Chip Carter's Newsroom

A sloppy game in San Francisco,  tipped balls, interceptions, fumbles, the Bucs just looked out of sync, players jumped offsides repeatedly...and really it...just...doesn't matter.....performance didn't matter in this game, winning didn't matter in this game.  There was only one thought that kept spinning through the head of Jon Gruden.   Don't get hurt, thats all Jon Gruden was thinking about in San Francisco, but he watched Maurice Stovall get carted off the field his arm in a temporary cast.  (the early word is that he is out with a broken arm).  Gruden  watched Greg White drop to the turf (he was able to walk off the field on his own) but thats all Gruden needed to see.  He pulled Jeff Garcia in the 2nd quarter, he pulled Joey Galloway, Earnest Graham.  By the end of the third quarter back ups were in at nearly every postion....and  really this is the move that he needed to make. Simply put, its a luxury to make the playoffs and still have two week left in the season and really, other than ego, what difference does it make if you go into the playoffs at 10-6 or 11-5, it doesn't make a difference, it shouldn't to Buc fans and it definitely should not matter to Gruden  Even if the Bucs could catch up and pass Seattle for that third seed  who cares???  So that changes a possible first round game, but really who cares....let the Super Bowl Tournament (as Derrick Brooks calls it) start and then start thinking about matchups and teams.  Besides, everything is going to have to go through Dallas eventually, (unless the Cowboys somehow stumble) but don't count on them stumbling.

  I know some of you may be pointing out that momentum is a bonus in the playoffs, that the Bucs don't want to hit the playoffs after one or two flat performances....I'm going to tell you that that doesn't matter.  Players will tell you that that doesn't matter.  We talked about that this morning with Brad Culpepper and Ricky Reynolds on our Tailgate Sunday program.....their take is this:  It's the NFL, not college, while teams would like to hit the playoffs on a two game winning streak, its not necessary.  Especially if its a two week stretch where the Bucs can rest some starters....thats what gives players in this league a little juice at the end of the season, its time off...thats what Gruden is going to be able give his team going into the playoffs...that time off should pay off in round one.