Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1. Tim Rattay should have been starting since Chris Simms' injury.

Yes, he fumbled away the game at the end, but that's not so crazy when you consider he hasn't taken a regular game snap since last season, and that he started the year as a third stringer. But, this is a 7 year veteran with a career 81.7 who has an accurate arm and quick release. Yes, he sucked when the Niners' gave him the full time job, but consider the talent he played with. In the years before that, while backing up Jeff Garcia, Rattay tore it up everytime he stepped on the field. In the three games he started for Garcia back in 2003, he had a 7-2 touchdown-interception ratio and a passer rating of 96.6. He even hit Terrell Owens deep with consistency.

Yet, he started the season as a third stringer behind a third year vet and a rookie. I'm usually slower than the media when it comes to thrashing Gruden, but why was Rattay not given a chance just because he's a vet? The only thing I can assume is that Rattay is one of those guys who plays better than he practices, or Gruden just doesn't like him. Either way, it's a mistake that probably cost us a couple wins.

2. The Bucs are going to draft Brady Quinn or whatever quarterback is available.

Gruden:

"If you're a quarterback out there in America, we'll be looking into your situation as well."

"We have to find a guy who can dominate," Gruden said. "Not a guy who can run a game or help us score here or there. We have to find a guy in Tampa, Fla., who can dominate in the NFL and be a superstar quarterback that gives us a chance to be where we want to be.

"Until we do, we're going to be looking."

Seeing as the only quarterback worth a damn in free agency next year is Rattay, the only way Gruden is going to acquire a quarterback is through the draft which in all likelihood means Brady Quinn. Quinn's a fine quarterback, but only twice in the history of the NFL has a rookie quarterback had a good year - Dan Marino and Ben Roethlisberger. That means this will be a struggling team for atleast three more years, and I just can't see Gruden lasting that long. Instead of bringing back Simms, Gradkowski and letting Rattay and Simms beat it out for the job, Gruden's going to take the time and effort to develop ANOTHER young quarterback.

And he won't even be around to see the rewards for it.

I've never quite understood why Gruden hated Rattay so much. Rattay isn't a great QB, but even I was shocked when he put BruGrad out there without even considering Rattay.

It was a killer move. What team throws out a second day rookie quarterback before a veteran?

Honestly, I'm a big Rattay fan, too, so it really hurts to have this guy finally on my team and not see him get to play. I think, in the right offense, he could have a Gannon like career - suddenly kicking into gear in his 30s and tearing it up for 4 or 5 years. He's got such a quick release and accourate throw that he should really thrive in this offense. When he started for the Niners, he got so beat up behind that terrible offensive line that it was hard for him to do anything - generating a 78 passer rating is actually kind of admirable considering what Alex Smith did after taking over.

If the Bucs draft Quinn, though, or any quarterback with their Top 5 pick, I might just go to sleep for a couple months to deal with it. I don't want to sit through three more losing seasons. This must be the way a Browns' fan feels.

I'm not sure I've got that much manlove for Rattay, but he did show promise when Garcia got hurt. I think he's got a solid deep ball. I'm not sure he's a great fit for the WCO, but whatev.

And this all comes back to a point I've tried to make that Matt silly slapped me for in the offseason. I don't get why Gruden refuses to alter/tame his playbook.

He's stubborn and believes too much in his system because it's had a lot of success. It only works, though, if you have the right players, and I don't think he and Allen have done a great job of grabbing talent. I mean, the fact they drafted Barrett Ruud to play the Mike in a Tampa Two pretty much says it all, but the offensive line doesn't make any sense: offensive tackles without pass protection skills, offensive guards without power, a center with no blocking ability whatsoever.

The Phillip Buchannon pickup is turning out pretty well, though.

It mostly comes down the Gruden and the play of the quarterbacks. The defense has sucked, but that's no real surprise (though, the new blood Jovan Haye, and Dewayne White have been fantastic... if only they'd start putting Winborn in.)

It's time for Gruden to go - it's not just that we're losing because of young quarterbacks, but the team in general tends to play without fire and looks downright unorganized at times.

I drank so much at the bar during and at my friends' place afterwards that I really don't remember much of the game. Thank god.

I think it's no shock that rookies don't get his system, it's one of the most complicated in the NFL. I just think if your team is sputtering to gain yards, and you keep force feeding them, and they aren't getting better, is your system successful? Luke thinks not.

word, dog. I'm putting together a list of possible replacements for Gruden, and I want to cry.

It's time to bring back Mike Tomlin.

Who do you think it would be?

Even though I was bitching about the defense earlier today, I wonder if Monte should get bumped up.

Do you really think that's a great idea? Yes he has done good things with the D over the years, but Monte is like 92 1/2 years old.

I know.

It seems like a solid idea, but I'm just not sure him and his robotic prostate could handle it.

If Winborn is healthy, play him.

He has excellent footspeed & is better than avg tackler -- of course, that what injures his fragile lower back, neck, etc. & he misses 6 mos-a full season so he's a calculated risk

That's the thing. They've moved Mr Brooks to the Sam, but they're playing Nece over Winborn at the Will, which is driving us nuts.

They should just cut Alstott, Brooks, Barber, and Rice already. They are old and washed up. Time to move on!

Jeff Cottrill should suffer a painful death at the hands of Brett Favre.

As for Rice, he's gone. Brooks is slowing down, but he's still playing well, and he should do fine at Sam. Barber is still one of the best 10 corners in the NFL. This is Alstott's last year anyway.

Again, my offer of Romeo and the 3-4 stands.

At least I realize when the players on my favorite teams are washed up.

Derrick Brooks is God!