This weeks guest is..........

Well for anyone that has ever followed Buccaneer football under Jon Gruden, knows that he is huge on guest speakers and motivational tools. Coach Gruden has used such speakers as Bill Walsh, Lee Roy Selmon, and Decan Jones to name a few. Tomorrow (Tuesday, May 16)the Buccaneers will be having a very special guest when the team's OTAs (organized team activities) resume. Coach Gruden will be bringing in a long time friend and one of his former players to speak to the quarterbacks, former Oakland Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon. This is a great move on Coach Gruden's part: The biggest drawback with the Bucs quarterbacks is their inexperience. Gannon might be able to help these young quarterbacks develop and make them understand the system better.




Interesting facts coming out of the rookie mini-camp and from the Bucs Radio Network. It seems Gruden is falling in love with rookie quarterback Bruce Gradkowski. During the Bucs three-day rookie mini-camp, Gradkowski left quite an impression on Gruden.

"I've got a lot of confidence he's going to be a player," Gruden said. "We've
just got to temper our enthusiasm and bring him along, but he really shows a
quick, accurate arm. He's got really good mobility. And he's got a charisma
about him that quarterbacks I think have to have.

(Something Gruden has said that Simms lacks).

"He did well for himself these first three days."

Gruden admits he and the coaching staff were "harsh" on Gradkowski, but the rookie welcomes the tough love. It's how he was raised and why he believes he thrives under pressure.

Could this be the push that Simms needs, is this just a lot of talk to keep Simms contract next season down. Or is Gradkowski the next Namath, Montana or Marino as the Tampa Tribune wants us to believe.

In other Buc news coming out Monday, profootballtalk.com is reporting that Tampa Bay director of player personnel Ruston Webster is perhaps soon to be hired as the General Manager in Saint Louis. The website reports that a shakeup is on the verge of taking place with the Rams and current GM Charley Armey will lose that job.However, according to the report, there is no guarantee that Webster would take the job. But he did reportedly interview with the Rams over two days last week.Webster earned a promotion last year with the Bucs but curiously has not been given a new contract. He also could be a candidate for jobs with the Texans and Seahawks. This would be very bad for the Bucs. Webster has been a huge assist to Bruce Allen. This is a move the Bucs would feel for sometime.

Rumor has it that Davin Joseph is close to signing his contract with the Bucs. According to Bucs Radio Network today, Allen has been working with Joseph's agent and a deal is close at hand. Like there was any doubt. Joseph is class act and besides we are talking about an offensive linemen not a quarterback or running back "Da".

Bucs.com will be launching a new, improved version of Buccaneers.com this offseason, and are looking our input. If there are any new features, improvements or enhancements we would like to see included in the new web site, please advise them on on this thread. It is their goal to be the premier online resource for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and that means providing the features that we desire in a team web site.

NFL NOTES:

Patriots quarterback Doug Flutie retired on Monday. He has played 21 seasons of professional football, including 12 in the NFL. "It's just been a fun run for me," he told the Associated Press.

The Dolphins signed undrafted free agent Marcus Vick to a contract on Monday. It is rumored that he will not be a quarterback for the Dolphins, but will play special teams and wide receiver.

Rookie running back Reggie Bush has instructed his agent to avoid a training camp holdout at all costs. "I told my agent I want to be in here in (training) camp on time," Bush told USA Today following a weekend minicamp workout. "Whatever it takes, I want to be in camp on time. I think it's important to start off on a good foot and a good note, not only with the team but the city." The Saints selected Bush with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft last month.

NFL turns Reggie Bush's request down to where number 5.