Quarterback Competition Isn’t Really

This Tribune article sets up Bruce Gradkowski and Luke McCown as competitors for the same backup position, and that's very nice of them. But unless McCown goes nuts with a chainsaw in a mall sometime in the next couple months, he's got this thing locked up. The real competition will be between McCown and Brian Griese for the backup spot.

You can kind of tell that they both see the writing on the wall from their comments in the article. Here's McCown:

"That's competition and it brings out the best in everybody," McCown said. "You won't find a guy on this team that will shy away from competition. That's what makes the Buccaneers who we are. That's why we have high expectations this year. It's our confidence level, and the competition we have will push everybody to be their best."

And now Gradkowski's take on it:

"You get to the point where you wonder if there are too many quarterbacks to have an opportunity to compete," Gradkowski said. "That's some things you worry about, but that's out of my control. All I can do is worry about what I do when I get my shot."

McCown talks a lot more about what is best for the team rather than what is best for him personally. This isn't the first time I've noticed the difference. It seems like Gradkowski feels he's on the outside looking in, which he is. Jon Gruden has promised to take five quarterbacks to camp, so Gradkowski will probably make it to August. But when it gets time to trim the roster to 53, he's gone.