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Morris On Bucs QB Race: Let The Best Man Win

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By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 25, 2009

DANA POINT, Calif. - Four dogs, one bone.

That's the way new Tampa Bay head coach Raheem Morris described the upcoming quarterback competition as the Bucs prepare for the 2009 season.

Speaking at a media breakfast on the final day of the NFL owners' meetings, Morris was asked by a skeptical Sports Illustrated reporter about Tampa Bay's murky quarterback situation.

"We've got two unproven guys,'' he said. "Luke McCown has started six games and won one. He has a bunch of talent that we see every day that you don't see. We've got Josh Johnson, who should have been a second-round pick. He absolutely bombed at the combine and became a sixth-round pick, then improved all season. Brian Griese has played in a bunch of games, been a part-time starter, been a full-time starter. He helped get us off to our 9-3 start. We want to add one more guy for competition.. Nobody's proven. We're going to let them battle … let the best man win. You've got one bone for four dogs. Let them fight this thing out.''

Morris said new offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinki will tailor Tampa Bay's attack around the man under center.

"Once you name a guy, you do what that guy can do,'' said Morris. "Everybody wants to know what your offense is going to look like, It's going to look like whatever that guy does best. It's a quarterback-driven league and there's no doubt about that.

"One of those guys has to emerge as the guy. When that happens, we won't have this discussion. We'll all know. Nobody knew who Matt Cassel was until Matt Cassel got a chance. Who are we kidding? Nobody knew who Tom Brady was until Mo Lewis knocked Drew Bledsoe out on the sideline. You're never a good quarterback in this league until you get an opportunity. You go out and you either fail or you become Matt Cassel.''

The Bucs have already made a preliminary run at Jay Cutler and Morris was understandably cautious Wednesday when discussing a potential trade for Denver's disgruntled 25-year-old Pro Bowl quarterback.

"Whenever you're talking about a player under contract, I'm forced to say no comment,'' Morris said. "As far as Cutler as a player, it speaks for itself that the guy's in the Pro Bowl. Playing that guy is tough business.''

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