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[BMX]

The cynic will say what happens in the preseason hardly matters, but to Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Bruce Gradkowski – a man whose 2006 season began with an unexpected rise to starter status and ended with an unhappy benching late in the year – Friday night’s game was anything but meaningless.

For Gradkowski, it was a long-awaited return to action.

“It felt good to get back out here and play a football game again,” Gradkowski said. “We’ve had a lot of practices, and it’s good to get back out here and throw the ball around against a different team. I think our guys came out and looked sharp. We made some great plays out there, and it’s something to build on.

“I did really feel relaxed before the game. I felt good out there, and I’m looking forward to these next couple of games and getting better week in and week out.”

Last year, Gradkowski famously revisited his pregame meals before his first few games, though his play in the preseason was marvelous. This year, there was something enjoyable about seeing Gradkowski trot onto the field again, this time without the weight of the world on his shoulders, this time just ready to play a little football.

" I did really feel relaxed before the game. I felt good out there, and I’m looking forward to these next couple of games and getting better week in and week out."
The thousands of Buc fans in the stands seemed to share that sentiment Friday night, serenading the young signal caller with a rousing, “Bruuuuuuce!” as he jogged toward the huddle for the first time this season. Last year may not have unfolded the way the Tampa faithful envisioned, but they obviously didn’t forget the effort and fight that a certain wide-eyed sixth-round draft pick showed after being forced into action much earlier than a sixth-round draft pick probably should.

That brief but stirring cheer wasn’t lost on Gradkowski.

“One thing I did notice was the crowd was good,” Gradkowski said with a sheepish grin, looking almost as if he would have forgiven the fans if they were less than excited to see him. “We have great fans here, and that was neat when they said my name, and I usually don’t hear that stuff. Tonight I kind of noticed it because I was more excited to go out there and play and get in some game action again. It felt good to start moving the ball and get some first downs. We had a couple of good drives in there, so I felt good with that. We’re just moving on though. The team is doing a great job. There are a lot of great players here working hard, and we’re just going to keep trying to build.”

It may be just a footnote to a game in which fellow quarterback Luke McCown looked impressive and rookie running back Kenneth Darby turned heads with a strong professional debut. Still, a series in the third quarter in which Gradkowski completed five of six pass attempts, hitting four different receivers in the process, provided a nice opening chapter to his second season in the NFL.

There was a heady checkdown to Darby for 13 yards. There was a strong and accurate throw over the middle on a third-and-eight to wide receiver Paris Warren. There were throws to tight end Keith Heinrich for five and seven yards when that’s all the defense would give him. And possibly taking a page out of Jeff Garcia’s book, there was the improvisational moment, a backhanded flip to tight end Jerramy Stevens that demonstrated Gradkowski’s ability to keep a play alive when things break down.

“It was planned to try a shot down the field, and I didn’t feel like it was there, so I tried getting out and the next thing I know, I see Stevens in my face,” said Gradkowski. “I just tried to make a play, and he was doing a good job of being aware and being ready for the football.

“Guys were making good plays. I was just trying to find the open guy, going through my reads. Guys were doing a good job on their routes, and the line was doing a great job on pass protection. I remember one time I had to reset and come backside, and I had a lot of time on that. I think overall we did a great job. Darby ran the ball really well, and the offensive line did a great job, so you have to give them credit.”

When the game finally concluded, Gradkowski’s numbers read a modest six-for-11 for 50 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, a few nice throws and one warm welcome back. All in all, it added up to a pretty good way to start a new season.

[Monty'sCircus]

Why did you quote the homepage?

[BMX]

I guess I didn't see it also stay on the form you are on it's called Team Discussion.

[Sockapal]

Originally Posted by bmx

I guess I didn't see it also stay on the form you are on it's called Team Discussion.

But you're not discussing anything, you're just copying and pasting a Buccaneers.com article.

[AdventBuc144]

Originally Posted by bmx

I guess I didn't see it also stay on the form you are on it's called Team Discussion.

This makes me laugh.. not because it's funny. It's just so confusing.... It's like a bad dream where nothing makes sense.

[PiratePhil]

Don't worry about them BMX, they know nothing of the BMX-MBC.

[BMX]

True.

[BMX]

Originally Posted by Sockapal

But you're not discussing anything, you're just copying and pasting a Buccaneers.com article.

Yea so what.