Unheralded rookie pushing for Bucs’ No. 2 QB job

By Connor Byrne  |   Thursday, August 17, 2006  |  Comments( 5 )

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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In the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 16-3 preseason victory over the New York Jets last weekend, few on the winning side looked more impressive than quarterback Bruce Gradkowski. The rookie's performance was certainly unexpected, since it was just his first game in the National Football League.

A former University of Toledo star, Gradkowski was a sixth-round pick of the Bucs back in April's draft. In his debut pro performance, he looked like a poised veteran, completing 11-of-13 passes for 104 yards and a pair of touchdown strikes. By doing so, he excited the team's fans and proved that Tampa, perhaps, has another promising young QB for the future, other than No. 1 man Chris Simms.

Gradkowski's road to the backup role doesn't come without some bumps in the road, however. Specifically, veteran bumps. He must leap over Jay Fiedler and Tim Rattay, both of whom are currently penciled in ahead of the 23-year-old on the Buccaneers' depth chart.

Fiedler, who was signed this summer after an ACL injury to backup competitor Luke McCown, has been battling injuries throughout his young Tampa career. The 34-year-old is, of course, most known for being a mediocre starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins between 2000-2004. His veteran leadership is welcomed by head coach Jon Gruden, but how much good play (if any) does he have left in the tank? Probably not much.

Rattay, meanwhile, has somehow lasted in the league for six seasons, despite proving virtually nothing. The 28-year-old couldn't even win the San Francisco 49ers' starting job over Ken Dorsey for a 2-14 team two years ago, so that means he probably doesn't deserve to beat out Fiedler or Gradkowski for a No. 2 role on a Tampa team that actually has realistic Super Bowl aspirations.

In last Saturday's victory, Rattay didn't exactly stare down Gradkowski on the playing field. He completed just one pass out of four attempts, looking unimpressive.

The Buccaneers are back at it this Saturday, when they take on the Dolphins in their second preseason game of the exhibition schedule. If Gradkowski has another terrific outing, Gruden, offensive coordinator Bill Muir and quarterbacks coach Paul Hackett will have a tough time denying the first-year player of the backup role.

They say the No. 2 signal caller should always be a veteran, but what's the point when the youngster may prove to be superior? That question will be answered before Tampa Bay begins its regular season on Sept. 10.

--Connor J. Byrne can be reached at cbyrne@realfootball365.com.

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