I admit this is not something I thought about, but an e-mail from Joe Piccolo - brother of Brian Piccolo; yes, the Brian Piccolo - raises an interesting point. I’ll share the e-mail first. He was suggesting a do a column on the following subject:

PERCIVAL & GALLOWAY:”Jon Gruden and Joe Maddon face a similar problem--what to do with two aging stars - Troy Percival and Joey Galloway.  Theme could be built around going to the well once to often--hanging on to what used to work but doesn’t any longer. Objective is not to belittle the accomplishments of two fine exemplary athletes who embodied what a participant in their chosen sport should be.

“Problem is--both have developed issues with their legs and it matters not what the sport is--when the legs become a problem the athlete can no longer perform at the level they set for themselves.

“I would venture to say that the likelihood is high of both of them developing leg issues again before the season ends in their respective sports.  With Gruden and Maddon dependent upon these two athletes to play significant roles--are they not playing with a loaded gun?”

MY RESPONSE: For those who don’t know, Joe Piccolo lives in Temple Terrace, retiring there after a career with the CIA, doing stuff he can’t talk about. He raises a good point about these two players, who we know are important to their teams.

I think the Rays are better equipped if they have to play without Percival than the Bucs are if Galloway’s leg problems come up again this season. The Rays can turn to Grant Balfour or Dan Wheeler to close and have had success. We found out last season what the Bucs’ offense would be like without Galloway’s game-stretching speed out there, but Gruden and GM Bruce Allen have attempted to lessen any potential impact of a Galloway absence this year. Newcomer Antonio Bryant, if he’s healthy, should provide another target with speed outside and rookie Dexter Jackson might yet prove useful as a receiver - although, at 5-foot-9, it could be a problem finding him in traffic.

I think Joe’s point above is a good one, though. Galloway says he is fine now and Percival is back off the DL, but neither team can count on their continued health. Aging players like these bring valuable experience to their teams but the downside is that you can’t count on them physically. Percival already has had three trips to the disabled list this season - twice for hamstrings, once for knee problems. Galloway didn’t play in the exhibition season and missed a lot of practice time.

As long as the Rays and Bucs have a reliable Plan B, though, it’s cool.