Pumped up

TAMPA - Joey Galloway should be the finisher, the most dangerous threat to accentuate the run-pass balance of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense.

Instead, the soon-to-be 34-year-old wide receiver who has overcome two knee surgeries, is the only player the Bucs' wobbly offense has been able to count on to score touchdowns of late.

The offense has gone into the tank since rookie running back Cadillac Williams and quarterback Brian Griese got injured. There's little reason to expect the touchdowns to start piling up with Chris Simms at quarterback feeling his way around.

Galloway has scored Tampa Bay's only offensive touchdowns (one apiece) in the Bucs' last two games. He didn't score a touchdown the week before in the loss to the New York Jets, and neither did the Bucs.

The week before that, Galloway's 80-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter was the go-ahead score in the Bucs' 17-13 win over the Detroit Lions.

In Week 3, Galloway scored both Bucs touchdowns in the 17-16 win over the Packers in Green Bay.

"When you're looking for a spark, he's been about the only one in some of our games," said cornerback Ronde Barber.

Since returning from last year's groin injury, Galloway has scored 11 touchdowns in the past 12 games (including a punt return) and accumulated 1,064 receiving yards.

Sunday's 78-yard catch-and-run touchdown was the latest example of Galloway on his way to having a career season. Better perhaps than 1997 (72 catches for 1,049 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns), his third NFL season with Seattle.

"It could be, but I don't even know what a career season is for me right now," said Galloway, who turns 34 later this month. "I'm not going to talk numbers. Really, I just want to talk wins."

Galloway gave Simms all the help he could in the 15-10 loss at San Francisco, where he made his 500th career reception among eight catches for 149 yards.

"We've got to make more plays (to help Simms)," said Galloway, who ranks 19th among active players with 506 career receptions. "I think every position needs to play a little better than we did last week."

Galloway leads the Bucs with 39 receptions for 648 yards and his five touchdowns are a team high.

The 11-year veteran leads the NFL with 301 receiving yards on third down and ranks third with 16 third-down receptions.

"It's amazing," said second-year wide receiver Michael Clayton, who plays second fiddle to Galloway. "When the guy is healthy, he's unstoppable."

Bucs head coach Jon Gruden only wonders how much better Galloway would be if he had a quarterback who could get him the ball.

"He's an unbelievable football player, if you ask me. We've missed him several times," Gruden said.

Galloway's touchdown celebration of flexing his biceps has become a trademark.

"I don't know where that came from, to be honest with you," Galloway said. "I just did it one time and stuck with it."

That's because he spends more time on his conditioning to maintain his blazing 4.2-something speed.

"I work at it," Galloway said. "I don't talk numbers. I don't even know how old I am."

Galloway said that in addition to his rigorous off-season conditioning, being limited to one practice during two-a-day workouts in training camp this year has helped preserve his body.

"I think that's the difference, to be honest with you," Galloway said.

Injuries