Source: Rick Stroud, St. Petersburg Times
For the next six months or so, quarterback Jeff Garcia and coach Jon Gruden will be inseparable. They will share more than initials. In fact, their futures will be intertwined.
It's the 37-year-old quarterback with his fourth job in as many years and the coach trying desperately to hold onto one. If you think another player has a chance to win a starting job under center in training camp, which begins July 26, think again. "I love Garcia," Gruden said recently. "I like what he's doing a lot. I just think he's got some traits we haven't had around here - his mobility, his experience." Those are exactly the two traits Gruden values the most in a quarterback. Garcia will be the eighth starting quarterback since Gruden arrived in Tampa Bay in 2002, but he is the only one who brings both qualities to the party. Brad Johnson had the experience and used it to get the ball out of his hand quickly, but he moved like he was in quicksand. Bruce Gradkowski made some plays with his feet but was green as grass. Chris Simms had some of both but not enough of either trait.
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