Bucs/NFL

Bucs add Ramsey to their QB options

With other teams' interest in Brian Griese growing, Tampa Bay looks at the Redskins' Patrick Ramsey.

By STEPHEN F. HOLDER
Published March 16, 2006

TAMPA - The Bucs still intend to sign a reliable quarterback to compete with or be a complement to Chris Simms.

But it turns out that quarterback might not be Brian Griese.

The Bucs have been granted permission to speak with Redskins quarterback Patrick Ramsey as Tampa Bay is considering making a trade offer for the player who has 24 starts in four seasons.

And with that news as a backdrop, Griese may now be drawing interest from other teams, including Detroit, Minnesota and Baltimore.

Griese told the Detroit Free Press on Wednesday he would be intrigued by the idea of playing in Detroit, not far from where he played at the University of Michigan. Also, former Bucs defensive line coach Rod Marinelli was recently named the Lions coach.

"I've always had a lot of respect for Rod," Griese said. "If they have interest in me, I would love to go up there and see what that interest is."

The possibility of Detroit signing another free-agent quarterback seems to be increasing as reports out of Detroit have quarterback Joey Harrington headed out of Motown, where he has been much maligned in his four seasons and appears irked by this week's signing of Jon Kitna. What's more, Harrington is due a $4-million bonus this summer.

It was expected Griese would make a quick return to the Bucs after being waived before the free agency period in a salary-cap maneuver. The move was made because Griese was due a $2.6-million roster bonus at the start of the new league year and had a cap number of more than $7-million. But talks have dragged on for days, increasing the likelihood the Bucs could look elsewhere - like Washington.

Teams such as the Dolphins and Jets recently explored trades for Ramsey, but nothing materialized because the Redskins are believed to be seeking a fourth-round pick. The Jets reportedly offered a seventh-round pick but could revisit the issue.

If the Bucs acquire Ramsey, they also would absorb his contract, which calls for a base salary of $1.688-million in 2006, the final year of his deal.

Ramsey's departure from Washington is almost a sure thing after the Redskins signed backup quarterback Todd Collins this week to a two-year, $2-million deal. Redskins coach Joe Gibbs on Wednesday acknowledged Washington's efforts to trade Ramsey.

"We're working real hard at it," Gibbs told Washington reporters. "We're trying to do what's best for Patrick and what's best for the Redskins.

"I think there are a lot of quarterback deals going on and it's starting to settle down now. There were a lot of guys out there with a lot of injuries. So hopefully (a Ramsey deal) would be something that starts working out."

Staff writer Rick Stroud contributed to this report.

[Last modified March 16, 2006, 02:15:15]