Al Davis: Monte Kiffin wanted to leave Bucs

Raiders owner Al Davis finally got around to firing coach Lane Kiffin today.

The move had been speculated for months, but he did reveal one surprise.

In describing the fallout with his 32-year-old coach, Davis said Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin wanted to join his son's coaching staff in Oakland.

"Monte told me that he wanted to come here...even though he is under contract with Tampa,' Davis said at his news conference Tuesday.

Davis said he the Raiders did not want to tamper, so he called Buccaneeers general manager Bruce Allen but ended up talking about Lane, "even though Monte wanted to leave.'

Monte Kiffin has been unavailable for comment.

Gruden backs Griese despite interceptions

Jon Gruden backed quarterback Brian Griese while acknowledging that he has to cut down on his turnovers during Gruden's news conference Monday at One Buc Place.

Griese had a 36.0 quarterback rating after completing 15 of 30 passes for 149 yards and three interceptions during Sunday's 30-21 win over the Packers. He has thrown six interceptions the past two weeks, both Bucs' wins.

''You've got some real good stats there,'' Gruden said. ''You know he's 3-0 as a starter; how about that? We've played two very good defenses. The Chicago Bears on the road -- he was the player of the week for us last week. He threw a couple interceptions yesterday and we can't have that. He knows that. But he's a winning quarterback for us and we're going to rally around him, continue to try to improve on his strengths and try to clean up a couple plays that hurt us last week."

Gruden said Griese made a ''good decision'' on his first interception, which was tipped by wide receiver Michael Clayton into the hands of Tramon Williams. "He missed the throw a litle bit,'' and "Nick Collins made a superb play'' on the second, Gruden said.

On the third, which Charles Woodson returned 62 yards for a touchdown and 21-20 Packers lead, ''I think Brian telegraphed it a little bit,'' Gruden said.

''I credit Green Bay to a degree, but we've got to make better decision-making,'' Gruden said, "and w'ere going to work toward that later this week.''

Gruden said Griese rebounded from the interceptions to make a couple of big plays down the stretch. He also liked the way Griese commanded the running game.

''I got a lot of respect and confidence in Brian Griese,'' Gruden said. "There’s three or four throws he’s made the last two weeks that have hurt us and there are about thirty five or forty throws that have really helped us. He made some throws yesterday after the third interception that were big time plays. They changed the game in terms of field position.

''He made some decisions in the running game that were outstanding. So there is some areas I think that are very clear and obvious that we need to clean up. He knows where I stand and where our team stands on turnovers and we got to clean that up, and we’re going to work our butt of this week to get that done.”

Gruden said the Bucs will "split the reps up and get all three guys some work'' in preparation for Sunday's game against the Broncos. He said the Bucs will need all three of its quarterbacks, including  former starter Jeff Garcia, at some point this season.

"Garcia was our starter and might be our starter again at some point in time,'' Gruden said.

Gruden expressed ''some concern'' about the right elbow injury that sent safety Sabby Piscitelli to the sideline in the third quarter. Gruden hoped to have more information about the severity of the injury later today.

Offensive linemen Arron Sears and Jeremy Trueblood also left the game with injuries. The team will update its official injury list on Wednesday, Gruden said.

Tell us what you think

Give us your take on the Bucs 30-21 win over the Packers. Include your name and hometown and you'll have a chance to see your comments in tomorrow's paper.

Bryant, Bucs ready for kickoff

They just kicked off here at Raymond James Stadium, with kicker Matt Bryant in the lineup just one day after burying his infant son, who died Wednesday.

The Bucs and Packers are evenly matched on paper, so this should be a good one.

For the Bucs, the lineup news today would be receiver Michael Clayton's insertion into the starting lineup opposite Antonio Bryant. Elsewhere, fullback B.J. Askew and receiver Joey Galloway are out, as expected. Byron Storer starts at fullback.

The Packers are missing injured safety Atari Bigby and cornerback Al Harris, who has a lacerated spleen.

I'll be analyzing things and reporting news throughout the afternoon. You know the drill: see me in the comments section below.

Bryant will kick today

It's official: Matt Bryant will kick for the Bucs today, one day after several members of the organization attended the funeral for his 3-month old son, Matthew Tryson.

There was never much doubt in Bryant's mind that he wanted to be with his teammates today. He told them early in the week he planned to play today against the Green Bay Packers. Consequently, the Bucs did not sign a place-kicker.

No doubt Bryant will be playing with a heavy heart after an emotional week. On Wednesday, Bryant's wife, Melissa, discovered that Tryson wasn't breathing when she went to wake the kids up for school.

 

Galloway, Askew likely out

The Bucs are likely to line up without WR Joey Galloway for the second week in a row, with coach Jon Gruden admitting today the veteran is a long shot to play against the Packers on Sunday.

Galloway missed last week's game at Chicago, too, with a foot sprain.

Also, FB B.J. Askew (hamstring) appears unlikely to play this week. In fact, the Bucs are concerned about the injury lingering for a while. They have not moved to acquire another fullback but expect to see Byron Storer on Sunday.

The prognosis on G Davin Joseph is a bit trickier. He returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time since breaking his foot last month. But after testing it during that workout, Joseph was more limited in practice the following day, seemingly having a setback.

As of now, Gruden hasn't said whether Joseph is a go or not, but he certainly seems to have doubts.

"He's on the way to recovery," Gruden said of Joseph. "I don't know that he's totally there yet. . . Right now, his status is still up in the air."

Trueblood fined $5,000 for Bears scrum

UPDATE, 4:02 p.m.: We've now learned from the NFL that Donald Penn was also fined $5,000 for a separate incident that resulted in his being flagged for unnecessary roughness in the first quarter.

Specifically, Penn unnecessarily struck an opponent in the head area, according to an NFL spokesman.

-- Stephen F. Holder

12:50 p.m.: Bucs tackle Jeremy Trueblood was fined $5,000 by the NFL for his involvement in an altercation with Bears defensive lineman Adewale Ogunleye in the Bucs' 27-24 overtime win over Chicago last Sunday.

Trueblood said it's the sixth time has has been fined during his career. It matches the $5,000 fine the league slapped on Bears defensive back Charles Tillman for his personal foul on Bucs receiver Michael Clayton -- a play that extended Tampa Bay's game-winning drive. Clayton said Friday he has not been notified of any impending fines.

Trueblood, who was not penalized on the play, was accused of being 'dirty,' by Bears defensive lineman Tommy Harris earlier this week. Trueblood said he was set off when an unidentified Bears player grabbed his groin on the play.

Meanwhile, Bucs defensive end Greg White was fined $7,500 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan Sept. 14.

Bears fined in Sunday fallout

Bears CB Charles Tillman was fined $5,000 by the NFL for his role in the overtime scuffle with the Bucs on Sunday that resulted in his game-altering unnecessary roughness penalty. Tillman told the Chicago Tribune he would appeal the fine.

Also, Jamar Williams was fined $7,500 for taunting.

Don't think the Bucs are going to get off without repercussions. It's very possible several players could be subject to fines considering all the extracurricular stuff coming from both teams in the Bucs' overtime victory.

We'll update you when we have the details.

Bucs will let Bryant decide whether to play

UPDATE, 4:52 p.m.: Coach Jon Gruden said after today's practice the team is weighing its options at kicker, but there is at least some indication Bryant will kick on Sunday.

Asked about the possibility of of signing another kicker, Gruden said, among other things, "If we have to deal with signing another kicker, we will. Right now, that's not part of our plan."

Gruden added that safety Sabby Piscitelli is the team's backup kicker at the moment, though it's hard to fathom the Bucs even considering using him in an actual game. We're told Piscitelli has actually kicked in practice this week.

Stephen F. Holder

1:48 p.m.: The Bucs will allow kicker Matt Bryant to decide whether he wants to play in Sunday's game against the Packers.

Bryant and his wife, Melissa, are mourning the death of their 3-month old son, Tryson, who passed away early Wednesday.

The Bucs have not brought in another place-kicker, but the team has a plan for either scenario as soon as Bryant makes a decision.

Punter Josh Bidwell, who holds on place-kicks, said he would not be surprised if Bryant kicked Sunday.

"It's hard to say. He's got the free reign obviously by the team to do what he needs to do to heal,'' Bidwell said. "I'll be honest with you, I wouldn't be surprised to see him try to get out there but I wouldn't fault him in any way if he just couldn't be out there. Something like this would take time for a lot of people. I'm proud of him either way.

"He's doing a great job, responding well and embracing the love and support we're giving him and we'll certainly do that in this decision that he'll eventually make.''

No penalty for Stevens

Tight end Jerramy Stevens won't be fined for an arguably suggestive gesture made after scoring the tying touchdown against the Chicago Bears last Sunday.

An NFL spokesperson confirmed this morning that the play was reviewed by league officials -- as all plays are -- but no action will be taken.

Bryant situation a delicate issue for Bucs

The Bucs are still reeling from the death of kicker Matt Bryant's infant son on Wednesday.

It was evident from the cracking in coach Jon Gruden's voice while announcing the news that the team indeed feels the family's pain.

But, even though typing these words feels absolutely awkward, Sunday's game will not wait. And so, the Bucs have a decision to make here.

Do they hold out for a couple days and see whether Bryant will be emotionally stable enough to kick on Sunday against the Packers? Or, do they go ahead and make a roster move and encourage Bryant to take some time away?

Most likely, the team has already started contacting kickers on its "emergency list," which is a list of free agents at each position who would be available in the event of an injury or unexpected circumstances, such as this. The Bucs probably have a kicker in mind already although they haven't signed one yet. They conceivably could wait until the last minute, then make a decision at that point.

Remember, if they opt to bring in a kicker temporarily, it will create another issue. The Bucs would have to release a player to make room on the active roster. And we know what the consequences of such a move could be after cornerback Marcus Hamilton was claimed off waivers by the Bears earlier this week.

Nothing is more important than family, a point that will not be lost on anyone involved in this situation. But the reality is, there could be some football fallout from this terrible, unspeakable tragedy.

Are Bucs getting 'return' on investment?

One of the things that was lost in the craziness of Sunday's win in Chicago was the decision to substitute Michael Clayton as the primary return man on several kickoffs.

Second-round pick Dexter Jackson has been handling the majority of kicks, but wasn't on the field for at least a couple of them against the Bears.

Why?

"It's new to him," coach Jon Gruden said. "Obviously, he didn't have the greatest footing, for whatever the reasons were. We have a guy standing there in Clayton who was really feeling it, and I like the way he played. (I said) 'Get back there and do this, man. Take one back.' He was decisive and physical in the hole and, if you're going to play the Chicago Bears, you better take it north and south and keep your feet. That's the reason we made the change."

Granted, Jackson didn't return many kickoffs in college, as he was more of a punt returner. But he has had only mild success in that regard for the Bucs. He is yet to truly make his presence known.

Regarding punt returns in general, Gruden said, "I want to see a lot more, to be honest with you. We've worked at it. We had some excitement in the preseason (Jackson's touchdown at Houston). We had a potential game-breaking play in New Orleans. We've been kind of quiet. But then again, we have to keep working. There's a lot of areas we'd like to pick up, and that's one of them."

As for the possibility of seeing more of Clayton as a kick returner, especially after his three returns for 69 yards, Gruden didn't sound too open to the possibility.

"I think Mike has the ability to do a lot of things," Gruden said. "I'd like to let him zoom in on the wide receiver position. He's playing pretty good right now and I think he can play better this week. I just don't want to put too many things on his plate right now."

Joseph will play Sunday

Guard Davin Joseph returned to practice Wednesday in a full-time capacity for the first time since suffering a broken foot Aug. 17.

Coach Jon Gruden said that Joseph will be available to play in some capacity against the Green Bay Packers Sunday.   "His role in this game will be decided later in the week,'' Gruden said.

"We've been cautious. He wouldn't be out there practicing, preparing to play this week if there was any potential he would have a setback. We've been very cautious, we've done the right thing. The injury has healed. We'll see how he feels after a pretty good practice today.''

Bryant's infant son dies

Matthew (Tryson) Bryant, the youngest son of Bucs kicker Matt Bryant and his wife, Melissa, passed away early this morning.

''We had a terrible tragedy this morning,'' Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "We lost a key member of our family.''

Gruden said 3-month-old Tryson "just didn't wake up''. He didn't have any further information.

"We're just shocked and very saddened by this,'' Gruden said. "I don't have any other details. I just ask our fans to keep the Bryants in their prayers.''

Hillsborough Sheriff's deputies responded to the Bryant family's address around 7:30 a.m. in reference to a 3-month-old boy.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said the baby's mother discovered the infant was not breathing as she made the rounds to wake up the kids and get them ready for school.

The death is not considered suspicious, Carter said.

"The entire Buccaneer family is deeply saddened by this tragedy,'' said Bucs general manager Bruce Allen. "The Bryants have been an inspiration to the entire community through their commitment to their family and their exhaustive efforts working with children and those in need in the Bay area. Our thoughts and prayers are with Matt and Melissa during this difficult time.''

After practice, the team kneeled together in prayer.

"I would just appreciate it if we could give Matt some privacy right now,'' Gruden said. "Obviously, the details will come later. But it's just a horrible tragedy and we can't explain it. I just ask the fans and people who know Matt to keep him in their prayers. It'll be hard for him to overcome this, but we've got to do the best we can right now.''

Punter Josh Bidwell, who holds on kicks for Bryant, was hit hard by the news.

"Having kids of my own, I couldn’t imagine the pain that is associated with such a terrible loss,'' Bidwell said. "The entire extended Buccaneers family will be there for the Bryants in every way possible to help them during this difficult time.  We hope that everyone keeps them in their thoughts and prayers.”

Any decision about who will kick Sunday against the Packers can wait, Gruden said.

"This puts things in real perspective,'' Gruden said. "We'll deal with it from a football standpoint. We're just worried about Matt's personal standpoint. He and Melissa. They're great friends.''

Information regarding donations or expressions of sympathy will be announced as soon as arrangements have been made.

-- Rick Stroud and Rebecca Catalanello, Times Staff Writers

Trueblood: I'm not a dirty player

Bucs right tackle Jeremy Trueblood dismissed accusations by several Chicago Bears defensive linemen that he is a 'dirty player.'

The Bears accused Trueblood of igniting and overtime scuffle last Sunday that resulted in Chicago cornerback Charles Tillman being flagged for a personal foul -- a penalty that led to the Bucs' 27-24 win.

The Bears claimed that Trueblood took swings at Adewale Ogunleye and Tommie Harris while on the ground. Trueblood has accused an unidentified Bears player of grabbing his genitals.

"I'm not trying to be dirty, I'm just trying to play hard,'' Trueblood said Wednesday.

"It's a thin line, it's a mutual respect line that I try to tiptoe every week. I try to be respectful. I think everyone else tries to be respectful. But every once in awhile, I guess sometimes people's tempers flare.''

There's an outside chance Trueblood may have his old linemate back this weekend. Right guard Davin Joseph, who has been out five weeks with a broken foot, may participate in practice on a limited basis this week.

"It's hard to say what you really consider practice,'' Joseph said. "I don't know what role they'll have me doing today. I'll find out as practice goes and hopefully, as the week goes on, everything goes right.''

 

   

 

Hamilton claimed by Bears

CB Marcus Hamilton played his first NFL game against the Bears on Sunday, filling in for the suspended Elbert Mack and injured Aqib Talib.

With his services no longer needed, he was promptly released by Tampa Bay.

He wasn't unemployed for long.

Hamilton was claimed off waivers by the Bears, who no doubt were impressed by Hamilton's relatively solid performance in Chicago.

It's great news for the 2007 seventh-round pick, who had spent all of his short NFL career on the practice squad before being promoted last week. Meanwhile, the Bucs get Mack back this week and hope Talib is healthy enough to play against Green Bay.

Bucs banged up: Askew, Sims have hamstring strains

Bucs coach Jon Gruden was plenty happy about a lot of things from Sunday's dramatic, come-from-behind OT win over the Bears.

Gruden praised the poise of Brian Griese, the protection by the offensive line, and the emergence of receiver Antonio Bryant and Jerramy Stevens.

But the Bucs again left a game banged up, as Gruden said fullback B.J. Askew and defensive lineman Ryan Sims suffered hamstring strains.

Gruden said he doensn't know yet whether Aqib Talib or Joey Galloway will play this weekend against the Packers, but said Talib has a better chance than Galloway.

Here's some excerpts:

Gruden on Griese: "He was great down the stretch, it's hard to duplicate that. It's hard to beat what he did in the last 30 minutes, 25-30 minutes of the game."

Gruden on the protection: "I think it had a lot to do with our ability to come from behind and win. Any time your quarterback has a chance to see and go through his reads, have vision in the pocket, it certainly helps."

Gruden on difficulty running the ball vs Bears: "We had some good looks, some draw plays. If you watch the game, they have a guy in every gap on every snap and it's hard to run. It's hard. It's a loaded box, a lot of single blocsk, and they've got an extra man in support a lot of the time.'

More to come

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Postgame comments: Tell us what you think

After the game, tell us what you think. Did any plays stand out? If you were coach, would you have done some things differently? Include your name and hometown and we'll post some of the best comments in tomorrow's paper.

Bucs ready to go; Talib, Hester out

We're ready to go from the press box here at Soldier Field, and there's already some intrigue even before kickoff.

The teams have announced their inactive players for today, and the most notable is Bucs rookie CB Aqib Talib. His hamstring injury apparently is worse than we realized and he will not play today. WR Joey Galloway is out, as expected. Other inactives for the Bucs include RB Michael Bennett, QB Jeff Garcia and DE Greg Peterson.

The loss of Talib can't be overstated. The Bucs play a great deal of nickel defense, and that requires the use of a third cornerback. Today, that third cornerback might be Marcus Hamilton, fresh off the practice squad. Remember, backup Elbert Mack is suspended today for his hit on Matt Ryan last week. There is some chance the Bucs could use safety Tanard Jackson as a third cornerback, but that remains to be seen.

In other news, the Bucs have shuffled their receiver lineup. After Michael Clayton's declaration last week that he expected to be in the starting lineup, the Bucs instead are starting Antonio Bryant and Ike Hilliard at receiver. Bryant will play split end and Hilliard will line up at flanker. Expect Clayton to be the third receiver in obvious passing situations.

For the Bears, WR/KR Devin Hester is out with a ribs injury, limiting the Bears effectiveness on special teams and in the passing game, where he was to be featured this season.

Once the game gets underway, join us in the comments section below as I give you some analysis and updates on the game.

Mack appeal denied by NFL

Elbert Mack's appeal of his one-game suspension was denied by the NFL, meaning he will miss Sunday's game at Chicago.

The Bucs rookie defensive back was suspended for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan Sunday following a fumble recovery.

Mack appealed the suspension, hoping he would be allowed to play against the Bears. But the were informed that the suspension was upheld. To replace Mack, the Bucs signed Marcus Hamilton from the practice squad.

"It doesn't look good I guess,'' coach Jon Gruden said. "We've got to get another man up and ready to play. If you remember, Marcus had a good training camp and he'll play if needed.''

    

Did Clayton speak too soon?

Coach Jon Gruden was clearly miffed today when he I asked him about WR Joey Galloway's prospects for playing on Sunday and he responded with what amounted to a swipe at WR Michael Clayton.

Clayton on Wednesday said he expected to start in Galloway's place at Chicago. Turns out, that probably wasn't a wise move.

"A couple players have already spoken that (Galloway is) not going (to play), but I'll make that decision, okay?" Gruden said. "I'll decide who starts, too. As long as I have the title here as head coach, I'll do that."

Sounds to me like a not-so-veiled shot at Clayton. I would like to think that Gruden wouldn't change his mind and pull Clayton from the starting lineup to make some kind of point, but who knows?

Devin Hester has torn rib cartilage

Bears WR/KR Davin Hester told Chicago media today he has has some torn cartilage in his rib area. He is feeling better, he said, but that doesn't guarantee he'll play against the Bucs on Sunday.

"I was told that if you go out there and it's not healed all the way, then you could damage it even more," he said. "I'm just going to get as much treatment as I can, and hopefully ill be ready."

Hester said he couldn't breathe normally for a couple days earlier in the week. He sustained the injury making a quick move against the Panthers last Sunday.

Galloway not looking good

WR Joey Galloway, making his first public comments since sustaining a foot injury against the Falcons on Sunday, said his injury has improved but he still isn't capable of practicing and hasn't begun rehabbing the injury.

"I'm walking now," he said, "which is definitely progress from where I was Monday."

Galloway had been on crutches but has since abandoned them.

Asked if running on the injury could make it worse, Galloway said, "It could make it worse if we were to do too much right now. . . We'll just have to let it quiet down a bit and then begin the rehab process."

NFL will hear Mack appeal of suspension

Bucs rookie cornerback Elbert Mack is appealing his one-game suspension for his helmet-to-helmet hit of Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.

A hearing will be scheduled for later this week and a decision rendered before the Bucs play at Chicago Sunday, according to Ray Anderson, the NFL's Vice President of Football Operations.

Mack, an undrafted free agent from Troy, was suspended for Sunday's game at Chicago, without pay, for a flagrant violation of player safety rules, his second this season.

""We take it very seriously,'' coach Jon Gruden said of the NFL's ruling. ""At the same time, we're going to loook into the situation and support Elbert. He's a good kid. They take hits like that seriously, the league does. And we respect certainly the policies the league has. I'll just say this: Elbert Mack is a great kid, there's nothing malicious about him. That's the best way I can put it right now.''

The Bucs can ill-afford to lose Mack this week. Cornerback Aqib Talib has a hamstring strain and is questionable for Sunday's game. He was limited in practice Wednesday.

""Anytime you lose a player that's playing good, it can hurt us,'' Gruden said.

Anderson said Mack unnecessarily launched himself into Ryan during the return of a fumble and made impermissable helmet-to-helmet contact with Ryan.

Mack was recently fined $5,000 for an unnecssary roughness penalty on Houston Texans quarterback Alex Brink.

""He's entitled to a hearing and one will be held this week,''  Anderson said. "And a decision rendered prior to the game.''

Clayton to start vs. Bears; Galloway out

Michael Clayton is back in the starting lineup.

The Bucs' beleaguered receiver, who was inactive in the first game, said he will start at flanker Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Antonio Bryant will move to split end.

Receiver Joey Galloway has a right foot sprain and is not expected to play this week. Bryant will be in Galloway's spot.

"It's a big opportunity,'' Clayton said. "It's one that I've been waiting for.

'"I've been told I will be starting, so we'll see what happens. There's a lot of opportunity for any wide receiver who will be out there.''    

 

Roster moves coming at cornerback

The Bucs are expected to do a little roster shuffling today to compensate for the loss of suspended CB Elbert Mack.

It appears they've already released tight end Ben Troupe, which isn't a surprise given Jerramy Stevens' return to the active roster this week. But Troupe technically didn't have to be let go to accommodate Stevens since Mack's suspension opened a roster spot, at least for this week.

So, what's up? We've learned the Bucs have been assessing several cornerbacks this week and are expected to add one to their active roster to replace Mack. The Bucs would be left with just three cornerbacks if they chose not to address the position, and one of those is rookie Aqib Talib who suffered a hamstring strain against the Falcons.

It remains a strong possibility the Bucs will opt against signing any of the unidentified prosepcts they're considering and simply promote CB Marcus Hamilton from the practice squad. Hamilton was a seventh-round draft pick in 2007 from Virginia.

This much we know for sure: The Bucs definitely won't be using another practice squad CB, Brandon Sumrall. We've recently confirmed that he has been released.

We'll have more on this and other storylines throughout the day as Wednesday tends to be the newsiest day of the week at One Buc Place.

Bucs cut Troupe to make room for Stevens

The Bucs released tight end Ben Troupe to make room for the return of Jerramy Stevens.

Troupe, a former second-round pick by the Titans, signed with the Bucs as a free agent. But he saw little playing time behind Alex Smith and John Gilmore.

Stevens ws activated from the reserve/suspended list. He served a two-game suspension stemming from his DUI convcition in 2007.

Troupe had no receptions in two games with the Bucs. He is not subject to waivers and immediately will become a free agent. The balance of his $605,000 is guaranteed.

Mack suspended one game for hit on Ryan

Bucs rookie cornerback Elbert Mack has been suspended one game for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan Sunday.

NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson issued the suspension Tuesday. Mack was suspended for Sunday's game at Chicago, without pay, for a flagrant violation of player safety rules, his second this season.

Anderson said Mack unecessarily launched himself into Ryan on a pass interception return play and made impermissable helmet-to-helmet contact.

Mack was recently fined $5,000 for an unecessary roughness penalty on Houston Texans quarterback Alex Brink.

In a letter to Mack, Anderson said, "Your actions are of particular concern in light of the emphasis that our office has placed on developing and enforcing rules designed to protect players from injury, including concussions. The safety of our players is paramount to all of us in the NFL.'

The timing of Mack's suspension could hurt the Bucs. An undrafted free agent from Troy, Mack may have seen playing time against the Bears because starting nickel cornerback Aqib Talib has a hamstring strain and may be questionable against the Bears.

   

Officials fouled up 4th quarter call

This comes well after the fact, but wanted you to know that the NFL owned up today, admitting the Bucs should have retained possession on the disputed fourth quarter play against the Falcons that involved two separate penalties, a fumble and lots of confusion.

An NFL spokesman, after consulting with the officiating staff, told us the officiating crew made an incorrect ruling after S Sabby Piscitelli recovered a Roddy White fumble and attempted a forward lateral. The ball was awarded to the Falcons after a personal foul committed against Atlanta QB Matt Ryan was assessed to Bucs CB Elbert Mack. But according to league spokesman Randall Liu, the penalty actually occurred after the initial change of possession, meaning it should not have resulted in the Falcons being awarded possession.

The Bucs should have retained possession, even though they would have been subject to the 15-yard penalty for the personal foul. On the field, the officials ruled that Mack's personal foul was committed while the ball was loose, which wasn't the case.

As for Piscitelli's forward lateral, it was illegal, which means -- if I understand this correctly -- the ball would have been whistled dead and Atlanta would not have had a chance to recover it. The decision to give possession back to Atlanta had nothing to do with Piscitelli's pitch. It stemmed only from the incorrect ruling on the personal foul.

Even a day later, the whole episode seemed confusing for coach Jon Gruden.

"After that 15-minute delay, I just said, 'Whatever. Let's just go to the next play,' " Gruden said. "To make a long story short, it was exhausting down there."

Greg White gets contract extension

DE Greg White's sole protest against the Bucs' decision not to extend his contract over the summer was to report a day late to training camp.

After that, the exclusive-rights free agent backed down and played under his one-year minimum-salary contract.

Until now.

White recently signed a two-year contract extension that gives him more security and substantially more money, keeping him with the Bucs through 2010. He will make $370,000 this season but has numerous incentives for sacks. White stands to make $2.5-million under terms of the deal, according to agent Jack Bechta.

Having posted 2.5 sacks through two weeks, White is on pace to surpass his team-leading eight sacks in 2007. Concerns about consistency could have played a role in the Bucs' initial reluctance to grant an extension, considering last season was White's first in the NFL after several years in Europe and the Arena League.

White was at the mercy of NFL rules which are unfavorable toward undrafted players who excel early in their careers. Because he was not a full-time NFL player until last season, White was not eligible for free agency and was prohibited from negotiating with any other club. The Bucs were required only to offer him a one-year contract worth $370,000 to retain exclusive negotiating rights, an offer White reluctantly signed.

The deal does not include any guaranteed money nor an upfront signing bonus, so it is a low-risk deal for the Bucs. All in all, both parties should be pretty pleased about this outcome. Kudos to the Bucs for getting the deal done.

Gruden continues to deny Garcia rumors

Coach Jon Gruden has tried to avoid getting into specifics when asked about the possibility of quarterback Jeff Garcia being traded.

But Gruden made his most emphatic denial today when asked about the potential for moving Garcia, something that has been suggested and reported in a number of places in recent days.

Asked if the Bucs or anyone in the organization has discussed Garcia with other teams, Gruden said, "I have not. I have not talked to anybody about Jeff. There are a lot of reports out there and if someone ever came to me that had issued a report, I would be happy to address it. But there's a lot of reports out there that are erroneous and incorrect."

So, basically, the reports are not true?

"Not to my knowledge," he said.

You can make of that whatever you want. It wasn't that long ago Gruden was issuing strong denials about the team's interest in Brett Favre, and we all know that wasn't exactly, well, true.

Not calling Jon a liar. Just saying that, oftentimes, where there's smoke, there's fire (i.e. Favre). And right now, it's pretty smokey around here.

Galloway, Talib being evaluated

Bucs wide receiver Joey Galloway is getting evaluated after sustaining what the team called a foot sprain  Sunday against the Falcons. The Bucs expect to know more about his playing status on Wednesday, coach Jon Gruden said Monday during his weekly news conference.

Galloway left in the second half of the Bucs' 24-9 win and did not return. He was seen this morning hobbling around One Buc Place with the aid of crutches, an ominous sign heading into the week.

"At this point, there is some concern,'' Gruden said. "After we get the doctor's report, we'll let you know.''

Galloway, the Bucs' biggest deep threat, missed the entire preseason with a hamstring strain. If he can't play this week against the Chicago Bears, Maurice Stovall, who was inactive against the Falcons, will be available.

Gruden said the team also expects to know more about the extent of cornerback Aqib Talib's hamstring injury on Wednesday, though Talib said after the game he returned to the field briefly and did not fear the injury was serious.

Brian Griese appears to have earned another start at quarterback after going 18 of 31 for 160 yards and a touchdown in his first start for the Bucs in three seasons.

"We don't anticipate any changes at that position this week,'' Gruden said.

The role of quarterback Jeff Garcia, the Bucs' opening-week starter, "will be determined on a ''week-to-week basis,'' Gruden said.

Tight end Jerramy Stevens returns this week after being suspended the first two games for violating the NFL's Substance Abuse Policy. That means the Bucs will have to release a player from their active roster to make room. There is a chance that it could be another tight end, most likely Ben Troupe.

Asked about that possibility Monday, Gruden said only that there would be some tough decisions to make. That transaction could be made as early as today.

Looks like more Griese next week

Coach Jon Gruden said he didn't want to speculate on who might start at Chicago next Sunday, but he promptly went on to say he foresees Griese starting in the Windy City.

Jeff Garcia didn't have much to say after game, saying only that he'd wait for Gruden to decide his next course of action at quarterback. Guess he won't have to wait long, because Gruden's mind appears made up.

Griese finished the day 18-of-31 with 160 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked twice and didn't throw an interception. It was about what you might expect from Griese: unspectacular but not bad, either. He missed some open receivers, threw a bunch of balls to his backs and tight ends and didn't really stretch the field.

But he won, and that will take you places with Gruden.

It will be interesting to see how he fares next week against an opportunistic Chicago defense, on the road no less. Gruden will have a lot to do with his success or lack thereof. He called a much better game today, one that played to Griese's strengths. It's arguable that you could say the same thing about the Saints game.

We'll see how everything plays out, but it appears we know who the quarterback is in Tampa Bay -- for another week, at least.

In other news, receiver Joey Galloway suffered what the team is calling a foot sprain in the second half and didn't return. Since we couldnt speak to him after the game, it's impossible to know what his condition is. Galloway left the field around the 2-minute warning mark and wasn't seen again, at least by anyone in the media. Gruden admitted he's concerned about the injury given all the time Galloway missed in the preseason. We'll do our best to update you in the morning.

Bucs-Falcons: Tell us what you think

Give us your observations -- and rants --  when the Bucs-Falcons game ends. Include your name and hometown and you'll have a chance of seeing your comments in tomorrow's paper.

Bucs home opener underway

Sorry to be a little late getting online, a result of wireless connection issues.

Here at Raymond James Stadium, the Bucs are underway against Atlanta. Aqib Talib just had his first career interception, and the Bucs are in business at the Falcons'  20.

LB Derrick Brooks made his 194th consecutive start today, despite a strained hamstring. Brian Griese got the start at quarterback as promised.

The Bucs' inactive players today include WR Maurice Stovall, who has a shoulder injury. Michael Clayton is in the lineup after sitting out last week. Also inactive is RB Michael Bennett. Jeff Garcia is the emergency (third) quarterback.

For the Falcons, DT Grady Jackson is inactive, though it isn't clear why. Whatever the reason, the Bucs catch a break there.

I'll be here throughout, posting in the comments section just below. Feel free to join.

Brooks to start vs Falcons

The streak lives for another day.

Linebacker Derrick Brooks, who did not practice this week due to a hamstring strain he suffered against the Saints, will start today against the Atlanta Falcons.

Brooks has never missed a game in his pro career and will extend his streak to 194 consecutive games started -- the longest of any active defensive player in the NFL.

Brooks warmed up before the game and pronounced himself well enough to play.

In another matter, Jeff Garcia will be the inactive third quarterback for the Bucs today. Brian Griese will start and Luke McCown will be No. 2.

Receiver Michael Clayton, who was inactive against the Saints, will be available today. Maurice Stovall, who has a neck strain, is inactive. For the second straight game, running back Michael Bennett is inactive.

      

Brooks won't test hamstring until Sunday

Linebacker Derrick Brooks will not take a single repetition at practice this week because of a strained right hamstring.

But the only person who will decide whether Brooks is going to play against the Falcons Sunday is Brooks.

The 10-time Pro Bowl linebacker has that kind of clout after starting 193 straight games -- the most by any active defensive player in the NFL.

"I know I'm going to go out there Sunday and he's going to come to me or the trainers and say, 'He's in.' And then he's in," linebackers coach Gus Bradley said. "That's the way that decision will be made.

"Now if he's out, we've got to adjust and that's what we're preparing for now. Both scenarios. Okay, Derrick is playing. Derrick is not playing.

"Derrick is the ultimate professional. If he goes out there before the game and works out and knows he's going to put himself or the team in jeopardy, he's not going to play. We just trust him so much with the number of years he's been in the league, he's going to know how his body is.''

The Bucs have practiced all week with strongside linebacker Cato June moving over to Brooks' spot at weakside linebacker and Quincy Black starting at June's spot. Adam Hayward has been Brooks' backup the past two seasons. He was forced to come out of the game against the Saints because of cramps from dehydration.

Bucs game won't be blacked out

Bucs team officials said today that there are a few "scattered" seats remaining for Sunday's home opener against the Falcons, but it is close enough to a sellout that the game will not be subject to the league's blackout rule. The game will be televised at 4 p.m. Sunday on Ch. 13.

Garcia fires back

Jeff Garcia says he is healthy enough to practice and play this week and disagrees with Jon Gruden's decision to bench him.

Garcia, 38, wore no special support for a sprained ankle he suffered in Sunday's 24-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

But he acknowledged that he could've played better in the season opener and vowed to correct his mistakes while getting his body healthy.

Veteran Brian Griese will start Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

""Right now, having only played one game, I would've liked the opportunity to battle through whatever I'm going through,'' Garcia said. ""But coach made that decision early in the week and I have to live with it.

"I understand in the game on Sunday, there were a couple plays I left out on the field. And I'm hard enough on myself to know that they could've been difference-makers in the game. I know I can turn that around, I can learn from whatever I didn't do. And I think there's been some things that unfortunately have piled up injury-wise that I don't like to bring to anybody's attention because I always feel I can fight through it, that I can always get through those things and not have them be a factor. Well, coach feels like there's some things that are factors, that are taken away from what I bring to the table. So right now, it's his decision.''

Garcia has struggled through some injuries. He said he injured his back early in the off-season. He suffered a right calf injury Aug. 31 that forced him to miss most of training camp and has a jammed pinkie finger on his throwing hand. Now the ankle.

"I've played through a lot worse before and that's not anything new,'' Garcia said.

"It's just one thing after another and I know everybody will say, hey, well he's old and he's running out of gas and this is what happens to old guys...all I can do is focus on getting better and being supportive.''

Emotionally, Garcia says he's tried to move on from the disappointments of the off-season, including the Bucs' failure to make up for a missed play-time incentive bonus and the team's attempts to trade for Brett Favre.      

""I can't continue to focus or dwell on things that aren't positive for this team and those things aren't positive because if I dwell on that, that takes away who I need to be for this team,'' Garcia said.

""I feel like I'm emotionally stable. I'm not a basket case. I'm not somebody who's going to take away what this team's focus is. I don't know if coach believes that because things that have stockpiled it has seemed and that maybe I have allowed to stockpile have taken away from the edge that I normally have on the field. If that's what he believes, if that's what he feels, I need to do my best to get that back and prove to him that it's there.''

   

      

Fan conduct: Tell us your story

You're at a Bucs game with your wife, or maybe your kids. And the fan behind you is cursing a blue streak:

"Gruden, you ----!"

You're flinching after each incomplete pass and missed tackle because the filthy outrage is close behind, coming over your shoulder.

This is talking during a movie raised to an obscene exponent. You wish the alphabet never included the letter "k."

These tickets cost you $200, you gotta do something, right?

Well, the National Football League is trying to help with a new code of conduct for fans. Grossed out by the drunk two rows back? The NFL now says that "any fan in violation of the code will be subject to ejection without refund, and loss of ticket privileges for future games."

We're writing about the new fan policy for Friday's St. Pete Times.

What do you think? It's about time? It infringes on free speech? What have been your experiences at Bucs games? Post in the comments area.

Clayton says pride hurt by benching

Receiver Michael Clayton says his pride was hurt by being benched in the season opener at New Orleans.

The former first-round pick was inactive against the Saints but says he was physically ready to play.

"Anytime you have an opportunity taken away from you, it's a blow to your pride,'' Clayton said Wednesday. "But as a man and a professional, you have to stay positive and put it behind you.'

Making things worse for Clayton is the fact that he will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and his value won't increase unless he is on the field.

"If I don't get the opportunity and everything stays the same this year, what more do I have to do?' Clayton said. "I don't mind starting over with a team that would like to let me play.''

Clayton said he has no idea whether the Bucs plan to make him active Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

"It's tough man, it's tough not to play,'' Clayton said. "It's tough not to get the win. It doesn't make anything better to add fuel to the fire and that definitely won't happen by me. I'm not that kind of guy.'' 

   

It's official: Garcia to sit

Coach Jon Gruden just made it official, saying without reservation after a just-completed practice that Brian Griese will start Sunday's game against the Falcons.

Gruden said the team hopes Garcia can use the week off to heal his sprained ankle and, perhaps, make a full recovery from the calf injury that limited him in the preseason that might not be completely healed.

"I believe the best thing to do is go with Griese and that's what we'll do," Gruden said.

"I just want him to get healthy physically and emotionally and hopefully he can come back and get started and be the kind of quarterback I know he is."

Not sure what Gruden means when he refers to Garcia's emotional state, but this might not be strictly a matter of health. Also, indications we got from a subsequent conversation with Gruden point to Garcia being very unhappy with the decision, a sign he feels he is able to play this week.

As far as Griese is concerned, starting this weekend gives him a chance to potentially finish what he started in Tampa in 2005, when he suffered a season-ending knee injury.

"When I left here in 2005, I had unfinished business," he said.  "I knew we had a good team and that stung. Ever since that point, I wanted the opportunity to come back and finish that business and that's how I'm going to approach this, as a continuation of what I started."

Also, updating an earlier post, Warrick Dunn's absence in today's practice was scheduled. The team is trying to keep him fresh considering he is 33-years old.

STEPHEN F. HOLDER

Brooks, Dunn missing from practice

No surprise here, but LB Derrick Brooks is not participating in today's afternoon practice at One Buc Place.

Brooks suffered a a hamstring strain in Sunday's game at New Orleans and remains a question mark for this weekend's home opener against the Falcons.

Strangely, RB Warrick Dunn was not seen practicing, either, though we don't have any information as to why. WR Joey Galloway was missing, too, but he has been given Wednesdays off since last season in an effort to rest his legs.

We'll update you more as the afternoon progresses. Coach Jon Gruden will be available to the media in a couple hours.

Simms agrees to deal with Titans

Chris Simms is back in the NFL.

Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher told reporters Tuesday night that Simms had agreed to a deal to serve as the backup to Kerry Collins.

Titans starting quarterback Vince Young could miss four to six weeks with a sprained ligament in his knee.

The Titans worked out Quinn Gray, Doug Johnson and Joey Harrington Tuesday but told all three to go home. Simms also received interest from the Ravens, Patriots and Chiefs.

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.

One for the record books

Yes, we're two days removed from Sunday's season opener, but I stumbled upon an eye-opening tidbit that you'll probably find amazing.

The Saints' Devery Henderson's 84-yard touchdown reception was the longest completion allowed by the Bucs since Dec. 23, 1995. That's when Detroit's Scott Mitchell hooked up with Brett Perriman for a 91-yard touchdown. Overall, the Drew Brees-to-Henderson play is the second longest pass allowed by the Bucs in franchise history, behind the aforementioned Detroit play.

Cornerback Ronde Barber tripped while pursuing Henderson, but it's questionable at best to say Barber would have caught him.

It's just one more unflattering moment from Sunday's loss.

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.

These questions need some answers

After watching today's loss in New Orleans, there are a handful of questions that weren't properly addressed and likely will be revisited in the next several days. Let's go over a few:

• For starters, when Derrick Brooks was injured, it's odd that the Bucs used the backup weak-side linebackers, Adam Hayward and Matt McCoy. Why not move Cato June to the weak-side (his natural position anyway) and have Quincy Black play June's strong-side position? The Bucs seem to be high on Black, and he is the fourth best linebacker on the team by all accounts. Seems June would have been capable of making the transition to the weak side.
• What happened to the offensive line? These guys were supposed to be arguably the best line the Bucs ever had. They did a decent enough job as run blockers, but were horrific in pass potection. And rookie Jeremy Zuttah had a long day against another rookie, Saints first rounder Sedrick Ellis. It's enough to make you wonder if the Bucs will think about playing Sean Mahan, acquired in a trade last week with the Steelers, to play guard. Also, Donald Penn had, in my opinion, his worst day as a starter. He was being manhandled by Will Smith at left tackle.
• What is up with Joey Galloway? He looks to me like a guy who doesn't want to be out there sometimes. Seeing how he is the Bucs' No. 1 receiver, that's a problem. Someone has to say, so there. Galloway's effort could be called into question, I think. He made no effort to adjust his routes on Sunday despite the incessant pressure Jeff Garcia was under. It seemed like Garcia got hit on every pass attempt. Garcia had his own issues, of course. He wasn't sharp and looked antsy in the pocket, which led to some ugly throws. But he got no help from Galloway, who quit running on at least one pattern and made little effort in other situations.
• Finally, what is the plan for Dexter Jackson? The Bucs don't seem confident in his ability to field punts in critical situations, evidenced by the team's decision to substitute Ike Hilliard for Jackson at times. At this point, Jackson doesn't have any other means to impact the game other than as a kick and punt returner. If he can only be used selectively, that's got to be a disappointment for the club considering his status as a second-round pick.

Increased interest in Simms

Keep an on Monday on former Bucs quarterback Chris Simms.

He could soon find a landing spot with all the injuries suffered by quarterbacks on Sunday. According to various reports, Simms is being linked to the Patriots, Chiefs and Titans, all of whom saw their quarterbacks sustain injuries on Sunday.

One reason Simms is more attractive to teams this week: Veterans' salaries aren't guaranteed after Week 1, meaning there won't be as much financial risk in signing him. If he is released later in the season, a team would not owe him the balance of his annual salary. Had he signed last week, Simms would have been entitled to such a benefit by virtue of his active roster status on opening day.

Brooks' status for home opener unknown

Linebacker Derrick Brooks suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter and his availability for next week's home opener isn't known at this time.

But the injury was at least somewhat serious considering it is unprecedented for Brooks to leave a game and not return.

"I've never had to do that," Brooks said after the Bucs' 24-20 loss here at the Superdome. "It's the first time I missed that much time in a game."

Asked about his status for next week, Brooks said, "We'll know more tomorrow after I'm able to get the proper tests and see what's going on."

It appears the injury happened on the second of two consecutive plays Brooks made against New Orleans' Reggie Bush. On the second, Brooks swooped in for an impressive takedown of Bush. But it turned out to be a bigger play than anyone knew.

"I tired to run on the next play and I was going to do more harm then help," he said. "I've seen guys, even on our team, when something like that happens, pride gets in the way and pride can end up costing you a season rather than one game. So, I humbled myself and listened to the trainer and we'll see where it is tomorrow."

Tell us what you think!

We want to know what you thought about the Bucs' season opener against the Saints. Come back here after the game and give us your rants and raves. Leave your name and hometown -- we'll put some of your comments in tomorrow's paper.

Opening day is here

We're coming to you today from the Superdome where the Bucs are preparing to kick off against the Saints. The city is pretty much back to normal a couple days after residents were allowed back after last week's hurricane evacuation, so expect the place to be pretty raucous.

On the field, the Bucs have a couple moves of note. For one, WR Michael Clayton is inactive, confirming our belief that one of the six receivers would not be active today. The Bucs will likely point to his chest injury as the reason, though it's certainly not a good sign for Clayton to not be up on game day.

The remaining inactives are QBs Josh Johnson and Luke McCown (third quarterback), RB Michael Bennett, LB Geno Hayes, G Davin Joseph (foot), T James Lee and DE Greg Peterson.

As we told you last week, Antonio Bryant gets the start at flanker, where he'll line up opposite split end Joey Galloway.

Also, for the Saints, there was some talk that Duece McAllister might not start for New Orleans, but he's ready to go. The Bucs have historically had a tough time against him, so watch that matchup closely.

I'll be back throughout the game with analysis and news in the comments section, so check back regularly. I'll be breaking some news there soon about a certain young and popular Bucs player you're going to see a lot of today. I'll spill the beans in a little while.

(Pictured - The Bucs take the field for the season opener. Times photo - Brian Cassella. Click to enlarge.)

Pinkie problem for Jeff Garcia

This doesn't qualify as stop-the-presses news, but it's something to keep in mind on Sunday.

Quarterback Jeff Garcia has a jammed pinkie finger on his right (throwing) hand, something that could potentially make handling the ball a bit tricky for a veteran already coming off a calf strain.

Coach Jon Gruden said the injury shouldn't affect Garcia and that his appearance on today's injury report is just an effort to comply with the league's stringent new injury-reporting guidelines. Teams are required to list any injury that exists, even if a player is able to participate fully in practice.

"I think he's had that for a couple days," Gruden said. "I don't foresee it being serious."

Elsewhere, the Bucs appear pretty healthy outside of Davin Joseph, who has a broken right foot.

One of the few remaining questions is which players will be inactive on game day, when NFL teams are permitted to dress just 45 of their 53 players on the active roster. You also can designate an inactive (third) quarterback.

One position to watch is receiver, where the Bucs are a bit heavy with six players. Dexter Jackson will return punts and kicks, according to Gruden, so it remains to be seen which, if any, of the receivers will be inactive. There's a chance it could be Ike Hilliard given the fact Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall are heavily involved on special teams.

Gruden said the team is still in the process of deciding its inactives, so we likely won't know until just before kickoff on Sunday.

Don't forget the Gridiron Challenge

In case you missed this post last week, just wanted to remind you that with the season starting Sunday, now's a good time to get signed up for the Gridiron Challenge.

Everyone likes to fashion themselves as an expert, so here's your chance. You'll be able to track my picks each week, allowing you to ridicule me when I take my inevitable lumps. Just be gentle, okay?

Anyway, here's the link. Knock yourself out. It's free and registration is pretty painless. Plus there are some prizes at stake. Now, when you drop by the blog on game days, guess we'll have to do a little scoreboard watching, too.

Willie Anderson bound for Baltimore

We told you this morning Pro Bowl OT Willie Anderson was considering the Bucs as one of three teams interested in signing the free agent.

The Bucs never got that far. Anderson's agent, Terry Bolar, told us this evening his client decided against making a visit to Tampa in an effort to avoid leading the Bucs on. He'll sign with the Ravens on Friday.

As the day began to unfold, it became more clear that things weren't going to work out in Tampa, Bolar said. The reason wasn't necessarily about money in this case, though I'm not prepared to say the Bucs were offering anything in the same neighborhood as the Ravens. Bolar said Baltimore will pay Anderson $3.5-million this season with the whole three-year deal reportedly worth $11-million.

The issue centered more on the Bucs' ability to accomodate Anderson's wishes to compete for a starting job. The Bucs just couldn't honestly say Anderson would get on the field here as they have Jeremy Trueblood firmly entrenched as their right tackle. Anderson likely will start this season for the Ravens. So, in an effort to be upfront about the situation, Bolar said his client canceled the trip to Tampa because it was pretty clear Baltimore was the better option.

Pro Bowl tackle considering Bucs

UPDATE, 8:35 a.m.: Here's the latest on the Willie Anderson story, based on a conversation this morning with his agent, Terry Bolar.

The Pro Bowl tackle is expected to visit the Bucs today, but there may be some last-minute conversations before the player makes a final decision to follow through on those plans. Anderson and his agent want to be certain the Bucs' financial terms are competitive and that the opportunity exists for him to compete for significant playing time.

As it stands, the Ravens likely would provide the best opportunity for playing time. In Tampa, Jeremy Trueblood has been anointed the Bucs' long-term solution at right tackle, the same position Anderson plays.

"We're trying to find an opportunity where he can have an opportunity to start," Bolar said.

Still, the Bucs have been talking to Anderson since his release on Saturday and have shown significant interest, so there's still a chance.

Regarding Anderson's health, Bolar emphasized that his client has no physical problems at the moment. He pointed out that he passed a rigorous physical with the Ravens earlier this week.

1:02 a.m.: Pro Bowl OT Willie Anderson is considering the Bucs as a destination as the team continues to search for depth on its offensive line.

Anderson, 33, was released by the Bengals on Saturday after losing his starting job to Stacy Andrews and declining to take a pay reduction to stay with Cincinnati. He was limited to seven games last season by injuries, but went to four consecutive Pro Bowls in the previous seasons.

The free agent, according to NFL.com, has had dialogue with the Bucs, Ravens and Chargers. He is known to have visited the Ravens and passed a physical.

The Bucs' level of interest remains unclear.

(Pictured - Willie Anderson. Getty Images. Click to enlarge.)

Mahan trade won't affect Zuttah -- for now

One of the questions raised by the trade of Sean Mahan to the Bucs Tuesday was whether it meant the team was considering using him at right guard instead of rookie Jeremy Zuttah during Davin Joseph's absence.

We also wondered, so we asked. Offensive line coach Bill Muir dispelled any notion that Mahan would surpass Zuttah, at least initially. It's pretty much a vote of confidence for Zuttah.

"Jeremy Zuttah's been with us from the beginning," Muir said. "We're very pleased with the progress he's made. Obviously, he's not where we want him to be at this time, but we're glad he's not where he was when he got here. I think, what we've done is add a player who has experience starting at center and at guard. So