Garcia practices some; decision on Sunday

Injured quarterback Jeff Garcia returned to practice on a limited basis Friday, the first positive sign that he might be well enough to play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

It's the first time Garcia has felt well enough to participate in practice since suffering a severe lower back contustion against the Redskins last Sunday.

"I'm getting better and taking steps in the right direction,'' Garcia said. "I feel a lot better than I thought I would.''

Coach Jon Gruden said he was encouraged by Garcia's progress but said the Bucs have prepared someone to replace him under center if necessary.

"I don't know (if he will play),'' Gruden said. "He did some things today, which is very encouraging. He's getting better, so I don't really know. But I'm very optimistic after today.

"He practiced. He showed up and practiced, which is a huge step in the right direction. He's not 100 percent right now but he's closing in on getting well enough to play.

"Maybe in another 48 hours he'll make more great improvement and be ready to go. We're optimistic, yet we've prepared ourselves to go in another direction if we have to.''

It's no longer a secret that Luke McCown, the team's No. 3 quarterback the past 10 games, is likely who would start Sunday if Garcia is unable to play. McCown took the majority of snaps with the first-team offense in practice this week while Bruce Gradkowski ran the scout squad offense.

"I don't really want to announce that,'' Gruden said. "No disrespect to anybody. But we've prepared two young guys to play. I just don't want to say anything until I no Jeff's official status. We'll go from there.''

Gradkowski went 9-of-19 for 100 yards in relief of Garcia but failed to produced touchdowns on three of the four fumble recoveries by the Bucs' defense. Gruden said either Gradkowski or McCown would be better prepared to play because of the reps they received in practice this week.

"We'll be better prepared,'' Gruden said. "You're idle for 11 or 12 weeks. And you know, you sometimes put a gameplan together for a quarterback, too. You don't necessarily run the same plays with you at quarterback or if I was at quarterback or he was at quarterback. A lot of things go into that. But he'll be better prepared because he's had an opportunity to practice.''

(Times photo - Brian Cassella. Click to enlarge.)

   

   

    

Comments

[Nick]

I still think we give McCown a shot this weekend. Garcia needs to be 100%, nothing less. Risking him to play while not 100% may end any chance we may have going to the playoffs. Beside we need to know who can back him up if he should get injured again. I think McCown can take hold of this offense and surprise a lot of people. Give this kid a shot.

[DR]

Guys, this is all a sham. Garcia will not be starting, neither will Grad nor McCown...the starting QB for the Bucs will be Jake Plummer. Gruden is going to pull out his secret weapon. He's been resting him the entire year, just for this moment. Man, Gruden is a genious!

[maladrin]

EL JEFFE!!!

[Warrenfb12]

Starting McCown is crazy, we need to put the saints away, you wanna rest him, do it the last couple of games, we have no chance of winning without him.

[aaron]

i like that DR! that sounds like an excellent idea

[Fred Sutter]

Hey DR? ...you misspelled GENIUS Einstein!

[Tom]

The word of the week for Garcia should be "Novacaine". If it's only a bruise, albeit extremely painful, there's no risk of structural damage. So give the man some meds and get him out there. This is a very big game against a division rival.

[Rocky]

Garcia is as tough as they come. If he is able to play he will. If he is not as mobile, he would be at risk with our line. We need him to be strong for the last 4 weeks which should be all wins.
Go Bucs.

[Jay]

Tom, I don't believe the spleen is a structural organ, but we all saw how well someone performs without one.

Then again, this offense has been playing without a pair of specific male organs for several years.

[Skylar]

Play Garcia only if he feels good enough. Otherwise start the person most likely to not to crack under pressure and not turn the ball over. Our defense is our strength and we need to lean heavily upon them this week, not freak out and act like we can't handle an injury. That sends a bad message to the rest of the team. Confidence is key in these situatuions.

It'll just be like old times with Dilfer or King: Bucs 10, Saints 9.

And the proper spelling of that word would be "novocaine." I'm just saying...

[Skylar]

Play Garcia only if he feels good enough. Otherwise start the person most likely to not to crack under pressure and not turn the ball over. Our defense is our strength and we need to lean heavily upon them this week, not freak out and act like we can't handle an injury. That sends a bad message to the rest of the team. Confidence is key in these situatuions.

It'll just be like old times with Dilfer or King: Bucs 10, Saints 9.

And the proper spelling of that word would be "novocaine." I'm just saying...

[Skylar]

Play Garcia only if he feels good enough. Otherwise start the person most likely to not to crack under pressure and not turn the ball over. Our defense is our strength and we need to lean heavily upon them this week, not freak out and act like we can't handle an injury. That sends a bad message to the rest of the team. Confidence is key in these situatuions.

It'll just be like old times with Dilfer or King: Bucs 10, Saints 9.

And the proper spelling of that word would be "novocaine." I'm just saying...

[Skylar]

Wow, psychedelic...three posts for one click!

[Tom]

and the proper way to post would be "click once". I'm just saying...

[Skylar]

Keep trying by stealing my lines Tom. How many of my own original phrases have you used back on me at this point? I guess the old saying rings true: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

[Frank]

Sklar, I have never had a problem with any of your football opinions. I find your views interesting and informative. I also found the term "I'm just saying"... cute the first 3000 times you used it. After you hit 3001, it became old, stale and REALLY anoying. For the sake of the sanity of EVERYONE reading this board, please come up with a new signoff or don't use one at all.
Know what I mean...

[Frank]

Yes, I know annoying is spelled with two n's, it was a typo
Know what I mean....

See. isn't that annoying, and I just did it twice, not 4000 times!!!

[Frank]

I know, I should have used a comma after (see) and a question mark after (annoying). Sorry, another typo.
Know what I mean...

That catch phrase is so annoying, I want to punch myself in the face. Imagine if I used it in my next 4000 posts?

[Tom]

Thank you Frank. That guy Skylar has gone off the deep end. He can't stand toe to toe with you on football so he tries to find anything to pick on you, like typos. I used to think that he was pretty sharp when it came to football. But now, he is comparing Gradkowski to Vince Young and now, Jeff Garcia. "Would Garcia know to throw away from coverage."

Skylar, Procaine is sold under the name of novocaine or novacaine. B@@tchslap!!

[Frank]

Tom, I don't mind seeing the comparison of two NFL players statistics when they play the same position. I thought aaron and Daniel did this intelligently about Gradkowski and Young without going over the top. Who is to say where these guys will be in ten years or if either of them will be stars or even be playing the game. How many thought Vick was the next "great one" when he came out of VT? Even without his doggy troubles, his future was not matching his hype. Personally, I think most young QB are throw into the fire too soon and too much is expected of them, especially if they are drated high. The fans in NY are KILLING Eli, yet his team has made the playoffs EVERY year he has played and his stats are comparable to Phil Simms at the same point of his career. Do you think the Bucs would like to have Eli on their roster? Well, maybe not since his skill set does not match what Gruden is looking for, but I'm sure a team like the Bears wouldn't mind him. How many fans would have given an undrafted Tony Romo a chance to be a top QB out of college? How many fans even heard of him? As a undrafted free agent he was given a chance to learn and mature, something most young QB's are not given a chance to do.

[Tom]

I agree with you Frank. The development of a QB depends on many factors... physical ability, coaching and system. Take a guy like Chris Simms. He has a fantastic arm and decent accuracy but just doesn't fit Gruden's west coast system. I think he could be a solid QB in a Norv Turner vertical offense. He lacks mobility and the ability to throw the slant, which are staples of the west coast offense.

Gradkowski, however, not only lacks experience, but also lacks the physical tools for an upper echelon type QB. His only hope for a long NFL career would be journeyman backup QB. Maybe I'm wrong and he'll develop into something similar to Garcia. I just don't see any evidence that he has the tools to do that though.

Vince Young has the "it" factor. Some guys are just plain playmakers. It is undeniable that he has struggled and his stats prove that. However, his physical tools are breathtaking and his ability to make a play in crucial situations prime him for a great career. He could turn into another Michael Vick. But I think that Young has a lot more between the ears than Vick.

That's why I think it's ludicrous to compare Young to Gradkowski, regardless of stats.

[Frank]

Tom, I'm not going to get into a comparison of Grads and Vince, I think they are both too early in their careers and the jury is still out on BOTH of them. I do agree that Young has the IT factor and his performance against USC in the title game is the best that I have ever seen by a college QB. When you mention physical tools, keep in mind that Young ran a 4.58 40 and Grads ran a 4.59, one sevice had Grads at 4.50. When I was looking up these times, NFL Draft Scout had Grads as the fourth best QB in his draft and a third round pick. I know these services mean didly squat, but my point is that SOMEONE in scouting thought that Grads was a top prospect. To me anyways, it is way to early to say he will never be an NFL starter.

[Tom]

Frank, you make some good points and I agree that it is way too early to know how Gradkowski is going to turn out. I am rooting for him because I'm a Bucs fan.

What do you guys think about the possibility of Donovan McNabb as a trade? The guy is getting booed out of Philly which I think is extremely unfair considering what he has done for that franchise. He fits Gruden's system perfectly and has plenty of years in front of him. It would give us a QB of the future once Garcia is retired.

[Tom]

On the McNabb issue, I don't think that it's possible but it's just an interesting scenario. However, Jared Allen is a free agent next year and I think he would be a tremendous signing. The Chefs (I did that on purpose for Skylar) will most like put the franchise tag on him so I'm not sure if giving up 2 first rounders is feasible. But he is one of the top 5 DE in the league.

[Frank]

Tom,
Daunte Culpepper is the only prominent free agent QB after this season. A number of veterans that may be released or traded after the season. Kurt Warner, Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich, Jake Delhomme, Chad Pennington, David Carr, Josh McCown, and Mark Brunell all stand a decent chance of being let go after the season. I don't know who would be the best fit as a backup, but most on this list are better than what we have now. Other names you might find on the trade block this off-season are J.P. Losman, Derek Anderson and Matt Cassel. Remember Anderson is a RFA this year and could get a Schaub-type offer and Cassel is in the last year of his deal. Mcnabb would be nice, but what do you have to give up to get him?

[Skylar]

Tom, Frank,
get a room already. this love fest is disgusting.

I'm just saying...

[Frank]

Skylar, I'll get a room with Osama bin ladin if you stop saying that moronic catch phrase of yours, "I'm just saying" Dude, it got old after the first 3000 time you said it.
Know what I mean...

[Tom]

Skylar, you haven't fully evolved yet have you? Your inability to have any thoughtful and intelligent football conversation is leading to your homophobic statements. I have b@@tchslap (as you have eloquently said) over and over again. I've made you look a like a nine year old school girl. You gave up talking about football after you tried to validate Gradkowski by saying he was from the same part of PA as Marino and Montana. I guess I should send my neighbor's jacket size to Canton since he is from PA also.

Anyways, back to football. Frank, it would cost us tremendously to get McNabb, assuming he would be available. Maybe 2 first rounds or a 1 and 2. Whatever it is, it won't be on the cheap. Out of your list, Anderson is the most enticing. However, I'm not sure if the Browns would want to give him up even though they have Quinn. We need to start addressing our future at the QB, WR and RB position. Jared Allen would be a luxury, but would be nice.

[aaron]

I told you, Skylar needs to go back to the Tribune site with all the other baboons.

[aaron]

"I agree with you Frank. The development of a QB depends on many factors... physical ability, coaching and system. Take a guy like Chris Simms. He has a fantastic arm and decent accuracy but just doesn't fit Gruden's west coast system. I think he could be a solid QB in a Norv Turner vertical offense. He lacks mobility and the ability to throw the slant, which are staples of the west coast offense."

This post by Tom was one of the most intellegent i have seen in a while. i would like to see gruden go and a coach come in and install a sysytem the employs the vertical passing game, just not norv. with simms arm and his accuracy on the deep ball him and galloway could be lethal. and not to mention stovall, simms could toss the ball up and stoval is athletic and tall enough to go get it. unfortunatly i think gruden has saved his job and we all know how gruden feels about simms.

[Tom]

Thanks for the compliment, Aaron. Yeah, we definately wouldn't want Norv Turner as a head coach. It baffles me that he keeps on getting offers for the head coach position. He is a great OC but a terrible head coach. The guy that I think will be a head coach someday is Raheem Morris. It may be a few years but that man is destined for the top. He is a Mike Tomlin clone.

I get frustrated with Gruden sometimes also. And I know this is where you and I differ. I think he has done a fantastic job this year. Last year was atrocious. But he has brought a team that no one thought could win more than 5-6 games to getting most likely, a home playoff game. He rubs people the wrong way and he's not exactly a real player's coach. But the unity on this team is something we haven't seen in awhile. Let's keep on supporting Gruden right now while we are winning. I think he deserves that.

[aaron]

i think morris will be a head coach in the nfl someday, too. but i think he will be a great canidate for our D-coordinator job once monte retires. he is no spring chicken.
i think gruden has done a great job coaching this year. probably as good as the year we won it all. but i dont like lack of player development that has become such a painful pattern under his watch. Caddy, Clayton, Stovall and yes even our young guys on the o-line. they are inproving though just not as fast as you would like such high picks to do. and i really dont agree with the way he will sacrifice the future for winning now. winning is great but i would like to win for many years to come not just this year or next and then have to start all over in a few year. i say this in regards to garcia. we know he didnt like simms and that is fine, but dont sign the guy to a contract then. and if you are going to start garcia fine, then use a high draft pick on a good solid young qb who can sit for a couple years and learn. like brady quinn. i think if we were going to hitch our pony to garcia then we should have signed dewayne white and drafted quinn and not gaines. nothing against adams i think he will be a fine player. but do you see what i mean about sacrificing the future. unfortunatly we know simms is not our future (unless gruden gets axed), do you really feel gruden is doing the best thing for the franchise by banking on gradkowski being the next garcia? i really dont think he will be. and that is what makes me so angry. we will just have to go out and get another band aid when garcias time is done here or go draft somebody who wont be ready for a few years after that.

[Clad]

GARCIA not going to play. Jay Glazer at Fox just reported that Luke is our man today. Luke to the promised land baby. Saints don't have a prayer. Go Buccos!!

[Tom]

I hear what you're saying Aaron. Gruden is known to be a little two faced. I didn't like the way they treated Simeon even though it has proven to be a good move considering he is unemployed. I also agree about drafting Quinn. I thought he was worth the pick at No. 4. My choices were A.P. and Quinn.

However, we desperately needed Garcia. He has been in our sights ever since Gruden has been here. No Buc fan should be unhappy that he is here, regardless whether it's saving his Gruden's job or not. Let's face it. Every coach in the NFL is fighting to save his job outside of Bill Belichick.

I also disagree that we are not building for the future. We have lots of good young studs like Jackson, Greg White(gotta give Jay Gruden, Jon Gruden and Mark Dominic for getting this gem), Piscitelli, Adams, Haye, our entire OL (!!!), even Stovall, Ruud, etc. We are also about 20 million under the cap. So I think the future is pretty bright in BucLand. I gotta wear shades!! :-)