New quarterback not ready for active duty
By STEPHEN F. HOLDER
Published November 3, 2005
TAMPA - If quarterback Chris Simms struggles again this week against the Carolina Panthers, chances are slim newly acquired Tim Rattay will make an appearance for the Bucs.
Coach Jon Gruden said Wednesday that Luke McCown remains the No. 2 quarterback, meaning Rattay is likely to be the inactive emergency quarterback. Rattay almost certainly won't see action; once the emergency quarterback enters a game, Nos. 1 and 2 are ineligible to return except in rare circumstances, even if the No. 3 is injured.
Besides, Gruden said, Rattay isn't quite ready to take over, even if the coach wanted him to.
"He's about 10 days along," Gruden said. "He's got a long way to go to get to where he needs to be, obviously."
The Bucs traded for Rattay on Oct. 18 after learning Brian Griese had torn two knee ligaments, an injury that will cause him to miss the rest of the season. Rattay has been getting extra work with quarterbacks coach Paul Hackett after each practice, trying to make up the ground he lost by not spending training camp and the first six games with the team.
Meanwhile, McCown is preparing like a true backup quarterback.
"It's taken me out from running the scout team now to really honing in in practice," he said.
INJURIES: Running back Michael Pittman's injured shoulder was examined further Wednesday, causing him to miss practice to have an MRI exam at a nearby hospital.
Pittman indicated he would be ready for Sunday, but he reaggravated the injury against the 49ers and is listed as questionable. The injury was revealed the day before the Dolphins visited Tampa on Oct. 16. The MRI findings were not immediately known.
Linebacker Derrick Brooks missed his second straight practice, this time because of a strained hamstring. Brooks, who was held out of practice Friday to get rest, said, "It felt better today than (Tuesday). Hopefully I'll be out there by Sunday."
In the secondary, Dexter Jackson continues to be held out of practice with a hamstring strain and is listed as doubtful. Also on the injury report was center John Wade, who missed practice because of a sprained ankle.
ROSTER MOVE: Fullback Rick Razzano was waived, making way for the Bucs to sign free agent Wesly Mallard, a fourth-year linebacker who has played in 36 games for the Giants and Patriots.
Mallard was a Giants sixth-round pick in 2002 and has played primarily on special teams. Razzano saw little action this season after serving a four-game suspension for violating the league steroid policy. The Bucs drafted him in the seventh round in April out of Ole Miss.
The move was prompted by a need for special teams talent, but also by the injury to Brooks, who might be in and out of practice for a while.
"We lost Jeff Gooch already, and with the injury to Brooks, although we expect him to play, we still have to practice," Gruden said.
"Mallard is a guy who we think can help us on special teams and at some point be a linebacker. He fits many of the criteria we're looking for."