Published: May 8, 2006

TAMPA – Bruce Gradkowski was a third-grader playing on the fourth-grade basketball team when his ego got the best of him.

“I got a little cocky,” Gradkowski said.

A “whooping” by Dad took care of that, teaching Gradkowski a valuable lesson – don’t believe the hype, or more specifically, your own hype.

Lesson learned apparently, because as the Pittsburgh native grew up in the shadow of Pennsylvania greats such as Joe Namath, Joe Montana and Dan Marino, and eventually overshadowed them, in high school statistics anyway, Gradkowski grew more humbled.

“Coming out, I never worried about the stats or who to compare myself to,” said Gradkowski, who threw for 2,978 yards at Seton-LaSalle High School, more than Namath, Montana and Marino. “They always [drew comparisons to] Dan Marino, Joe Montana and Joe Namath, but those guys are on a whole new level. Just to be mentioned with them is an honor, but I know personally, I’m not near where I need to be in respect to them.”

Despite those gaudy numbers, Gradkowski didn’t catch the eye of college recruiters.

He put up big numbers everywhere, except for size.

At barely 6-foot-1, Gradkowski doesn’t stand as tall as the prototypical quarterback.

He believes that’s the main reason Toledo was the only Division I-A school to offer him a scholarship and why he lasted until the sixth round of the draft before the Bucs took him with the 194th pick.

“I think I’ve always been underestimated growing up,” he said. “When the draft came and I went in the sixth round, I said, ‘Hey, I’ve been here before, it’s nothing new.’ All I ask for is that chance, that opportunity and Coach [Jon] Gruden has given it to me.”

The Bucs wrapped up their three-day rookie minicamp Sunday. Having called most of the plays at Toledo from the line of scrimmage, Gradkowski had to get used to calling them from the huddle, but what he showed in the short time left quite an impression on Gruden.

“I’ve got a lot of confidence he’s going to be a player,” Gruden said. “We’ve just got to temper our enthusiasm and bring him along, but he really shows a quick, accurate arm. He’s got really good mobility. And he’s got a charisma about him that quarterbacks I think have to have.

“He did well for himself these first three days.”

Gruden admits he and the coaching staff were “harsh” on Gradkowski, but the rookie welcomes the tough love. It’s how he was raised and why he believes he thrives under pressure.

“My dad pushed me hard as a kid,” Gradkowski said. “He was always on me, on me, on me, so it pushed me to do better and to work harder and try to be the best. When I come to [work with] coaches like Coach Gruden, that’s who I feel I learn the best under, when coaches are hard and they demand so much out of you.”

Gradkowski’s father, Bruce Sr., coached him until he reached high school. He was the one responsible for sticking his son at the quarterback position.

“I grew to love it and I love it to this day,” Gradkowski said. “I come out here and I love having command of the offense.”

For now, it’s not Gradkowski’s offense to command. He’s deep on the Bucs depth chart behind starter Chris Simms and backups Luke McCown and Tim Rattay.

“I’m humble to be a part of this right now,” Gradkowski said. “Growing up, this was my dream, to play in the NFL. I watched Dan Marino, he was my idol and I’ve watched some great quarterbacks come through Western Pennsylvania. It’s a dream and as you get older, it becomes a goal and now it’s a reality.

“I’m just happy to be a part of it and have my opportunity.”