“Run, Micheal, Run” Spurlock is no doubt one of the most interesting figures on the Bucs. Talk about a guy who has persevered. The former Ole Miss quarterback turned receiver/returner was on the couch when Mark Dominik called him to return to the Bucs late in the 2009 season. On Sunday, Joe talked to Spurlock about being the Bucs emergency quarterback, the new kickoff rule change, and more.

JoeBucsFan.com: Raheem has spoken a couple of times recently about you being the emergency quarterback and the team having more flexibility with the rule change that allows a third quarterback or an extra man to be activated. Talk about how much you know to play QB in this system and your readiness in that area.

Micheal Spurlock: I think the biggest thing for me, I’ve played the position already, so just certain little calls and stuff I know because as a Zebra, the third receiver in the slot, you have to make sure things to pick up on defenses. So for me it’ll be more time spent in the run game and learning if I have to get under center and call the snap count and things of that sort. As far as the coverages and what we like to run against what, it’s not a big thing because for me playing receiver I try to prepare and think like a quarterback because it makes my job a lot easier when I’m on the run trying to figure out coverage or where the quarterback is going to check this play, or if it should have been checked. I don’t think it’s going to be that hard. It’s just put on me to really focus on the run game.

Joe: Are you already working more on QB duties because of the rule change?

Spurlock: I think so. I’ve always considered myself a student of the game. When I played quarterback you had to know everything and then it just helped out at receiver and I had to shut off certain sensors because I wanted to hit a whole play rather than just what I was supposed to do on a route. That’s when you really grow into the game and become a student of the game — when you think like a quarterback. As for as just taking snaps for me is the only difference. I don’t think the playbook is that hard.

Joe: Do you want to play quarterback?

Spurlock: I mean, it’s always a good little itch, you know, but I think we have a great quarterback right here.

Joe: I’m just kidding you, man.

Spurlock: No. No. I understand. Everybody asks because of the simple fact I played quarterback [in college]. ‘Oh, do you still want to play?’ That urge is there, but I enjoy receiver just because it’s a different challenge.

Joe: This was a weird offseason to be a restricted free agent. Was that disappointing for you to not really have any market for restricted free agents? Not that you wanted to leave the Bucs, but what did you think of that?

Spurlock: This was the first time that I felt at home after a season. You know last year I had an alright season and to come back here … was coming back home. This is home. This is what home feels like, and I’m grateful. I was happy when they sent me the letter that I was restricted. I was like, ‘Hey, let’s go with it. Let’s run.’ But I think always in this game you want that big contract, but everybody’s not going to get it. So let’s enjoy what you get and make the best of it.

Joe: You didn’t return kicks in Kansas City. What was up with that?

Spurlock: They were getting other guys work. But man, it was crazy seeing our guys booming the ball out of the end zone. I think we got a punt after a safety and that was it. But it was crazy to just look around the league at all the guys taking it out of the end zone five or six yards deep.

Joe: What do you think of the new kickoff placement?

Spurlock: I don’t like it. They say it’ll keep guys healthy, but this is a contact sport. You know, when you get that contract and you sign for those X number of dollars, you know what you’re putting on the line. Worst come to worst, you’re putting your health on the line, your overall health when you’re 40 and 50 years old, but that’s why you get paid so much money to do that. It’s not like it’s something in the dark, where ‘Oh, I didn’t know I could get hurt out here.’ It’s football. I hope that we don’t take aspect away from the game because you look at [Devin] Hester, that’s how he came on the scene doing kickoff and punt returns. So I just hope they don’t take that aspect away because it’s a game-changer. And those are guys’ livelihoods, those are guys jobs that we’re kind of taking away. We’ll see what happens.