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Answers About Bucs Few And Favre Between

Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Luke McCown and Chris Simms wait for their turns leading the offense Saturday afternoon.

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By MARTIN FENNELLY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 27, 2008

Updated: 07/27/2008 12:11 am

LAKE BUENA VISTA - Training camp is under way, no distractions, full speed ahead. Saturday morning. Brett Griese, Brett McCown, Brett Johnson and Brett Simms looked sharp in their first workouts.

The Big Guy continues to hang over the proceedings as they proceed. Bucs GM Bruce Allen said he hasn't talked to anyone from the Packers, and Jon Gruden acts as if he'd need a passport photo to place Favre's face.

In other news, the Bucs tried out the new indoor practice area at Disney. We believe the indoor surface is made of ground-up quarterbacks.

This thing has legs even without legs. It lives until it is dead, and don't be surprised if it lingers for a few weeks. There are nothing but questions until we get answers.

So Many Questions

1. Who would you rather be right now, the Bucs or the Packers?

The Packers are the ones in trouble. That's the real story. The Bucs already have an old quarterback who took them to the playoffs. Favre and his legend might land in Green Bay's lap as soon as today, and with him a circus. Gruden can honestly want Favre, but the Packers can't honestly think Aaron Rodgers gives them a better chance to win a championship this season. Remember how ugly it got when Joe Montana and Jerry Rice left San Francisco. Advantage: Bucs.

2. How hard would it be for Favre to learn the Bucs' system?

Let's get one thing straight: Favre is a Hall of Fame quarterback and - get this - he can learn. This talk about the complicated Gruden offense has gotten out of hand, as if Professor Stephen Hawking would put down his quantum gravity books at Cambridge, take one look at Gruden's system and burst into tears. I can't figure it out, I just can't. Brett Favre plays football, and if Y ain't open, he'll throw to Z, and he won't need a gyroscope to do it.

3. Has there ever been another instance in sports history when a starting quarterback has missed the opening of training camp for a junior college football reunion and garlic festival?

Jeff Garcia has indeed broken new ground, but word out of Gilroy, Calif., "Garlic Capital of the World," is that Garcia bowed out of Gilroy's annual Garlic Festival after he saw the made-entirely-from-garlic Favre float.

4. How did Chris Simms look throwing the ball on opening day?

Coach Gruden remains very excited about Chris' future, though the two have not chatted much in camp. "Yeah, uh, not extensively," Gruden said. "We didn't exchange Hallmark cards or anything like that. We're trying to win football games, OK?" OK.

5. Do you think any of the former 4s in Bucs history would have a problem with Favre wearing that jersey number?

We've had no contact with Doug Brien, John Carney, Todd France, Dave Green, Pat O'Hara, Dan Stryzinski or Steve Walsh, but we think they would be cool with it.

We'll Get Back To You

6. Who is going to catch all these Favre passes, anyway?

We'll get back to you on that.

7. Garcia took a beating last season - and he's more mobile than Favre. Is there a chance Favre's consecutive-games streak could end in Tampa?

We'll get back to you on that, too.

8. What are the current whereabouts of the reinstatement papers Favre has apparently yet to send to the NFL?

They've got barbecue sauce on them, and three beer mug rings, but Brett promises to get on the ball, he has the letter to Commissioner Goodell and a stamp and everything, because he knows everyone needs to get on with their lives, especially Gruden, who reportedly was seen in a trance-like state at the training table making a Favre action figure out of mashed potatoes.

9. Will there be lingering hard feelings from Garcia?

If Favre never shows, Garcia plays the pro and moves on after the Bucs give him a new deal and a pat on the back in the spirit of "Why, Jeff, you were always our starting quarterback."

10. Can Favre and Gruden live with each other?

Be Careful What You Wish For: This has always been Gruden's offense, and no one steals his star. Keyshawn tried it and look what happened to him. But Gruden never thought Key was a game-changer. He worships Favre. Still, what happens when the Gunslinger chucks Chuck's cookbook? It's a real question.

Is there an end in sight?

Yeah, uh, not extensively.

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