Simms Deal's Done

It's official. Chris Simms will be back with the Bucs after signing a two-year contract with the team on Wednesday.

The news comes after Simms said on Saturday he had agreed to the terms of the deal, which appears to give Simms the inside track at remaining the starter after his 2006 campaign was cut short by a season-ending injury.

The deal has a maximum value of $14.5-million, though much of that is tied to incentives and escalator clauses. Heading into the offseason, the Bucs will have Simms, rookie Bruce Gradkowski and Luke McCown under contract. Veteran Tim Rattay, who is expected to start his second consecutive game on Sunday, becomes a free agent after the season.

Caddy likely out vs. Browns

Running back Cadillac Williams is unlikely to miss Sunday's game at Cleveland after the team downgraded his injury status to doubtful today.

Williams suffered a deep bruise on his right foot when it was stepped on during last Sunday's game at Chicago. He was unable to practice Friday for a third consecutive day and is almost certain to miss the Browns game. Williams hasn't missed a game since Oct. 16, 2005, when he missed his second straight game with a left foot injury that interrupted his record-setting rookie season.

Veteran backup Michael Pittman would start in Williams' place. Fullback Mike Alstott could also see an expanded role, with scarcely-used running back Earnest Graham likely to see some snaps.

Cadillac headlines injury report

Running back Cadillac Williams was the most notable entry to Wednesday's injury report at Bucs headquarters.

Williams is listed as questionable with a foot injury, one sustained against the Bears last Sunday. The actual extent of the injury is unknown, and Williams was unavailable to comment on its severity. However, players listed as questionable technically have a 50 percent chance of playing, according to NFL injury guidelines.

If Williams is unable to play, his duties would fall to backup Michael Pittman, with Earnest Graham likely playing a bigger role. Fullback Mike Alstott likely would become a factor, too.

Williams has not missed a game this season. Last year, his rookie season, Williams missed two games and parts of two others with a stubborn foot injury. It isn't known whether this injury was sustained to the same foot.

Also on Wednesday's injury report: cornerback Juran Bolden (quadriceps), cornerback Phillip Buchanon (groin), cornerback Torrie Cox (neck) and linebacker Jamie Winborn (knee). Each is listed as questionable.

Barber Pro Bowl Bound; Brooks Snubbed

Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber is headed to the Pro Bowl for a third straight season. Linebacker Derrick Brooks, meanwhile, saw his franchise-record streak of nine straight selections snapped.

The NFL this afternoon released selections for the Feb. 10 game and the Bucs will be represented by Barber alone, who was named a starter for the NFC. It is the first time since 1996 only a single member of the team was chosen for the Pro Bowl.

Brooks does have an outside chance of keeping his streak alive. Last season's Pro Bowl Player of the Game was chosen as the first alternate for the NFC at outside linebacker, meaning he would take the place of Chicago's Lance Briggs, Seattle's Julian Peterson or Dallas' DeMarcus Ware if they are unable or unwilling to play.

The Bucs narrowly avoided their first Pro Bowl shutout in 11 years. In other Pro Bowl news, cornerback Torrie Cox was chosen as first alternate on special teams while fullback Mike Alstott will be a third alternate.

It's Tim Rattay's job now

Tim Rattay will start at quarterback this Sunday in Cleveland, coach Jon Gruden announced Monday. (Click image at left to enlarge.)

The Bucs overcame a 21-point second-half deficit Sunday and forced the Chicago Bears into overtime before losing 34-31. Rattay threw for 268 yards, with three touchdown passes, in just more than a half of play.

Bruce Gradkowski was benched in the second quarter. By the time his devolution was complete, the Bucs had failed to scored a touchdown in 42 consecutive offensive possessions or almost 15 quarters of football.

The choice was not a tough one, Gruden said.

"It's just common sense right now based on performance and who gives us a better chance to win a football game," Gruden said. "We'd like to finish the season as strongly as we can. I think Bruce is struggling to a degree now and I thought Tim did some good things the last couple weeks when given the chance to play."

Gradkowski has now been benched in consecutive games. After last week's home game against the Falcons, Gruden put the quarterbacks on notice and said he would prepare both to play at Chicago in case Rattay was needed for a second straight week. After the Bucs fell into a 24-3 hole at Chicago, Gruden decided the time had come.

Gruden on Monday continued to defend his decision not to opt for Rattay earlier in the season.

"I've given a lot of thought to the quarterback position this year," he said. "But Bruce has done some good things at times. . . Yeah, we've contemplated using Tim. We've also been very committed to helping a young guy (Gradkowski) get better. Right now, we're going to go with Rattay."

The Bucs play at the Browns at 1 p.m. on Ch.13.

No QB Controversy

Bucs coach Jon Gruden squashed any controversy Monday by announcing rookie Bruce Gradkowski would likely start at quarterback Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

The question arose after Gruden yanked Gradkowski yesterday against the Falcons, inserting backup Tim Rattay with 4:31 remaining in the fourth quarter.

But although Gradkowski appears to have kept his job, we may not have seen the last of Rattay.

"We're going to get both guys ready to play," Gruden said. "We expect Bruce to start the game and we'll get Tim Rattay some more work this week and get both guys prepared."

Gradkowski shares much of the blame for the team's lack of offensive consistency of late, with the Bucs having not scored a touchdown since the first quarter of their Thanksgiving game against Dallas -- 11 quarters ago.

Clayton's season over ... again

The Bucs put receiver Michael Clayton on injured reserve Tuesday, marking the second time in his three-year career the first-round draft pick has had a season end prematurely because of injury. Clayton's injury was not disclosed, but he left Sunday's game at Pittsburgh with a knee injury and was scheduled for an MRI on Monday.

Clayton played in 12 games with nine starts and was the team's second-leading receiver with 33 catches for 356 yards and one touchdown.

Since a record-setting rookie season in 2004, Clayton's career has been plagued by injuries and spotty play. He battled through shoulder and knee injuries in 2005 before being put on IR with a turf toe injury, forcing him to miss the wild-card playoff game against Washington. Clayton reported to training camp in July healthy and in good physical condition, but found Joey Galloway had replaced him as the team's go-to receiver.

Clayton's lone touchdown this season provided the winning margin in the Bucs 14-13 victory against the Bengals. His 8-yard reception with 28 seconds left was ruled incomplete on the field, but was reversed by replay.

In Sunday's 23-3 loss at Pittsburgh, Clayton dropped a perfectly thrown pass from rookie quarterback Bruce Gradkowski. With the nearest defender more than 10 yards away, the play surely would have resulted in a 39-yard touchdown and reduced the Steelers lead to 10-7 late in the third quarter. Perhaps trying to make up for his mistake, Clayton was fighting for extra yardage when he was injured four plays later.

Clayton set Bucs rookie records for receptions (80), receiving yards (1,193) and receiving touchdowns (seven) in 2004. In two seasons since, he has 65 catches for 728 yards and one touchdown.