Well, now, that truly was a preseason game (or, exhibition game as we called them in the beginning) in which the Tampa Bay Buccaneers outscored in-transition Miami 17-6 in Dolphins Stadium.

Teams used to make excuses for not playing starters long in such games, but, no more. Still, it’s sort of telling fans come if you want, if not we’re going to make dough enough anyway with season tickets and television money. Of course, notice the stadium in Miami was not at capacity (61,000), and the lack of Dolphin stars and the downturn in the economy could be factors. In Tampa, the Bucs are still hawking regular-season, single-game tickets. 

In that first presentation, the truth is to many, the Dolphins looked not good, and this may be a long season for them.  Running back Ricky Williams was the only marquee name on the Miami side. The Dolphins are scrambling for top-rung players. The team scored six points on two field goals. And, their in-conference rivals, the New York Jets, just got more dangerous with Brett Favre at quarterback.

The Buckos? Well, the truth is, overall, they looked about the score’s difference better than the Dolphins, scoring their 17 points on two touchdowns and a field goal by the veteran Matt Bryant. Bryant missed two others of 53 and 36 yards, both wide right. There was no rain, no wind, no reason for the misses. He agreed. Kickers usually don’t. Palms upward is the usual explanation. 

The Buckos looked okay. Better than Miami.

A mighty pleasing statistic for them, for their coaches, and their fans: no penalties. Zip. Nada. None. No even illegal motion.

But, of special satisfaction to Coach Jon Gruden (and you out there) had to be the quarterback play, of Brian Griese, Luke McCown and really untested Chris Simms. Right now the No. 1 in the depth chart, Jeff Garcia, is banged up and didn’t participate. Also not in Miami were established players like running back Cadillac Williams, wideout Joey Galloway, fullback B.J. Askew and tackle Luke Petitgout, but we all know they can and will play effectively. Warrick Dunn is around and will help this team. Need his jet-start, speed and grit.

Okay, in the game, reliable quarterback McCown did his work effectively, as did Bob’s son Brian, a big deal for him.

Then came on young Chris Simms, who needed to be effective. He hadn’t played in two years. Remember, just as he was coming along two years ago, he had his spleen flattened. Lost the rest of that year and last year. But he’s back, to play here or somewhere else in the NFL. And there is another key decision for Coach Gruden. He has five quarterbacks rostered now — the mature McCown, the mature Garcia, the young Griese and the younger Simms, both sons of all-world quarterbacks, along with one pick in the last draft, Josh Johnson, who played a bit at Miami and threw a short TD pass. Who to keep?

Garcia is heady, proven, and got the Bucs to the playoffs last year. McCown can scramble well, and also is proven. Griese and Simms are of the future, unless it is gamble time, or trade time. One or the other, or both may be impatient. This a nice problem. All need to play a bit more, if they are Phi Beta Kappas and can learn the feared Gruden offensive scheme.

Anyway, the good times are about with the Bucs and their apparently strong future. Things seem to be shaping up at One Buc Place.

Good. You need it. You deserve it, Bucko fans.