Next Year's Gunslinger

In a visionary article prior to yesterday's loss, cutting edge sports journalist for the Slant Pete Times, Rick Stroud opined about who might be taking snaps under center for the Buccos next season. I was going to comment on this article yesterday, but I was so disgusted with yesterday's loss, I couldn't have cared of Roger Staubach had announced his return to the league.

Stroud scribed about his top three possible free agent acquisitions for the next Bucs qb. HA! The only time the Bucs will see any of these three are if they happen to be playing them. Name me ONE major media sports writer, ONE local sports writer, or ONE radio host, who predicted Antonio Bryant would have 80 catches for 1200 yards and 8 touchdowns this year and predicted he would WIN Comeback Player of the Year in the NFL. Who did? You're reading his words baby, so these so called "experts" with much better access than myself, can't seem to get it.

Stroud's top three choices? Derek Anderson, Donovan McNabb and a player to be named later.

Derek Anderson. Surprise Cleveland starter last year and led the Browns to a 10-6 regular season record, just missing the playoffs. This year however, Anderson compiled a 66.5 passer rating in 10 games before being replaced by Brady Quinn. Both Anderson and Quinn are done for the season and someone will be odd man out next season, however both are under contract and will command a couple of high draft choices.

Donovan McNabb. Benched earlier in the year. Undergoing an up and down season in Philly this season. He'll be 33 next season, which really makes him an underclassman in Gruden's eyes. McNabb used to be a spokesman for Chunky soup, and Tampa fans can testify, that he actually does eat Chunky soup, he left some on the south endzone around the 20 late in the game on his last visit. Donovan is due almost 11 million next year and the Glazers aren't going to lay out hat kind of money.

Finally, Stroud really went of the box and suggested that Gruden would want to bring in, you guessed it, Mike Vick. Ron Mexico will be out of jail by June of 2009, and removed from football for nearly three years. With Florida and the Bay area in the grasp of a serious economic downturn, the Glazers are not going to pull a move such as this which could cause an uproar from the fans. I know if the Bucs organization were to sign Mike Vick, I would send each and every piece of merchandise I have with the Bucs logo on it, to One Buc Place and would NEVER root for the Bucs ever again.

Stroud has been covering the Bucs for a while now, but even I get it at this point. Garcia and McCown are going to be gone next year. That leaves Griese under contract for 2009 with rookie Josh Johnson still on the roster. Gruden loves Greise for some reason. Maybe Brian has some compromising pictures of Gruden having sex with farm animals or something, but I don't understand the love affair. Gruden likes quarterbacks who mobile playmakers and don't turn the ball over. Griese, who is as mobile as a blacksmith's anvil, throws nearly as many interceptions as touchdowns. Regardless of the current salary cap room, 8 million or more a season won't be spent on getting younger at the quarterback position.

The Bucs will enter 2009 with Griese as number 1 and some castoff journeyman as number 2. I predict a powerhouse signing such as Joey Harrington, Alex Smith, Ken Dorsey or perhaps Jon Kitna. Josh Johnson will continue to be the number three qb.