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Bucs' Morris: QB trade talk just business as usual

Associated Press file photo

Byron Leftwich is scheduled to start Thursday's game against the Dolphins.

By ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 26, 2009

Updated: 08/26/2009 01:02 pm

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TAMPA - For Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown, the finalists in the Bucs' starting quarterback race, it all comes down to tonight against the Miami Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium.

Or maybe not.

As much as he wants to, as much as he needs to, there is no guarantee even after tonight's pivotal third preseason game that Bucs coach Raheem Morris will find himself in a position to finally name a starter.

What if Leftwich and McCown excel on equal levels? What if both struggle? That's clearly a dilemma Morris would like to avoid dealing with again.

"You have to make a decision," Morris said Wednesday, seemingly adding some urgency to the matter. "You get in the lab with your coaches and you sit down and you go through the process all over again.

"You talk about how you want to attack it this week and you just do it, kind of like we did this week. So we'll make a decision at some point. But I might not tell you guys (the media) because I may not want Dallas to know."

Ah yes, Dallas. That's the Bucs' opponent in the Sept. 13 season opener at Raymond James. By the time that game rolls around, Morris' decision might have been made for him.

Reports surfaced Wednesday suggesting the Bucs are interested in trading any of their three quarterbacks not named Josh Freeman: Leftwich, McCown or second-year pro Josh Johnson. Morris did not necessarily deny an NFL.com report, which cited unnamed sources.

"Everybody in this league, all 32 teams around this time are calling other front offices," Morris said. "Everybody is looking to nitpick off everybody's roster. Everybody's just trying to accumulate the best talent for their team."

The Bucs believe they have ample talent at quarterback. The reason they've had such a difficult time choosing a starter between Leftwich and McCown, Morris said, is both have played well during the offseason workouts and the preseason games.

"This is a good problem we have here," Morris said. "And believe me, I'd rather have this problem than be in a situation where you're saying, 'I don't want to play either one of these guys.'"

The Bucs could play either one, though. The offense has elements that play to Leftwich's strengths, including a strong arm, and elements that play to McCown's strengths, including mobility.

The Bucs are adamant about finding a leader for their offense, even if he figures to be a temporary fix. The long-term plan, after all, is to hand the offense over to Freeman. Whether that happens this season or next, the Bucs need a bridge to get them to that point.

Leftwich can relate to Freeman's situation. He was a first-round draft pick of the Jaguars in 2003 and has been a starter, which could make him a natural mentor for Freeman.

McCown is the more athletic of the two, but he has never had a chance to show what he can do as a starter.

"There are plusses and minuses to playing both," Morris said.

Leftwich seems eager for a resolution, but he said the competition has been good for the team and could strengthen it in the long run.

"The thing is, it's not like either one of us has played bad," Leftwich said.

McCown agreed.

"It's been a good, healthy competition," he said. "And the bottom line is, whoever wins is going to have earned it, and that's what you want."

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