Trueblood, Barber get All-Pro votes

At least one person believes the Bucs should have a couple members on the All-Pro team.

Kudos to Peter King of Sports Illustrated for sharing publicly his ballot for the All-Pro team. It's a tougher list to make than the Pro Bowl because there's just a single player selected at each position, with the exception of a couple.

Somewhat surprisingly, King voted for Jeremy Trueblood at RT, though it was sort of a back-handed compliment. King said Trueblood was the weakest of his offensive picks. But hey, it's high praise nonetheless. Cleveland rookie Joe Thomas was the other tackle. On defense, King picked Barber as one of his cornerbacks. The Pats' Asante Samuel was the other.

Click here to see the whole article. Scroll down about halfway to see the All-Pro item.

Draft order unveiled; Bucs pick 20th

This is subject to change based on the outcome of the postseason, but as it stands now, the Bucs will draft 20th overall in the first round in April.

Based on their record, the Bucs fall into a tie with Washington, which also finished 9-7. But the Redskins had the tougher strength of schedule (their opponents had a .555 winning percentage compared to the Bucs' .469), so Tampa Bay gets the nod.

Now, if the Bucs advance further than the Redskins in the playoffs, the two will swap places. And, though this probably won't be a factor for Tampa Bay, the two Super Bowl participants get the final two picks.

Click here for a look at the complete draft order.

All this talk about the draft just reminds me that I'll be traveling to Mobile, Ala. in a few weeks to cover the goings-on at the Senior Bowl. That's where the real pre-draft process gets underway, continuing in February at the Combine. Anyone who thinks this job is glamorous should be forced to spend that week in Mobile with me. Bet that would change your mind -- quick!

Keep an eye on Clayton

Seems like every postseason, guys you don't expect step forward to play pivotal roles.

You get the sense that Michael Clayton could be such a player for the Bucs. Lately, he looks as fast, nimble and confident as he has at any point since his rookie season. And if he can bottle whatever he has captured in recent weeks and take it with him into the postseason, the Bucs could have an additional weapon on their hands.

Much of Clayton's problem this year has been his health. He suffered a nasty ankle sprain at Detroit back in October and it took him some time to recover and regain his role in the offense. The past two weeks,while Ike Hilliard and Joey Galloway have had barely any workload, Clayton has stepped up, catching 10 passes for 131 yards.

Against Carolina on Sunday, he made a couple of tough catches in traffic that conjured images of receptions he made as a rookie in 2004 (seems like ages ago, I know). He told me today the biggest difference is in his confidence, which is growing with each productive performance. Notice that lately you haven't seen the blatant drops we grew accustomed to from him during the past two seasons.

It's hard to say whether Jon Gruden will call Clayton's number in a game as big as Sunday's, but don't be surprised if he does. The only question then is whether Clayton is up for the task.

For some reason, the topic of Michael Clayton seems to bring out the passion in people, so feel free to let your opinion be known: if Gruden calls on Clayton, are you comfortable with him playing a bigger role?

Sears expected to play

Jon Gruden, in his weekly press conference this morning, said he expects left guard Arron Sears to play in the Bucs' opening-round playoff game Sunday.

Sears suffered an ankle sprain that prevented him from returning against Carolina, but the fears that it could be a serious injury apparently have subsided.

"We expect him to play, but we'll look at him a little more today," Gruden said. "I think there was some concern. They took him in and evaluated him."

Sears started all 16 regular-season games for the Bucs and his return to the lineup means the line that has started the past 12 games will remain intact. The Bucs have started the same five linemen each week since Luke Petitgout's season-ending knee injury against Carolina on Sept. 30.

Another player who should return to the lineup is fullback B.J. Askew, who has been sidelined the past three weeks with a severely sprained ankle.

Who is going to win?

Tell us who you think is going to win the Bucs-Giants playoff game and why. Send an e-mail to sptsnews@sptimes.com with a brief explanation (and we do mean brief) and include your full name, hometown and what you think the score will be. We'll print some answers in the paper throughout the week.

Sears' condition is key

Arron Sears went down with an ankle injury in the first quarter against Carolina and didn't return, and now the Bucs are left wondering about the status of their starting left guard.

There were no exact details about his condition after the game and, frankly, it appears not much is known just yet. Sears is expected to undergo an MRI exam on Monday which should help determine the exact nature of his injury.

I saw Sears, one of the team's best run blockers, after the game riding shotgun on a golf cart with his ankle elevated and heavily taped. He wasn't available for comment afterward, but his ugly limp could be a sign he'll have a tough week trying to overcome this injury.

We'll keep you posted when we learn more, most likely during Jon Gruden's press conference Monday morning.

Giants-Bucs Sunday at 1 p.m.

After all the guesswork, we can finally say for sure.

The Giants-Bucs wild card game will be played Sunday at 1 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium, the NFL just announced. The game will be televised by FOX.

Panthers-Bucs (pre)season finale

For what it's worth, the season finale is about to get underway.

And the Bucs are going to look quite different today. The starting lineup includes Luke McCown at quarterback, Chad Lucas at receiver, Michael Pittman at running back and Jeremiah Trotter at middle linebacker.

The inactives are as follows: Jeff Garcia (third quarterback), Ike Hilliard, Jermaine Phillips, Earnest Graham, B.J. Askew, Barrett Ruud, Dan Buenning and Joey Galloway.

Not sure what exactly we're going to see today, but keep your rosters handy. Looks like you're going to need them. Nonetheless, I'll be here all afternoon to comment and answer your queries in the comments section below.

Adams gets $5K fine

Gaines Adams meant well, but the league wasn't impressed.

While trying to apply pressure to 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill last Sunday, the rookie defensive end was flagged for a personal foul. Now, the league says it has handed down a $5,000 fine for "unnecessarily striking the quarterback with his helmet," according to a league official.

Adams definitely lowered his helmet on the play, hitting Hill just as he released a pass. Penalizing such tackles is a protective measure designed to prevent quarterbacks from being seriously injured.

Gruden concerned about Galloway

Jon Gruden says receiver Joey Galloway (shoulder) is doubtful for Sunday's regular-season finale against Carolina and added that he was "concerned" about Galloway's status going forward, too. But don't lose sleep over Galloway possibly missing the first-round playoff game against the Giants next weekend. Frankly, this sounds like a bit of drama from Gruden, who probably never intended to play Galloway against Carolina, anyway. Still, the coach is sticking to his story.

"We're not making this up, so I'm concerned," Gruden said after this morning's practice. Ike Hilliard is questionable with a knee injury, another potential blow to the receiving corps even though the offensive starters aren't expected to play much this week.

"If Ike can't go, we've lost six receivers," Gruden said. "I've never heard of losing two or three. When you throw in (David) Boston and Paris Warren and Mark Jones and Maurice Stovall, you're talking about six."

Galloway's doubtful status translates to a 25 percent chance he will play, according to NFL injury-reporting guidelines. The strange thing about the Galloway situation was that he was listed on Wednesday and Thursday as having not practiced as the result of a team decision. That indicates he was held out purposely rather than prevented from practicing because of injury.

Whatever the case, my guess is Galloway will be suiting up in the playoffs and the shoulder will no longer be an issue. But, for now, I suppose this is as much intrigue as we can expect to have for a meaningless season finale.

EDIT, 5:20 p.m.: Since I posted this earlier in the day, the Bucs have submitted their official injury report to the league. On it, they have listed Galloway as "out" of Sunday's game. However, in the injury column, there is no mention of the shoulder injury. Instead, it states the reason for his missing the game as a team decision. So, basically, the Bucs have decided they're not playing him this week. You can pretty much draw the conclusion from this that the shoulder is fine and won't keep him out of next week's playoff game. Basically, you can't say the guy's status for a game is affected by an injury if that's not really the case.

I realize that's confusing. Hope it all makes sense.

Askew looking forward to playoffs

If you haven't noticed fullback B.J. Askew's contributions to the running game, you probably haven't been paying close attention.

His formidable blocking has been a big boost for Earnest Graham and a key to his success this season. But Askew has missed the past two games with an ankle injury that was in sore (pun intended) need of rest.

I asked him this week whether he had made enough progress to return for the postseason. Askew said he had no doubt about his ability to return to the lineup for the first-round playoff game against the Giants, which is great news for the running game.

So, look for Askew to sit out this week just to get the ankle in the best possible shape. But expect his bruising blocking come playoff time.

Bucs Report: Week 17

Here's our latest Bucs Report if you're interested. Rick Stroud and I debate the pros and cons of sitting starters for most of the final two games as the Bucs are expected to do.

Lots of good points to made for and against the strategy. Have a look.

Giants taking different approach

The Giants, who will visit the Bucs for a first-round playoff game next weekend, say they will take a different approach than Tampa Bay's in their regular-season finale.

New York hosts the Patriots Saturday night, with New England attempting to become the first team to go 16-0 in a regular season. Though the Giants are locked into their playoff position and can't change their standing, coach Tom Coughlin said there will be no concessions this week and he plans to play his stars against New England.

Meanwhile, the Bucs are taking the opposite approach, with coach Jon Gruden having already said he'll operate against Carolina on Sunday much like he did against the 49ers last weekend. That means many starters will have short outings while some might not play at all.

Not sure which tactic is right or wrong, but they're certainly totally different. Check out the Giants plans in this story from the New York Daily News. It's a battle of momentum vs. rest. It'll be interesting to see who performs better in the postseason given the teams' different approaches.

Guess time will tell.

Roster moves

As expected, the Bucs placed receiver Maurice Stovall on injured reserve. Stovall broke his right arm in Sunday's game against the 49ers. Also, the team released tight end Keith Heinrich from the 53-man roster and promoted two receivers from the practice squad: Chad Lucas and Brian Clark. With the loss of Stovall, the Bucs are pretty inexperienced at receiver behind Joey Galloway, Ike Hilliard and Michael Clayton.

Heinrich and receiver Julius McClellan were signed to the practice squad.

Garcia doesn't expect to play much Sunday

Don't expect to see Jeff Garcia in Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers for very long -- if at all.

Since the Bucs have cemented their spot as the No. 4 seed in the NFC and know they will host the New York Giants in a wildcard playoff game, Garcia has been informed by coach Jon Gruden that he and many other starters could use this week as almost a bye to get ready for the post-season.

"I'm preparing like I'm going to play, but he has expressed the possibility of certain guys not being on the field on Sunday,'' Garcia said. "If he chooses to sit me, that's kind of the punch I have to roll with but I'm preparing to be out there and just go from there.''

Backup quarterback Luke McCown is expected to get the majority of reps this week and play most -- if not all -- of the game Sunday.

A year ago, Garcia played one series for the Philadelphia Eagles in the final regular season game after they had clinched the NFC East.

"I was disappointed I didn't get to play more,'' Garcia said.

"It's one of those things because we don't have the luxury of the bye week, coach wants to approach this week somewhat like that with certain veteran players, who he feels need time to rest, to somewhat recover.''

Garcia said he will begin to also prepare this week for the Giants.

Stovall's done

The Bucs have confirmed that receiver Maurice Stovall, as suspected, did suffer a broken arm and will be lost for the season.

That's a blow to the offense and, particularly, special teams, where Stovall had distinguished himself. It also puts a strain on the depth at receiver for next week's finale against Carolina. It would be shocking to see Joey Galloway play much, if at all. So, they'll possibly be two receivers short when they take the field.

Look for Micheal Spurlock to get some more playing time at receiver after making his debut at the position against San Francisco.

It's official: Bucs locked into fourth seed

I'm sure most of you are sharp enough to figure this out, but just in case you failed to do the math, today's loss locks the Bucs into the fourth seed in the NFC playoffs.

That's pretty much a minor detail at this point, but it does help clarify the playoff picture a bit. The Bucs are now even more likely to meet the Giants in the first round of the playoffs. The Giants have a two-game lead in the wildcard race pending the outcome of tonight's Minnesota-Washington game. If Minny loses, they will fall out of contention for the No. 5 seed.

The fourth seed meets the No. 5 seed in the first round, so that's pretty much what you should expect unless something dramatic changes.

EDIT: Most of you have probably figured this out, but the Bucs will host the Giants after their victory over Buffalo coupled with the Vikings' loss to the Redskins.

Bucs ready to go at The Stick

I refuse to call this stadium Monster Park, so it will heretofore be known as Candlestick Park (in the blog, at least).

Anyway, the teams are down on the field getting ready for kickoff. Mike Nolan even broke out a suit today. Must be a big game (not!).

Here are the lineup details for Tampa Bay. Fullback B.J. Askew didn't make the trip, so he's obviously inactive today. Byron Storer makes his second consecutive start in Askew's place. Elsewhere, linebacker Ryan Nece will be inactive. He's been nursing a groin injury the last couple weeks.

The remaining inactives are RB Ken Darby, DE Patrick Chukwurah (hamstring), G Dan Buenning, TE Keith Heinrich and DT Greg Peterson. The emergency quarterback (No. 3) is Bruce Gradkowski. Meanwhile, defensive end Greg Spires is active and should see some time in place of Chukwurah.

I'll be here all afternoon posting in the comments section below to do a little give and take with everyone. Let me know if you have any questions and feel free to post any comments on your minds.

Bucs Report: Week 16

Because we know you can't get enough of us, just wanted to share our latest video report on the Bucs. It's a quick 5-minute rundown of the goings-on around the team that sums things up and is a good substitute in case you don't have the time to read all the daily coverage.

Click here to view (after the 30-second ad). Just try not to laugh out loud. I have a hard enough time watching myself on camera as it is!

Spires finally set to return?

Defensive end Greg Spires might return this week after missing the past six games because of a calf injury.

But, according to him, Spires has been nearly recovered for a couple of weeks now. So, is his continued inactivity a result of the injury or an indication his status is fading?

Jon Gruden wouldn't go there when I broached the topic today. He just re-emphasized that the team thinks very highly of the 33-year-old Spires and will count on him when he is able to contribute. But Gruden did indicate that numbers do come into play when trying to decide which 47 players can be active on gameday.

Spires said he is better prepared to play this week, even though he felt he could have strapped it on the past couple games. With Patrick Chukwurah (hamstring) listed as doubtful this week, the hunch here is that Spires will be called upon. But as for what happens beyond this season, that's still to be determined. Spires' contract has two years remaining and calls for him to earn a combined $8-million in base salaries in 2008 and 2009.

With Greg White and Gaines Adams playing at such a high level, the Bucs may have some decisions to make at defensive end going forward. But I suppose having a surplus of good players at one position isn't the worst thing in the world.

Record-setting ball to be bronzed

We asked Micheal Spurlock this afternoon whether he would mind being photographed with the ball he took 90 yards for the franchise's first kickoff-return touchdown.

He was more than happy to do it, but there's just one roadblock: Spurlock gave the ball to the team which plans to bronze it and place it on display at the team's headquarters.

It seems the same lobby where statues recently were constructed to pay tribute to some of the stars of the team's 2002 championship will soon have another piece of memorabilia. There also are plans to showcase the Lombardi championship trophy at some point, too. For now, it's in a very safe place that apparently no one has the security clearance to divulge.

Guess we won't be snapping that photo after all.

Stevens relieved suspension is behind him

Tight end Jerramy Stevens was disappointed he couldn't celebrate the Bucs clinching the division with his teammates. He was serving a one-game suspension by the league for a September DUI conviction in Arizona.

But the 28-year-old Stevens is relieved the suspension wasn't longer.

"It was real weird to be away, to play the whole season and then be gone the week that we clinch the division,'' Stevens said. "I was real happy, obviously, for the guys but it was a little strange being away and missing the celebration and the excitement of winning the division and knowing we had our place locked. But man, I was just glad we got the business done.''

"I'm really glad I was only forced to deal with a one-game suspension. I'm just really excited to be back with the team and have that kind of behind us and be able to push forward in the playoffs without having to worry if it's next week or the week after. Now I can just go forward.''

Who's your MVP?

In the coming weeks, the members of the local media will be called upon to choose a team Most Valuable Player.

Last season, Joey Galloway won the award. For me, it was an easy choice given the lack of impressive performances on the '06 team. But it might be a little tougher to call it this season.

The first guy who comes to mind is Jeff Garcia, who arguably has made the biggest difference in this team. But I have a hard time discounting the contributions of a guy like Earnest Graham, who I contend has made Jeff Garcia better because he helps keep the Bucs in managable down-and-distance situations. This offense would be severely handicapped without him.

And the season Ronde Barber has had is nothing to sneeze at, either. He has scored off fumbles and interceptions and has been every bit the do-everything player we know him to be. Not to be forgotten is Galloway, who is tied with Randy Moss for the most receptions of 40 yards or longer (eight) and is closing in on a 1,000-yard season.

In the end, my money is on Garcia winning out. But I wouldn't be surprised if it's a closer vote than expected.

Here's your chance: who gets your vote?

Spurlock earns weekly honor

It probably won't top making history, but kick returner Micheal Spurlock was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week today, the NFL announced.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few days, you probably know by now that Spurlock became the first player in franchise history to return a kickoff for a touchdown, going 90 yards in a victory over the Falcons.

Playoff tickets available

It seems the Bucs have a few extra playoff tickets on their hands.

The team will make a "limited number" of tickets available on Saturday at 10 a.m. for Tampa Bay's first-round home playoff game. The game will be played on Jan. 5 or 6. The exact day won't be determined probably until the final day of the season.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com or by phone at 813-287-8844. There won't be many and they'll go fast.

Good luck.

Crockett gone again

Fullback Zack Crockett was released today, one week after being added to the active roster.

The veteran was taken on to add depth because of B.J. Askew's ankle injury and Crockett's release probably means Tampa Bay expects Askew back in the lineup this Sunday. Another issue was Jerramy Stevens' return from the suspended list, which created a need to eliminate someone from the active roster to meet the NFL maximum of 53 players. Crockett spent a stint with Tampa Bay earlier in the season and was released after about a month on the roster.

Additionally today, tight end Zac Herold was released from the practice squad.

Pro Bowl alternates

Quarterback Jeff Garcia, receiver Joey Galloway and fullback B.J. Askew are on the alternates list for the 2008 Pro Bowl. Should any players selected at their positions drop out, those three are among the next in line.

But still no one from the league's top-ranked scoring defense.

"We know we have great players within this lockerroom, and we know we have players who are very deserving of that recognition," Garcia said. "But we're about the team and I think that's where this team is so solid and so great. It's not about individual recognition; it's about the team accomplishments. We have one focus on our mind, and that's getting to Arizona somehow, some way, as a team. It's unfortunate some of the guys weren't recognized for their great play this year, but that's just how it's been for this team throughout the season, somewhat unrecognized in what we have been able to achieve. But that's okay with us. It's fuel that ignites the fire. We feel we have a lot to prove and we're more concerned with what's going to take place this weekend in San Francisco than what's taking place in February in Hawaii."

Bucs shut out at Pro Bowl

Despite winning the NFC South for the second time in three seasons, and despite a scoring defense tied for No.1 in the league, the Bucs did not have a single player on the 2008 Pro Bowl roster announced this afternoon.

Tampa Bay is the only division winner in either conference not represented.

The last time the Bucs did not have a player voted to the Pro Bowl was 1995. Though it is still possible for players to be selected as alternates, the snub could end the team-record streak of 10 straight Pro Bowls for linebacker Derrick Brooks and three straight for cornerback Ronde Barber.

Brooks participated in the 2007 game as an alternate.

Players named to the NFC squad at those positions:

Outside linebacker - Starters Julian Peterson (Seattle) and DeMarcus Ware (Dallas), plus reserve Lance Briggs (Chicago);

Cornerback - Starters Al Harris (Green Bay) and Marcus Trufant (Seattle), plus reserve Terence Newman (Dallas).

Pro Bowl rosters coming later

Just a heads-up to everyone: the Pro Bowl rosters are going to be released today, so keep an eye out for them this afternoon.

The teams are going to be announced on a selection show on NFL Network at 4 p.m. (Does anyone here actually get that channel?). Hard to say what the chances are any Bucs will be included, but none fared particularly well in fan voting. However, I suspect that Jeff Garcia, Ronde Barber and Derrick Brooks did well with the coaches and players.

Overall, Brett Favre, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Randy Moss and Tony Romo were top five in fan balloting, which counts toward one-third of the total.

We'll have the details for you here as soon as we have them.

Stingy defense

The Bucs came out of the weekend tied for the No. 1 scoring defense.

The Steelers and Bucs are limiting opponents to 15.6 points. The Bucs are on pace to allow their fewest points since 2002, which, as you know, was a pretty dang good year.

And here's a tidbit to go along with that stat: Tampa Bay has limited four opponents to single digits in points. St. Louis (3 points), Carolina (7) and Atlanta (7 and 3).

And while we're on the topic of the defense, anyone else notice Chris Redman's 0.0 quarterback rating on Sunday? I didn't think I'd ever see that from a quarterback who played an entire game. That might be one of the ugliest stats I've ever seen. Guess that's what happens when your final line looks like this: 4 for 15, 34 yards, one sack, two INTs and no touchdown passes.

Ouch! My eyes!

Gruden weighs rest vs. momentum

Jon Gruden wants to win.

That was his response when asked whether he would rest any of his battered and tired starters now that the Bucs have clinched a playoff spot and can only improve their playoff standing by one notch.

"We want to win, and to do that you have to play your best players," Gruden said. "There may be some opportunities to look at some (backup) players although we've looked at every guy on the roster and then some. We'll use everybody, but we're not going to change much in the next few weeks."

But Gruden hedged when pressed further on the subject.

"To rest a guy, you better have enough bodies who can go in and perform," he said. "That's the challenge in the NFL in Week 15 and 16. We do have an opportunity here in the next few games to consider looking at some other combinations and get some guys some plays off, but we are still playing for something. We want to continue to get better.

"We'll discuss the actual health of our players and determine the real depth that we do have. Can this guy afford to come out of a game for a prolonged period or miss a game? To make a long story short, we don't have any plans at this time. We're going to keep it normal."

The goal still in front of the Bucs is the potential to claim the No. 3 seed in the NFC. They currently are sitting at the No. 4 spot. But with Seattle losing on Sunday and falling into a tie with Tampa Bay, the Bucs still have a chance to pass the Seahawks. For that to happen, Seattle will have to lose one of its final two games (against Baltimore and Atlanta) while the Bucs must win out.

Stats galore for Barber

Ronde Barber's first-quarter interception and touchdown return made history in several respects.

Here's the rundown: Barber now has 10 touchdowns via interception and fumble returns, tied for third most in NFL history. Only former players Rod Woodson (13) and Aeneas Williams (12) have more. Barber's 10 are the most among active players, tied with Minnesota safety Darren Sharper.

This is a somewhat obscure stat, but Barber's pick also gives him the most by an active player on their current team, joining Baltimore's Ed Reed with 33 apiece.

All in all, not a bad day for No. 20. When you consider all his feats -- particularly the 20 sacks/20 interceptions mark -- you really have to think he's making a compelling case for Canton. I'm not positive he'll make the Hall of Fame cut, but he's worth a very long look. Hard to argue against, that's for sure.

Reality hasn't hit Spurlock

So, after 1,865 kickoff returns, Micheal Spurlock is the guy to finally return a kickoff for a touchdown. We're just not sure he understands the gravity of what he did today.

Remember, he's new around here, having signed with the Bucs just a couple of months ago. He probably can't appreciate this the way others who have been around longer might. My guess is he'll get the hint when people are still talking about it years from now. Anyhow, here's what Spurlock had to say after the game in his impromptu (and surely, his first) press conference:

(On the feeling of breaking the record)
“We've been joking about it, we’ve heard it in the media, everybody has told me today could be the day.  Derrick Brooks always tells me today is the day to make history, and it happened.  Everybody got their block, I hit it and found the end zone.”

(On whether the impact of the accomplishment has hit him)
“Not yet. Maybe in the morning after everyone has called to say congratulations.  Right now I am just happy we clinched a playoff spot, we won the South.  We are just looking forward to the next game.  For right now I’m just happy it’s over and I guess everybody will be looking for the next one now.”

(On the play)
“It was a middle left return and, for some reason, everyone from Atlanta just played over and we got our blocks and I was like, 'Wow this is wide open,' and I hit it.  I saw the guy run after it and I was like, you never know how close you’re going to get to this again so, just take your opportunity and run with it.  I was like, 'There’s no way I can let him catch me. I have to get to the end zone.' "

Third seed still within reach

Here's the latest on the Bucs' playoff picture.

Tampa Bay's 37-3 win against Atlanta today obviously clinches the NFC South title. That much you probably already know. But let's look ahead.

Seattle's loss at Carolina today keeps the Bucs in contention for the No. 3 overall seed in the NFC. The Packers locked up the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye today. But the Bucs can still climb above the Seahawks, who now have the same record as the Bucs (9-5).

The Bucs have to finish with a better record than Seattle because the Seahawks hold the tiebreaker by virtue of their season-opening win over Tampa Bay. But all that must happen is the Seahawks finish 1-1 while the Bucs win their remaining two games against the 49ers and Panthers. Seattle hosts Baltimore (fresh off a loss to the Dolphins) next week and finishes the season on the road against Atlanta in Week 17.

That's not the toughest schedule in the world, so maybe this is a long shot. But anything can happen. What would securing the No. 3 seed mean? It would match the Bucs against the lower-seeded wildcard team. That could be Minnesota, Arizona, even the Saints. We won't know perhaps until the final day of the season. If the Bucs remain the fourth seed, they appear headed for a matchup against the Giants. Beyond that, the No. 3 seed would send the Bucs to Green Bay for the Divisional round if they were to win their first-round game.

Either way, they'll host the wildcard game at Raymond James Stadium as the playoffs return to Tampa. Feel free to debate the merits of playing this team or that team among yourselves.

Going for the crown

The NFC South title is on the line today as the Bucs get ready to host the Atlanta Falcons here at Raymond James Stadium.

And Tampa Bay will be a little better equipped in its effort to clinch the crown today. Jeff Garcia returns to the lineup after missing two weeks with a back injury.

Elsewhere, running back Michael Pittman is in the lineup, but fullback B.J. Askew (ankle) will sit out. That leaves Byron Storer as the starter. The rest of the inactives are fullback Zack Crockett, running back Kenneth Darby, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, guard Dan Buenning, defensive end Greg Spires and defensive tackle Greg Peterson.

Post your comments and/or questions below and we'll see what the afternoon has to offer.

See ya soon.

Special teams decisions coming

Here's something to keep an eye on this weekend. The Bucs will have some decisions to make concerning their personnel on kick and punt returns.

They like what Micheal Spurlock did as a kick returner in Houston, especially the 45-yard return he broke. Spurlock also had to fill in as a punt returner when Ike Hilliard was injured in the first quarter, but he committed a pretty big gaffe by letting a late get by him and allowing the Texans to down the ball at the 7-yard line.

Here's where things get complicated. The Bucs aren't always able to get Spurlock on the 47-man gameday lineup because of other concerns (mostly injuries) that cause roster shuffling elsewhere. But Hilliard might not be fit to return punts this week given he still is nursing the back/neck injury. Whether Hilliard will return punts is a decision Jon Gruden and special teams coach Rich Bisaccia will make over the weekend, Bisaccia told me. Other options include Phillip Buchanon and Joey Galloway (don't hold your breath on No. 84 lining up back there).

On kickoff returns, there are issues, too. Remember, we still aren't sure Michael Pittman will make it back this week. Even if he does, there is no assurance he'll be fit to return kicks. Michael Clayton has been able to fill that role when necessary, but he isn't the first option.

Seems to me the Bucs had better find a way to fit Spurlock in this week. He might be the best answer to the many problems they're trying to solve. Whatever they decide, hopefully this gives you a little insight into why certain players are active on gameday and others not. The conversations regarding gameday inactives are some of the most intense of the week, I'm told. And don't forget, this week, fullback B.J. Askew is a question and tight end Jerramy Stevens is suspended.

So many issues to consider. So few easy answers.

Pro Bowl announcement next week

A few here have wondered when the rosters for the Pro Bowl will be announced.

Well, the news should come down on Tuesday, and will be interesting to see whether anyone from the Bucs is selected. They certainly didn't have anyone among the leaders in the fan voting, though that only accounts for one-third of the balloting. Players and coaches make up the remaining two-thirds.

Those with the best shot appear to be Jeff Garcia, Ronde Barber and -- maybe -- Derrick Brooks. Remember, Brooks has been to 10 straight Pro Bowls, so his streak is on the line.

Cadillac says 9-12 months

   Cadillac Williams is back at the Bucs training facility, rehabilitating from surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee.

   Williams said doctors have told him the injury will take nine to 12 months to heal, meaning Williams will not be ready for the start of training camp next season. It also prevents him from practicing with the club in the off-season.

   But Williams seemed upbeat Thursday.   

   ""I got all the hardware off and now I'm just rehabbing and seeing how it goes,'' Williams said.

   

Small gains for Adams

Gaines Adams got a little boost on the stat sheet today.

Remember that sack by Greg White during the third quarter against Houston? The one where it clearly looked at full speed as though Gaines Adams also got a nice chunk of Sage Rosenfels? Well, if you were thinking that at the time, turns out you were right.

The NFL adjusted the official scoring of the play today, giving Adams and White one-half sack each. So, White finishes the game with 2 1/2 sacks, not three. Adams had just the half. That gives White eight sacks for the season, with Adams sitting at five.

Dunn on Petrino: Classless

Running back Warrick Dunn described the sudden departure of Falcons coach Bobby Petrino to the University of Arkansas as cowardly.

"Pretty much he sold us a dream,'' Dunn said. "And the way to go out before season's end is a coward way to go.''

Dunn said he watched Petrino's press conference from Fayettville, Ark. Tuesday night in which Petrino joined in the 'Pig!Sooie! cheer. He described it as 'classless.'

"It was classless. Classless,'' Dunn said. "I guess Arkansas should be worried. I mean, any family or kid that he recruits should worry. I mean, do you really buy into anything he says when he did the same thing to Louisville to come to Atlanta. Now he did the same thing to Atlanta to go to Arkansas. I think his history and his rep speaks for itself.''

Dunn said the team learned of Petrino's resignation through various means. Petrino did not address the team and left notes in the players' lockers.

"The guy didn't meet with us, he left a letter in our locker - with a stamped signature,'' Dunn said. ""I mean, to me that shows no sign of respect. You tell me?

"It just said he had a tough decision, he felt like he had to do what was best for him. It was improper English or grammar I think...It is what it is, man.''   

Roster moves

Here's the official details on the roster shuffling we alluded to earlier.

The Bucs indeed signed FB Zack Crockett and also promoted RB Kenneth Darby to the active roster. As a result, they released Lionel Gates from the active roster. TE Zac Herold took Darby's place on the practice squad.

The second active roster spot was available because Jerramy Stevens is suspended for this week and therefore not on the active roster.

The Darby move is a pretty good indication there are going to be some depth issues in the backfield on Sunday. Remember, Michael Pittman is still with an ankle injury.

Crockett's back; Askew might sit

Haven't been given a press release just yet, but FB Zack Crockett was around this morning and B.J. Askew's left ankle is back in a cast.

Seems like Askew might be scheduled for a week off as he is still dealing with a very sore ankle, and Crockett is presumably his replacement. Crockett was signed and later released earlier in the season, shortly after Michael Pittman sustained his ankle injury. Coach Jon Gruden said after Crockett's released that the Bucs may have a need for him later in the season.

Given his at least vague familiarity with the offense, he was probably the best option available to them. The Bucs also have Byron Storer on the roster but it's not clear who would start if Askew sits out this week. The goal is apparently to get Askew some rest with the playoffs approaching.

One-game suspension for Stevens

The NFL just announced that tight end Jerramy Stevens has been suspended without pay for Sunday's game against the Falcons and fined an additional game check for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

The ruling presumably stems from Stevens' September drunk-driving conviction in Scottsdale, Ariz., the result of a charge filed before his signing with the Bucs in April. Details of players' involvement in the substance-abuse policy is confidential, but it's believed that because of Stevens' history of alcohol-related offenses, he has been enrolled in the program. The suspension will cost Stevens $75,000 in salary.

General manager Bruce Allen said the following in a recently-released statement: "When we signed Jerramy this spring, we knew there was a possibility that he could face some type of disciplinary action from the NFL for his prior actions. Since he has been with the Buccaneers, Jerramy has been a great teammate and productive player for our team."

Stevens was sentenced to a jail term of 12 days and $3,160 in fines at his sentencing in October, but the sentence was immediately stayed by a judge because of the player's pending appeal. James Nesci, Stevens' attorney, previously told us he did not expect the appeal to be heard until well after the end of the season.

Though alcohol is not considered a banned substance by the NFL, the league can impose penalties for its abuse in certain instances.

In the substance-abuse policy, it states: "The commissioner will review and may impose a fine, suspension, or other appropriate discipline if a player is convicted of or admits to a violation of the law . . . relating to the use of alcohol."

First offenses aren't subject to suspensions, but subsequent violations are subject to suspension and higher fines. Stevens has two prior alcohol-related arrests -- one while a member of the Seahawks and another while at the University of Washington. He served brief jail sentences in both instances.

Division title denied -- for now

I assume most of you are aware of this, but since it hadn't been mentioned in this space, the Saints' victory against the Falcons last night denied the Bucs a chance to clinch the division.

New Orleans (6-7) is still technically alive, but will fall out of contention for the division crown with their next loss. Of course, the Bucs (8-5) could take care of business themselves with a victory against Atlanta this weekend, which you'd like to think they could manage. If you fashion yourself as a playoff team, don't you have to be able to clinch against that sorry excuse for a football team?

Anyway, here's the story from today's paper if you're interested.

Fourth seed looking more likely

The Bucs are still technically in the running for anything up to the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. But in reality, the Bucs look like a good bet to wind up the No. 4 seed, given their current circumstances.

Losing to Houston on Sunday while the other top three teams in the NFC won only hurt the Bucs' playoff standing. With Dallas sitting at 12-1, the Bucs are out of the running for the No. 1 seed. The No. 2 seed is a very long shot, considering Green Bay is 11-2 and would have to lose its remaining games for the Bucs to have even a mathematical chance.

So, you can pretty much forget about the possibility of a first-round bye. Probably not gonna happen.

That leaves the third and fourth seeds unsettled. NFC West champion Seattle is 9-4 and holds a head-to-head tiebreaker over Tampa Bay by virtue of their season-opening win against the Bucs. So, the only way the Bucs can climb above Seattle is to finish with a better record than the Seahawks. One possible scenario would require Seattle to lose two of its remaining three games while the Bucs win all three of theirs.

But Seattle has Carolina, Baltimore and Atlanta left on its schedule -- three losing teams with a combined record of 12-27. Given the Seahawks' five-game win streak, I doubt they'll choke twice against that lineup. The Bucs don't exactly have a murderer's row, either, with Atlanta, San Francisco and Carolina left to play.

So, what does it all mean? Let's assume the most likely outcome: the Bucs are seeded fourth. That leaves them with a date against the wildcard Giants in Tampa in the first round. And given the current standings, the Bucs would be in line to travel to Dallas for the divisional round should Tampa Bay defeat New York.

We'll let you know if anything changes, but chances are good this is the way things will play out.

Bennett looking for playing time

The addition of running back Michael Bennett was seen as essential after injuries to Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman.

But Bennett hasn't felt like a part of the plan given his lack of usage by the Bucs since his trade to Tampa Bay in October.

He spoke out a bit today about his frustrations. He was seething after another light day on Sunday, but he spoke with a cool head today, careful not to be critical of coach Jon Gruden's decision not to use him. Bennett did not have a carry in the loss to Houston.

"I just want to play," Bennett said. "Maybe it's three or four plays a quarter. I just don't want to be sitting on the sidelines cold and then, at the spur of a moment, go in. I'm comfortable with three or four plays a quarter. I want to have some feeling for what they're doing, the different looks they've got. It's easy to look at it on the sideline, but then, when you’re in the game, it's a lot different."

He later added: "I can't sit here and say what's right and what's wrong. (Gruden) is the head coach and, obviously, I haven't gained his trust enough to get out on the field. So, that's the way I’m looking at it. I’ve been here a month and a half and I’m comfortable with a lot of things. But I’m not going to grasp all of it in three months."

Bennett has rushed 11 times since being traded to Tampa Bay on Oct. 23. For his part, Gruden said today the Bucs would likely need to call on Bennett down the stretch and need him to step up. Not sure how you do that without cracking the lineup. But as long as Graham keeps running like he is, don't expect Gruden to mess with a good thing.

Bucs-49ers no longer in prime time

The NFL will officially announce later today that the Bucs' Sunday night game at San Francisco will be moved to 4:05 p.m. and aired on FOX.

The game was originally slated to be played at 8 p.m. on Sunday Dec. 23 but was eligible to be moved in exchange for a more attractive matchup under the NFL's flex scheduling policy. It was to be the Bucs' only prime time appearance of the season, scheduled to be part of NBC's Sunday night package. It now will be replaced by the Redskins-Vikings.

In an unrelated move, the Dolphins-Patriots game scheduled for the same day will be moved to 4:15 p.m. on CBS.

Gruden confident Hilliard will play

Bucs coach Jon Gruden said he is ''confident'' Ike Hilliard will be able to play Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons but expressed concern about the upper back injury the veteran wide receiver sustained during yesterday's loss to the Houston Texans.

"Knowing Hilliard, he'll be ready to go,'' Gruden said during his weekly news conference Monday at One Buc Place.

Hilliard left in the first quarter and did not return. Gruden said he'll know more about Hilliard's condition by Wednesday.

If Hilliard is unable to play, Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall will have to step up, Gruden said. Hilliard's dependability on third downs is one of the things the Bucs will miss most.

"There's just certain instinctive traits that Ike Hilliard has that we try to magnify in certain situations,'' Gruden said.

Gruden reiterated that quarterback Jeff Garcia will return to the starting lineup on Sunday after missing most of the past three games with a bruised lower back.

"We really missed him ...,'' Gruden said. "That's a tough strain on anybody. We're eager to get him back and have him healthy.''

Gruden stopped short of apologizing for vague statements he made about Garcia's availability the past two weeks.

"I don't think any opponent needs to know who they are going against,'' Gruden said. "We felt it was a two-week injury. Jeff probably could have gone yesterday, and he probably could have gone in New Orleans, because he's tough as hell.''

Fullback B.J. Askew is "very questionable'' with an ankle injury, Gruden said. If he cannot play, Byron Storer will have to step into Askew's role as the main blocking back.

(Pictured: Ike Hilliard leaves the field at halftime. Times photo - Brendan Fitterer. Click to enlarge.)

Postgame wrap

Here's the latest in the aftermath of today's 28-14 Bucs loss.

For starters, coach Jon Gruden confirmed a rumor we'd heard some time ago: the Bucs knew all along that Jeff Garcia's injury was going to require two weeks to heal. There apparently wasn't a lot of suspense inside the organization about whether he would play today. But Gruden was adamant that Garcia will be in the lineup next week against the Falcons.

Also, Gruden expressed a lot of concern about the status of receiver Ike Hilliard. He left the game in the first half and did not return. He was said to have a shoulder injury, but he seemed to be exhibiting the signs of a "stinger". That would be a serious concern for a player who earlier in his career suffered a serious neck injury. Hilliard wasn't in the locker room after the game, but said he was "okay" when I reached him on his cell phone. But with Ike, who is as tough as they come, you'd never know when he was really hurt. He entered the game with a banged up knee and an ankle that's been swollen for weeks. We'll see what the update is from Gruden tomorrow morning.

On defense was really lamenting its inability to limit the Texans to field goals after the two key Tampa Bay turnovers. The Texans scored 14 points off turnovers, and they were huge. Ronde Barber put it best saying, "Those are opportunities for us to be great."

The kickoff return touchdown to open the second half also loomed large, and it appears there were at least a few missed assignments on the play. A couple players indicated that there was soem guessing going on rather than guys staying home and keeping the play contained. When Andre Davis broke outside -- they were expecting him to stay in the middle -- only Maurice Stovall was there. Stovall missed the tackle and Davis was off to the races.

Luke McCown, the sequel

Quarterback Luke McCown will make his second consecutive start for the Bucs when they kick off against the Houston Texans at 1 p.m.

Jeff Garcia is still recovering from the deep lower back bruise he sustained against the Redskins two weeks ago and will be the third (emergency) quarterback for the second week in a row.

McCown led the Bucs to a victory over the Saints last week in New Orleans, positioning the Bucs to clinch to NFC South crown today. We'll keep you updated throughout the afternoon on any further developments.

Check the comments section below for my observations and submit and questions you have that come up throughout the game.

Petitgout looking good

I took a few minutes today to watch Luke Petitgout work out on an empty practice field while the full team was wrapping up its workout.

It seems like forever since the veteran left tackle sustained his season-ending knee injury, but really, it's only been less than three months. That makes it all the more amazing that Petitgout looks as good as he does. He was out there sprinting, doing agility drills, bending, cutting -- you name it. You almost wonder if he wouldn't have been a candidate to come back for the postseason had he not been placed on injured reserve (you can't be re-activated from IR).

If I recall correctly, indications were that Petitgout did not suffer a complete tear of his ACL, which should make for a shorter recovery period.

I mentioned to Jon Gruden after practice that Petitgout was looking good and that he might have gotten him back for the playoffs. He agreed and added that safety Sabby Piscitelli is making a swift comeback from his season-ending foot injury, too. It's a shame the Bucs have had so many injuries this season, because had roster spots not been such a major issue, maybe they could have considered keeping either or both of those guys on the active roster.

Either way, both seem like they'll be ready to pick up where they left off when they return next season.

Garcia a gametime decision

For all of Jeff Garcia's statements this week proclaiming himself ready to go Sunday, coach Jon Gruden didn't seem to share the same enthusiasm after the week's final practice today.

Gruden said Garcia's status would be evaluated after the team's arrival at Reliant Stadium in Houston, and only then will a decision be made on whether the veteran's back injury will allow him to play against the Texans.

"There’s a chance of (Garcia playing) but we’re going to, again, wait until we get to Houston, see how the weather is, see how he feels," Gruden said. "It’s a day-to-day operation right now, but he is getting better and I can only make the decision on Sunday when we get to the stadium."

Garcia maintained Friday he was ready, saying, "I feel good." But when asked whether he thought he would play, he deferred to Gruden. "You'll have to ask Coach on that one," he said.

Reading between the lines here, this looks a lot like a player who wants nothing more than to play and a coach who would rather be cautious and not play a quarterback who is not totally healthy. Surely, it was painful for Garcia to watch Luke McCown light it up last week in New Orleans, and the last thing the 37-year-old Garcia wants now is to sit out another week.

We'll probably not get much of a hint until game day, which is perhaps the way the Bucs want it. For what it's worth, Garcia was said to have participated on a limited basis in practice again on Friday, marking his third straight day of some involvement in practice. That's more than he was able to do last week, when he did not play.

Indoors or outdoors?

The Bucs on Sunday visit Houston's Reliant Stadium, which, as you might know, has a retractable roof.

It remains to be seen whether the Texans will open up the roof for the game, and they'll probably not make that determination until Sunday morning. They adhere to an interesting little formula called the "50-80 Rule" to decide whether to open the roof.

If goes as follows: if the game time temperature is between 50 and 80 degrees, the roof is supposed to be opened. Sunday's forecast calls for a high of 80 degrees but includes a 30 percent chance of storms. If rain is anticipated, they'll obviously keep the roof closed.

Probably won't have much impact on the game either way, but consider this your factoid of the day.

Bucs coaches assistant arrested

TAMPA -- Charles Dwayne Stukes, a coaches assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was arrested late Thursday night on DUI charges.

Tampa police arrested Stukes, 30, a former NFL defensive back, about 11:30 p.m. near Armenia Avenue S and Cleveland Street W. He refused to take a breathalizer, according to jail records.

He was released on bail about 8 a.m. today.

Stukes spent parts of four seasons with the Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers from 2000 to 2003.

Stukes has been with the Buccaneers for two seasons. His primary job is supporting special teams coordinator Richard Bisaccia.

A call to the Bucs seeking comment was not immediately returned.

-- Melanie Ave, Times staff writer

Pro Bowl race

This is the final week of fan voting for February’s Pro Bowl, and several Bucs are in the running.

We asked the NFL to provide us with an update on Tampa Bay's candidates. Turns out, three Bucs are among the top vote-getters at their respective positions as of Wednesday. Ronde Barber is fourth among NFC cornerbacks with 172,210 votes; Jeff Garcia is fifth among NFC quarterbacks with 196,471 votes; and Derrick Brooks is sixth among NFC outside linebackers with 109,469 votes. Three players will be chosen at each of those positions.

However, the voting could change dramatically. Fan voting counts as just one-third of the balloting. The other two-thirds are comprised of coaches’ and players’ votes.

In the meantime, votes can be cast here through the end of this week.

Garcia expects to play Sunday

With a bounce in his step, quarterback Jeff Garcia stepped up to a podium Wednesday at One Buc Place and declared himself healthy enough to play Sunday at Houston after missing last week's game with a back bruise.

"I believe that I will play," said Garcia, 37. "I'm preparing to play. I'm sure they will leave that somewhat up to me, and as far as I'm concerned I want to be out there playing. And I don't think that I'm risking anything. I feel like I'm getting back to a place where I'm healthy again. Of course, it's not without some aches, but that's just part of the soreness working it's way out. I feel good about where my healthy is and where I'm headed."

Backup Luke McCown threw for 311 yards and two touchdowns, including the winner with 14 second left, in a 27-23 victory at New Orleans that gave Tampa Bay a commanding three-game lead in the NFC South. The Bucs can clinch the division with a win Sunday, or losses by the Saints and Panthers.

Bucs playoff picture

Guess we might as well start thinking about the postseason. Here's our best effort to give you an idea of where the Bucs stand and what the postseason may hold for them. And, keep in mind, the current picture could change dramatically.

In any case, the Bucs will clinch the NFC South title with one more victory. That seems pretty much guaranteed given their remaining opponents: Houston (5-7), Atlanta (3-9), San Francisco (3-9) and Carolina (5-7).

So, with that, let's move on to the first round of the playoffs. Dallas (11-1) and Green Bay (10-2) are expected to get the first-round byes in the NFC. That leaves the Bucs playing at home against a widcard team to open the playoffs. If the season ended today, that team would be the Giants (8-4), who trail the Cowboys in the NFC East. The Bucs would (again, if the season ended today) draw the wildcard team with the better record because NFC West leader Seattle (8-4) has the same record as Tampa Bay and owns the tiebreaker by virtue of their head-to-head victory in the season opener. If the Bucs finish with a better record than the Seahawks, then Tampa Bay would be seeded higher and get the lower-seeded wildcard team. That could be one of any number of teams, with Detroit, Minnesota and Arizona -- each 6-6 -- among those fighting it out.

If you're still with us, we'll (foolishly) look toward the next round in case the Bucs win. If things go as expected and the division champions win in the wildcard round (which doesn't always happen), the winners likely would move on to play at Dallas and Green Bay. If the Bucs are the third seed in the NFC, they'd likely go to Green Bay. If they're the fourth seed, they'd probably travel to Dallas. I won't even dare look beyond that. We're getting way ahead of ourselves as it is.

Make sense? Hope this helps.

Improving Garcia will practice

Jeff Garcia says his back injury is improving and he will practice Wednesday.

Appearing on his weekly radio spot on 620-WDAE Tuesday morning, Garcia says he can't make the injury worse by playing.

"Every day I feel like I'm getting better,'' Garcia said. "Even though there's a little bit of an ache, I feel like my mobility and flexibility has improved dramatically over the last three or four days. I will go on the practice field tomorrow and take it from there.

"It's not going to be without discomfort. But I know I'm not structurally doing any more damage if I play...However I can help the team, that's where I'll be.''

The latest on Matt Schaub

It now looks like a virtual certainty the Texans will be missing quarterback Matt Schaub when they host the Bucs this weekend.

Schaub suffered a shoulder injury against the Titans on Sunday, and while coach Gary Kubiak was vague in speaking about the quarterback today, you can read between the lines and see he won't be lining up against the Bucs.

"I just know that if we went to play today, there’s no chance," Kubiak said. "So, I would say it's not good at this point and hopefully that changes, but it doesn’t look good right now.

Kubiak added, "It sure looks like he’s going to miss some time. Whether we’re talking about the next four weeks or not, I don’t think we're at that stage. I think it’s very hopeful that he does come back and play some more this year, but it's going to be day to day and it's not very good today. He's in a sling, and we'll continue to evaluate his situation."

That means the Bucs are probably going to get a look at backup Sage Rosenfels, the 29-year-old career backup who has played respectably in five games this season. But, obviously, he'll be in a tough spot the way the Tampa Bay defense is playing right now.

Clarifying the Mortensen report on Garcia

Chris Mortensen is arguably the best NFL insider in the business, which is why he is featured on ESPN.

On Sunday morning, he did a brief segment on Jeff Garcia, who was not expected to play against the Saints because of a back injury.

Mortensen did not report that Garcia had a hairline fracture, as we incorrectly related in this space. What he said was the Bucs "suspected," he had a hairline fracture and there obviously is a big difference.

To say the least, he didn't deserve the reaction from Jon Gruden and Garcia when they were given some misleading information of his report.

To further clarify, here's exactly what Mortensen said on the Sunday countdown show.

"Even though he's greatly admired around the league, when Jeff Garcia hit the free agent market, there wasn't a frenzy for his services as a starter. Even the Bucs preferred Jake Plummer...the concern on Garcia was durability because while his heart and mind are fearless, he's only 5-11, 187 pounds and most league evaluators felt he had a 10-12 game limit...Well, after 11 games, Garcia is hurting with either a tailbone or a lower back injury. The Bucs have suspected a hairline or stress fracture but x-rays were negative. He practiced on a limited basis Friday but it will take a miracle for him to start against the Saints. Luke McCown should go and they hope to utilize his mobility."

Garcia improving; could start

Reiterating there is nothing structurally wrong with quarterback Jeff Garcia's back, coach Jon Gruden said the veteran will play Sunday at Houston if he shows enough improvement during the week. The Bucs have a three-game lead in the NFC South with four games to play, but the commanding lead will not be a factor in Gruden's decision to start Garcia or backup Luke McCown, who threw for more than 300 yards in Sunday's critical win at New Orleans.

"We feel like he's making improvement, and that's a good thing," Gruden said of Garcia. "I want him to tell me he's ready to go and see him move around pain-free. He's getting better, and for the time being we'll continue to work with Bruce (Gradkowski) and Luke."

McCown, who threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns in his first Bucs start, expects Garcia to play against the Texans.

"I'm going to approach this week like I approach every week, preparing as I have throughout training camp and throughout the season," McCown said. "I'm sure Jeff will be ready to go. He certainly seems like it. You always have to be prepared to play. That's been my mindset from Day 1 of training camp."

Well, that was fun

If you thought you had a blast watching Sunday's heart-stopping victory, you should have seen the Glazer brothers on Sunday.

Just outside the locker room doors were three fist-pumping brothers -- Joel, Bryan and Avrum -- there to high-five and back slap practically every player on the team. It was as emotional as you've ever seen these guys, and they had good reason to be happy. You couldn't help but wonder what they wouldn't do for their coach right now (contract extension?).

And consider this: this team has pretty much assured itself of a home playoff game, which translates into a windfall of millions of dollars that weren't written into this year's budget. Kinda like getting a bigger-than-expected tax refund, I suppose.

This victory could also embolden the team, not just its ownership.

Victories like Sunday's bring a team closer together. And you could see that already happening in the electric locker room. Jon Gruden's energy was contagious. You could feel it in his players who suddenly feel like they can beat anyone. Lord only knows what his post-game speech was like. The coach was still beaming an hour after the game as I walked with him to the team bus. He knows his players are on board now. He has them in the palm of his hand.

The NFL is such a week-to-week business. But after this particular week, it kind of feels like anything is possible. Maybe this team we considered merely a decent team is actually a pretty good team after all.

Time will tell.