Bucs notes: CB Mack still defying odds

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TAMPA - Buccaneers CB Elbert Mack continues to defeat the odds.

Mack was barely recruited out of high school and attended Butler County Community College in Kansas. He later played for Troy and entered the NFL in 2008 as an undrafted free agent. The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder has been a solid backup and special teams player for Tampa Bay, but it appeared his luck would run out in 2010.

The Bucs drafted CB Myron Lewis in the third round, and with the preseason emergence of E.J. Biggers, Mack seemed like the odd man out.

As usual, Mack emerged to make the roster and plays on special teams and in dime packages. He hopes to make his presence known Sunday when Tampa Bay hosts Carolina.

"He's battled through injuries and he's just kind of that tough guy that you love on this football team," Bucs coach Raheem Morris said. "He comes out every day, he's businesslike in the walk-through, he's businesslike in the classrooms and he's businesslike on the field.

"He's the example of (our roster) being driven from the bottom up, and there is no better person in the room than I can give an example about than E-Mack."

Mack has three tackles as a defensive back and two on special teams.

Despite his limited participation this season, he is happy to have defeated the odds again.

"Sometimes I wake up and I don't even know how I've been doing it. I just know God has been pulling me through it," Mack said. "Sometimes you just have to be ready for whatever it is. You just got to take the blows and be ready to embark on whatever the journey is in life.

 

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Crews rescue, release manatee near Courtney Campbell Parkway

TAMPA — Tampa marine and wildlife officials rescued a manatee that was caught in a crab trap line Thursday afternoon just north of the Courtney Campbell Parkway.

Authorities lost track of the manatee when it was first spotted Wednesday. But it was located again Thursday west of the hump in the causeway. About 1:15 p.m., the Tampa Police Department said its marine patrol unit and officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were trying to help the creature.

It was caught about 3 p.m., put on a Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boat and brought to the Courtney Campbell boat ramp, where officials checked the 350-pound female for injuries. It was estimated to be about 2 years old, officials said.

The crab trap line was tangled on the manatee's left flipper and caused minor abrasions. Officials untangled the line and then took the manatee back into the bay, where it was released at about 3:45 p.m.

Stay tuned to tampabay.com for updates.

 

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