Don't look for Galloway too soon

Receiver Joey Galloway missed practice again today. But the veteran did do some football-related work, catching passes from an assistant coach while running simple routes, then, doing the same thing with a little bit better quarterback delivering passes: Jeff Garcia.

Garcia still isn't participating in some full-speed drills as he attempts to bounce back from his calf strain. Meanwhile, Galloway, who has a strained groin, probably won't play this preseason. Coach Jon Gruden stopped short of ruling him out of exhibition games when I asked him this morning, but Gruden concedes that Galloway has never played much in the preseason and would not suffer from sitting out this year. That means the first hit Galloway takes could be from, say, Jonathan Vilma of the Saints on opening day.

"He hasn't exactly been the go-to receiver in the preseason around here," Gruden said of Galloway. "We rested him last year and I'm still resting him."

But given Galloway's offseason, you have to wonder if the Bucs at least want to make certain Galloway is up to the task before games start to matter. Galloway underwent offseason shoulder surgery after sustaining a late-season injury in December. And this latest injury, suffered in a personal workout before the start of training camp, is another setback for him.

At this point, there must be at least some concern inside the organization about Galloway's preparation, considering the Bucs break camp later this week and Galloway still hasn't suited up.

"Yes, I'm concerned," Gruden said. "If you're the head coach and you're (top) receiver hasn't practiced yet, yes, you're concerned. But we're also looking at it optimistically because we proved the other night that we have some young guys who are capable of playing and we're thrilled with that."

Galloway actually donned a helmet today and is doing more lateral movement, so perhaps he's closer to returning. But then again, Gruden said long ago that the target date for Galloway's return was Monday, Aug. 4 -- eight days ago.

Comments

[Jeff Garcia]

Joey is SOFT!

[Jeff Garcia]

and OLD!!!

[Brett Favre]

Not like me.

[Kurt]

He could play today if he wanted to. We're getting our panties in a bunch over nothing. This guy is a stud amongst studs and will be ready for the Saints.

[Adam]

Read between the lines... this is a non-verbal admittance that the Bucs have done NOTHING to help the depth or quality of their receivers (more the latter than the former). If Joey gets hurt for an extended period of time - 5-11 here we come. Instead of going for a Javon Walker or a Terry Glenn or a Chad Johnson, we turn to Antonio Bryant who was selling Kenmores last year. And we all know how well the Bucs have done with their reclaimation projects (see Boston, David).

[Drew]

Bryant has the potential of being a great addition if he plays like he has in the past. It wasn't that long ago that he was a go to receiver playing at a pro bowl level.

[shane]

with the injuries to joey mounting i'd have to say this is joey's last year

[Aussie]

Oi G'day Mates. Just to square things up a bit, a joey is a kangaroo. Didn't know you let kangaroo's play American football. Have to call my mates in Sydney and let them know they let kangaroos play football in the US. You see, in Australia we need the occasional laugh while sitting at the pub drinking ale.

Have a G'day!!!

[Josh]

I think the bucs will be fine without galloway if he misses time in the reg season, stovall and clayton would fill in nicely and chad lucas could provide some of the speed without joey in the line up

[Mr Bill]

No Galloway. Ohhhhhhhh Nooooooooo

[Greg]

Adam,

You are correct sir! The Bucs ahve not addressed this area seriously and it will definately affect us this year. If Golloway is out, we have no proven deep threat to keep defenses honest. We have a lot of old and unproven recievers, not that they are all bad, its just they do not pose a significant threat. They are players, not play makers. For that our running game will pay a price.

[paul]

Ok look here im a saints fan and joey galloway is the only way yall can beat us and him not taking a hit all preseason is going to hurt yall when he comes across the middle and jonathon vilma jacks him up besides yall defense is good but not nearly good enough to contain our explosive offense.

Yall organization must be stupid yall new yall needed help at receiver so yal do nothing atleast the saints stressed there needs on defense.

[Dave in Arkansas]

Buc Fans:

On behalf of the rest of the Southeastern portion of the United States, I would like to apologize for the appalling grammar, misguided opinions, and unfortunate team loyalty of Paul "Can't Spell Ya'll" The Saints Fan.

Paul: Get back to us when you win (not HOST, but WIN) a Super Bowl.

[paul]

Okay your rite we may not win a superbowl this year but when will yall win another because yall got one lucky year and our time is coming we finally have a talented players which is somethng we never had.

Besides i thought we were talking about galloway not how i spell yall because im lazy to put the apostrophe. Talk to me after we win the division. Shockey gonna tair yall up.

[Tom]

The only players Shockey consistently tore up last year was his own teammates and his coaches!

[john]

paul your forgeting joey dont have to go across the middle.Because you guys dont have anyone to cover him outside.So he probally wont even get hit by your weak defense.And johnaton vilma is very overated he young and hes always hurt.At least joeys old.

What about Joe Horn? He wants out of ATL, is he finished? Why arent we looking at him?

[TheLastWalshPick]

We need receivers and maybe a big fullbacks that can catch the ball. Garcia does well with big targets and he uses all offense positions to throw to.

When the opposing defense is tired and they're looking for a long bomb. Here comes the tightend out of nowhere 5 yards out and breaks for a good 20 or 40 yards.

Gotta keep them guessing. Same look everytime but just different plays. Drives the opposing defense crazy.

[Yoshi]

Although i hate the "aints" with the burning heat of a thousand suns, ease up on shockey and vilma. A couple injuries does not make you useless. They're destined for greatness! I mean c'mon, They are from the greatest college football team ever (THE U!!!!!). Dont get me wrong, i know if Shockey comes through the middle hes gonna get layed out by either J-Phil, T.J or Ruud, but still, hes good. With regards to Joey, i wouldnt worry about him. He might be old but hes still got it and like gruden said, he doesn't play during preseason anyway. All this does is give the other receivers a chance to step up to the plate. Hopefully they come through.

[shane]

hey yoshi don't forget about ol' man Brooks. For a guy his age he can still hit as hard(and in some cases harder) as any other linebacker. Also, I hear this new kid who wears 25(TALIB) hits pretty damn hard too, and I think I have learned what his name translates to, the last corner you want to cross.

[DR]

I think Shockey is overrated but he will help stretch out the Saints offense even more with the respect he gets too much of. He has average hands at best, dropping a lot of crucial balls, and like Tom said, he shreds his own team before he shreds the defense. It was a blessing in diguise for the Giants last year when they lost their long haired loud mouth for the season. Eli didn't have to worry about throwing the pacifier, I mean football to the big baby.

[paul]

Okay just to let you know the saints do have somebody who can stop galloway his name is mike mckenzie he only allowed like 1 or 2 touchdowns last year thats rite 1 or 2 go look it up and he should have made the pro bowl last year but he got hurt.

Those who say shockey isnt good your pritty goofy because he is a positive player he gives 110% every play and will be a leader in the locker room.

If yall think he is a pearson who would start up a couple of controversies then y would he say i love it here in new orleans and i love and respect my teamates and they love and respect me back. And if you say he is selfish then why after every practice he spending another extra 30 minutes running routes with drew brees.

Dont get mad because yall dont have a pro bowl tight end.

[john]

SHOCKY SUCKS AND SO DO THE SAINTS!

[bucsd]

Paul, do us a favor. Use something like Word to check your spelling before you post. As far as Galloway, he will be fine. Like always he will tear up the Saints D.

[paul]

Galloway probably will tair us up I can't say nothing about that he does it all the time since now yall actually have a quarterback but thats pritty much the only thing the bucs have because they have a decent running game especially since they signed warrick dunn. Yall are actually going to be some competition(not saying yall never were any competition) and i see both of us making the playoffs but I don't know who will win the division.

Oh and stop with that shockey sucks crap because you all know that he is good and any team in the league would kill for a talented tight end like him.

[Yoshi]

The only reason shockey is good is because hes from THE U!!!!!!!!!! But if you want to talk over-rated players, lets talk about reggie bush. Hes the most over rested back in the league and his only highlight is jumping over the steelers defenders. Lets take it back to the 2006 Divisional playoffs where he got killed.

[jeff]

you better hope the saints suck? saints will compete with us for the division

[paul]

First of all reggie bush is not completly overated yes he is a little bit but he actually is doing good hello he stretches the field to were you cannot focuse on one thing. Another thing is that everyone thought he was going to be the best back ever to play he game so everyone looks at him that way and no one see's that so yall think he sucks but yes you are right how he isn't living up to expectations.

Ya'll have to remember he was one of the few rookie running backs ever to score 4 touchdowns in a game.

One more thing why do ya'll think that since ya'll got lucky winning the division(the reverse play which we fumbled) this year ya'll think ya'll going to win it again???

Atleast your boy jeff admits it that we have a good team.

[shane]

paul nobody has said the saints don't have a good team what we have said though is that some of their players are(get the crowd ready) OVERRATED. For the No. 2 overall pick and a heisman trophy winner reggie really hasn't done much in this league and if he doesn't start producing like expected he'll find out what the NFL really stands for(Not For Long). Jeremey Shockey is on the downside of his career(he was going to be replaced by Kevin Boss in NY) and like DR said he gets too much respect for what he did in his earlier years. Also I'll agree with you McKensie(or however you spell it) is a good corner and the only one in the division that can cover Joey(outside of the bucs organization) but he is only one man and outside of him who else do you have on that so-called defense can cover him? And now with Dexter Jackson and Antonio Bryant in the mix who are you going to cover them with Mike can't cover them all.

[paul]

I completly agree with you on the reggie bush theory truthfully almost everyone down here in new orleans thinks he is more of a receiver than a running back. Agree? A couple people up there said the saints suck. I totally agree with you on the mckenzie theory to but the dexter jackson and antonio bryant thing I just have a feeling that it isn't gonna work out that great. For one antonio bryant cant stay out of trouble he's another pacman and dexter jackson i think is more of a devin hester type of guy than wat ya'll actually need.

[Jenny]

Ho Hum, here we are again complaining about the receiver and the QB'S of Tampa Bay. Does anyone get the fact that it starts from the top down?? The Glaziers need to get rid of some coaches obviously they are not doing their job to inspire these guys. How could you when your coach constantly has a chucky face on all the time? Thats real positive, get rid of Gruden. I still can't figure out why fans think he is so great. He took us to the Super Bowl against his former team, big deal. He should win, he knows the ins and outs of his former players. TB fans unite and may this be the last year Gruden is a Buccaneer!!!