Chip Carter's Newsroom

   The Bucs get Jeff Garcia back and Jon Gruden may get hit with a fine from the league.  Gruden says team trainers told him Garcia was going to be out two weeks, it was a two week injury.  Gruden kept that a secret, its a violation of the NFL injury rules and he may get fined for it.  There was one positive out of it, Gruden has found a back up quarterback, Luke McCown sealed up the job and hopefully its the last time we ever see Bruce Gradkowski on the field in a Buccaneer uniform. 

      Gruden told us today, "  I’m really pleased at what he  (Luke) has done. He’s handled a lot of football, some tough situations, and he’s moved our football team. We’ve made a lot of first downs and I still think there is plenty of room to grow but I think what we all see is a big, athletic guy that has promise and has potential to be outstanding. I think that has been obvious in the last two football games. There is clearly work to be done, but we are pleased with a lot of things that he did do in the last two games, ” Gruden said.

   I think the team lost part of their focus, when Garcia didn't get the start, that essentially told the players, the game in Houston was a throw away game and really it was.  It doesn't change the division standings, it doesn't change home field advantage, it doesn't change where the Bucs will go if they win their first round playoff game.  So, when Garcia (who Gruden says, could have played) was inactive as the 3rd QB, I think the team reacted to that.

   But now Garcia is back...and really, he's been gone for 3 games, when you remember he got hurt early in the Washington game.  Gruden told us exactly what Garcia brings to the team when he is in the huddle. ", “He brings a lot of lift. We really missed him for three games. He came out the first play or second play of the game against Washington, so we have really played three full football games without him, and that is a tough strain on anybody. We are eager to get him back and have him healthy, and ready to go play the way he has proven he likes to play; aggressive, creative, and competitively.”

  So, this is the game the Bucs need to gear up for, a win over Atlanta puts them into the playoffs, seals up the division and puts the Bucs one game closer to wrappijng up the year with an undefeated record in the division.  A win over Atlanta would put them 5-0 with only Carolina left on the schedule.