TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -For months, Derrick Brooks resisted the temptation to ride past the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' new practice facility.

``I only drove by once,'' the All-Pro linebacker said. ``And that was by accident.''

The long wait only heightened the anticipation for Monday, when the Bucs finally moved into their new digs after 30 seasons at One Buc Place, the only other home the NFL franchise has known.

The 145,000-square-foot complex on more than 14 acres of land includes three practice fields, a 7,000-square-foot locker room, 16,000-square-foot weight room building and a 4,000-square-foot team auditorium with stadium seating.

Plasma television sets adorn walls throughout the facility, there's enough space for virtually every player to sit down and watch film individually and a dining hall that rivals some of the finest restaurants in town.

Brooks also discovered an unexpected amenity when he drove into the complex for the first time on Sunday.

``The captains that are elected are going to have parking spaces. Me being a captain from last year, I immediately pulled into one,'' the nine-time Pro Bowl selection said. ``Whether I was right or wrong, I don't know. I assumed I would be one, so I pulled right in.''

Monday's practice was the first full workout since the team broke training camp at Lake Buena Vista last week.

Coach Jon Gruden had hoped the players would be sharper after playing the Miami Dolphins on Saturday night and having Sunday off.

``I felt like a visitor today. You don't feel like it's home yet, but that's part of making change. It takes some getting accustomed to, but we'll do that,'' Gruden said.

The club moved into One Buc Place for its inaugural season in 1976. The original building still stands and is surrounded by several doublewide trailers that house the administrative side of the franchise.

The new complex is fully operational for the football side, however office workers and most team officials won't move in for another month or so.

Gruden said the facility, with everything it offers from a superior weight room to bigger and better meeting rooms, will make the team better.

``It's an endless, endless opportunity for a football player to max out and be as good as he can become,'' the coach said. ``And I think it will help build camaraderie and unity and it will entice a lot of people to want to play here and be around here because it's conducive to getting better.''

Brooks, preparing for his 12th season, has never visited the facility of another team because he didn't want to be reminded of what the Bucs didn't have.

And as glad as he is to have bid farewell to One Buc Place, he thinks it's important players remember that work ethic wins championships - not a plush environment.

``That was something we did at old One Buc Place that no one could take away from us,'' Brooks said.

``We worked in those conditions and we built a world championship team because we made no excuses, we made no explanations. We went to work. I think that is the thing we players have to continue to do no matter what facility we are in. We are still going to have to work hard. We are still going to have to put in the time to build a world championship team.''

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