NFL FanHouse

Trent Dilfer Makes It Official: He's Done

Michael David Smith — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:22:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Buccaneers, Ravens, Baltimore, San Francisco, Tampa Bay

We noted this morning that longtime NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer had an Achilles injury that would likely end his playing career, and this afternoon Dilfer made it official.

Dilfer told the Reno Gazette-Journal:

"I injured my Achilles' while I was on vacation with my family. I was going to retire anyway. This just gives clarity to the situation. There will be a formal announcement in the next few days about that....

"I'm just really thrilled and looking forward to what's next for me," said Dilfer, who added that he and his family might make Incline Village more of a year-round residence. "And obviously I'm going to miss football. It's been a huge part of my life."

Football will miss Dilfer, too. His career hasn't been great, but it has been remarkable: From draft bust to Super Bowl winner to minimum-salary backup to starter again to old pro tutoring another draft bust. Dilfer's career has now come full circle.

Trent Dilfer Makes It Official: He's Done originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Buccaneers Rookies Aqib Talib and Cory Boyd Fight at NFL Symposium

Michael David Smith — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:33:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, NFL Draft, Tampa Bay

A fight broke out between two teammates Wednesday at the NFL Rookie Symposium, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk is reporting.

The annual Symposium is supposed to be the place for the 252 rookies who were drafted in April to learn how to conduct themselves as professionals. But yesterday it was the setting for a fight between the Buccaneers' first-round draft pick Aqib Talib, and seventh-round draft pick Cory Boyd.

The fight apparently broke out during a session on personal finances Wednesday, but the two players had been jawing at each other throughout the Symposium, which began on Sunday.

Both players have been in trouble before. Talib, a Kansas cornerback, was suspended two games in 2007. Boyd, a South Carolina running back, was suspended for the entire 2005 season.

Report: Buccaneers Rookies Aqib Talib and Cory Boyd Fight at NFL Symposium originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warrick Dunn: My Generation Had Respect; Now Young Players Don't Care About the Past

Michael David Smith — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:39:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, Tampa Bay

Mike Freeman of CBS Sports has a great column about one of the classiest players in the NFL, Buccaneers running back Warrick Dunn. It's a good look at a guy who had a rough life as a young man, built himself up into a great success story, and is now trying to give back.

But there's one particularly noteworthy quote from Dunn that's worth pointing out:

"It's not the same," he said. "When I came in, my generation was different. We respected the guys who came before us. I learned about the guys who paved the way. Now you have a lot of young guys who don't care about the past. They couldn't name some of the past great players. They (couldn't) care less."

If you're like me, and you remember Dunn as a freshman at Florida State, doesn't that make you feel old? That Dunn is now the aged veteran complaining about the whippersnappers who don't respect their elders?

Anyway, with all due respect to Dunn, I think he's probably wrong there: Let's not forget, this year's rookies are all going ga-ga over seeing Walter Payton's bust at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Dunn is 33 years old, and there's a big generation gap between him and the young breed of players, but I think that even when Dunn and his generation of players retires, the league will remain in good hands.

Warrick Dunn: My Generation Had Respect; Now Young Players Don't Care About the Past originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jon Gruden: 'If Warren Sapp Doesn't Go Into the Hall of Fame, Check the IQ of the Voters'

Michael David Smith — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:05:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, Raiders, NFL Hall of Fame, Oakland, Tampa Bay

Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden and former Buccaneers defensive tackle Warren Sapp haven't always seen eye to eye. Sapp has said that he thinks Tony Dungy deserves more credit than Gruden for the Bucs' Super Bowl title, and Gruden didn't shed any tears when Sapp left Tampa Bay for Oakland.

But if there was any bad blood between them, it's gone now. At a retirement party for Sapp over the weekend, Gruden had this to say:

"If Warren Sapp doesn't go into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot, you'd better check the IQ of the voters. No disrespect to anyone, but he's the favorite guy I've ever coached."

I would be fine with Sapp getting into the Hall of Fame, but I don't think he's a sure thing, and I'll be quite surprised if he gets in on the first ballot, considering that he's coming up at the same time as several players who I think were better, including Brett Favre, Michael Strahan and Jonathan Ogden.

It might be a good idea to check the IQ of the Hall of Fame voters, but Sapp not getting in wouldn't be the reason.

Jon Gruden: 'If Warren Sapp Doesn't Go Into the Hall of Fame, Check the IQ of the Voters' originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buccaneers Sign Earnest Graham to 4-Year, $11 Million Extension

Michael David Smith — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:42:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Earnest Graham made it known this off-season that he was unhappy with his contract. He's not anymore.

Graham and the team agreed to a four-year, $11 million contract extension, reports NFL Network's Adam Schefter. He will apparently play his 2008 season under the previously scheduled base salary of $600,000 and will get three more years and about $10.5 million added to his deal.

Last season Graham became a starter for the first time after Cadillac Williams went down with a serious knee injury, and he played well, both as a runner and as a receiver. He's a good fit in head coach Jon Gruden's offense, although at age 28 he probably won't be at top speed by the time he's in the last year of his contract.

Williams is attempting a comeback, but he probably won't be ready at the start of the season, so Graham will be the starter and Warrick Dunn will be the backup.

Buccaneers Sign Earnest Graham to 4-Year, $11 Million Extension originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cadillac Williams Begins "Amazing" Comeback

David J. Warner — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:25:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, NFC South, NFL Injuries, Tampa Bay

When we last saw Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Cadillac Williams, he was run down on the side of the field in Charlotte with a busted patellar tendon. This Cadillac looked like it might be garaged for good.

Someone in Tampa, however, must know a really good mechanic, because according to reports, this Cadillac is running again, and nobody is more excited about it than Bucs head coach Jon Gruden.

"It's one of the most amazing comebacks that I've seen. ... He's really putting some good tape together in his individual workouts ... the explosive movement appears to be coming back. Change of direction, confidence, stamina, all those things day after day after day a running back has to do are coming to him. That's what's really exciting."

Williams has yet to be cleared for regular practice, but he's reportedly running 100-yard sprints at full speed. If this keeps up, there's a good chance that he could return to action for the Bucs as early as next season. If he's anywhere near full speed, it might cap the most remarkable comeback from a knee injury by any athlete this side of Bernard King. It seems ol' Earnest Graham will have to keep fighting for his job.

Cadillac Williams Begins "Amazing" Comeback originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Simms Skips Buccaneers Minicamp

David J. Warner — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:40:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, NFC South, Tampa Bay

To the complete surprise of absolutely no one, Chris Simms was a no-show at Tampa Bay Buccaneers minicamp today. He has been angling to get out of Tampa for several weeks now, making claims that the team is holding him hostage and won't release him, while his bosses are claiming Simms' agents are just pulling a PR stunt.

You can bet that Bucs GM Bruce Allen will fine Simms every penny of that $8,000 per day that he doesn't show up, too. That's why Earnest Graham took his old coach's advice and went back to work.

Seriously, though, does anyone still care at this point? Is Chris Simms a good enough quarterback -- with or without his spleen -- that it's worth keeping him around, especially when this team has three other QBs with starting experience on the roster, not to mention an interesting rookie prospect? Why exactly are the Bucs keeping him around? Do they still feel guilt pangs because Simms gave his spleen for the team?

I think it's high time this drama went away. Unfortunately, Bruce Allen doesn't let anything go easily. Perhaps Simms should start getting used to a life of leisure for a little while.

Chris Simms Skips Buccaneers Minicamp originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buccaneers Fire Back at Chris Simms, Call Comments 'A P.R. Stunt'

Michael David Smith — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 11:33:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, Tampa Bay

Four days after quarterback Chris Simms said he feels like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are holding him hostage, Bucs general manager Bruce Allen and coach Jon Gruden have fired back at Simms. Said Allen:

"I think his advisers pulled a PR stunt," Allen said. "I don't think it portrays Chris well. That's not the Chris I've talked to on the phone. But I can't worry about that. We have too many players who are trying to help this team win and those are the players we're going to focus on."

Said Gruden:

"I like Chris Simms. I don't necessarily agree with everything he said. But I'm going to coach the quarterbacks who are here. I am really excited about the guys who are here. I wish Chris and his situation well. But that's the last I'll address it. He made his statements and unfortunately that's all I can say. I like Jeff Garcia and I prefer talking about him, Brian Griese and Luke McCown at this point."

Simms is actually one of five quarterbacks under contract to the Buccaneers -- Gruden forgot to mention rookie Josh Johnson. And five is a reduction from the seven they had until this month, when they finally waived Bruce Gradkowski and reached an agreement with Jake Plummer that allowed him to formalize his retirement.

Now it's time for the Bucs and Simms to come to an agreement already that ends this drama. At this point, it does no one any good for Simms to remain under contract with the Bucs.

Buccaneers Fire Back at Chris Simms, Call Comments 'A P.R. Stunt' originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 14 Jun 2008 11:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spurrier To Graham: Get Back to Work!

David J. Warner — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:42:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, NFC South, Tampa Bay

Like some of his Buccaneers teammates, Earnest Graham would like some more money. He had a career year with the team, but Tampa Bay has turned away his requests for a pay raise. So Graham turned away the Bucs' request that he show up at voluntary workouts.

Apparently, Graham's old college coach doesn't like that very much.

Former Gators coach Steve Spurrier had some stern words of advice for Buc holdout running back Earnest Graham on Thursday. ...

"Hopefully Earnest Graham will get his butt back out to practice real soon,'' Spurrier said of the former Gators back. "Earnest needs to get back out here and I guess he'll be out here next week.''

Graham must really appreciate having his old coach undermine his holdout in the press. Makes you wonder what sort of relationship those two had at Florida. Plus, given that Spurrier left his alma mater for a huge payday with the Washington Redskins, maybe he's not the one to suggest Graham shouldn't be holding out for a raise.

Then again, Bucs practices become mandatory next week, so Graham could be fined $8,000 a day if he doesn't show up. Maybe Spurrier's just telling Graham not to throw his money away.

Spurrier To Graham: Get Back to Work! originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buccaneers Traded a 2008 7th-Round Pick for $3.5 Million in 2009 Salary Cap Space

Michael David Smith — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:42:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Buccaneers, NFL Draft, Denver, Tampa Bay

The ongoing saga of Jake Plummer's retirement has finally come to an end, as Plummer, who retired after the Denver Broncos traded him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 2008 seventh-round draft pick more than a year ago, has agreed to pay the Bucs $3.5 million.

It's a complex, often misunderstood, part of NFL contracts -- when players get signing bonuses, they only get to keep the money if they fulfill the terms of the contract. Plummer chose to walk away from his contract early by retiring, which meant he couldn't keep his entire signing bonus. When the Buccaneers traded for Plummer, they traded for the rights to get that bonus money -- even though the Bucs didn't pay it to him.

Now the Buccaneers get that money, but it's important to remember that this is about more than a millionaire writing a $3.5 million check to a billionaire. That $3.5 million will actually be credited to the Buccaneers' salary cap for the 2009 season.

So look at it this way: If the Bucs sign a free agent next year to a contract that pays him $3.5 million in base salary, that player is really who they acquired with that 2008 seventh-round draft pick. And since the kind of player who makes $3.5 million a year is almost always a better player than a seventh-round rookie, you'd have to say the Bucs made a good move when they traded for Plummer, even though he never played a down for them.

Buccaneers Traded a 2008 7th-Round Pick for $3.5 Million in 2009 Salary Cap Space originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Simms Says Buccaneers, Jon Gruden Are Holding Him Hostage

Michael David Smith — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:39:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, NFL Injuries, Tampa Bay

Chris Simms is under contract to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but coach Jon Gruden hasn't made it a secret that he has no intention of ever putting Simms on the field in a Bucs uniform again. That puts Simms in an awkward situation, and he vented his frustrations in an interview with the St. Petersburg Times:

"I feel like I'm being held hostage,'' Simms said. "I hate that all this has happened. I love Tampa. My family loves it here. But I've been quiet long enough. I feel like it's time to let everybody know why I'm not out there.''

Simms said he knows for a fact that there were teams offering late-round draft picks to acquire him, and he's baffled that the Bucs didn't trade him. He also says the NFL forced him to be checked by a league-appointed doctor because it didn't think the team was telling the truth about his injuries.

But here's what I don't get: Why doesn't Simms just show up to off-season workouts and force the team's hand? Simms has a base salary of $2 million this year, and if he got hurt at the team facility the Bucs would have to pay it to him. By skipping workouts, Simms is actually helping the team hold him hostage.

Chris Simms Says Buccaneers, Jon Gruden Are Holding Him Hostage originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Case for Warren Sapp in the Hall of Fame

Michael David Smith — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:54:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, Raiders, NFL Hall of Fame, Oakland, Tampa Bay

Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune writes today that he'll be enthusiastic about voting for Warren Sapp for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013. Here's his argument in a nutshell:

Defensive tackles aren't supposed to finish with 96.5 sacks and another 200 or so quarterback pressures.

As Monte Kiffin or Dungy will be quick to tell you, the Tampa 2 defense doesn't work without serious pressure up front.

Sapp, so quick and smart off the ball, was the catalyst for that heat until he departed for Oakland as a free agent in 2004.

As the Tampa Bay representative on the Hall of Fame Committee, it could be my privilege to argue Sapp's case in 2013.

Sapp was a fine player and I do think he'll get in the Hall of Fame, but I don't think he's even among the top six players who will become eligible for the first time in 2013.

To me, the top six would be Brett Favre, Michael Strahan, Jonathan Ogden, Junior Seau, Larry Allen and Bryant Young. Assuming all six of those guys really are retired and will become eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2013, I'd have a hard time voting for Sapp ahead of any of those guys.

I think Sapp will eventually get in, as much because he's a big-name, memorable player as because of his production. And for many years that production was impressive, so I won't be opposed to it when it happens. But to me, Kaufman's case serves as a reminder that there are a lot of players whose cases are better.

The Case for Warren Sapp in the Hall of Fame originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All Vinny Testaverde Wanted Was a Nice View

David J. Warner — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:50:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Police Blotter, Tampa Bay

When Vinny Testaverde bought a $4.5 million lakefront mansion in Keystone, Florida, he figured it should come with a view of the lake. So he called up a company to remove some trees that stood between his estate and the water. Makes sense, right?

Unfortunately, the tree-removal company forgot one small detail -- the cypress trees they were cutting down were on federally protected wetlands, and cutting them down is illegal. Testaverde was cited by the EPA on Friday for tearing down 40 trees in the protected area.

Oops.

Testaverde won't be fined by the government as long as he replaces the trees per their request, which is reportedly close to being done, so at least he's fixing his mistake. You would think tree-removal companies in Florida would know which areas are off-limits. Then again, when an NFL quarterback hires you, it might be easy to get starstruck. Maybe those guys just wanted to learn how to fart like Vinny, too.

All Vinny Testaverde Wanted Was a Nice View originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buccaneers Try to Avoid Jerramy Stevens' Criminal Record

Michael David Smith — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:26:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, NFL Police Blotter, Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers know their decision to sign tight end Jerramy Stevens, who has a long history of off-field problems, was not a popular decision.

The team's response? The Buccaneers Bulletin Board on the team's official web site now has a rule that fans aren't allowed to bring up this Seattle Times article about Stevens' despicable behavior when he was a football player at the University of Washington. This warning is now posted on the team's official site:

Anyone posting the article, or linking to it, will be suspended.

That's just silly. It's certainly fine for the Buccaneers to moderate their message boards, but to simply ban linking to a newspaper article about one of the Buccaneers' players just because the article describes that player's bad actions is ridiculous.

Stevens' history of arrests for assault with a deadly weapon, marijuana possession, sexual assault and drunk driving is a completely valid subject for fans to discuss, and the Buccaneers are insulting their fans by preventing that discussion.

Via PFT.

Buccaneers Try to Avoid Jerramy Stevens' Criminal Record originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Do The Glazers Disrespect Veteran Players?

David J. Warner — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, NFC South, Soccer, Tampa Bay, Premier League

Our old pal MJD had some interesting things to say about Jeff Garcia's retirement threat. The 38-year-old quarterback, who is due to make a $2 million base salary in 2008, has been asking for a raise after leading the Bucs to the playoffs last season.

My first reaction was that Garcia had a point but didn't have much leverage. The more I think about it, though, the more I wonder if this is part of a growing trend in Tampa for owner Malcolm Glazer and GM Bruce Allen. They tend to kick to the curb veterans who, in their opinion, have outlived their usefulness. Witness the cutting of Simeon Rice last summer, which many Bucs players didn't appreciate. Warren Sapp was not re-signed by the team in 2004, either, even though he still had some gas left in the tank.

The end result is that the Bucs have tons of room under the salary cap. They could afford to give Garcia a good-faith raise, which they gave B.J. Askew. Askew, however, is only 27. Does age play a role in these decisions?

Or can Glazer simply not afford it right now? I know I keep bringing up the fact that Glazer's other team, Manchester United, just posted a £58 million loss. You can certainly argue that they're separate entities, but nothing happens in a vacuum, and dropping $114 million with one team might make Glazer hesitant to spend on another team. Maybe if Garcia gets his raise a week after Cristiano Ronaldo gets sold to Real Madrid, we'll know just how connected those two franchises really are.

Do The Glazers Disrespect Veteran Players? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bucs Fans Rise Up Against Jerramy Stevens

David J. Warner — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:40:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, NFC South, Tampa Bay

Apparently, Tyler Brayton isn't the only person who's not happy that Jerramy Stevens has re-signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In fact, it's hard to find someone in Tampa who is happy about it.

According to the Tampa Tribune, Bucs fans have been lighting up the phones at WDAE AM 620, the team's flagship radio station, to protest Stevens' presence on the team. Steve Duemig, the station's drive-time show host, seems to agree with all of them.

"I've said I will not let this die. I think it's disgusting that he's a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We talked about Stevens for four hours Monday, and there wasn't one dissenting opinion."

Duemig (and everyone else) is upset because of Stevens' ugly track record, which includes multiple DUI arrests and a recent conviction, protests from his condo neighbors about vomit and used condoms raining down from Stevens' deck, and an arrest on rape charges while he was a player at the University of Washington. Those charges were dropped, but thanks to Stevens' history, the story hasn't gone away.

I suspect the fans' anger toward him won't go away, either. He's not exactly a class act. Here's hoping Brayton doesn't miss next time.

Bucs Fans Rise Up Against Jerramy Stevens originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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And That Will Be All for Bruce Gradkowski

David J. Warner — Sat, 31 May 2008 10:37:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, NFC South, Tampa Bay

Bruce Gradkowski has been cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whittling the number of quarterbacks on their roster down to, oh, about 17.

Y'know, the only people who saw this coming were ... well, everyone, really. Forced into starting duties as a rookie in 2006 because of injuries to Chris Simms and Luke McCown, Gradkowski won only 4 games in 13 starts, completed only 54% of his passes, threw only 9 touchdown passes on top of 9 interceptions, and compiled a passer rating of 65.9. That won't help you keep a starting job in the NFL. You could argue Gradkowski was one of the reasons the Bucs went out and got Jeff Garcia a year ago.

With the Bucs loaded up at QB -- Garcia, McCown, Brian Griese and rookie Josh Johnson -- it was only a matter of time before Gradkowski was shown the door. I suspect Simms' departure can't be too far off. The Glazer family might be loyal to a fault to Simms, but at some point, the guy will want to prove he can still play without his spleen, and the logjam of QBs in Tampa guarantees that it won't be there.

And That Will Be All for Bruce Gradkowski originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 31 May 2008 10:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buccaneers' Warrick Dunn: 'I Would Never Consider Myself a Third-Down Back'

Michael David Smith — Sun, 18 May 2008 09:06:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Warrick Dunn is one of the real good guys in the NFL, a person who is universally admired for the way he conducts himself and for the charitable deeds he's done off the field.

So it always feels a little uncomfortable criticizing him. But I find this awfully hard to believe:

"I would never consider myself a third-down back. It's not my mentality. I don't play the game that way," he said. "I don't think Coach Jon Gruden brought me here just to play on third down. He believes in me, and I just have to go out and prove it." ...

"I see him as being a front-line guy," Gruden said. "He is going to play a lot."

Dunn and Gruden can't possibly believe that he's the same guy he was when he played in Tampa Bay seven years ago, can they? Dunn is 33 years old and coming off a season in which he averaged 3.2 yards a carry. As a good presence in the locker room and a guy who might help out on offense for five or 10 plays a game, he's a fine addition. But as an every-down back? That just doesn't make any sense.

Buccaneers' Warrick Dunn: 'I Would Never Consider Myself a Third-Down Back' originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 May 2008 09:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Garcia Wants Graham to Get Paid, Too

David J. Warner — Thu, 15 May 2008 08:45:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, NFC South, Tampa Bay

You can call Jeff Garcia selfish for trying to get more money from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the truth is he's not just asking for a raise for himself. He's asking for a raise for Earnest Graham, too.

"There are a few players on this team that I believe should be rewarded. One of those guys isn't here with us right now, and I don't know if that's the reason.

"But a guy like Earnest Graham - he had such a spectacular year last year. And in no way did I feel or does anybody on this team feel that it was a fluke. But he's stuck on the bottom."

See? Garcia wants to share the wealth. He's a team player after all.

Graham became a starter last season after injuries benched Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman, and he ran well, averaging 4.0 yards a carry and scoring 10 touchdowns. As of right now, he'll make only $605,000 next season. Currently, the Bucs' other options at running back are Michael Bennett, who struggled in this offense last season, Warrick Dunn, who is a great guy but is way past his sell date, practice squader Kenneth Darby and 7th-round pick Cory Boyd.

I've written here before that Graham deserves a raise. Another million wouldn't damage the Bucs' salary cap status. Knowing the way Bruce Allen operates, though, I figure Graham will get traded or cut before he sees that money. Enjoy old Warrick Dunn, Bucs fans.

Garcia Wants Graham to Get Paid, Too originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 15 May 2008 08:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Garcia's Holdout Threat Lacks Teeth in Tampa

David J. Warner — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:45:00 EST

Filed under: Buccaneers, NFC South, Tampa Bay

Jeff Garcia has informed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that he would like to get paid more money.

Oh, dear. The Bucs must be scared to death. I mean, who else will they ever find to play quarterback for them? Y'know, aside from Brian Griese, Luke McCown, Chris Simms and rookie Josh Johnson.

I'm not saying Garcia doesn't have a good argument for a raise. After leading the Philadelphia Eagles to the playoffs in 2006, Garcia was brought in to lead the Bucs to the playoffs, and he did that without a whole lot of help from the rest of his offense. After all that, he's only set to earn $2 million in base salary, which is pretty cheap for a playoff quarterback. Plus, he's 38, so he wants to make as much as possible while he still can. Besides, being married to a Playmate can't be cheap.

Garcia, however, is a really bad position to ask for more cash, because Jon Gruden collects quarterbacks like the IRS collects taxes. He can replace Garcia with Griese or McCown while he grooms Johnson, and there might not be that big of a drop-off in performance. Garcia was always a temporary fix for the Bucs, and if he holds out now, Gruden will have little trouble replacing him.

Good luck getting that extra cash, Jeff. You're gonna need it.

Garcia's Holdout Threat Lacks Teeth in Tampa originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 14 May 2008 10:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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