Jon Gruden / Image: Zuma Press

Coach Gruden is describing the experience as “life-changing” for himself and his colleagues:

“You can read about what our troops are doing over here or you can watch reports on television, but none of that can compare to being here with them. It’s inspiring. I think sometimes people forget the role our military plays in keeping our country safe. There is the Air Force, the Navy and the Army all working together tirelessly, putting in long hours every day so far away from home. I’ll never think about military service the same way after seeing it up close this week. It’s been a life-changing experience for all of us.”

What better day than July 4 to remember our troops and thank them for protecting our freedoms.

Source: ESPN.com

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NFL Coaches Inspired by USO Trip

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Less than 24 hours after “dismissing” head coach Jon Gruden, the Tampa Bay Bucs promoted defensive backs coach (and recently promoted defensive coordinator) Raheem Morris to head coach. This was not the “high-profile” selection I was expecting, but given the Bucs’ history, I’m not surprised it was a coach with a defensive background. Coach Morris’ philosophy?

“I’m going to be Raheem Morris. The atmosphere changes with the person. You deal with people how you deal with people on an everyday basis. That’s what I plan to do. We’re a family. The Glazers are a family. We’re family-driven. That’s how we work. We’ve always worked that way. Joel (Glazer, co-chairman) said it the best — the Buccaneers are in my blood. I’ve been raised here. You guys raised me….. Around here, we don’t talk about philosophies as much. Our philosophy is our core beliefs, it’s our fundamental style of attack. That’s who we are, that’s who we’ll always be….. We’re going to stay the course. That’s what we have to do to be great.”

Coach Morris will be the youngest head coach in the NFL at 32 years old. Mark Dominik, formerly the Bucs’ director of pro personnel, was promoted to GM.

Source: Buccaneers.com, Photo: Newscom

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Bucs Name Raheem Morris Head Coach

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Tampa Bay Bucs head coach Jon Gruden has been fired. The Bucs released a statement today saying coach Gruden and GM Bruce Allen had been “dismissed” (it sounds better than fired) and co-chairman Joel Glazer said:

“We will be forever grateful to Jon for bringing us the Super Bowl title, and we thank Bruce for his contributions to our franchise. However after careful consideration, we feel that this decision is in the best interest of our organization moving forward.”

“Forever grateful” sometimes means “don’t let the door hit you in the butt on your way out.” There were rumblings that something like this might happen, but with the regular season having ended three weeks ago, it took me by surprise. Actually, after what the Bucs did to coach Tony Dungy seven years ago, I really shouldn’t be shocked. I think coach Gruden is one of the more outstanding head coaches in the NFL. Therefore, I believe the Bucs must already have a high-profile successor lined up in order to dump a head coach of this caliber. But who? Speculation has started with Mike Shanahan, but I am doubtful. As for coach Gruden, what about the N.Y. Jets?

Source: Buccaneers.com, Photo: Newscom

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Bucs ‘Dismiss’ Jon Gruden, Bruce Allen

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Tampa Bay Bucs running back Earnest Graham, who leads the team in rushing yards and touchdowns, might be finished for the 2008 season with an ankle injury. Earnest was hurt on his only carry in yesterday’s 19-13 win over the Minnesota Vikings, limping off after landing awkwardly when he was tackled after a 3-yard gain. Bucs head coach Jon Gruden was not optimistic during his presser today:

“I believe Earnest Graham’s ankle looks to be a serious injury and his status for the rest of the season is very much in question right now. It doesn’t look like he’ll play anytime soon. I’m just very disappointed for our guy Earnest. He means a lot to us. He’s done so much for us here in the last couple years. He’s a key reason why we are where we are. We’ll have to make some adjustments, obviously.”

Among those adjustments would be getting running back Cadillac Williams into the lineup alongside Warrick Dunn. Cadillac was just activated last week after spending over a year rehabbing a potentially career threatening knee injury. If there were any silver lining to Earnest’s injury, at least as far as the team is concerned, it’s that Cadillac is back. How far back and how effective he will be remains to be seen, though.

Source: Buccaneers.com, Photo: Newscom

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Earnest Graham Ankle Injury Serious

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Tampa Bay Bucs head coach Jon Gruden has the quarterbacks. He might as well use them. Coach Gruden named Brian Griese the team’s starting QB for this weekend’s game against the Atlanta Falcons:

“We’re going to start Brian Griese in the game (against Atlanta). It’s just my opinion, and we’ve talked about it a lot with our coaches, (that) Jeff right now is not himself. We’re going to give him a week off and try to get him ready to go. Brian Griese’s a guy that’s had a good training camp. We’re going to give Brian the ball and we’ll rally around him. Hopefully Jeff can get back ready to roll soon.”

He said he wants to give Jeff Garcia time to heal from his recent string of injuries, but I really think it comes down to winning. And Jeff (24-of-41 passing, 221 yards, one touchdown, one interception) didn’t do that on Kickoff Weekend last Sunday in a loss to the Saints. I was impressed from what I saw of Brian Griese’s preseason performances. The team ran like a well-oiled machine with Brian at the helm. We’ll see if he can translate that into a regular season win. If yes, I expect Jeff Garcia will be given longer than one week to recuperate.

Source: Buccaneers.com, Photo: Newscom

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Brian Griese Named Starting QB for Bucs

Rumors are heating up over Brett Favre’s potential trade to the Tampa Bay Bucs. But keep in mind these are merely rumors and with the way this whole Brett Favre “unretirement” fiasco has gone, I’m not taking anything I hear — from any source — as the next great possibility to end this slow motion train wreck that has been the divorce of Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. Brett and his wife Deanna left Green Bay today and Brett’s agent, James “Bus” Cook, confirmed in an e-mail to The Associated Press that the Bucs and Jets were emerging as the most likely trade destinations for Brett.

In Tampa, Bucs head coach Jon Gruden didn’t have anything to say specifically about Brett, but stated:

“When you’re the coach and you’re a quarterback in this league, there is speculation about you, there’s speculation about me, there’s speculation about all of us. Our number one objective is to win and we’ll do anything we can to get the best football team we can. That’s all I can say. That’s something that will not change. We feel like we have a very good work ethic. We are a good football team and we’re trying to become a great one. We’ll do anything we can to get better, and if that involves looking at other players — by George, that’s our job. That’s our responsibility.”

You can bet if Brett is traded to the Bucs, the first players to get their walking papers will be QBs Jeff Garcia, Chris Simms and probably Brian Griese. But if it’s going to happen, it better be soon. Brett has a new playbook to learn.

Source: ESPN NFL Nation, ESPN.com

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Brett Favre to Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

Brett is returning with the intention of playing for the Packers (as in starting at quarterback), but the Packers haven’t changed their stance that Aaron Rodgers is their starting quarterback. So, the team gave permission to the N.Y. Jets and Tampa Bay Bucs to talk to Brett directly today. The Packers are looking for a first-round Draft pick in return for Brett and I think that’s completely acceptable. Even though he’s been a bit flaky with his retirement decision, you know what he’s done in his 16-year career. Brett is one of the best to ever play the game and he’s coming off one of the best seasons of his career. As for the Jets and Bucs — I think N.Y. is a long-shot. Clearly, with their impressive offseason additions, the Jets are going to be an improved team, but this is not a team that is “playoff-ready.” The Bucs, meanwhile, are more suited to Brett’s talents. And don’t tell me Brett wouldn’t rather play in a warm weather city. Why do you think all those retired people are flocking to Florida? All joking aside, Bucs QB-happy head coach Jon Gruden — a Packers assistant from 1992 through 1994 — runs a version of the West Coast that Brett would be comfortable with — and would most likely adjust to rather quickly. Plus, Jeff Garcia (currently the Bucs starting QB) is unhappy with his contract and is skipping the opening weekend of training camp to attend his father’s junior-college reunion. His father’s junior college reunion? Anyway, it’s still anyone’s guess what will happen. And Brett will keep us guessing.

Source: Wisconsin State Journal, Tampa Bay Online

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Brett Favre Will Report to Packers Camp, Bucs and Jets Given Permission to Talk

Tampa Bay Bucs RB Cadillac Williams was on the practice field with a trainer during the first day of the team’s minicamp this week. He’s not allowed to practice until he is medically cleared, but head coach Jon Gruden called Cadillac’s speedy comeback from last year’s knee injury nothing short of a miracle:

“It’s one of the most amazing comebacks that I’ve seen. He hasn’t come back yet, but he is banging on the door. Our fans would be proud of him. He’s ready to go now, if you ask him. He’s really putting some good tape together in his individual workouts … the explosive movement appears to be coming back. Change of direction, confidence, stamina, all those things day after day a running back has to do are coming to him. That’s what’s really exciting. He doesn’t appear to have any setbacks at this point. I just keep my fingers crossed and hope it continues, because it’s exciting.”

It wasn’t just any knee injury. Cadillac suffered a career-threatening knee injury last September 30 against Carolina, tearing a patellar tendon. To be back on the practice field already is incredible. In fact, he’s already doing 100-yard sprints, some at full speed. I’m not suggesting you grab him in your fantasy draft, but this is certainly promising news since his surgery last October and obviously successful rehab since.

Source: Tampa Bay Online

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Cadillac Williams Continues ‘Amazing’ Comeback From Devastating Knee Injury

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

Tampa Bay Bucs first-round Draft pick cornerback Aqib Talib has apparently done quite well in the team’s offseason workouts and minicamps, making big plays in practice against players with a lot more experience. According to head coach Jon Gruden last week:

“He’s going to be the face of this franchise.”

That’s heavy praise from your head coach. Will Aqib live up to the billing? Upon hearing Coach Gruden’s comments, Aqib said he just wants to contribute any way he can. He’ll be battling Phillip Buchanon and Eugene Wilson at cornerback opposite Ronde Barber, where the Bucs should be as deep as ever.

Source: St. Petersburg Times, Photo: Newscom

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Bucs Cornerback Aqib Talib the Real Deal

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

The Tampa Bay Bucs collect quarterbacks like football cards. It seems to be something of a hobby for head coach Jon Gruden. In taking a look at the Bucs’ current roster with the release of Bruce Gradkowski a couple days ago, there are now six QBs listed — Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese, Josh Johnson, Luke McCown, Jake Plummer and Chris Simms. The team will probably keep three. So who gets the ax next? Well, Jake Plummer is semi-retired and hasn’t played since 2006. He’s a good candidate. But Chris Simms recently told the Bucs he no longer feels he is part of their future and asked to be released or traded. The Bucs have been slow to accommodate because they aren’t sure, after months of inactivity, what his trade value is. Or whether he still has value to them.

Chris is definitely a keeper among this group, but he’s obviously unhappy with a second- or more likely third-string role. And I can’t say that I blame him. I think Chris has plenty of potential to flourish with another organization and I hope he gets that chance.

Sources: Buccaneers.com, Tampa Bay Online, Photo: Newscom

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Chris Simms Wants Out of Tampa Bay