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Galloway Still Not Ready To Make Preseason Debut

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By IRA KAUFMAN The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 22, 2008

TAMPA - With the start of the regular season only 16 days away, the timing between QB Jeff Garcia and WR Joey Galloway couldn't be worse.

Just when Garcia has returned to practice from a calf injury that sidelined him for much of training camp, Galloway is still not fully recovered from a lingering groin problem.

"He should be ready to go early next week," Coach Jon Gruden said of Galloway, the 36-year-old speedster who arrived at Lake Buena Vista July 25 still nursing a sore groin. "He should be ready to go when we practice again on Monday."

While Galloway has been declared out of Saturday night's preseason matchup against Jacksonville, Garcia may see his first game action of the summer.

"We're fully expecting Garcia to be ready," Gruden said. "He's getting the work, getting back into it and I'll leave it at that. Jeff doesn't need to go out there and play three quarters to get ready. He just needs to get behind the wheel and get re-acclimated to the speed of the game."

Gruden stopped short of declaring that Garcia will be Tampa Bay's starter against the Jaguars. In Garcia's absence, Brian Griese and Luke McCown have each been efficient and turnover-free in a spirited competition for the backup QB job.

The Bucs travel to Houston for a game Thursday night, but Gruden rarely plays his starters for an extended stretch during the final exhibition tuneup.

Unless things change, it appears Galloway and Garcia will not hook up in a game situation until the Sept. 7 opener at New Orleans.

MEASURING STICK: After facing the rebuilding Dolphins and a New England team that left QB Tom Brady at home, the Bucs are looking forward to snapping a four-game losing streak against Jacksonville in preseason play.

The Jaguars finished 11-5 last year and upset Pittsburgh on the road in the opening playoff round before dropping a 31-20 decision at New England in the AFC divisional round.

"They're close to being one of the top teams in football," Gruden said of Jack Del Rio's aggressive club. "They're a very fast, explosive defensive team, well-coached. They were close to getting to the Super Bowl last year."

SPECIAL VISITOR: The Bucs welcomed 12-year-old Michael Garrison to Thursday's practice as the Hillsborough County resident watched his favorite team in action.

Garrison, who suffers from a life-threatening blood disorder, also will attend the home game against Jacksonville as a guest of the Buccaneers.

"He's a great kid and we're really happy to have him be a part of our team," Gruden said. "He says he wants to be a coach. I tried to talk him out of it."

Garrison's visit was organized by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which has granted more than 167,000 wishes in the U.S. since its inception.

"I want to know what it feels like to be a real coach," Garrison said.

"I like football and I love the Buccaneers."

EXTRA POINTS: In his 10 previous years as an NFL head coach, Gruden has never posted an unbeaten record in the preseason. ... All NFL rosters must be cut to a maximum of 75 players by Tuesday, with the final reduction to 53 scheduled for Aug. 30, two days after the preseason finale at Houston. ... Jacksonville DE Derrick Harvey, a former Gators standout, remains the only unsigned first-round pick in the 2008 draft.

Ira Kaufman

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