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Fennelly column: This Season About Passion, Pride And Winning For Gruden

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 25, 2007

Updated: 11/24/2007 11:34 pm

TAMPA - Here's to fires that still burn.

Here's to Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia, who plays like he's 27 instead of 37, though his head coach lovingly insists Garcia's face looks 47.

Here's to Bucs receiver Joey Galloway, who turned 36 this week, whose speed amazes, even as his head coach lovingly grinds his teeth over sitting Galloway during practice.

Here's to one of today's opponents, Redskins receiver Keenan McCardell, 37, who once helped the head coach bring a Super Bowl trophy to Tampa.

There will be others like them as the Bucs and Redskins meet today. It's a big game, one for pros, for pride and passion.

"It's just the look in the eye, when he dresses up on Sunday," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said of any true pro. "It's his whole demeanor, his whole edge, it takes a team to another level ... the air of confidence, the swagger, the playmaking that these guys have. If the passion is still there, you can't deny it."

Same goes for the head coach.

'You Keep Pushing, Keep Working'

Jon Gruden, 44, has his team in the playoff hunt. He has something to do with that. If we take him apart for 4-12, give him his due at 6-4.

Granted, nothing is definite. Lose three in a row and the Glazers begin sharpening the axe.

"We're in a position, certainly, to win our seventh game," Gruden said.

But there's no denying his passion. It hasn't changed.

"I don't think anybody expected us to be here," Gruden said.

There's pride.

"I don't want to tell them that," Gruden said with a smile, "but how can you not be proud of a Donald Penn, the job he's done?"

Gruden went down the list. How could you not be proud of Garcia stepping in? How can you not love Earnest Graham and Greg White's stories? Or Jovan Haye? Or that improving offensive line?

Like the pros he admires, Gruden won't give in. He keeps coming back from the dead. He's Jonny Lazarus.

We began to bury him after a 5-11 2004, but the Bucs made the playoffs in 2005, the most memorable moment of the season being when Gruden went for two to beat the Redskins in Tampa. Last season, he seemed lost. Remember that wind-blown pass-only offense in New York or that wretched field goal in Pittsburgh? Where was the pride?

Now look.

"I've lived a roller coaster here," Gruden said. "It's been hard to swallow sometimes, not just for me, but for my whole family and for our players. You keep pushing, keep working."

Free Agents Have Fit

He got the quarterback he wanted and look at what has happened.

Gruden and General Manager Bruce Allen have scored with a few other acquisitions and draft picks, Cato June's DUI arrest notwithstanding.

"It's a credit to the coaches and the players. Tanard Jackson's progress, look at that," Gruden said. "The free agents have come in here and fit. You know, it's hard to bring a quarterback and make him fit ... Kevin Carter, he fits. Cato June, he fits. That's good stuff."

If I'm a Glazer - the blood work says I'm not - I'm still skeptical of Gruden as the man to rebuild this franchise. But the Bucs are winning, and the head coach deserves credit at 6-4.

He built a running game on the fly - and stuck with it.

He has kept his team in it.

"Some people don't understand we have $30 million under the cap next year," Gruden said. "... Anybody that you can send a message to in your newspaper, that's interested in joining us, we will definitely be interested."

Sounds like he's talking about next season.

Gruden pulled up.

"I'm going to work hard no matter what. Whatever happens happens."

There is nothing definite about this season.

Except the passion of pros.

Gruden talked about the amazing Galloway.

Thing is ...

"Now, he's a pain in the butt to coach. You got to keep him in an incubator five days a week, know what I mean? How about running one more 'dagger' for me?"

He launched into a Galloway impression.

"I ran it three days ago, it's on my schedule."

Jon Gruden smiled.

Football can be fun. It's always about passion and pride - and winning.

"That's was the job when I signed on here," Gruden said.

It still is.

"I'm still pushing on it, still pushing."

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