The quarterback of the future is...who knows?

We haven't spent a lot of time talking about the quarterback position around here lately because the Bucs have a pretty good one onboard.

Jeff Garcia is on his way to the Pro Bowl. No issues there, obviously. He's the guy -- period.

But, per usual, I'm here to deliver some sobering news to you: Garcia will be 38 in two weeks. Hey, I love the guy. He's the best thing that's happened to this team in a long time. But I'll say it again: 38.

So, that leaves the Bucs in a position where they can't realistically expect to get a whole lot out of Garcia down the road. Not saying he can't play a couple more years. Just saying that, as a franchise, you certainly can't expect that and you have to operate as though you don't plan on having him long term.

So, if Garcia gets hurt or whenever his career comes to its inevitable end, what then? Who is this team's quarterback of the future?

I've asked the question and, frankly, I'm still waiting on a legitimate answer. I believe the Bucs like Luke McCown, but I don't get the sense they're ready to commit to him as a long-term answer at the position. He has talent, but there are considerable holes in his game. I think they like Chris Simms, too, but we know they've shown no willingness to hand him the future of the franchise, either. Besides, even Chris will tell you he is going to have to prove himself before anyone makes up their mind about what's next for him. That leaves us with Bruce Gradkowski who, lovable as a he is, isn't much of a factor in this conversation.

So, what's the plan? There doesn't appear to be one at the moment. As a result, I fully expect the Bucs will take a long look at a quarterback somewhere beyond the first round of the draft. Now that Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen are with us through 2011, there's sufficient time to develop a young quarterback. I know what you're thinking: when has Gruden ever developed a young quarterback? That's true.

But is this really a realistic way of doing things, this business of recycling veteran quarterbacks every three years? So long as the Bucs continue to take that approach, the question I'm posing here will keep coming up every couple of years. Just look at the revolving door of veterans in the last five or six years: Brad Johnson, Brian Griese, Jeff Garcia.

Will there be another? Or will the Bucs finally settle down and look for a long-term solution to their never-ending quarterback question?

Comments

[JoeG]

C'mon, we all know the Bucs will be linked to every Free Agent QB that hits the market on Feb 29th.

Even though McCown was 1-2 as a starter, I think Gruden and Hackett did a pretty good job with Luke, considering his playing mostly with back-ups.

His 1st quarter performances were awesome, which means he executed the initial game plan pretty well.

SR pointed out, in the 1st quarter of all 3 games he started, he was 22-of-22 for 361 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions. (And the first play of the 2nd quarter in the N.O. game was a 1 yard TD to Becht.)

Agreed, Gruden really isn't known for "bringing guys along", but picking a QB with a later round pick, or signing a rookie FA wouldn't be surprising either.

The draft needs are elswhere on this team and Gruden has done well in the past with QB's that are close to the end of their careers. I'm perfectly fine with Allen continuing to find quality vetrans to come in for a few years at a time.

Lets ride this Garcia pony as long as we can, and wait for the next McNabb/Garcia situation to play itself out.....(think Cleveland).

In the meantime, Luke has proven that he'll be just fine in a substitution role.

[Tony G]

I believe they like what they have in McCown. McCown has had only 7 NFL starts, the "holes in his game" really consist of those things that come with playing, feeling pressure and throwing the ball away, that's it in a nutshell. He has shown that he can run Gruden's offense, can read defenses and make any throw needed. However like any QB in the NFL, until his playing time increases, he will have chinks in his armor. As far as Gruden not developing a QB, first, isn't that the Quaterbacks Coaches job? Secondly, who has? Was Montana developed or was he just a good QB, what about Brady? He was thrown in because of injury in year 2, was he "developed" yet? Of course not, but he knows how to play the QB position in the NFL. Too much emphasis is placed on whether a QB has been developed or not, history shows us that successful QB's aren't grown, they have a natural knack for playing the NFL game.

[Sam]

Only three people still think chris can play at this level: himself, phil simms, and stephen holder.

If you don't think jon gruden is completely finished with chris simms --you don't know jon gruden.

[Alex]

before everyone says Mcknown is a real prospect, lets see how he does when a defense has film on him and can gameplan for him like they did gradkowski. I think Simms is another rob johnson-Great arm, horrible decision making. Just because Gruden got the ext, don't think they are going to change what they do and draft a high qb. Maybe the second. maybe. no way a 1rd pick. the qb prospects are not that great like last year. if you want an answer, your not going to find a SOLID one in the 08 draft. the top qb came from Boston college!

[alex]

free agent market for qb help ins't that wonderful either. the bucs should just sit with Garcia, Simms and Mcknown another year.

[DR]

Chris Simms is the QB of the future for the Bucs. Jon Gruden’s not done with him or they would have cut him.

[aaron]

hey DR. how are you doing? it has been a while but it seems like we are back on the subject of Chris Simms. this time you say he is our future? that is what i have been saying all along. like i have said from the start, just give simms some decent pass protection and he will be a good QB.

[Scott]

I think that McCown is probably the second string QB next year with either Chris Simms or a veteran in free agency as third. I still think that there is a good chance that the Bucs may show that Simms is healthy and try to get a 3rd round pick out of a team desperate for QBs who inflate him because of the promise in his last name. But, come on, I think that we saw about 10 batted passes all year last year...barely one per game. Simms would have that many in a game. Are these fans who are pushing for Simms blind? He will NEVER get past the batted passes...they practiced ways to correct it the entire 2006 pre-season and then he came out and had about 8 passes batted down each of the first three games. I say go with McCown and a veteren as backups this year and then go after the best free agent QB next year. BTW, the free agent QB market stinks this year...another reason we may be able to get something out of Simms.

[Duane]

I'm fine with picking up exp. QB's who haven't finsihed thier career and fit into the offense we run. Most teams and fans don't have the patience to wait 4 years for a QB to develop. Look at all the flack Eli Manning used to get even though his game progressed every year with average receivers. Brad Johnson worked out fine here until he lost his arm and Gruden saw that before anyone else.

[jay]

PLEASE! LETS GET ONE THING RIGHT EARLY IN THE OFFSEASON. GET RID OF BRUCE GRADKOWSKI. HE HAS NO FUTURE HERE IN TAMPA BAY. I LIKE GRUDEN, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE LIKES OR DID LIKE IN BRUCE. LETS MOVE ON!!!

[DR]

aaron, we still have admirers playing games. Don't believe that for a second. I'm sticking to my opinion that Simms will never start another NFL game. It is strange that Gruden kept him around on the roster last year as a 4th string QB. That didn't make sense. The Bucs shouldn't waste any more time with Simms and just release him.

[DR]

aaron, we still have admirers playing games. Don't believe that for a second. I'm sticking to my opinion that Simms will never start another NFL game. It is strange that Gruden kept him around on the roster last year as a 4th string QB. That didn't make sense. They signed him to a 2 year deal for what reason? Didn't they evaluate him before signing him, including giving him a physical to see if he was 100%? And yet, put him on the IR with zero playing time almost in the preseason after a couple of weeks into the regular season. It doesn't add up.
The Bucs shouldn't waste any more time with Simms and just release him.

[disappointed season ticket holder]

Come on St. Pete Times. Do a thorough breakdown of the Ray Jay Stadium ticket price escalation from its beginning. Check out the 2008 Buc’s website and how the prices have quietly become the same throughout the lower level sections including the end zone seating and the majority now of the upper level sections. Did you know that if you aren’t paying the club seat prices you are referred to as general admission. What an insult after committing to 10 years of payment for assigned seats in the lower level with seat deposits. Check out the club seat ticket holders. Rumors are they have already been contacted months ago. Only the second class general admission season ticket holders are waiting and as always will be given very little time to react to the new price hikes and options for our 50% seat deposit refund.
I recall looking from TIA upper parking garage and seeing the new stadium next to the old stadium. Did you know that the highest seating at the old Tampa stadium was lower than the lowest level of the upper section seating at the then new Ray Jay stadium? Talk about nosebleed with a premium price to pay.

[shane]

simms sucks plain and simple. there are probably only 2 qbs in the draft that are any good like matt ryan and the kentucky qb(forgot his name) mccown is qb of the future and grad is, well grad. need WR (fast ones) and a RB(jacob hester maybe third-fourth rounder)that can take over fullback or third down back.

[shane]

also keep stevens yes i know he had a troubled past but he is keeping his head down and could help our receiving corps by stretching the mid-field

[John P]

Hard to think that developing any new quarterback is on the radar for the Bucs in the near future. Between Simms and Gradkowski, someone is already gone and doesn't know it yet. Neither of them is better than 3rd string next year. McCown did some great work last year, especially considering just how little experience the kid has. I know the rap Gruden has with QB's, but he's got to like what he has in Luke. Beyond that, it's only a question of when Garcia is going to take his last sack as a pro player. Might be next year, might not be. That day is coming though. But I don't have a problem with McCown being the guy that replaces him. He showed way too much last year to be relegated to warm body status. The kid's got the tools, as long as he keeps developing them.

[Duffiedawg]

In all reality, Grad comes closer to being a QB like Garcia than any others. On the other hand, stick a feather in his helmet, knife in his mouth, and we have Brucie.

McKown actually had a better command of the field than Garcia, until he got pressured. In his first game, he completed passes to no less than 6 receivers, instead of the go to guys.

Obviously, pressure flustered him. I don't know if experience will teach him the unteachable..the ability to control a team and a game.

Chris Simms, like his father, will develop late. It was in his waning years before Phil became a problem to a defense. I think any team with a sn entrenched QB could do worse than pick up Chris as a free agent, but he has no future in the Bucs.

Grads, with Garcia as a mentor, and now Olson as a coach, will probably be the ultimate Gruden QB.

Meanwhile, McKown is a pretty good number 2.

Winston

[Schwab]

I say trade McCown, Bruce G. and Sims to Cleveland for Back-up Quarterback Brady Quinn

[Erik]

I wish the Bucs would have drafted Quinn when they had the chance in last years draft.

[John Klopfer]

Rumors have that Vinny would like another shot in Tampa!

[DR]

Gruden is going to make a bold move and add more talent at QB. He is talking to Vinny, Bernie Kosar, and Steve Deberg to be back ups for Garcia since he likes holding onto 4 QB's during the beginning of the season.

[Bill]

It could only have been seconds after the website posted this one that the Brady Quinn fans came out of their hiding. Forget about him! The Bucs need a winner at QB, not someone whose press clippings exceed his ability.

[mkurbo]

Forget about Simms, he is injury prone, has bad decision making capability and does not fit Gruden's offense. He will be traded or released this year. Gradkowski is history as well.

I like Luke as the back-up and think the new coach Olson will help him improve, along with Garcia as a mentor. Bucs
will pick up a new talent in the later rounds of the draft.

[Brandon]

Only an idiot would want us to invest a high pick in a QB that may or may not be the answer and we would only find out in another 4-5 years. We have a guy on the roster who has more athletic ability than any QB in the draft (size, arm, legs) and has a good understanding of our offense (that would take a draft pick 4 seasons to match). Luke McCown may or may not be the answer, but is far more ready to play and play well now and for the next 2 years than ANY rookie would be.

[Chris Slooter]

Luke was one Reggie Bush fumble away from being 0-2 and a pre-season qb like what happened to Gradkowski. He is a backup, and that's all he ever will be. Remember Scott Malinovich?

[Tony]

Daunte Culpepper is the free agent for the Bucs. He can play behind Garcia, maybe even compete a little for the top spot. But if 38 year old Garcia can't play all 16 games next season, wouldn't it be great to have a veteran QB waiting in the wings to resurrect his once great NFL career? Plus, he's a Floridian. Don't judge a man after a knee injury and stint with a Raiders organization that is in disarray.

[Tony M.]

Daunte Culpepper is the free agent for the Bucs. He can play behind Garcia, maybe even compete a little for the top spot. But if 38 year old Garcia can't play all 16 games next season, wouldn't it be great to have a veteran QB waiting in the wings to resurrect his once great NFL career? Plus, he's a Floridian. Don't judge a man after a knee injury and stint with a Raiders organization that is in disarray.

[mark]

Gradkowski with tutoring from Garcia and an OL with some experience, on like his first year, is the Buc's QB of the future. He is a winner given an a real opportunity. He will make his team mates better players, and that is what makes him a winner. He does not have to be the star attraction.

[Rocket Rob]

#5 GRADKOWSKI will take back his #7 when Garcia decides to hang it up, and become the Buc's QB.
Anyone who has followed this western PA player knows he's a gamer. He can and will step up to play in the NFL.
No question in my mind.
Grud will go with Grad.
RR

[kevin]

Grad, the guy who cant hit a wide open reciever more than 15 yards deep is going to be our QB of the future.

Lord I hope not.

[Matt]

Gradkowski? Seriously? He ahould not play...ever. The guy has no business being on an NFL roster...not even the Dolphins. And as long as Gruden is running his terrible in offense in Tampa, there won't have a QB of the future...it will be somebone holding off using his walker for a few more years.

[Erik Beresford]

you know, Simms has got game. he showed it in 05. but, if Gruden thinks that for some reason, he wants Quinn, then trade for him. but it might take some pretty decent players to get him.... and wha idiot thought mccown,grads,and simms would swing it? noeone will trade one good QB for a decent QB, a mediocore QB, and a just plain bad QB.

[Dana]

Phil Simms may have become successful later in his career rather than early, but he was a first round draft pick - 7th to be exact - and therefore way more talented than his mediocre son as well as way more LIKELY to do well at some point. Chris has shown no sign of that degree of talent, thus the expectation that he will eventually "develop" into a higher caliber QB is just not realistic. Nor did it ever exist, and that's why he was the last pick in the third round.