Garcia, Brooks questionable for Atlanta

Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia is questionable for next week's game against the Atlanta Falcons with an ankle sprain, Jon Gruden said during his news conference Monday at One Buc Place.

Garcia, who battled calf and pinkie injuries during the preseason, has swelling on his ankle. Gruden said an update would come in the next couple of days.

The status of linebacker Derrick Brooks also is questionable at this time. Brooks left in the third quarter of Sunday's 24-20 loss to the Saints with a right hamstring strain.

Gruden expects to know more about the extent of Brooks' injury in the next 24 hours. If Brooks can't go, Cato June could move to his spot, or Quincy Black could see more playing time.

''We have the capability of moving people around a little bit,'' Gruden said.

Wide receiver Maurice Stovall is questionable with a neck strain.

Also:

• Gruden acknowledged that Garcia missed opportunities to make plays in the passing game: "We can call it rust or inactivity or whatever,'' he said, "but there's plays there that Jeff normally makes.''
• Gruden said he thought the Bucs ran the ball "extremely well'' and had some good looks in the passing game but didn't convert enough on third down. He said he thought guard Jeremy Zuttah, wide receiver Antonio Bryant and center Jeff Faine played well in their Bucs debuts.

Comments

[Homey the Clown]

Can you say White Tiger Beache?

[Drew]

Homey this... White Tiger, White Tiger, White Tiger...

[DV]

Simms won't go to New England... he isn't talented enough to have the priveledge of cleaning up their locker room. As far as Garcia goes, put that guy on IR and be done with him, he doesn't have it anymore. Same with Galloway, who plays like we all owe him something. Screw that.

[Valrico Rick]

It's a long season alright, and they all look the same. Moral victories will now be added to the win loss column and each year one team will get a complimentary trip to the playoffs because they should have won. Please, SOS! The Panthers stood toe to toe with the Chargers and we have them twice. The Falcons showed that they are not about to roll over and make excuses, and we have them twice. We are now 2 games count them 2 games behind the Saints because of the tie breaker. The Saints offense produced 3 touchdowns and a field goal, while the Bucs produced 1 touchdown and 2 field goals. Depending on the defense to score because your offense can't isn't likely to work considering this defense isn't the 2002 version, and furthermore blaming a loss on the officials is what losers do. Get used to the cellar people because this isn't a very good football team. It has a few promising players on it, but it's not a championship football team!

[Rick]

We lost, it hurts but there are 15 more games plus the playoffs. We will be fine. I know too that the Falcons are coming to town next week and that's bad news for the falcons. Again, we will be fine.

[Chris Simms]

Hah! See you guys in February.

[JC]

15 more games until we can get embarrassed during another playoff loss...

[gmimay]

All you guys are ready to burn down the house after week 1? Yes it sucks and I was pissed at the poor play the other day, but THE SEASON IS FAR FROM OVER. I'm tired of the dink and dunk, and the abandonedment of the running game, but $%&! give our team a chance. I rember the Saints doing the same thing when we opened our Super Bowl year. CALM DOWN haters

[Tom]

The Buccaneers bandwagon ebb and flows like the Hillsborough River. Guys like Valrico Rick was jumping off the bandwagon after the Seahawks game last year only to jump back on three games later.

There were lots of mistakes yesterday but with a lot fixable errors. We weren't manhandled physically. The poor play calling allowed their D-Line to tee off. Like calling a shotgun on 3rd and 2. We needed to neutralize their rush with draws and screens then set up the play fake.

Hopefully, the coaching staff will take the Falcons very seriously. They were very impressive in their victory over the Lions.

[Swami]

The crystal ball say Tampa Bay? No Super Bowl appearance. The Tarot cards say Tampa Bay? No super bowl appearance.

Must rub Aladdins lamp and ask the Genie for one more wish. Genie, Swami want Tampa Bay win Super Bowl. Swami, you've used all your wishes. However, I'll grant you one more in exchange for your first born Son and first born Daughter. Genie, syas Tampa Bay, no Super Bowl appearance.

The Swami has spoken, place all bet's on New Orleans.

[Swami]

The crystal ball say Tampa Bay? No Super Bowl appearance. The Tarot cards say Tampa Bay? No super bowl appearance.

Must rub Aladdins lamp and ask the Genie for one more wish. Genie, Swami want Tampa Bay win Super Bowl. Swami, you've used all your wishes. However, I'll grant you one more in exchange for your first born Son and first born Daughter. Genie, syas Tampa Bay, no Super Bowl appearance.

The Swami has spoken, place all bet's on New Orleans.

[E for Effort]

Joey Gallaway makes B.J. Upton look like "Charley Hustle".

[Uncle]

So, anyone know how many seats are left? Is this thing going to blackout?

[bucfan4life]

1 game and everybody jumps ship...and u wonder why they do not spend the money on talent!!!!!!

[Drew]

Man overboard!!! The waters great!!!

[Noel (Bahamas)]

Watching the game yesterday really hurt. I also agree with a lot of the comments on this board. I must say this; the loss was indicative of our team relying on older key personnel at the skill positions. And when bad luck adds in injury, poor officiating, terrible play calling and personnel mismanagement; you get what we got yesterday, a game where we were outplayed, outcoached and beaten.

The silver lining is that I believe that we will improve over the next couple of weeks. However, we have to focus on our week 2 game and work on creating player mismatches and creativing play calling. We only took several deep shots down the field. Otherwise, it was dink & dunk and the Saints played against that; we were predictable.

Anyhow, here's to us playing better next week.....I do say this though, if our season goes downhill badly, there needs to be a change in leadership. We will need a new direction. Keep our Defensive coordinator...but change the rest...

[Vince]

No worries, it's just week one. Gruden, be less predictable on offense! I believe in you and your team! -GO TAMPA!

[Vegas]

Gruden insisting on " resting" his starters , has cost another game... last year it was the loss to the Giants when the team played flat.. Now the starters sit in the final preseason game and we lose with "rusty" players - wadda ya expect - you have to play to be sharp.. This is 3 openers in a row and 2 playoff games where the starters rested the game before - do the math - Garcia is a talented q/back - he just needs to play not sit.. Gruden is a letdown - by the end of the season - Parcells will have an inexperienced coach in Miami with a better record than Gruden!!!

[Tom]

There's something seriously fishy about Garcia's injury. I don't recall him getting hurt any time during the game. He wasn't carted off, he was limping, he didn't say anything after the game as I recall, etc.

I have a sense that something is rotten over in One Buc.

[Tom]

He wasn't limping I meant.

[Kurt]

Plain and simple; Garcia had a bad day. I still think Griese is our best option and if Garcia keeps it up; we're going to find out. But it was close and we really looked excellent in some areas. We're very deep which will show up as the season progresses. All of you bandwagon haters need to root for another team. It was a tough loss and apparently none of you haters are tough at all.

[DR]

The Bucs were outcoached. Gruden did the Saints a favor and threw the ball 41 times with a quite obvious out of sync passing game. The run was killing the Saints. As soon as Garcia dropped back to pass, there was a sigh of relief in the stadium.
Tom, I think you're right. Garcia's "injury" may be made up to pave way for a Griese start. Gruden would do anything to save face and he really needs to. He can't have another bad encounter with a star player to be known.
Galloway should lose his job before Garcia does. He would be a perfect fit for the Bengals, the team where nobody cares about winning and gives little effort.

[Jeff Garcia]

I don't Limp ... I LISP!!!!

[DR]

The Bucs were outcoached. Gruden did the Saints a favor and threw the ball 41 times with a quite obvious out of sync passing game. The run was killing the Saints. As soon as Garcia dropped back to pass, there was a sigh of relief in the stadium.
Tom, I think you're right. Garcia's "injury" may be made up to pave way for a Griese start. Gruden would do anything to save face and he really needs to. He can't have another bad encounter with a star player to be known.
Galloway should lose his job before Garcia does. He would be a perfect fit for the Bengals, the team where nobody cares about winning and gives little effort.

[Al Gore]

The injury get Greise the start, and begins the process of Garcia back to the 49'ers. Win/Win for Gruden, and Garcia. Should have cut his azz in the off season like I told you to Bruce. Well movin' on, where is Simms, the Patriots told him to pack sand. Who is holding him hostage now?

[Ray]

I've got to give Gruden props for Garcia announcement. Whether true or not, let the Falcons guess who the QB is going to be.

[john]

I the game was officiated correctley we would have won the game.When is the nfl going to stop helping the saints?We cant help it hurricanes keep hitting there.

[Yoshi]

Dammit i cant stand band wagons. You can think whatever you want but the saints were not the better team. We shut down the run the entire game and the only reason they had so many yards was because of little mistakes and bad officiating that kept there drives alive. Ok we made some mistakes both on the field and the sidelines but its only week one. Next week is going to be the coming out party for the bucs and we are going to tear the falcons up. We would have won if it werent for crucial missed calls by the referees. I know that sounds like an excuse but it happened at game changing moments. I cant wait for the saints to come to our House on week 13 so we can return the favor. Hopefully cadillac will be back at full strength by then. Im not even going to get into it with these band wagons here because i know that as soon as we win they will all of a sudden become the biggest fans ever. Oh and as for the saints fan that posted a comment, i appreciate it but i hate you and your organization and i hope everyone on your team tears there achilles and overrated Reggie bush gets hit while hes trying to do those unnecessary jumps and gets injured and his career gets shattered to pieces. You suck and so does your team. I know you are rooting for us against the falcons but i will never root for the saints as long as i live. But thanks again for your support even though i hate you and hope you never post a comment again with a name like number 1 saints fan. Back to the Bucs, we need to keep doing what works. If our running back is averaging 9 yards per carry we need to stick to it and exploit the other teams weaknesses. Like i said our defense was good in general except for a couple plays like when reggie bush got past Matt McCoy and J-Phil.We also didnt get enough pressure on the QB. Hopefully Derrick Brooks injury is not to severe and hes back by next week. Another thing, Sabby is not better than J-Phil just yet. Give him some time and he may be but right now I beleive J-Phil is the right fit for us. I personally like him better anyway. I hope most of the mistakes are cleared up by next week. Go Bucs 15-5 Superbowl champs at home. Hey what can i say im a true bucs fan.

[G W Bush]

"Dick and I were outragged by the way those Buccaneers played on Sunday. I knew we should have delayed rebuilding New Orlins a little longer. Now all these people keep coming to my home state every time something happens...knocking on my door...asking for stuff. Mama always said 'Fool me once, shame on..... no.. wait! ....fool me twice...awe hell she said lots of stuff I can't 'member it no more. Anyway, the point is we've gotta make a premptive strike against these people...stop giving them what they want all the time. Smack 'em 'round a little."

[Bo]

DR, your ignorance outweighs your hatred; which is saying a lot.

[Kurt]

It seemed to me that all of our offensive possessions were stopped by either penalties or poor throws; not offensive game-planning. Correct me with some facts if possible, but I also believe Galloway was still the #1 targeted and possessed receiver and just because they miscommunicated on a play doesn't mean he was taking every play off. The guy is a model football player and anyone who takes care of themselves like he does is not "taking plays off." The "players" (McCoy,Phillips,Garcia,Trueblood) didn't make plays - plain and simple. The coach put them in position to make plays and they failed to do so as I recall. Let's try to speak from a position of intellect and dignity, not hatred and ignorance, shall we?

[DV]

I'm tired of you people bitching about Gruden. You know what? He is a good coach for realizing his players strengths and weaknesses and game planning with that in mind. And you know what that gives you? Low scoring, ball control offense and solid D and special teams, which gives you close games and a chance to win each one of them. It comes down to a few big plays either made or given up to swing the balance. I really do believe the refs aided the Saints, intentionally or not, but it was obvious that they did in fact benefit from the bad calls. Regardless, Gruden is doing what anyone with a clue would do in his situation. When he was with Oakland, their D sucked and their special teams were average, so he HAD TO go for the big plays consistently on offense to stay competitive. Billick was an offensive mind in Baltimore when they won the super bowl... with their D, much like Tampa's super bowl victory, but he coached to the strength of his players, like Gruden is doing now. And yes, I wish he gave Graham more carries, but when you're playing from behind in the score and in the down and distance, your options are pretty limited.

[Al Gore]

DV, noone cares what you are tired of. Gruden is going to take his lumps, because that is what that short mo is getting paid to do when he puts a loser on the field. Get used to it, or maybe go watch bowling, or badminton. In other news, Chris Simms is a Titan pending a physical, Manbearpig is real, I'm serieal. Send me money to fight against Manbearpig, vote for buhrock, he is not a pig in lipstick.