Give them an ‘A’. The Buccaneers, I mean. 

For their 27-10 win over New England Sunday night at Raymond James Stadium. I do.

Had the fine Patriot quarterback, Tom Brady, played it would have been an A-plus. So, should the Buc grade then be reduced to an A-?

No, the Bucs played who they played, though not with their No. 1 quarterback of the moment, Jeff Garcia. They played quarterbacks Luke McCown, Brian Griese, Chris Simms (above) and draft pick Josh Johnson (one pass completed).

Indeed, I give the Buckos two straight A’s; the other for the first game over the Dolphins in Miami. Indeed, the two wins alone, without any breakdown, should be the worth the two A’s.

Couple of other key points. Coach Jon Gruden may not have an Eli Manning or Brett Favre rostered, but by George, he does have that cluster of five he’s assembled from which he surely can find talent enough to work. It is his decision on which to keep. Chris Simms, thought by some a valuable trading possibility, may be playing himself onto the final Buc roster.

He played beautifully against New England, confidently, effectively, grittily. He needed to do that and he did. Young Brian Griese was dandy. He needed that sort of a game and got it out of himself. Luke McCown played like the veteran he is. And, we know absolutely about Garcia.

Coach Gruden has developed a nice problem for himself ... well, he has, along with general manager Bruce Allen, and the rest of the roster committee. They got a position full at running back now, with the veteran Earnest Graham being pushed. A neat addition has been Warrick Dunn, the little guy with the big heart and big resume. Good man, Dunn. Hope here is he makes it. May need his speed and community spirit.

An A? Sure, here’s a little-noticed reason: no penalties, except on special teams and there are only a couple. None, man. No killer holding penalties. No illegal-motion penalties. No clips. No personal-foul penalties. Someone might want to make it known to these Buccaneers that when I presented their alumnus, Lee Roy Selmon, for possible election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame at Canton, I was able to declare that he was never penalized for personal foul in his long career. Never. He said he saw an official reach to throw the flag on him, but who changed his mind. 

Gruden’s problems — pleasant ones — include a decision to keep one or two of his veteran quarterbacks, Jeff Garcia or Luke McCown. Guys seem to be so similar only a coach could make such a call. Bet Brian Griese is kept and we all hope Chris Simms is, too. Such a talent (6-4, 220, and like Griese, with the family genes). Griese, by the way, is on a roll. Both like it here. So do their NFL alumni dads.

A question. Will a solid trade possibility for Griese or Simms be a consideration? Simms missed a year because of a flattened spleen. He’s okay, now. I suppose the popular answer, if all stay healthy, would be to keep Griese or McCown, Simms and Garcia. I suppose. Eh?