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Bucs Cut One-Time Rookie Wonder

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By ROY CUMMINGS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 31, 2008

Updated: 05/31/2008 12:13 am

TAMPA - Bruce Gradkowski got from the Bucs on Friday what Chris Simms wanted - a ticket out of town.

In a move that his agent classified as a "courtesy," the Bucs began to make good on their promise to alleviate a seven-player logjam at quarterback by releasing Gradkowski.

At the same time, the Bucs created a new logjam, this one at tight end, where the oft-troubled Jerramy Stevens was re-signed to a unit that includes starter Alex Smith and free-agent additions Ben Troupe and John Gilmore.

Troupe, in particular, was signed to fill the hole left by Stevens, a free agent who spent all of last year wrestling with an extreme DUI charge that resulted in a conviction, a one-game league suspension and a jail sentence.

His return following a season in which he started three games and caught 18 passes for 189 yards and four touchdowns will make the battle for the starting tight end job one of the most interesting in training camp.

It could be topped only by the battle for roster spots at quarterback, where the Bucs' plan is to take five to training camp. With "retired" Jake Plummer unlikely to be in that group, the field there may now be set.

It likely will include projected starter Jeff Garcia, projected backup Brian Griese and a trio of players - Simms, Luke McCown and Josh Johnson - vying for the role of quarterback of the future.

That Gradkowski won't be a part of that group comes as a bit of a surprise because many figured the beleaguered Simms would be the odd man out. Simms, in fact, might have appreciated it if he was.

Disgruntled over the way he has been treated since suffering a spleen injury that ruined his 2006 and 2007 seasons, Simms recently told the Bucs he no longer feels he is part of their future and asked to be released or traded.

The Bucs have been slow to accommodate Simms, in part because they aren't sure after months of inactivity what his trade value is or whether he still has value to them.

As for Gradkowski, his value has evaporated. His practice reps were limited this offseason and the Bucs made it clear his future here was uncertain at best.

Gradkowski, who became the darling of the 2006 preseason as a rookie, could not be reached for comment Friday. His agent said Gradkowski took the news hard but appreciated the Bucs being forthright with him.

"Bruce really appreciated their candor," agent Ralph Cindrich said. "He would have loved to have stayed there and fulfilled his dreams, but he realized that wasn't going to happen.

"It's a rejection and it's tough, but this was really a courtesy granted by the Bucs and primarily by General Manager Bruce Allen. They felt like the opportunity was no longer there for Bruce with Tampa Bay."

Where Gradkowski lands is hard to determine, Cindrich said. He has already begun looking for a new team and is hopeful for a positive outcome. No matter what happens, he said, Gradkowski will relish his time in Tampa.

"My kid was fortunate enough to be drafted by the Bucs," Gradkowski's father, Bruce Sr., said. "Maybe a fresh start is what he needs. But what a ride he had in Tampa.

"He got a chance to play in front of his hometown Pittsburgh, he played on Monday Night Football. Lots of good stuff. There are other guys Bruce's age that haven't even hit the field yet. If he wasn't going to get an opportunity to compete in Tampa, this is probably for the best."

Gradkowski was the Bucs' sixth-round draft pick out of Toledo in 2006. He tore up the opposition in training camp that year and got his chance to start for real when Simms went down in Week 3 with his spleen injury.

He played superbly in his first start, posting a 107.6 passer rating in a loss to the Saints. His output diminished steadily thereafter until he was replaced as the starter for the final two games by Tim Rattay.

The Bucs signed Garcia the following offseason, but Gradkowski remained high on the depth chart until he struggled while filling in for an injured Garcia against Washington in Week 12 of last year.

Gradkowski leaves having started 11 games (all in 2006). He compiled a 3-8 record as a starter, while completing 190 of 352 passes overall (54 percent) for 1,791 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Reporter Ira Kaufman

contributed to this report. Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979 or rcummings@tampatrib.com.

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