Bucs backup quarterback Chris Simms sees the end of his Bucs days nearing.

Bucs backup quarterback Chris Simms, who gave up his spleen for Chucky, told Tom Balog of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune he thinks his days are numbered and if he’s not traded in the next day or two, fully expects to be released. He now has heard rumors that the Bucs might swap him to Minnesota.

“That’s more up to the Vikings and our organization, more than anything,” Simms said. “I’m not really concerned with it. I’ll just continue to work and get myself back in the rhythm that I need to and the other stuff will take care of itself.”

Joe has no idea why Chucky and/or Bruce Almighty hate Simms. He’s certainly a better backup than Son of Bob and his pick-sixes. If Phil’s Boy is to be traded, Joe hopes it’s to an organization that will respect him.

Joe wishes Joey Galloway would just shut it down the rest of preseason so he can play against New Orleans to open the regular season.

Despite returning to practice earlier this week, it doesn’t appear wide receiver Joey Galloway will play in Saturday night’s final home preseason game against Jacksonville. Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times noted Galloway did not practice Thursday and will not play.

It’s not clear whether he has suffered a setback in his recovery. Gruden indicated there was some sort of plan that included Galloway not practicing today.

Chucky did claim, however, Galloway will be ready to go full speed on Monday.

“Yeah, that’s our plan. He should be ready to go early next week. He should be ready to go when we practice again on Monday.”

Joe isn’t holding his breath.

Look, If it takes Galloway the rest of the preseason to get ready for New Orleans in two weeks, Joe just wishes Galloway would shut it down. The Bucs cannot afford to be without him.

Chris Simms discussed how he deals with all the rumors about his future.

Bucs backup quarterback Chris Simms was kind enough to grant Joe a few moments after the Bucs 27-10 win over New England on Sunday . Simms touched upon dealing with all the rumors and innuendo about his immediate future.

Joe: What are some of your perceptions about your status with the Bucs?

Simms: The NFL in this day and age now is truly ruthless. It’s, “What have you done for me lately?” That’s just the way it is. I think all the players understand it. You just deal with it.

Joe: How do you deal with it? I don’t know if you surf the net much or read the papers at all? There are all sorts of rumors out there. You were supposed to be dealt to Dallas but the trade didn’t go through. Then there’s all sorts of speculation on you being picked up by other teams. Do you just block it out?

Simms: I hear it, don’t get me wrong. I hear the rumors. But I’ve never been one to read the newspaper or I don’t even go on the computer. I just go by what people tell me. Hey, all that stuff, I listen a little bit of course because it’s about my life. At the same time, I don’t put too much stock into it because I am just trying to get myself back to where I want to be. I want to get used to being a quarterback again.

Joe: Do you use the rumors and speculation as motivation at all?

Simms: You try. But everything is motivation in this league. You get motivated by everything. I am extremely self-motivated. Yeah, there are, I am sure, people that didn’t know if I would ever be back from my injury. I try to use that as motivation just to say, “All right. Here I am. I’m back.” I might not be clicking on all cylinders yet but not because of something physically. It’s just because I need to get out there and get playing again.

Joe: Does your dad [Super Bowl-winning quarterback Phil Simms] ever tell you about how he handled things as a player? He went through some rocky times with the Giants.

Simms: Sure. I witnessed a lot of it. Me and dad, we talk. I think he raised me well. I think he has confidence that he raised me well. He kind of says fatherly advice like keep working hard and don’t worry about the other stuff because it will all take care of itself. And you know, that’s all I can do.

Bucs safety Sabby Piscitelli said he learned a lot last year when injured just by observing.

This is good to read:

Joe thought the Bucs had a steal by drafting Sabby Piscitelli in the second round last year. The former Oregon State safety showed why the Bucs thought so highly of him when he returned a fumble 24 yards for a touchdown in the Bucs romp over New England Sunday.

Piscitelli told Roger Mooney of the Bradenton Herald one reason why he thinks he’s better this year, aside from the obvious fact he is healthy, is that he has learned by watching  veterans like Ronde Barber

“It was a great mental approach,” Piscitelli said. “I studied film like I never studied before, watching how other guys prepared for the season, Ronde Barber, Jermaine Phillips. Usually when you’re playing you don’t have time to notice stuff like that. The biggest positive I took out of that was the mental aspect of the game, watching film, studying other players.”

In short, Piscitelli called last year his “redshirt” year.

Call this the Tony Dungy Effect. Piscitelli learning the mental approach of football from Barber is a byproduct of the Dungy era. While Joe wasn’t, and isn’t, a big fan of Tony Dungy as a head coach, Joe recognizes there were a lot of great qualities about Dungy, in addition to him being such a good person. When Dungy was with the Bucs, he tried to surround himself with good people, Barber being an example.

If Dungy has the desire, he’ll make a tremendous VP of football operations for some NFL team.

Chucky can't be serious about Joseph playing in the season opener, can he?

Joe knows Chucky is playing a bit of gamesmanship in saying Davin Joseph will be ready for the season opener despite having surgery on his broken foot earlier this week.

Though only a disturbed man, or someone who is blowing smoke, would suggest Joseph could come back that quickly. But then again, we’re talking Chucky. Per Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune:

“This is one strange bird,” Bucs coach Jon Gruden said of Joseph. “Davin’s the kind of guy who may take the boot off and play, knowing him, so I’m not going to discount him playing in the opener or the third week of the season.

“I’m just going to say that right now, he will not play Saturday against Jacksonville. There’s a chance he may not be ready for a couple of weeks, but we’ll just have to see how Davin does.”

Even if Joseph could somehow play in the season opener at New Orleans Sept. 7, what’s the point? Don’t rush him. Let him heal so he is 100 percent. No sense in trying to rush a guy back only to have him injure the foot again and lose him for the season.

Gruden Has Nicknamed Joey Galloway "White Tiger."

Chucky has served up a new nickname for Joey Galloway: “White Tiger,” according to PewterReport.com

When Galloway came out for practice as his teammates were stretching, defensive backs coach Raheem Morris notified the team by yelling, “White Tiger.” Gruden dubbed the veteran receiver that nickname for the white tiger at Busch Gardens. Gruden said appearances by both Galloway and the tiger are rare, but very special when they occur.

So it seems that Coach’s patience is wearing thin with gimpy Galloway.

Joe thinks White Tiger is a silly nickname. Did you ever know a Tiger that walked out of the jungle while his packmates were still playing?

Luke Petitgout must have been in some serious pain if he couldn't recover while taking 'roids.

The Bucs released tackle Luke Petitgout over the weekend. Aside from the Glazers’ money, he was no big loss. Last year he had a hurt back, and when he did play he later had a bum knee. As a result, Petitgout never returned to the lineup.

It seems he wasn’t faking. He really wasn’t faking. Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune notes that Petitgout got popped for ‘roids.

Petitgout must serve a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s steroid policy, according to Greg Aiello, the NFL’s Senior Vice President of Public Relations.

Generally ‘roids enable a body to bounce back quicker from injuries. The fact Petitgout could not, even while ‘roiding up, suggests the guy was in a significant amount of pain.

Of course, Chucky said the timing of Petitgout’s release had nothing to do with his testing positive for steroids. Uh, huh. Given the fact Chucky didn’t know his best offensive lineman had surgery for a broken foot, one wonders about Chucky’s inner clock.

Cutting Michael Clayton might be painful but neccesary for the Bucs.

Joe has typed the following phrase too many times, but it still is accurate: The weakest position on the team is receiver.

 So it’s a moderate surprise to read one local scribe make a case for rookie Dexter Jackson to make the team.

Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times suggests Jackson is playing better than Michael Clayton and should make the team.

Jackson showed great versatility against the Patriots, with speed on that early end around play and toughness by running slants inside. He is doing many of the things the Bucs have hoped to see from Clayton.

Joe is perplexed by Clayton. He thought Clayton was a solid draft choice when most others screamed. Clayton had a fine rookie season and since has done nothing; missing out on every chance Chucky and Bruce Almighty have given him.

Maybe it’s time to turn the page on Clayton?

If Chucky is going to be less than honest about a player having surgery, what exactly can you believe from him?

Tom Balog of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune suggests Chucky was either being dishonest about Davin Joseph’s injury or the Bucs’ offensive genius is delusional. Or possibly Chucky needs a calendar.

Joseph injured his foot late in the second quarter of the Bucs 27-10 win against New England Sunday night and underwent surgery for the broken wheel Tuesday morning.

So Davin Joseph suffered a broken foot two nights ago in a game and Jon Gruden still didn’t know early Tuesday afternoon the extent of his injury? He didn’t know that surgery was discussed, if not already performed? And we’re supposed to believe that?

We’re talking about the head coach of an NFL team not knowing the injury status of one of his front line players, two days after it happened.

Balog points out that this is another in a long line of fibs, or misinformation, being put out by the Bucs to members of the media on injuries to players under the Bruce Almighty regime. Why should Bucs fans care if some 40-something, overweight, unmarried slob of a sportswriter or some pretty boy on TV with more mousse than brains is being lied to by the Bucs?

Well, in a perfect world, those people are extensions of fans.

It’s one thing for a team to be evasive about little injuries to throw off the next opponent. Joe understands that. Joe gets that. But when the Bucs try to dodge questions about a player who’s having surgery, that’s over the top and unnecessary.

Why lie about something like that? What’s the purpose? If Chucky and Bruce Almighty will not be upfront about a preseason surgery, they’d be untruthful about anything.

This is sort of depressing given that Pete Prisco states the Bucs have one of the better young offensive lines in the NFL. Well, until today, possibly.

Prisco actually thinks the Bucs defense will be stronger this year. Give the video a look.

Bucs safety Sabby Piscitelli gave a few minutes to Joe and another member of the Fourth Estate after the Bucs win over New England Sunday night.

Bucs safety Sabby Piscitelli fielded some questions from the Fourth Estate after the Bucs 27-10 win over New England Sunday night. Joe was there to record Sabby’s thoughts. 

Q. With the ball (off a bad snap which Piscitelli returned for a touchdown on a blitz) sitting there like a loaf of bread what was going through your mind?

A. Instincts took over. Right place right time. Great call by coach [Monte Kiffin]. I tried to capitalize on an opportunity.

Q. How would you rate your [attempted] dunk celebrating the touchdown?

A. It wasn’t a dunk. [Teammates] were joking around saying I don’t have any hops. It was kind of those caught in-between not jumping and jumping. I kind of really didn’t jump, just laying it up. If I had to do it again I would have dunked it.

I hesitated that’s what happened.

Q. Did your play seal your roster spot?

A. Oh, I don’t look at it light that. I just try to improve every day and try to make plays.

Q. Barrett Ruud came on the scene last year and you didn’t get the opportunities but a lot of guys are stepping up. The team is getting play from a lot of different positions.

A. When you said Barrett Ruud had a great year last year a lot of us get motivated off stuff like that. There are always one or two guys each year that try to step up. I’m just trying to improve my game. I’m trying to help this team win any way I can. Get out there every day and get better at practice and when I get into the game, capitalize on my opportunities whether if it’s special teams or at safety, whatever. Compete. I want to compete. I’m going to compete. That is something we all strive for.

Q. Jon Gruden said he has issued a challenge to everybody on this team: Perfect play, no penalties, no turnovers. You guys have really done that the first two weeks.

A. That’s a heck of a challenge. Our defense does a tremendous job of doing that. I have to tip my hat to the offense. The offense kept us off the field. It kept us fresh which allowed us to make the plays we made.

Q. What was the most impressive thing the first two weeks for you, looking at this team as a whole?

A. Honestly, I think our offense has done a tremendous job with the time of possession with the ball and running the clock and keeping the defense fresh. That was the big thing. That allows us to capitalize as a defense and make big hits.

Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune reported some good news for a change that warms Joe’s heart: Today at Bucs practice the team’s “White Tiger,” Joey Galloway, was catching passes from Jeff Garcia

Galloway’s teammates responded by giving him a smattering of applause and within seconds he was lining up at split end and taking throws from QB Jeff Garcia.

If these two guys are not hooking up for touchdowns this year, the Bucs may just have a long season. It is imperative the Galloway and Garcia stay healthy for the Bucs to make it to the postseason.

Speaking of hooking up, cheering up and warming Joe’s heart:

Joe Says Garcia Will Have To Run For His Life Without Davin Joseph In The Lineup

Davin Joseph going down with a broken foot realistically means one thing: Jeff Garcia will have to scramble, improvise and run for his life for a chunk of the season.

This is a massive blow to the strength of the Bucs’ offense, its young, talented and emerging offensive line. No matter how good this Jeremy Zuttah kid is, he’s going to make rookie mistakes, and he’s probably just an overrated preseason darling destined to get manhandled.

Garcia pulled it off last year, but can he do it again? Will this calf injury limit his mobility early in the season?

Pass the Jim Beam. Joe predicts some serious problems ahead.

Bucs stud offensive guard had surgery to repair a broken foot and is lost for weeks.

Bucs stud right guard Davin Joseph underwent surgery for a broken foot and — at best — Joseph will be gone for a month reports Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times. Holder suggests Joseph will be out for two months.

Joseph suffered the injury late in the second quarter of Sunday’s 27-10 win against the Patriots Sunday and underwent surgery on Monday. The team is still attempting to determine an exact timetable for his return, but the St. Petersburg Times has learned he could be sidelined anywhere from four to eight weeks.

Even a conservative estimate means he could miss nearly a month of the regular season.

It appears that rookie Jeremy Zuttah will be Joseph’s replacement. Holder noted that Zuttah was practicing with the first team offense.

When oh when will Roger Goodell stop the NFL from ripping off fans by playing these games, charging regular season prices and sacrificing good players for garbage games?

Bruce Almighty needs to call Joe Horn's cell phone now and sign him.

Joe has learned from ProFootballTalk.com via Adam Schefter of the NFL Network that the Dixie Chicks have released Joe Horn.

Joe always liked Joe Horn and there’s no question the weakest area of the Bucs is wide receiver. This is a no brainer. Bruce Almighty should get on the horn and call Joe Horn. Like now.

Joe Horn would be a great addition to the Bucs and may make a huge impact.

Get him Bruce!

Shockey And The Saints Are Struggling Through The Preseason

Joe continues to track the Saints, whose defense was awful in a preseason loss, 31-27, against Houston at the Superdome on Saturday.  The Bucs open the regular season In New Orleans on Sept. 7.

The Texans marched to  touchdowns on their first two drives, and quarterback Matt Schaub lit up the Saints in the first half, 14-of-16 for 187 yards and two touchdowns.

Saints Coach Sean Payton didn’t hold back when talking to the Times Picayune.

Payton had barely anything positive to say about his team after the game. He emphasized the Saints’ mistakes on defense, including missed assignments, lack of quarterback pressure and allowing big passing plays.

“It was just frustrating to watch,” Payton said. “It was painful to watch that game tonight. It was painful.”

In his weekly blog for the Times Picayune, new Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma dejectedly talked about how his defense couldn’t get off the field.

Joe’s liking the disarray in Saints camp. Tight end Jeremy Shockey has yet to play in preseason, as he continues to recover from foot, ankle and knee injuries suffered last year.

Ronde Barber was almost wistful in speaking of how much former Bucs safety John Lynch means to the Tampa Bay community.

Last night after the Bucs 27-10 win over New England, Joe got a brief moment with Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber. Being John Lynch’s old defensive backfield brother, Barber had a few thoughts to share about Lynch’s return to the CITS, albeit wearing those evil Patriots uniforms.

Joe: What were your thoughts when, after Lynch had an assist early in the game, the crowd roared for him?

Ronde: He’s still loved here. He will never not be. He’s an icon in Tampa Bay man.

It was good to see him, you know? Glad he landed on his feet and I am sure he will have a big opportunity up there. I look forward to watching him in his 15th season or whatever season it is.

Joe: Would it be neat if — when Lynch retires — he could sign a one-day contact with Tampa Bay so he could retire a Buccaneer?

Ronde: (laughs) That’s up to him. I don’t think he has retirement on his mind yet. We’ll never forget what he’s been a part of here. Not a lot of guys that are still around that know a whole bunch about him. It’s more of lore about him than a legacy to this point with so many people that have moved on.

He’s still No. 47 in red to us.

This is the way John Lynch needs to be remembered, not by wearing Patriots gear.

It was great for Joe to see John Lynch wearing No. 47 back patrolling the turf at the CITS.

But it wasn’t nice to see Lynch wearing Patriots gear.

Lee Diekemper, writing for the Boston Globe noted that Lynch wasn’t too comfortable when asked if he has reconciled his ill will for Bruce Almighty and Chucky.

When asked if he had made amends with Allen and Gruden, Lynch winced but stated he had.

“You move on but to answer your question, yes,” he said.

There’s still something shady about how Lynch was let go. In the long run, it probably has worked out the best for both parties. Joe just wishes Lynch would hang it up before he starts talking like Muhammad Ali in 20 years.

Lynch is one of the good guys, and an all-time Bucs great. Let’s hope he doesn’t tarnish his career by playing beat up and getting roasted by Laveranues Coles.

Joe is still confused by this game. Are the Bucs this good? As soft as the Patriots looked, they’re still the Patriots, right? And the Bucs crushed them at the line of scrimmage in the first half — when it counts.

At this point, Joe needs to see Jeff Garcia under center and see the Bucs attempt a meaningful throw downfield. They’re not going to win squat without Carmella’s honey and a deep threat.

Joe was at the game last night and will have some locker room insight later.

Preseason Game 2
Patriots at Bucs, Sunday

Kickoff: 8 p.m.
TV: WTTA Channel 38, NFL Network
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 124.
Odds: From Bodog.com, Bucs -2.
Weather: AccuWeather.com lists game time conditions to be mostly cloudy in the mid-70s with a chance of thunderstorms late in the game.

Outlook: Joe is depressed. One of the greatest Bucs of all times is returning to the CITS, John Lynch. But the former Bucs safety will be wearing Patriots gear and playing for one of the greatest sleazebag coaches in NFL history Bill Belicheat.

Baby Daddy Tom Brady and his trophy girlfriend Victoria’s Secret model Gisele Bundchen won’t be found in Tampa this weekend. Brady has a sore foot (aawww) and won’t make the trip.

The Bucs will be without offensive tackle Luke Petitgout, who was released Saturday. Signed a year ago to a three-year, $15.5 million contract, Petitgout played four games and then blew out his back. He hasn’t played and sparingly practiced since.

The game for the Bucs will be a chance for some lesser players buried on the depth chart to show something or face the very real possibility of being cut. One such player is fourth string running back Kenneth Darby who has demonstrated some skills in limited playing time. Darby will likely have to excel on special teams to remain with the Bucs.

Like all preseason games, the key for the Bucs is for everyone to stay healthy.

The future for Bucs quarterback Chris Simms is confusing. He has been rumored to be traded to various teams and there's still the chance Phil's Boy could remain with the team.

Not sure if any Bucs fan was listening to Pro Football Weekly’s syndicated radio show (too) early Saturday morning on WDAE-AM 620, but PFW writer Eric Edholm noted that the Bucs had been in talks with Dallas Cowboys coach and owner Jerry Jones about swapping Chris Simms (for what was unsaid) because the Cowboys claim former Bucs Super Bowl-winning quarterback Brad Johnson’s arm is shot; that he can only throw short passes.

Tom Balog of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports the same rumor (though Balog writes Jones declined Bruce Almighty’s request for a mid-round pick). Balog hints that Phil’s Boy may still be on the Bucs roster when the season opens in September.

Maybe even Gruden would be reluctant to part ways with Simms, believe it or not.

Mainly because Simms has been in the Tampa Bay system for so long, also because he’s 6-foot-4, has a strong arm and experience as a starter _ a rare combination that is hard to find in a quarterback.

“A lot of people have seen him play and know why he’s here, too,” Gruden said last week. “We have a lot invested, too. He started in ’04, started in ’05 and in ’06. We have a lot of confidence that he can come back and be a player.”

Joe hates to be a broken record but it bears repeating: Son of Bob is a disaster waiting to happen at quarterback. Phil’s Boy is a much, much, much better option.