Today, Gradkowski returns to his native Pittsburgh for a game against the Steelers in a city where his name still resonates with those who remember him as a high school legend.

Gradkowski’s NFL career is in its early stage, and he has a long way to go before people mention him among the likes of Johnny Unitas, George Blanda, Joe Namath, Joe Montana and Dan Marino.

Yet, back home, Gradkowski’s name carries as much significance as the aforementioned greats from western Pennsylvania — the so-called cradle of quarterbacks — for what he accomplished at Seton-La Salle High.

“Just to be mentioned with those guys is just kind of unbelievable,” Gradkowski said. “I don’t look at myself in the league of Dan Marino or Joe Montana. It’s neat to go home, because they always show you love.”

Gradkowski played in the esteemed Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League, which spawned Marino, Montana, Namath and Unitas. He shattered the conference and state passing records his senior season with 2,978 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Some of Gradkowski’s earliest recollections are of Marino, who starred at Central Catholic High and attended the University of Pittsburgh. Marino entered the NFL the year Gradkowski was born, 1983.

Kids from Pittsburgh hear all about the exploits quarterbacks reared in this area from the first time they pick up a football. Until he reached high school, Gradkowski donned the No. 13 Marino made famous and yearned to play quarterback.

The admiration from the locals, however, didn’t translate into nationwide recognition. Despite his high school success, Gradkowski was overlooked by the University of Pittsburgh and other high-profile programs. He jumped at his lone offer from a Division I school and bolted for Toledo.

“I never really wanted to stay home for college,” Gradkowski said. “Even if Pitt would have recruited me, I always wanted to get away to school, so maybe it was a good thing they never recruited me.”

Gradkowski enjoyed a record-breaking career at Toledo, throwing for 9,225 yards and 85 touchdowns. He completed 68.2 percent of his passes and also rushed for 1,018 yards.

Gradkowski was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL draft and started 11 games his rookie season. His coach, Jon Gruden, was smitten right away.

“This guy gets it done,” said Gruden, now a broadcaster on “Monday Night Football.” “He completes passes, and he’s very mobile. He’s an explosive guy. “… He’s a winner, and he’s a guy that has a charismatic flair to him. He’s a leader.”

Gradkowski said he expects as many as 100 friends, family members and well-wishers at today’s game. The trip home included a feast for numerous teammates at his mother’s house.

It won’t be the first time he has tested the allegiance of fans whose earliest memories include waving a Terrible Towel.

Today marks his third career start at Pittsburgh. This time, Gradkowski is better prepared for a game in the stadium where he watched games from the stands.

Last season, Gradkowski started against the Super Bowl-bound Steelers in the season finale, 26 days after he signed with the Cleveland Browns. He did so because of injuries to Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn and Ken Dorsey.

The results were predictable. Gradkowski completed 5 of 16 passes for 18 yards and a 1.0 passer rating in a 31-0 loss. The Steelers intercepted two of his passes and sacked him three times.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he expects to see a much more polished Gradkowski today.

“It was such different circumstances when he was in Cleveland a year ago,” Tomlin said last week. “When I watch him on tape, I see a guy that’s got very good accuracy and pretty good mobility, can release the ball from a variety of body positions and locations. It seems like he’s been a sparkplug for that offensive unit.”

http://www.mercurynews.com/

Friday, February 17, 2006

By Paul Zeise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Bruce Gradkowski was a record-setting quarterback at Seton-LaSalle High School, but he was overlooked by almost every Division I college. In fact, it wasn’t until after his senior season — and only after a coaching change — that Toledo gave him a scholarship.

Five years, three brilliant seasons and 19 Toledo passing records later, he again finds himself having to answer questions about his ability. And, once again, he is eager to prove he is more than capable of being a big-time quarterback.

Gradkowski, who threw five touchdowns in his final college game Dec. 21, a win against UTEP in the GMAC Bowl, is one of seven players represented by Carnegie-based agent Ralph Cindrich who are working out at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex on the South Side for the NFL combine.

“I feel like I am starting from scratch again,” Gradkowski said. “I have to prove myself all over, but that’s what these workouts are for, and that’s what the combine is for.

“So I’m excited about it because it is another opportunity. And I’m not afraid to do anything. I am going to do all the workouts because I feel like anything I can do will increase my stock, and that’s the goal — to get drafted higher.”

The questions about Gradkowski are two-fold — his size (he is listed at 6 feet 2) and his arm strength. Despite that, he is projected by most scouting services to be a third- to fifth-round pick in the NFL draft. He believes that once he attends the combine Feb. 22-28 in Indianapolis he’ll answer any lingering questions about his arm strength.

He said that while he hopes to make a lasting impression at the combine and subsequent workouts, he believes his body of work the past three seasons with the Rockets builds a strong case.

“People talk about my arm strength, but I don’t question it at all. And that’s why I’m excited to get to these workouts because I can go out and make the throws they want to see,” Gradkowski said.

“The system I played in college was high percentage decision-making and short passes, and we didn’t throw the ball downfield all that much, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have the arm strength to do it.

“But, ultimately, you make your name through game tape, and that’s really where you get your grade at. All this other stuff is extra, and it is a chance to show them that what they see on film is really what they are going to get.”

Since the GMAC bowl, Gradkowski, who graduated in December, has focused his energy on getting ready for the combine. He spent some time in Atlanta working out with former Green Bay Packers assistant coach Zeke Bratkowski efore returning to Pittsburgh to begin an intense six-week program at UPMC.

Joining Gradkowski in the program are Minnesota center Greg Eslinger, Virginia linebacker Kai Parham, Louisville guard Jason Spitz, Wisconsin receiver Jonathan Orr, Michigan State center Chris Morris and Michigan guard Matt Lentz. Parham and Orr are probably the two highest-rated prospects, but all seven are expected to be drafted in April.

The program, under the direction of UPMC’s director of sports performance training, Ronald DeAngelo, is designed to increase strength, quickness, speed and conditioning and prepare them for drills and testing at the combine.

“What we’re trying to get them to be is as fast as they can be, as quick as they can be and as explosive as they can be,” DeAngelo said. “This is unique in that we have everything under one roof — physicians, physical therapists, sports nutrition, sports psychology — it is all here in one building.”

(Paul Zeise can be reached at pzeise@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1720.)