Gruden determined to take a QB in first day
One of the teams that is looking to need a quarterback is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Even their head coach is well aware of thier situation.
You think that with a starting quarterback in Jeff Garcia, who is 38, they would wait to see what happens with quarterback Chris Simms. However, that is not what head coach Jon Gruden is thinking.
According to the Tampa Tirbune’s Roy Cummings Gruden said this at the Senior Bowl workouts, Do you know who the last quarterback was that we drafted in the first or second round?” Gruden asked. “It was Shaun King. I think he’s an analyst now for ESPN. It’d be nice to pick somebody that high again.”
That is completely mind blowing to me. You have Chris Simms, and yes I am aware that Simms is coming back from something major, but you still have to see what he can do.
There already is a log jam at quarterback. The Buc’s have four quarterbacks total. Most teams just carry three, and some just two, but they were able to keep all four by putting Simms on injured reserve.
The thinking of Gruden is also head turning, becuase of the fact that his team is lined with veterans. Drafting a quarterback would be waving a white flag for them. Giving them the perception that you are giving up, until the rookie seems he knows enough to do the job okay.
According to Cummings Gruden does not care for Simms, and he was never onboard with the idea of drafting him. If he does not give Simms a fair chance this could be harmful to the team for a long time to come.
The fact of the matter is that Gruden is letting his emotions take control, and making an irrational judgement that will come to bite him in the butt if Simms comes back, and plays up to his old form.