It looks like the Buccaneers won’t have quarterback Jeff Garcia for Sunday’s game at New Orleans. Garcia sat out practice yesterday with a deep bruise in his lower back. Who will start if Garcia can’t go? Bruce Gradkowski relieved Garcia last Sunday and was underwhelming. Luke McCown is challenging Gradkowski this week for the starting role and received reps with the first team at practice yesterday. Head coach Jon Gruden was non-committal on Garcia’s injury and a possible starter for the Saints game.

The way things are looking now, it doesn’t seem likely that Jeff Garcia will play on Sunday. Luke McCown, the third stringer, has been taking a majority of the snaps in practice this week. While I feel down that the Bucs might not have their leader, I’m okay with McCown starting. No decision has been made yet. While McCown has only played 6 games in his 4 year NFL career, I think that he could be effective. He’s only played one game as a Buccaneer, not proving much. But then I think of a certain someone named Tim Rattay, who came in last season, and all but gave the Bucs a spark. I’m hoping McCown can do the same thing, at least until Garcia is healthy. Not that I have anything against Bruce Gradkowski, but he has failed to show me anything in his two years here. I’m still hoping Garcia is good to go, as I can’t see anybody leading this team like him. But if it comes down to it, I want the Louisiana Tech grad to get the chance.

I guess the author of this article took offense when I told Jake Plummer to fuck himself a couple days ago because he took the time to write an article all about how Plummer is living a life of leisure and luxury in the mountains while the rest of us resemble something that stuck to his shoe.

Yo Murphy, who was a kick returner for the Bucs in 1999, is retiring after his Saskatchewan Roughriders won the Grey Cup on Tuesday. For being a marginal player in four separate leagues, Murphy has seen some action.

ESPN.com is reporting that Nebraska has narrowed the list of candidates for its vacant coaching job to University of Buffalo coach Turner Gill and LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini.

The report can be found here.

Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin didn't confirm nor deny interest in the job, which has been open since Bill Callahan was fired on Saturday. But Kiffin played and coached at Nebraska and his name was mentioned during the school's last coaching search. He seemed intrigued during interviews in recent days.

Now, there's a headline you've already seen. Well guess what: get ready to ready it some more.

Jeff Garcia says he's still very sore from the lower back bruise he sustained against the Redskins and had nothing positive to offer in a recently-completed press conference.

"I've had better days," Garcia cracked.

Michael Pittman doesn't think he'll go on injured reserve, but he's pretty sure he won't be playing this week.

Right now, he is pretty much conceding this week. His goal, he said is to be back for next weekend's game at Houston or for the Bucs' return to RayJay the following week (Dec. 16) for the Atlanta game.

During a conversation I had with him this morning, running back Michael Pittman (ankle) said the rumblings about his potential move to injured reserve are misguided.

But that doesn't mean the veteran is ready to return to the lineup. Right now, he is pretty much conceding this week. His goal, he said is to be back for next weekend's game at Houston or for the Bucs' return to RayJay the following week (Dec. 16) for the Atlanta game.

Jeff Garcia, Tampa’s quarterback, can’t even throw the ball yet.

Garcia suffered a back injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against Washington. He returned briefly in the fourth quarter, but was ineffective. I was optimistic about Garcia playing on Sunday, but Garcia doesn’t have the same feelings.

It looks like Luke McCown is going to take first team snaps for the Bucs this week during practice. I can't say I disagree seeing as how the team didn't have a single first down in the entire second half last week with Bruce Gradkowski steering the ship. Keep in mind this doesn't mean that Jeff Garcia won't play. Everyone was pretty sure he was going to skip every practice this week while he was waiting for his back to heal. But still...