Smith Still Bothered By Ankle Problems The Tampa Tribune, published 5 November 2007 It was hard to tell what hurt Alex Smith more - his left ankle or a dropped touchdown pass. Smith had missed the previous two games because of a sprained ankle, but he started during Tampa Bay's 17-10 victory against Arizona on Sunday. During the third quarter, Smith limped off the field after his ankle swelled up during a play. The same ankle flared up again on Smith during the fourth quarter, but he was able to re-enter the game and continued playing. "It's part of the game. I knew it could happen," Smith said. "I tried to walk it off as much as I could ... After the first initial time, I figured there was no more damage that I could do to it. Just the fact I could walk it off made me think I would be all right to continue." Smith was far from satisfied about dropping a touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter. Jeff Garcia had rolled out of the pocket on a third-and-3 on Arizona's 8-yard line and found a wide-open Smith in the end zone. Garcia fired in a pass that hit Smith in the chest, and it appeared he initially had control of the ball. Many of the Tampa Bay players and fans began celebrating, but few noticed that when Smith fell to ground, he actually dropped Garcia's pass. On the next play, Matt Bryant missed a 26-yard field goal, meaning the Bucs came up empty after a 19-play, 86-yard drive that ate up 11:59. Arizona scored on its ensuing possession, cutting the lead to seven points, but that's as close as the Cards came. Although Smith's drop did not cost Tampa Bay a victory, it was more of a sore spot than his ankle. "That's going to stay with me for a while," Smith said. "That's something that can't happen. It was one of those freak things. I had it in my hands and when I hit the ground, it jarred it loose. It was a big play in the game. We could have put them away right there. It didn't have to be any closer than it was. That is going to stick with me for a while." A fight in Trueblood Jeremy Trueblood has a reputation for being highly intense, and his ejection from Sunday's game showed why. Trueblood said an Arizona player attacked RG Davin Joseph late in the fourth quarter and he was trying to defend his teammate. Along the way, Trueblood bumped into a referee and was ejected with 45 seconds remaining. He apologized for his actions after the game. "I just grabbed him opposing player from the back and was holding onto his jersey and then somebody punched me," Trueblood said. "I turned around and I got tackled. I apologize to the ref. He hasn't heard it, but I didn't know he was there." Trueblood likely will be fined this week, but it is doubtful a suspension will be tacked on. Stovall was special Maurice Stovall one day may be a standout receiver, but he currently is the Bucs' best special teams player. Stovall's first outstanding play occurred when Tampa Bay punted from Arizona's 47-yard line in the first quarter. He fought off a double block at the line of scrimmage and beat every player downfield so when the ball took its first bounce around the 6, Stovall was there to grab it and down it on the 3. However, Stovall's biggest play occurred in the fourth quarter when Tampa Bay punted from its own 36-yard line and he leveled PR Steve Breaston on his 16-yard line. On the next play, QB Kurt Warner's pass was intercepted by S Jermaine Phillips, sealing Tampa Bay's victory. Stovall blocked a punt against Jacksonville last week and continues to show his versatility after limited action earlier this season. "I've always been in the flow mentally," Stovall said. "Physically, I'm getting more involved in the game, but at the same time, you have to do it consistently every week. Not just sometimes." Game notes Joey Galloway caught his 27th receiving TD with the Bucs and is tied with Mark Carrier for third place on the team's all-time receiving touchdowns list. It was also Galloway's 28th total touchdown, giving him sole possession of fifth place in team history. Tampa Bay's 43:07 time of possession is the best for a regulation game in team history and ranks second behind the 48:09 recorded in regulation and overtime against Oakland on Nov. 24, 1996. Micheal Spurlock had his second career performance as a kick returner. He returned two kickoffs for 57 yards. Last season with Arizona, Spurlock return three kickoffs for 54 yards against San Diego. The Bucs are 15-0 under Jon Gruden when they do not commit a turnover. Arizona rushed for 23 yards, tied for the fifth best single-game effort by Tampa Bay in team history. The Bucs' turned in a similar performance against Minnesota on Oct. 18, 1987.