Griese likely to start on Sunday

The Bucs appear ready to make a change at quarterback.

Brian Griese took all of the reps during Wednesday's morning walkthrough, meaning he likely will start Sunday's home opener against the Atlanta Falcons.

Jeff Garcia, who led the Bucs to the playoffs last season, was not on the field for the walkthrough nor is he participating in this afternoon's practice. He suffered an ankle sprain against New Orleans on Sunday, according to coach Jon Gruden. He described Garcia as "questionable'' for the Atlanta game.

Garcia, 38, battled calf and pinkie injuries during training camp and was limited to one preseason appearance. His rust was evident against the Saints, as he struggled on third down and missed easy passes to Joey Galloway and Alex Smith.

He helped the Bucs battle back in the second half before a fourth-down pass was intercepted at the New Orleans 21-yard line with 38 seconds left. But today, some players already seemed resigned to Garcia missing the Atlanta game.

"It's a big blow," fullback B.J. Askew said of Garcia's absence. "But Brian Griese is definitely ready to step in and take over the job. . . The team has had some time to jell a little bit with him in the preseason, so hopefully we'll just pick up where we left off."

Garcia, who typically holds a Wednesday morning press conference, was not made available to the media.

Comments

[Ra'Shad]

Brian is the dump off king. that means the game will be boring but we will win the game, brad johnson always dumped the ball off in 02 and look what we did.

[DMS]

I am optimistic about this. Griese has always been given a bad rap, but he's not a bad passer. This is a game that we need to win, and I believe we will by double digits...

[Cris from MD]

I think this is a phantom injury, Gruden wants to see Griese play. Brian this is your chance!!!!! I think Garcia is still pissed about his contract, the Farve saga, why is it that Garcia can't do a 5 step drop and let the ball go on a regular basis? I'm pulling for you Brian!!!!!!

[Al Gore]

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/be1010f0b

Jon Gruden Must start learnin
41 Throws? My Stomachs Churning
Grahams Legs They’re not burning
Cause we didn’t run the ball.

The Falcons They whooped the Lions
Rushing Touchdowns and hardly tryin
Coach Gruden Dirty Birds were flying
Because they ran the ball.

Chorus:

Im so damn glad that we’re home again,
It is time to go to Ray Jay, let the carnage begin
We’re gonna fry the falcons make um mother hens
We will send them flyin, Gruden keep the ball on the ground.

Check the boxscore ,
Almost 8 yards a carry,
Graham and Dunn
Don’t‘mind if they‘re sharing,
Come On, We would be scary
If we‘d just run the ball.

Defense,
There’s not much to say
Just stop the Falcons
Avoid the big play.
Pressure Matt Ryan,
Make Atlanta Pay!!
And please lets run the ball.

Chorus

Im so damn glad that we’re home again,
It is time to go to Ray Jay, let the carnage begin
We’re gonna fry the falcons make um mother hens
We will send them flyin, Gruden keep the ball on the ground

We will win, just keep it on the ground.
We will win, just keep it on the ground.
We will win, just keep it on the ground.
We will win, just keep it on the ground.

[rod]

start dunn and graham on your fantasy teams cos they will get a ton of catches

[Mike]

Cris, do you really believe that Garcia would not open up his big mouth if this was a "phantom" injury? The whined to the media about everything else and he wouldn't say something now? Please don't be so naive and think he wouldn't.

[Daniel Andrews]

If he plays like he did in the preseason and we can run the ball with any type of success, we should be able to win this game.

Griese isn't a big play guy, but he's solid and (usually) makes the smart move without taking any risks.

[aaron]

i would rather see Greise than Garcia....

[jeff]

jeff your time just ran out ?

[Mike]

Brian. It's your time to shine!

[George Bush]

It may not be a phantom injury but if does seem like it isn't a serious one. Garcia said he was not hury and even the offensive linemen said it as well. Gruden is just finding a way to sit Garcia without getting the media all riled up. Garcia is not ready and we all saw that last Sunday. Good move on Grudens part. I know it was preseason but did anyone see Griese command the offense against the patriots. He took what the defense gave him and checked out of bad plays. Griese is ready and he listens to Gruden. Now, all we need is Davin to come back.

[mike]

Fine. But lets draft a real quarterback next year and maybe get a real offensive system. Winning teams can effectively throw downfield. This team cannot and no matter how they try to compensate, it aint gonna work. The only way it works is with a dominating defense, which tampa does not have anymore. Running and defense might get one a playoff birth at times, but we won the super bowl in 2002 because Brad Johnson opened it up in the playoffs. Watching the "dink and dunk" every week is like having my fingernails pulled out .....one by one.

[Paul]

He ought to play Luke McCown who is the most talented QB he has. Eventually the kid is going to leave for a place he can play.

[Anthony]

Griese has always looked very good in Gruden's offense, I saw this coming when they signed him in the off-season. In '04 when he started just 10 games he had 20 TD's and a 97.5 QB rating. I think he's has a better arm than Garcia and the guy that should start until they can draft a new young QB.

[Ray]

The only problem I have with Griese is he throws way too many INTs.

[Bucco]

A lot of bandwagon fans that was praising Garcia are now ready for him to be bench. It was one game and everyone needs to relax. There is a reason why Griese has been bounce from team to team. He ALWAYS make 1-2 bonehead plays a game.

[troy parker]

start luke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jake]

I thinks there is more here than meets the eye. The fact that Garcia missed his normal press conference is curious to say the least. Would not be surprised to see this ultimately end up in Garcia being blown out of here and Greise finishing the season as QB.

[Cris from MD]

Good point Mike! Garcia is seeing the big picture too. Other teams don't want someone who cries to the media about certain things. There are teams that need a QB out there. If Brian plays really well, you could see Garcia in a Patriot uniform. Or Cheifs, Garcia cries to the media but he knnows when to shut up too.

[bobbyd]

Don't you get envious of teams that have the same qb for multiple years? I can't imagine what it was like for Green Bay fans to have Brett Favre start every game for the last 40 years. We can't even make it one full season with the same QB. I'm too aggravated to look, but I'm wondering who the last Buc QB was that made it a full 16 games in a row.

I definitely find the injury a little suspicious. Garcia never looked limpy in the game. Did he hurt himself in the locker room?

[Wally]

No matter what happens, it's Gruden's fault. Please keep that in mind.

[Yemen]

Whew... good thing the Bucs didn't go after Favre harder. Oh, wait...

[Fugilebrity]

Durability and stability at the QB position leads to more wins. That is one of the biggest strengths Favre brings to the Jets. Hell or high water, week-in and week-out, he is going to be at the helm. No drop off or learning curve endured during the season due to getting a #2 or #3 QB ready to play three or four times in a 16 game schedule.

Garcia downfall started when he missed the start of camp to go the Garlic Festival. Does anyone not think that missing those two days has had a negative effect on his season to date?

[Sound Off]

That's why the Bucs wanted a Veteran like BG. They KNEW Garcia couldn't make it through the season without missing a game. They probably just didn't know it would be so soon. Although I'm not a BG fan, I think he's playing better right now than Garcia, injury or no injury.

[Jeff Garcia]

Please accept my apology if I've ever been "whiney" with the media. I said some things which should have been kept internal. However, put yourselves in my shoes for just one moment. The Buc's were expected to go nowhere last season. Remember? I played well enough to get us to the playoff's and myself to the Pro Bowl as being voted MVP on the Buc's. I help save Gruden/Allen's jobs, and get them an extension. My reward? I got screwed out of a large bonus and then they go shopping around for other quarterbacks. See if that would'nt also piss YOU off and you might get a little attitude!

[Al Gore]

Hey Jeff, how come you and Carmella haven't acknowledged Manbearpig? You want people to believe in your cause, but disregard ours. Here you are whining again in the press, per se. I could put lipstick on a palen, but it is still a damn fine looking piggy. gruden puts some lipstick on you, and the bucs still lose the season opener. GTFOOH loser.

[Everyone]

Jeff, apology accepted.

[Sgt Slaughter]

Gulf alpha yankee.