Kaspers Korner

After the first game of the season head coach Jon Gruden benched quarterback Jeff Garcia.  That decision could be costly as the Buccaneers are a hlaf game back behing the Carolina Panthers.

The game that it specifically affected was the Buccaneers week five matchup against the Denver Broncos.  Garcia had to come in releif for an injured Brian Griese, and obviously would not be well prepared for the game.

The Bucs lost that game by a feild goal, which could be costly.  One can even argue that the distraction in training camp of Griese’s presence could have costed them their season opener to the New Orleans Saints.

Garcia simply has nine lives.  At age 38 Garcia obviously does not have many football years left, but for the immediate future the Bucs would be crazy not to go with Garcia.

For a while now it has been known that quarterback Chris Simms would be cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which happened today when the Bucs made their cuts to get down to the 53 man roster limit.  What the move shows is that the organization has no class.

Simms was a warrior as during the 2006 season he played a game with a ruptured spleen.  The shame in all of this is that Simms asked to be traded, or released months ago, but was not.

Surely, someone would have jumped all over Simms, but it most likely would not have been someone in their division.  For two of three of the Bucs divisional quarterbacks have established veterans, and the Falcons drafted Matt Ryan with the third pick overall in the draft, and is slated to start right away for them.

So, what was the motivation in keeping Simms around, until the final cutdown?

Most likely the answer is injuries, but that is pointless as there were two other veteran quarterbacks that were out there in free agency available, and one still is in Duante Culpepper.

Simms will latch on to another team, but will most likely be just a backup.  That is a shame, because Simms looked like he has finally fully healed, due to him throwing in camp with his old throwing technique.

In the end it shows what little, if any, class that head coach John Gruden posses.

Every team this preseason will have to make the difficult decision of wether, or not, to expose an injured player to waivers, so they can be placed on injured reserve eventually.  The same goes for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they released offensive tackle Luke Petitgout.

Tampa acquried Petitgout through free agency as he signed a three year $15.5 million contract with the team.

Petitgout only played four games last year before suffering a season ending knee injury.  Which, still to this day has not fully recovered from yet, and not expected to by the start of the regular season.  That prompted the Buccaneers to release him, so they can bring in someone who can practice. 

Petitgout is only the latest in a long list of free agent failures.  So, it looks likes that shifts focus to center Jeff Faine, as he was also acquired through free agency.

It looks like the Bucs are at the threshold of injured players that they can keep on their roster.

However, that is the fault of Buccaneers management as they are holing on to five quarterbacks on their roster.  Most teams just carry four.

The team for some reason has not unloaded quarterback Chris Simms, who finally looks fully recovered from the removal of his spleen.

However, many Bucanneer fans will have to put up with this type of thinking as general manager Bruce Allen, and head coach John Gruden, both got contract extensions.

 With the team being loaded with over 30 players it could turn out to be a long year for Buccanee fans.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms sounded off on the organization this week in comments to the media.  However, those fell on deaf ears as in a Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce luncheon, which head coach John Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen attended.

It is obvious that Gruden does not believe in Simms.  Other wise he would not have quarterbacks Jeff Garcia and Brian Greise on their roster.  So, why is he on the team, which is what everyone at this point is wondering.

The two took the high road when it came to talking to the media in regards to Simms.  Both stated that they are not worried at all by Simms comments to the media.  Who they are concerned with is the rest of the roster that is under contract.

Why they are doing this is anyone’s guess.  It is horrible seeing someone give up their spleen, only to get treated like crap from their employer.

In the end the Bucs will get what they have coming to them.

The National Football League is a haven for awful characters as long as they have talent, and perform.  That is the exact reason why tight end Jeremy Stevens still has a job.

Stevens resigned with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, eventhough he has a long history of being a loser.   

In high school reached a plea deal and plead guilty to misdemeanor assualt, kicked a football teammate in the nuts, threatened referees after being ejected from basketball games for playing to aggressively, vandalized the school with a friend by punching holes in the walls, and violated school rules on alcohol and marijuana.

In college he raped a girl, and got away with it thanks to University Washington. He was also involved in two hit and run accidents.  One when he hit a house, and the other was when Stevens side swiped another car when the car slowed up for an accident. 

That is pretty sad considering that in Seattle after he turned pro he was arrested twice fr DUI.   He was also kicked out of his condominiums due to constant complaints of loud noise deep into the night, fireworks, and  vomit raining over the railing.

The fact is that the NFL needs to get rid of these turds.

 http://boomp3.com/listen/debifl7/kk-buccaneers-may-first

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed free agent safety Eugene Wilson this offseason.  Now, the Buccaneers are planning to move him to cornerback.

Wilson has not played cornerback since he was in college.  Also, add in the addition of cornerback Aqib Talib through the draft, and you have one dumb move.

Why did he agree to make the move? That is simple, and it is the money that cornerbacks received.

Wilson is going into his sixth season in the NFL, and has time to make the transition.  Rhonde Barber and Phillip Buccanon are the starters, and they are not getting any younger. 

Tampa Tribune’ Roy Cummings said this, “There’s little doubt that Wilson will help the Bucs. His ability to defend receivers in man-to-man schemes and to cover zones remains exceptional. He’s also learned the art of patience.”

Yeah he learned paitence from being on the sidelines over the last two years, due to injury.  Which is another reason that the move is stupid.

The type of offenses call for multiple quality cornerbacks, and if Wilson is prone to it. 

In the end the signing of Wilson will bite the Buccaneers in the end.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the playoffs last year with aging players at key positions.  The wide receiver position is one of them, and cannot be ignored in this upcoming draft.

The wide receiver position is a mess right now, with their top receiver being the 37 year old Joey Galloway.  Michael Clayton was looking to be that guy after his rookie season, but since then he has fallen off the radar.

The Bucs are looking at Andre Caldwell in the second round, especially with his blazing 40 yard dash speed.  Caldwell’s 40 yard dash of 4.35 seconds was one of the fastest for wide receivers.

Taking Caldwell makes complete sense, especially if he is there in the middle of round two.  The Bucs have no deep threat, and if they are going to make any noise at all this year then they have to find one.

With any team taking a wide receiver is a tough position to play.  You have to find one that is smart, and a hard worker, along with talent.  If the Bucs find the right person the wide receiver will have some impact.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been a team spinning its wheels. It has gotten to the point where Buc fans are desperate or a franchise quarterback, and another top receiver.

The next chapter in the Buc’s search for a franchise quarterback will take place in this years draft.  For many Buc fans it is  foregone conclusion that quaterback Chris Simms will not be with the club much longer, after Simms decided not to participate in Tampa Bay’s voluntary offseason workouts, plus skipped last week’s quarterback orientation. 

Anwar Richardson of The Tampa Tribune figured the events meant two things, “Simms no longer wants to play for Tampa Bay and is sitting out because he wants a trade, or Tampa Bay has told him not to show up because the Bucs will deal him.”

Many fans feel that the struggles Simms had was due to his skills not fitting the West Coast Offense head coach Jon Gruden runs. Fans feel the Simms will be next in a long line of former Buccaneer quarterback that went on to win the Super Bowl with another team.

Gruden himself stated that earlier this offseason that it was about time the Bucs use a high draft pick on a quarterback.  Now, with Simms skipping stuff it is only time before Simms is gone.

Also, in the Bucs report a question by Richardson was posed to fans if the Bucs should  pursue Chad Johnson.  The Bucs are in need of a young prospect, since both starters are getting up in age, in football years.  Also, wide receiver Michael Clayton has been a bust, since his rookie season when he caught 80 receptions and over 1,000 yards receiving.

Many fans would love to have Johnson, or anyone other top notch receiver.  However, many feel that having one will not matter without a franchise quarterback.

In the end Buccaneer fans have only one person for their woes, and that is head coach Jon Gruden.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had $44 million in money to spendon free agents.  Only a few hours in they threw too much money at center Jeff Faine.

Faine signed a contract for five years worth $37.5 million with $15 million of it guaranteed.  That folks is officially the dumbest contract so far.

It is one thing to over pay for a quality caliber play that has made a huge impact just recently for his former team.  However, to sign a center that is considered good not great is just plain stupid.

Unfortunately, this probably nothing more than the Buccaneers spending the money that they have to to hit the salary floor of $100 million.

According to Pro Football Talk.com Faine was the center that Lecharles Bentley replaced on the Browns.   Now, he has surpassed that becoming the highest paid center of all time.

Also, the Buccaneers have lined up several other free agents for visits.  Which makes the Buccaneers the new dummy of free agency.  They replace the current king the  Washington Redskins.

So, in a few years look for the Bucs to be dumping people like the Redskins.

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.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were led to the playoffs by quarterack Jeff Garcia, who will turn 38 years old next month.  Like Garcia many starters at the skill positions are old.

Quarterback, defensive end, cornerback, wide receiver, linebacker, and tackle is the positions where the Buccaneers have starters with 10, or more, years of expereince.

The thing is with old players they can go at anytime, and with out quality backups most teams go down the tubes fast.

Fortunately, the linebackers,offensive line, and the possibly the quarterback position, is looking okay, since those positions just have one player that may be needed to replace soon.

Defensive end, cornerback, and wide receiver are the postions with two, or more, veterans with over 10 years at their postion.

According to Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune, “A young corner is definitely a priority for the Bucs, given the mileage on Barber and Kelly. The D-line will get younger because Spires won’t be back, but more depth is needed up front.”

So, whatever the Bucs do not address in free agency will be done in the draft.

With Bucs ownershup extending head coach John Gruden, and the general manager, The Bucs better be able to turn the roster over fast. or it is going too be back on the hotseat for both of them.