This call to arms looks desperate

This is a very big year for Gruden, and the coach isn't going to be thin on experience at QB.

By RICK STROUD
Published March 11, 2007

TAMPA - If the Bucs hurry, they might still be able to trade for the rights to Giants running back Tiki Barber.

Sure, he's retired. But if that thing with NBC and Bob Costas doesn't work out, maybe he'll change his mind and want to play on the same team as brother Ronde.

It's a safe bet the Giants would take a seventh-round pick for Barber.

The good news is Tiki has turned in his retirement papers, so he wouldn't be a drag on the Bucs' salary cap.

Tampa Bay did trade a seventh-round pick in 2008 for the rights to Jake Plummer, who made it clear to Jon Gruden, Bruce Allen and anyone else who bothered to ask that he would rather walk away from the game than play for the Bucs.

Never has a team been in such a hurry to trade for a retiring player - and carry $5.3-million on its salary cap on the off chance the 32-year-old former Broncos quarterback shows up at Lake Buena Vista in July.

It's not hard to figure out why Gruden wants to stock up on quarterbacks for 2007. Last season, the Bucs were 4-12 while Chris Simms, Bruce Gradkowski and Tim Rattay combined for a rating of 66.2. Simms went 0-3 with one touchdown and seven interceptions before rupturing his spleen.

Gruden thought so little of Rattay, he started Gradkowski, his 2006 sixth-round pick out of Toledo, in 11 games.

Simply put, this is a very big year for Gruden, who is 27-37 since winning the Super Bowl, and the coach isn't going to be thin on experience at the QB position. In fact, after signing Eagles free agent Jeff Garcia, the Bucs have about $15-million sunk into three veteran passers. Considering the team's other needs, that's a big investment.

Gruden knows it will take more than one to get through the season. The last quarterback to start all 16 games in Tampa Bay was Brad Johnson in 2003.

The Bucs insist they didn't trade for Plummer with the idea of dealing him. But that might prove to be their best option. If Plummer remains retired, it doesn't cost them much. If he elects to play with another team, the Bucs might fetch more than they paid for him.

The most far-fetched scenario is the one Gruden and Allen say they are hoping for: Plummer walks into One Buc Place and competes with Garcia and Simms.

By virtue of the position, the quarterback has to be the leader on any team. Think many Bucs would follow a guy who demonstrated he would rather retire than complete a trade to Tampa Bay? Probably not.

On the other hand, if Cadillac Williams needs some competition, maybe Tiki will reconsider.

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@sptimes.com.

[Last modified March 10, 2007, 22:10:55]