Tuesday Morning Quarterback

Posted Nov 21, 2006 by Darin Shaw

Updated Nov 21, 2006 at 10:52 AM

Buc Bits: Chucky to set sail?  Rumors are swirling that Coach Jon Gruden may be feeling the urge to change ships.  The hot rumor of the weekend had the coach heading to Dallas to replace Bill Parcells after the season.  The latest is that Gruden may return to Philadelphia to replace Andy Reid.  Here’s one for you: Gruden stays put, where he has all the pieces in place to do things his way. 

Hey, Bucs fans, have any of you noticed the improved play by the D-Line the last two games?  Stout against the run?  Increased pressure on opposing passers?  What’s up with that?  Could it be that the blue-collar crew of replacements for Simeon Rice have shown up to work?  Hey Indy: want a little Rice with your Booger?

Here comes T.O.  It has been nearly two months since you’ve seen the Pigskin Preacher mention him.  My self imposed T.O.-fast was a wonderful experience!  Here’s hoping I’ll have little cause to mention him after Thanksgiving.  So, who will be covering the oft-spoken one?  Juran Bolden would draw the assignment, but he’s a little nicked up after last week’s win.  Then there is Texan castaway Phillip Buchanon.  How does T.O. like his toast?  Here’s hoping the aforementioned pass rush gets to Tony Romo… on every play.

The Good, Bad and the Ugly from around the league: (Good) It’s in the suit!  How about the new Reebok suits that debuted on the sidelines this past weekend?  Niners Coach Mike Nolan had been told by the league that he could not wear a suit on the sideline as the NFL had a contract with Reebok for all sideline apparel.  Apparently Reebok saw that as a great opportunity to get into the suit and tie business.  On Monday night, Jags Coach Jack Del Rio donned the new duds too. By the way, both the 49ers and the Jags stepped up their on-field performances too.  Now, if only someone could get Bill Belichick a suit – then he wouldn’t look like the NFL’s homeless coach.

(Bad) Jets Coach Eric Mangini came out Monday to say that Chad Pennington is the Jets QB ‘for right now’.  Translated that means: ‘Let’s see, I have Patrick Ramsey and Kellon Clemmons on the roster… and 77 year old Vinny Testaverde just signed with the Pats…’

(Ugly) Is the Michael Vick experiment working?  You be the judge.  He’s the 25th rated passer in the league… behind J.P. Losman, Seneca Wallace, Jon Kitna, Byron Leftwich AND Chad Pennington.  Bucs fans, take heart – Vick’s only seven tenths of a point better than Bruce Gradkowski.

My Hero of the Week: Joey Harrington.  He’s looking like an NFL QB in Miami.  This Thanksgiving he gets to take his act back to Detroit.  It’s questionable whether Lions RB Kevin Jones will be able to play, suffering from a bad ankle sprain.  Could Joey make his old team look like turkeys?  This is Detroit we’re talking about.

My Goat of the Week: Randy Moss’s Grammar teachers.  Here’s the latest addition of Randy-Speak: “It’s done set in, man, and I’m tired of it and might want to look forward to moving somewhere else next year to have another start.”  What the heck did he say?

Check back before you put the turkey in the oven, and I’ll tell you how the Bucs will fare on Thanksgiving.