turned each week in the league into a remember-when affair for somebody, and Pittman's comes Sunday when the Buccaneers come to Invesco Field.

Pittman is fourth on the Buccaneers' all-time rushing list and led the team with 926 rushing yards in 2004.

He was signed a month into free agency by the Broncos during the offseason and has taken snaps at fullback, been the short- yardage running back and the third-down back because of his receiving skills as well as his work in pass protection.

"I think his role expands each and every week with us," Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler said.

"He's got a lot in the tank, and I certainly wish him well," Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden said. "He's one of my favorite guys. . . . He can play fullback, tailback, can line up as a receiver, he's a joker, he's a great guy. . . . (I) hope there's no hard feelings."

Gruden said the decision to let Pittman go and not re-sign him was based on the team's ability to reacquire Dunn.

Dunn has been splitting carries with Earnest Graham this season.

"When you face your ex-team . . . you want to try and do everything perfect," Pittman said. "But I have nothing to prove. . . . I respect the coaches down there. I don't have any hard feelings against Tampa whatsoever. I respect what they do and they respect what I do."

Been there, done that

The game will feature two coaches, Gruden and Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, who each parted ways with the Raiders earlier in their careers.

Shanahan was fired by Al Davis in 1989, 20 games into his Raiders tenure and four games into the 1989 season. Gruden effectively was traded to the Buccaneers as the Raiders received two first-round draft picks, two second-round draft picks and $8 million from the Buccaneers so Gruden could become Tampa Bay's coach.

Lane Kiffin was fired Tuesday by the Raiders, after 20 games.

"I was a little disappointed, to be honest with you," Shanahan said. "I was there 582 days. Lane Kiffin was there 616 days. So what it really means is that (Raiders owner) Al Davis liked Lane more than he liked me. I really don't think it's fair. I won three more games, yet he got 34 more days of work. It just doesn't seem right."

Asked about what it's like to work there overall, Shanahan said: "Well, I know the right thing to say. The thing I should have said: 'You know what, I haven't had time to look at interviews and what really happened.' But I think everybody saw the press conference; we'll leave it at that."

Welcome back

When receiver Glenn Martinez drove out the gate of the Broncos' Dove Valley complex as one of the final cuts of the preseason, he said, "Hopefully, it works out so I can come back."

It worked out Tuesday as Martinez was re-signed to take the place of the injured Clifford Russell.

Russell was moved to injured reserve because of what was called a sprained neck he suffered against the Chiefs on Sunday.

"I was hoping I would stay here during camp, but things happen," Martinez said. "Hopefully, I can take advantage of this opportunity and make them keep me for next year."

Martinez had stayed in the area and continued to do conditioning work but had some difficulty trying to find someone to throw him passes.

"You keep yourself in shape so when you do get that opportunity, you do get that call, you're ready to go," Martinez said. "I had a neighbor who threw me some balls once in a while, but he didn't throw like Jay Cutler."

Martinez will play as a reserve receiver and can return punts and kickoffs if needed. He had an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Titans last season.

Etc.

* Cutler will be named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September today. He is the first Broncos player to win the award since Brian Griese in September 2001. The Broncos will face Griese, now the starting quarterback for the Buccaneers, on Sunday at Invesco Field. Cutler completed 65 percent of his passes in the first four games for 1,275 yards to go with nine touchdowns and four interceptions.

* The Buccaneers have thrown 97 passes the past two games, and Griese hasn't been sacked in those games.

* Receiver Darrell Jackson, who hasn't played since the regular-season opener because of a calf injury, practiced Wednesday. "That was a good sign," Shanahan said. Defensive end John Engelberger was held out of practice because of some soreness in his knee but is expected to return to practice today.

* Former Broncos safety Hamza Abdullah had a workout for the Houston Texans this week.

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