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QB Gradkowski to get NFL start

Former Seton-LaSalle standout to start in place of injured Simms

Chris O'Meara, Associated Press The Buccaneers' Bruce Gradkowski will start in place of an injured Chris Simms.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

By Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Bruce Gradkowski was confident he would someday be an NFL starter. He just didn't realize it wouldbe this soon.

Gradkowski, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound rookie from Dormont, will be the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when they play Oct. 8 at New Orleans. He is replacing Tampa Bay starter Chris Simms, who is out indefinitely after having his spleen removed Sunday night after a game against the Carolina Panthers.

"It's a tough situation," Gradkowski said to reporters in Tampa, Fla. "You never want to be named the starter in this situation, but things happen. I just have to take it, go with it and work hard.

"We just need to prepare like we've been preparing and come out and make plays. Just keep doing what we're doing and things will fall into place. I'm just going to bring energy out there on the field and just do my thing. I'm just going to take things as they come and make smart decisions and rely on the guys around me. I'm a rookie, but I'm going to play my game."

Tampa Bay, which is off this week, will bring an 0-3 record into the game at New Orleans.

It has been a meteoric rise for Gradkowski in Tampa Bay. He was drafted in the sixth round out of Toledo in April and quickly won over Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden with a stellar preseason.

After an injury to third-year pro Luke McCown in training camp, Gradkowski received more repetitions and won the backup job over veteran Tim Rattay. In four preseason games, Gradkowski completed 73.8 percent of his passes for 511 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. He had a passer rating of 105.3.

Gradkowski attempted one pass against Carolina and completed it for 16 yards.

"I was very fortunate to get a lot of reps in training camp," said Gradkowski, who played at Seton-LaSalle High School. "I was just working hard. It was an unfortunate injury to Luke that got me some reps. I think it prepared me very well, getting in there in game situations with players around me. Now it can only get better. It's going to be game time and I'm looking forward to it."

It is not often that a rookie quarterback starts in the NFL. It is even rarer for a player drafted as late as Gradkowski to get the opportunity. But Gruden, at his weekly news conference yesterday, reiterated that he has confidence in his young rookie.

"This guy can make plays," Gruden said. "I believe he'll rise to the challenge if we rally around him."

Montour coach Lou Cerro, who coached Gradkowski at Seton-LaSalle, is not surprised that Gradkowski has ascended to the top of the depth chart this quickly. He said Gradkowski's work ethic and intellect are the reasons.

"He was excited to be the backup. He'll be out of his mind now that he's the starter," Cerro said. "I'm not that surprised, really. Bruce was always a guy who was a leader on and off the field.

"I'm sure coach Gruden liked his work ethic. He has tremendous work ethic. When he came out of Seton-LaSalle, he was 160 pounds. He put on 30 or 40 pounds at Toledo. And I know Toledo's offense is unbelievably difficult. He's a guy who completed 70 percent of his passes, so he's always making the right decisions."

Gradkowski said he will be calling Simms and asking him many questions over the next two weeks as he prepares for his first career start. Even though he does not have a lot of experience in the pro game, Gradkowski is confident he can lead the Buccaneers to victories.

"I definitely feel like I'm ready," Gradkowski said. "I know coach Gruden wouldn't have thrown me out there if he didn't think I was ready. I've been preparing for this. Coach didn't bring me in here to be a clipboard holder my whole career. This just came a little faster than [expected]. ... I'm going to make this happen."

Gradkowski is the second quarterback from Seton-LaSalle, or its forerunner South Catholic, to play in the NFL. Dan Darragh played for the Buffalo Bills in the late 1960s after being drafted out of William & Mary in the 13th round of the NFL draft.

President Bush visits with Gradkowski after Buccaneers practice on Sept. 21