TAMPA - Jermaine Phillips has proved he is a hard-hitting defensive back. But the Bucs think he is fierce enough to topple a legend.
Their belief in the 24-year-old from the University of Georgia is perhaps the biggest reason the team decided to part with veteran safety John Lynch.
"I'll say this: Jermaine Phillips is going to have an opportunity to succeed a legend here in Tampa," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "We think he has great ability and great upside and can accomplish that. We're going to be optimistic and say, "Yes, indeed.'
"At the same time, you're talking about a guy (Lynch) who went to multiple Pro Bowls and was a tremendous leader and performer for a long period of time. We've got a lot to prove. It's a very sad day in my life as a coach. But you've got to show resiliency, and that's the nature of this business."
Phillips, a fifth-round pick in 2002, made his eight career starts last season, splitting time at both safety positions. At 6-foot-1, 214 pounds, he has the size to play in the box in run support, and he has demonstrated good range in the secondary in pass coverage.
But with Dwight Smith, 25, expected to start at free safety, the Bucs' last line of defense will be inexperienced.
"It's going to be an adjustment," veteran cornerback Brian Kelly said. "We'll have younger guys back there playing. Through all the injuries last year, we got some experience, so we've got some guys who've been in the fire.
"But the five Pro Bowls, the years and the stuff (Lynch) saw, you won't be able to match that. It will be a different flavor, a different group. I think Jermaine Phillips will be the guy penciled in as the starter. He's a capable player. We believe in him. We have a lot of faith in him. It will be different, though, not seeing No.47 back there."
Lynch, 32, made 145 career regular-season starts, 120 more than Phillips and Smith combined. But as Gruden pointed out, this is not the first time the Bucs have lost key members of the secondary. Kelly replaced cornerback Donnie Abraham midway through the 2001 season. And Smith took over for Super Bowl XXXVII MVP Dexter Jackson, who signed a free-agent contract with the Cardinals before last season.
"Well, it's something you have to prove," Gruden said. "We lost Dexter Jackson the year before, he was the Super Bowl MVP. We lost Warrick Dunn, who was a dynamic playmaker here. We've lost some very good players that are all hard to overcome. Are we a better team without John Lynch? That's something you have to really go out and prove."
One of Phillips' starts came at strong safety, but he has shown an ability to make big plays. He finished last season with one interception, which he returned 41 yards against the Cowboys. He also forced two fumbles, recovering one.
The Bucs may add some experience at safety. They are believed to be interested in signing free agent Rogers Beckett, who spent last season with the Bengals after three in San Diego.
Asked if the decision to cut Lynch loose was unanimous among the assistant coaches, general manager Bruce Allen said, "We don't live in that type of society in football. It doesn't have to be unanimous. But it was a decision that everybody understands what we're doing and we're looking forward to it."
NOTES: Having lost Tom Tupa to the Redskins, the Bucs were believed to be close to signing former Packers punter Josh Bidwell. ... The Bucs are close to signing former Bengals safety Rogers Beckett. ... Allen denied reports the Bucs are interested in acquiring wide receiver David Boston from San Diego.
