Currently, there are five quarterbacks on the Buccaneers' roster: Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese, Luke McCown, Chris Simms, and Bruce Gradkowski.  Throw the enigmatic Jake Plummer into the mix and the team has six guys who could throw the rock to Joey Galloway and crew.

At most, the Bucs will keep three quarterbacks on the roster, and one of those will most likely be inactive for most of the season barring injuries to someone higher up in the depth chart.  It's safe to say that Jeff Garcia is the undisputed starter, but what to do with the rest of the bunch?

The Bucs didn't trade a draft pick for Brian Griese so that they could cut him.  Therefore, it would seem that they intend on using him as the backup or third string (more likely the former).  With his previous tenure in Tampa, he met some success early on before succumbing to the same ill fate that most quarterbacks in Gruden's offense do.  However, the coaching staff seems to be comfortable with Griese throwing the football, at least more so than any of the other options.

Luke McCown showed signs of maturity, athleticism, poise, and an accurate arm in preseason, but then collapsed when he got the nod during the regular season when Garcia went down with his back injury.  I can't say that was unexpected, as first-string competition is quite a bit better than the training camp fodder that he picked apart in the preseason.  Of the bottom three quarterbacks on the Bucs' roster, though, he is clearly the most capable and thus will most likely make the roster as number three in the depth chart.

Chris Simms, where art thou?  Everyone knows the story of his ruptured spleen, but he has scarcely been heard from since.  Apparently he is fully recovered, but just hasn't been able to regain his rhythm and throwing mechanics.  He'd better get his act together soon, or else he's going to find himself watching games at home.

Bruce Gradkowski is a bit of a puzzle.  Believe it or not, he is the most experienced of the bottom three quarterbacks, starting 11 games in 2007.  Jon Gruden fell in love with the sixth-rounder and stuck with him through his rough patches, but he seems to have lost some of his patience.  Gradkowski is a prototype Gruden player, but has not been able to perform up to expectations.  There is a chance that he may be cut before the start of the regular season.

Finally, there is the enigmatic Jake Plummer.  I myself ask why his name keeps popping up all over the place; he has clearly stated that he is happy in his retired lifestyle and does not want to come back to the NFL.  Of course, a year removed from the game may have changed his mind, but somehow I doubt it.  If he were to come back and play for the Bucs, he would most likely vault over Luke McCown and take the third (or possibly even the second) spot on the depth chart.  But don't hold your breath.

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