Columns

Gruden is just not a one-QB kind of guy

By Gary Shelton
Published July 20, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Getty Images] Since Daunte Culpepper had only been a free agent for about 48 hours before the Bucs had him in their building, this might not exactly be a "drop by if you get time" sort of get-together.

At this point, everyone knows that Jon loves Jeff.

Ah, yes, Gruden and Garcia. Now they have found each other, you can hardly find a tree trunk in Tampa Bay that does not have their initials carved into it. Already, they have plans to visit Seattle together in September. Privately, they both hope this will lead to rings.

But, honestly, did you ever believe that Jon Gruden wasn't going to see other people?

Oh, those wacky Bucs. After an offseason when they appeared to be collecting every quarterback who had ever seen the inside of a huddle, the Bucs sneaked another one into town on Thursday.

Well, hello there, Daunte Culpepper.

Try to squeeze into the meeting room if you can.

Yep, the Bucs met with Culpepper, a dalliance that probably strikes you as amusing and intriguing at the same time. Amusing, because not even Deacon Jones had his arms around this many quarterbacks. Intriguing, because around here a lot of people remember seeing Culpepper play when he was Culpepper.

Still, the Bucs collect quarterbacks like satellite radio collects disc jockeys. There is Garcia, who Gruden adores; and Chris Simms, who Gruden hasn't given up on; and Bruce Gradkowski, who Gruden still has hopes for; and Jake Plummer, who Gruden is leaving the light on for; and Luke McCown, who Gruden said he missed desperately most of last season; and a couple of youngsters named Zac Taylor and Bruce Eugene, who Gruden might recognize if they wore name tags. Or not.

Ah, no wonder they need Culpepper.

Otherwise, the eighth-string wouldn't have a quarterback.

Of course, nothing might come out of Thursday's meeting but a chance for Gruden and Culpepper to make fun of Randy Moss; Gruden loves to work out players, remember. If you have a football card with your picture on it, why, Gruden is just dying to update his scouting report on you. Especially if you can play quarterback. Who knows when the Bucs might have four quarterbacks hurt? Who knows when another team might want to trade for three of them?

So maybe this was that. Except when you remember that Culpepper had been a free agent for about 48 hours before the Bucs had him in their building, it strikes you that this was not exactly a "drop by if you get time" sort of get-together.

Maybe this was a chance for the Bucs to stick their thumbs in their ears and waggle them in the general direction of the office of Atlanta general manager Rich McKay. "Hey, Rich," the message was, "have fun with Joey Harrington, won't you?"

Maybe, too, this was to deliver yet another message to the Bucs' stable of quarterbacks. That message: Things aren't too stable in the stable.

What does this mean to Garcia? Nothing, in the short term. Barring injury or a collapse so complete that Garcia forgets which way to face before the snap, it's hard to see anyone else starting against the Seahawks on opening day.

What does it mean to Simms? Plenty, perhaps, and none of it good. There was a reason Gruden named Garcia the starter so quickly, and these days, Simms seems closer to third string than first. Could it be that Gruden is still concerned about Simms' health? Maybe. Could it be that he is open to trading Simms if there is a taker and would install Culpepper as his veteran backup? Maybe.

What does this mean to Plummer? Perhaps it means that the Bucs finally believe he isn't going to show up. Or perhaps they have looked at the films and believe that even if he does, they're going to need more help than Plummer.

What does this mean to Gradkowski? It means the role of third quarterback, which should have been his last year, looks pretty good from here.

What does it mean to McCown? It means he shouldn't buy green bananas.

What does it mean to Taylor and Eugene? It means that if rookies have to buy breakfast for the veterans, they might as well invest in a Bob Evans.

More than anything, it means that Gruden is hedging his bets. It means that perhaps the position isn't as deep, and the competition won't be as fierce as you might have believed. It means that if Ryan Leaf is interested in a comeback, there is still time.

In all seriousness, it's hard to blame Gruden for taking a closer look here. There was a time when Bucs fans would have salivated over the chance to acquire Culpepper.

Remember the 1999 draft? After 10 picks, it looked as if Culpepper might fall all the way to the Bucs. But Minnesota, which had been expected to take a defensive lineman, took the UCF quarterback instead, and the Bucs ended up with Booger McFarland four picks later.

It was hard not to remember that over the next few years as Culpepper grew into a star for the Vikings. He was strong enough to get the ball to Moss, accurate enough to get it to Cris Carter and large enough to be almost sack-proof. "The White Rhino" is what former Buc defensive tackle Warren Sapp called him.

A bad knee and a bad experience in Miami have stripped much of the luster from Culpepper these days. Still, he is only 30. If Gruden is interested in a reclamation project, he could do worse (see: Plummer).

If I'm Gruden, I don't sign Culpepper. Yet.

But just in case the honeymoon ends early, I hang onto his number.

Gary Shelton can be reached at (727) 893-8805.

[Last modified July 20, 2007, 00:39:41]