The Notre Dame Connection

From now to April 28, numerous rumors, theories and opinion will appear concerning the Bucs first pick in the draft.

The first thing Buccaneer fans must realize, the Bucs will probably get the fourth offensive player taken off the board.

The team needs of the Raiders, Lions and Browns probably won’t come into play because any team willing to trade up and take “the best player on their board” will find a likely taker in the Lions or Browns.

That said; do not overlook the Bucs taking Brady Quinn if he is still available.  Both Chris Simms and Jeff Garcia have a “prove it in year one” contracts.  Gruden hasn’t showed much confidence in Simms, Garcia is at the end of his playing career and the last thing Gruden wants in his play calling is to flip-flop between left and right handed quarterbacks.

Beyond that, there is Gruden’s youthful connection with Notre Dame and their QB position. 

Gruden’s father was a running back coach at Notre Dame during young Jon Gruden’s high school years.  Jon got to run around the ND practice facilities, ride the team bus at the 79 Cotton Bowl when Montana pulled off his most miraculous collegiate 4th quarter victory, drove Blair Kiel’s car on dates and played the part of the QB for his father running RB drills. 

The Gruden South Bend home basement was turned into a Notre Dame playing field shrine, an Astro Turf floor complete with yard markers and boundry lines.  The wallpaper was a giant photograph of a gameday crowd with a giant leprechaun painted on the wall.

So far, Quinn has been off the Buccaneers public radar.  Besides the nearly mandatory personnel visit Brady will make to One Buc Place, all teams are allowed 30 before the draft, expect little to no talk of the Bucs taking a QB in any round.

When interviewing with Al Davis before joining the Raiders, Davis asked how Gruden would build a team.  Jon started with a franchise QB, LT, pass rushing DE, cover CB and then a stud WR.  Neither Simms nor Garcia are a franchise QB, merely a caretaker of the offense until Gruden finds one.

Come April 28 and the Bucs on the clock, do not be surprised if Gruden is once again familiar with a Notre Dame QB as Brady Quinn is the Bucs selection at #4.