TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Bert Emanuel for a better chance to beat the Green Bay Packers.
Now, if they could only get the receiver on the field against the two-time defending NFC champions, they might find out if he can make a difference.The Packers (8-4) have beaten the Bucs (5-7) six straight times, and one of the reasons why has been Green Bay's ability to shut down the passing game.
Tampa Bay signed Emanuel, who averaged 71 receptions the past three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, to a four-year, $16.4 million contract last winter hoping his speed and experience would give the Bucs the deep threat needed to make the offense work against the Packers.
Despite gaining 217 yards rushing in one of its three losses to Green Bay last season, Tampa Bay has fallen behind early in each of the past six meetings and averaged just 90 yards a game on the ground.
And quarterback Trent Dilfer has been unable to pick up the slack with the passing game -- in part because of the inability of his receivers to beat tight Packers coverage off the line of scrimmage.
Emanuel might help, provided the Bucs could get him on the field to face the team most people thought they'd be chasing for the division title this year.
He missed a Sept. 13 meeting between the teams after spraining his left ankle the week before in the season opener at Minnesota. Now, he's listed as questionable for Monday night's rematch after injuring the same ankle diving for a low pass in practice last Friday.
"If he can run by game time, we'll let him play," Bucs coach Tony Dungy said. "There's no major damage. The MRI was negative. There's nothing structural like the first time, just an ankle sprain."
Emanuel, who has 32 catches for 478 yards and one touchdown, missed four games after spraining the ankle against the Vikings. He said it never fully healed, but he remains optimistic that he'll be able to play Monday night.
"If I can go, I'm definitely going to be out there. I'm not thinking worst-case scenario right now. I want everybody else to think positive (too)," said Emanuel, who doesn't plan to test the ankle until pregame warmups."