Even with Garcia back, Gruden scans QB field

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Published February 10, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT [Brendan Fitterer | Times] Jeff Garcia, avoiding the 49ers' Tully Banta-Cain, expects he'll be better this season. But what is the Bucs' plan beyond that?

TAMPA - For the first time in four years, the Bucs will begin a season with the same starting quarterback who ended the previous one.

Jeff Garcia will make an appearance today in the Pro Bowl, his first since 2003, and be reunited with a former 49ers teammate and antagonist - Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens.

Assuming all goes well, Garcia will return to Tampa Bay and not spend the offseason looking for a new home. After a tour of five teams in as many years, that's significant for Garcia, who turns 38 in a few weeks.

The last quarterback to go back-to-back as a starter for the Bucs was Brad Johnson, who began three consecutive seasons (2002-04) at the helm under coach Jon Gruden, although he was benched after an 0-4 record in 2004.

Garcia and the Bucs are expected to begin talks shortly on a contract extension that would enable him to finish his career in Tampa Bay.

The Bucs think Garcia has at least one, maybe two years left as the starter. After that, it's anyone's guess.

A back injury forced him to miss two starts last season, and he was held out of the regular-season finale against Carolina. His reckless style of play - diving headfirst into piles - could take its toll.

But Garcia believes a second year in the offensive system under Gruden will only lead to improvement.

"I feel that way. I feel like I'm learning so much more football," Garcia said. "I feel like I've been challenged mentally in a way since I came to Tampa more so than I've been challenged anywhere else. And it's not saying I didn't study and I didn't understand our game plan and those things because there was successful things taking place on the field. But I feel like what I'm attempting to grasp or what coach Gruden would like me to grasp is still out there. I'm still working to get to that point, but it feels good to be challenged in those ways. I think that's somewhat of what can kick me into another gear that maybe I haven't even felt before, as long as physically, I still have the abilities to have the follow through."

But Gruden loves to collect quarterbacks, and this offseason might be no different.

Backup Luke McCown, who went 1-2 as a starter, showed great arm strength and mobility despite some questionable decisionmaking. Bruce Gradkowski, who struggled in his only relief appearance, needs more time to grow.

Chris Simms says he has recovered from the complications of his spleen surgery and is working out in New Jersey. Simms had a $1-million bonus due this offseason, but he says it was for incentives that he obviously didn't earn. So with only a $2-million base salary to account for, the Bucs could hold onto him until training camp unless they find a suitor.

The Bucs still own the rights to former Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer, with a hearing later this year on the team's attempt to recoup some of his signing bonus.

But look for the Bucs to try to add at least one veteran quarterback this offseason.

The guy to keep an eye on is Daunte Culpepper, who struggled in his only season with the Raiders. Remember, the Bucs met with Culpepper in Tampa last year, and Gruden is intrigued by his arm strength and accomplishments. Last season, Culpepper started six games for the Raiders, passing for 1,331 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions. But he has completed 63.8 percent of his career passing attempts, a figure that stands out to Gruden. And the Florida native might welcome a return to his home state.

Others who might receive some attention from the Bucs include Bears quarterback Rex Grossman, who is an unrestricted free agent; Brian Griese, who could be cut loose from Chicago and had good success with the Bucs; and the Jets' Chad Pennington, a career 65.6 percentage passer who could become a free agent.

After signing a three-year contract extension, Gruden is even in a position to develop a young quarterback. San Diego's Josh Johnson, the MVP of the East-West Shrine game, has gained interest from the Bucs. "He has that 'it' factor," said Doug Williams, the Bucs' pro personnel assistant.

[Last modified February 9, 2008, 22:04:27]