First quarterback controversy of 2007 ends

By Os Davis  |   Tuesday, March 06, 2007  |  Comments( 4 )

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Even in the pre-preseason (or is that the post-postseason?), things in the NFL are moving faster than ever. Those who love inevitable sports hyperbole are happier than Pacman Jones with a room full of strippers at the recent "Shortest Quarterback Controversy Of All-Time" over in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' camp.

In hindsight, the Jeff Garcia signing wasn't shocking at all. Garcia's primary would-be suitor, the Oakland Raiders, apparently just simply couldn't crunch the cap numbers to swing a deal. And head coach Jon Gruden has preferred a peer at quarterback ever since he entered the league, e.g. 36-year-old Rich Gannon on the 2001 "Tuck Rule" Raiders and 34-year-old Brad Johnson on the Super Bowl champion Bucs of 2002.

Then there was Jake.

Jake "The Snake" Plummer, given a respite from his dramatic high-slope fall from grace, was essentially traded from the Denver Broncos about 13 minutes after Garcia was signed. Knowing something was brewing in Chucky's fevered mind, Garcia told reporters that, "if Jake Plummer were to show up here after I did, I welcome it. It's not a situation I'm fearful of."

No doubt "The Serpentine One" decided to retire upon hearing Garcia's gauntlet thrown. At the Jake Plummer Foundation Web site, the maligned QB stated that he would "look forward to the future; I've got many rivers to cross." Fans of Plummer (OK, family of Plummer) surely hope, when he's attempting to scramble across the torrents, that he gets a bit more protection than the Buccaneers' line showed it was capable of last season.

Said Donovan McNabb on the Garcia signing, "I'm happy for him."

But surely, he's happier for himself not having to deal with his own QB controversy.

In Tampa Bay, the bold move brings questions. How much gas in left in Garcia's tank? Will, as with the Detroit Lions back in 2005, Garcia be insufficient to protect the endangered Gruden's job? And what will the Bucs do with their first-round pick?

While Philadelphia Eagles fans should be a bit disheartened to see their miracle man depart, Buccaneer backers feel excitement tempered with a large dose of nervousness. It's going to be a long offseason in central Florida...

Already sweating out the 2007 season 24/7 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at RealFootball365.com.
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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's...
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