Former Rebel holds himself to higher standard

Tuesday, June 18, 2002 | 9:46 a.m.

No one holds Keenan McCardell to a higher standard than himself.

So when the latest addition to Tampa Bay's offense lined up in the wrong spot a couple of times during his second practice for the Buccaneers, the veteran of 10 NFL seasons was not forgiving.

"I'm mad at myself because I feel like I'm a veteran and I've been here a long time," the UNLV product said. "Two days is long enough for me to know some of the things I made mistakes on."

McCardell was one of the league's most productive receivers for Jacksonville over the past six years -- his 499 catches since 1996 are the fifth most in the NFL, and the Bucs view him as an ideal complement for Keyshawn Johnson in Jon Gruden's West Coast offense.

"It's not just about straight-line speed. It's about quickness, instinctiveness and playmaking ability," Gruden said. "Some guys have the makeup to thrive in clutch situations. They have an ability to make a play. This guy has done that at a high level for the last few years."

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