Penn Prepared To Put Up A Fight For Starting Spot At Left Tackle Donald Penn was probably one of the few players disappointed about his team's decision to call off its final minicamp practice Thursday. Penn is currently Tampa Bay's No. 1 left tackle, and he is fighting to stay there. He has attended every organized team activity this offseason with hopes of wrangling a starting spot away from Luke Petitgout. Last season, Penn became a starter after Petitgout suffered a knee injury during Week 4 against Carolina and was placed on injured reserve. Petitgout is still recovering from that injury and did not participate in this week's minicamp. That is why Penn believes this offseason is the most crucial one of his three-year career. If he continues to improve, and Petitgout is not healthy, there is a chance he could start again this season. Even if Petitgout is at 100 percent, Penn wants to make the left tackle position a competition. "We don't know if Luke is going to come back or not," Penn said. "You never know. I enjoyed playing last year. I'm going to do whatever is possible in order to play again this season." Penn's unexpected performance last season could force Tampa Bay's coaches into a difficult decision this year. After Petitgout's injury, Penn, who spent 2006 on Minnesota and Tampa Bay's practice squads, was forced to protect quarterback Jeff Garcia's blind side. He performed well above expectations in 13 starts. In one-on-one matchups against the NFL's top defensive ends, such as Tennessee's Kyle Vanden Bosch, New Orleans' Charles Grant, Houston's Mario Williams and the New York Giants' Osi Umenyiora, Penn did not give up a sack. His consistent performances helped Garcia to complete 209 passes for 2,440 yards and 13 touchdowns, and make his fourth Pro Bowl appearance. "I knew what I had within myself. I knew what I had been through and I knew that I could play," Penn said. "It was just a matter of me getting my opportunity. When I got an opportunity, I tried to make the most of it." Penn's consistency garnered the praises of Tampa Bay's coaches. During a recent Bucs Chalk Talk Luncheon, Jon Gruden was asked by a fan who was last season's surprising player. Without hesitation, Gruden praised Penn, an accolade he hesitated to give last season to prevent his young protege from developing an ego. "He's had his spots. He's gotten a lot stronger. I'll say that for him," Gruden said. "He's really increased his strength, a credit to our strength coaches. He's done some good things. He still has some plays here and there that he was to eliminate, but he's making progress." There was a time Penn worried about staying on a team. Now he is fighting to start. "Nothing has been given to me since I've been in the league. Nothing is going to be given to me this year. I'm just going to be constantly working," Penn said. "I love it out here. I love the fans. I love the coaches. I love the staff. I respect offensive line coach Bill Muir. He's the one who gave me the opportunity and I wouldn't be here if he wasn't pushing me every day. I would love to stay here and play my whole career here. We're going to see what happens." Anwar Richardson, The Tampa Tribune 20 June 2008