Bucs' Cockrell gets 3 INTs after watching sister reach Olympic final
An inspired Ross Cockrell finished practice Monday with three interceptions after watching his sister Anna qualify for the finals of the 400-meter hurdles at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Cockrell and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers teammates observed intently as 23-year-old Anna eked out a second-place finish in her semifinal over Ukraine's Viktoriya Tkachuk, booking a spot in the final.
CB Ross Cockrell watching his sister, Anna, advance to the Olympic finals with his teammates & coaches 👏 pic.twitter.com/pReaPhj4pB
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) August 2, 2021
As for Ross, he picked off Ryan Griffin on the goal line for his first interception of practice, then came up with two more before the session ended.
"I was just feeding off her magic," Cockrell said after practice, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. "She gave me the magic and I was able to continue on. It's just a great feeling and a great moment for our family."
The eighth-year defensive back didn't record a pick last season, but he's notched seven during his career. He's entering his second campaign with the Buccaneers following tenures with the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, and Carolina Panthers.
"We gave mom and dad the game ball today, they did a hell of a job raising those kids," head coach Bruce Arians said, according to 95.3 WDAE.