Bucs QB Leftwich not surprised by demotion after 0-3 start

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Byron Leftwich said he was not surprised about being benched this week in favor of Josh Johnson.

The Bucs were 0-3 under Leftwich when Coach Raheem Morris decided to pull him after a 24-0 loss against the New York Giants. Although he played in only three games, Leftwich said he understood why the move was made.

"To be honest with you, we all knew I had to win coming out the gate or this might be a possibility," Leftwich said. "I knew if we didn't win football games there was going to be a chance, no matter how good I played.

"I knew you can't constantly lose football games and have the two young guys underneath. I knew I would have to win games, and when that didn't happen, I wasn't surprised about the decision. I was disappointed by it, but not surprised."

Leftwich did not participate in the first 30 minutes of Wednesday's practice, along with receiver Antonio Bryant and defensive end Gaines Adams. Bryant has been battling a knee injury, while Leftwich and Adams' injuries will not be known until Morris addresses the media later this afternoon.

Previously, Leftwich said the reason he signed with Tampa Bay was to compete for a starting job. He beat out quarterback Luke McCown, who was eventually traded to Jacksonville, and was optimistic he could revive his career in Tampa.

As a rookie, Leftwich replaced Mark Brunell after Jacksonville began its season 0-3, and he found this week's move ironic.

"There wasn't anything Brunell did wrong. It's just that we were 0-3," Leftwich said. "At the fourth game of the season, they put me in. It's the exact same scenario, so I would be naive to sit up here and be so mad and act like I don't understand how this game works. I understand how this game works.

"I tried my best. We went out there and played. (I) gave it all I had. It wasn't good enough. Now it's time to get the young guys in."