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Uncertainty A Way Of Life

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By JOE HENDERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 21, 2008

TAMPA - We have reached the point of critical mass in the Bucs' season and once again it rides on the health of an aging quarterback whose body may - or may not - allow him to participate. Not much is riding on today's game against San Diego, of course. Just the entire season, maybe.

But uncertainty has been a way of life since Jeff Garcia arrived at One Buc Place. He is the Bucs' best chance to win, but he is also their best chance at disintegrating into chaos. That's pretty much what we've had since he was hurt in the loss at Carolina and couldn't play Sunday at Atlanta.

For every good thing Garcia does, the daily fret about his physical status is equally maddening on the other side.

Instead of peaking toward the playoffs, the Bucs are stumbling, stuttering, coughing and appear really uncertain on offense. At least that's how they looked against the Falcons when Garcia's leg injury caused him to miss the game.

Garcia causes as many headaches for opposing defenses with his legs as he does with his arm, and they really need that to compensate for running game that misses Earnest Graham.

Without Garcia, though, the Bucs seemed to be playing not to lose. That will get you beaten every time. Receiver Antonio Bryant summed the frustration up nicely when he grumbled coming off the field at the Georgia Dome, "Why do we have to play scared?"

Age Catching Up?

They play scared because Brian Griese is a completely different style of quarterback from Garcia. He won't scramble, won't take as many risks, and won't salvage something from a busted play. He'll manage a game but won't make many plays. Since Jon Gruden doesn't trust a quarterback unless he has wrinkles and an AARP card, it's what we're left with.

And since Gruden is unlikely to turn the season over to Luke McCown, who is more athletic but hasn't played this year, that plodding, dry, conservative, please-don't-screw-it-up approach is what we'll see if Garcia can't go.

That's part of the deal, though, when you build an offense around a 38-year-old kamikaze quarterback. Garcia gets hurt, a lot. Last season, he played just one full game in the last six before returning for the playoff loss to the Giants. He was hurt during much of training camp this season.

He is hurt now.

Couple that with the disappearance of 37-year-old receiver Joey Galloway, and you have two offensive members who can't be relied upon. Both were counted on to be playmakers when this team was put together.

Every team has injuries, of course, and the Bucs have had their measure. No one was saying Tom Brady is too old when he got hurt, and age wasn't a factor in every Bucs' injury, either. But Garcia plays a position where you can get punished and he sometimes goes out of his way to meet a collision head on.

Those collisions add up at his age. He can't change the way he plays and he can't turn back the clock.

And the Bucs won't go far without him.

'Must-Win' Game

I apologize for the hyperbole, but the Bucs have to win this one. San Diego is dangerous, but the Chargers have the 31st-ranked pass defense in the NFL and have struggled since linebacker Shawne Merriman tore up his knee in the first week of the season.

The Bucs are unbeaten at home. The Bucs know that if they win their final two games, both at Ray-Jay, they'll be in the playoffs. They can actually clinch a spot today if they win and the right teams lose. They still can finish 11-5.

But they lose control of everything if they don't win today. Nothing is a sure thing in the NFL, but you have to think a Garcia-led offense would have scored enough to beat Atlanta. For that same reason, you want to see him out there today.

There will be talk after the season whether to sign Garcia to another deal. There will be compelling arguments to give young Josh Johnson a look, or to acquire someone like Matt Cassel or Donovan McNabb. For all we know, the Bucs' next quarterback might be in prison right now. Michael Vick will have paid his societal debt by this summer.

That's a debate for another day, however. The Bucs have to win today and Garcia, ready or not, gives them the best chance. It's not what anyone would wish for in such an important game. When you build your team around a creaking 38-year-old with a bad wheel, though, it's what you get.

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