At heart of third-down conversions is a sole man: Dunn Hubert Mizell, The St.Petersburg Times, published 27 December 1999 Warrick Dunn's quick feet move with blurring agility, like a squirrel on a busy highway. But the little guy struggles for yardage on running plays. A puny 1.9 per tote against Green Bay. Nonetheless, in Tampa Bay's most critical offensive moments, when Sunday's game was deep in doubt, the Bucs repeatedly pitched the football to Dunn. "Always, the Packers seemed to be jamming our wide receivers," Bucs Shaun King said. "Warrick became the prime option. They were taking away most everything else. Dunn kept producing. Especially with third-down pass catches. He's so small, but what a huge heart." Everybody knows about the Dunn ticker. Can there be a larger Bucs hero than this 178-pound talent from Louisiana who spends his own money buying remarkable Christmas presents and providing down payments on new homes for single mothers? "If you're a smart quarterback," King said, "you keep going to the teammates who're coming through with big plays. Warrick is famous for coming through." In wide-ranging ways. Green Bay led 10-9 in the third quarter and the Bucs still had not scored a touchdown. They were ravenous to score six points. All day, Tampa Bay safety Damien Robinson provided opportunities. Twice he had interceptions. When the defender from Iowa recovered a fumble at the Packers 23-yard line, at last it would become Bucs cash-in time. Dunn at the pay window. On a third and 6 at the Green Bay 19, a King pass was flicked to No. 28 for a 10-yard gain. Opportunity flourished. Two plays later, Dunn darted right, taking another throw. Going to the end zone pylon. Touchdown. Warrick is so quiet. So reserved. But, this time, he erupted with glee. Obviously, it was special. "It'd been so long since I scored a touchdown," Dunn said. "Not since we played the Packers at Lambeau Field. It has been a frustrating season. I'm still not making much as a runner, but it felt great to do some good as a receiver." The Bucs jumped ahead 16-10, but Green Bay enemies are not allowed to breathe easy, as long as quarterback Brett Favre is within rescue range. Tampa Bay needed more. With 3:35 remaining in the third quarter, a killer drive would begin at the Bucs 37. Warrick was critical, again. Bucs began to march, but there came a vital juncture at the Green Bay 47. Facing third and 10, King searched for the small man with the big heart. Dunn caught another pass, wiggling 12 yards. First down. Packers 35. "Shaun is a young quarterback," Warrick said, "So it's good when others can take some of the load off his back. "Right now, we're really hungry. Next week in Chicago, it'll be tough. The weather will be cold. The Bears have some good players. But I expect us to produce." Producing is No. 28's nature. Back to that enormous drive against Green Bay. Dunn was anything but done. There came a third and 8 dilemma. Packers 33. "So many times, Warrick was there when we needed it most," King said. Again, the rookie would pass to Dunn. Gaining 11 yards. First down. Packers 22. From there, thicker and more powerful Tampa Bay legs would take over. Mike Alstott began hammering Green Bay. His touchdown finished off a 63-yard, seven-minute possession. Indeed, finished off the Pack. It was 22-10 and Raymond James Stadium was in a happy rock. Alstott eventually got another touchdown. Whipped cream for Tampa Bay's playoff cake. It was a 29-10 knockout, with the Bucs accomplishing a 20-0 domination in the second half. Alstott was dynamic, a 248-pound runner making flashy cuts. But let's not forget the little fellow. Dunn, with his anemic 1.9-yard rushing average, was gigantic with third-down deliveries. Green Bay was done. When time ran out on the Pack-ers, athletes from both camps strolled to midfield, as they always do. Combatants embrace. Exchanging a few words. Renewing personal relationships. Dunn hugged Green Bay tailback Dorsey Levens, wide receiver Antonio Freeman and fullback William Henderson. Then, the biggest embrace, LeRoy Butler, a 10-year NFL safety who has helped Green Bay to two Super Bowls, was especially warm to Dunn. Both are former FSU standouts. But the highly emotional Butler was peeved at some of his fellow Packers. He would say, "Some of us keep playing hard, but some don't. Those who don't should be gone." Butler, while disgruntled with the Packers, whispered post-season encouragement to Dunn. "I hope y'all," he told No. 28, "win it all."