Bucs' Starting Qb Griese Vs. Falcons

Bucs' Starting Qb Griese Vs. Falcons

Bucs' -7 vs Falcons.

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Now you see why the Tampa Bay Bucs wanted Brett Favre – because their current starting quarterback is a brittle 38-year-old.

Tampa Bay’s Jeff Garcia suffered a sprained ankle during the fourth quarter of last Sunday's 24-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints, and he won’t go this week in the Bucs’ home opener against the Atlanta Falcons. Brian Griese will get the start.

Garcia completed 24 of 41 passes for 221 yards, one touchdown and one interception against the Saints and missed most of the preseason with various injuries. He wanted a contract extension after leading the Bucs to the NFC South title last year but didn’t get one, and he was surrounded by all those Favre-to-Tampa rumors.

“It’s been a very interesting last few months, obviously,” Gruden said of Garcia. “I really believe in this guy as a quarterback. And right now, he’s not the same guy that he was, and I want him to be that. That’s all I’m going to say.

“I just want him to get healthy physically and emotionally and hopefully he can come back and get started and be the kind of quarterback I know he is."

Until then, Griese, 33, has reclaimed the job he held for 10 games in 2004 and the first six games of 2005, compiling a 9-7 record. Griese had a very efficient preseason completing 26-of-35 passes (74.3 percent) for 174 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. He was reacquired by the Bucs in an offseason deal with the Bears.

And don’t rule out Griese keep this job for the rest of the season. By not giving Garcia an extension, it’s pretty clear the Bucs aren’t long-term believers in him.

"Until I see the ball thrown (from Garcia) with the crisp, accurate velocity, the confident swagger, we're going to let him sit out a week," Gruden said. "Hopefully he can get back with us soon."

Bucs center Jeff Faine says the offensive scheme shouldn’t deviate at all, especially with all of the starting reps Griese took in practice during training camp while Garcia was injured.

“Scheme-wise, these guys have been working the same offense,” Faine said. “I don’t see Gruden doing anything different with a different quarterback. I don’t think it’s a major difference from a scheme standpoint and from a play-call standpoint, and I think we’re going to see some of the similar plays called and some of the similar schemes used.”

This game opened with Tampa Bay as an 8-point WagerWeb.com favorite over the Falcons, but that could shift without Garcia.

InSpin.com

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