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By FRED GOODALL, AP Sports Writer
October 18, 2005
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers braced for life without Brian Griese on Tuesday, acquiring Tim Rattay from the San Francisco 49ers to back up young quarterbacks Chris Simms and Luke McCown.
The Bucs sent what was believed to be a sixth-round draft choice to the 49ers for Rattay, a six-year veteran who recently lost his caretaker hold on San Francisco's starting job to No. 1 overall draft pick Alex Smith.
Griese injured his left knee during Sunday's 27-13 victory over Miami, though the Bucs still haven't said how long he will be sidelined after helping them to a 5-1 start.
``We're getting some more analysis,'' general manager Bruce Allen said. ``He's still on the team. He is wanting to play. We're hopeful that he can. But we're going to get the proper medical opinion.''
Allen declined to discuss specifics of the injury, which occurred when Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas rolled into Griese's leg, or what doctors have told the team about the quarterback's status.
What's clear, though, is Griese will be out for a lengthy time.
Simms replaced him against the Dolphins and will have two weeks to prepare for his first start of the season because Tampa Bay has a bye this Sunday. Oddly enough, the Buccaneers' next game is in San Francisco on Oct. 30.
San Francisco coach Mike Nolan initially was reluctant to make the deal, which puts the 49ers' future even more squarely on the shoulders of Smith, who made five turnovers in his first NFL start on Oct. 9.
But Nolan liked the draft pick, the roster room created by the trade and the chance to exploit the team's depth at quarterback. Though Nolan refused to disclose the draft pick acquired, he acknowledged it could improve if Rattay reaches certain performance standards.
``This was a difficult decision for me, because I've learned some things about Tim,'' said Nolan, who wasn't impressed by Rattay's placid demeanor during training camp. ``I think he is a good solid backup, and that's an important role on any team. ... It wasn't so much that he didn't fit in. It was just that Alex was the guy that we drafted.''
Ken Dorsey, who started seven games last season while San Francisco went a league-worst 2-14, will be Smith's backup. Fourth-stringer Cody Pickett, who has played on the Niners' special teams in recent weeks, will be No. 3.
``We're one of very few teams that kept four quarterbacks this year, and one of the reasons was there was a high chance that at this time, somebody would be looking for a quarterback,'' Nolan said. ``It just so happened Tampa Bay was on a hunt because they needed somebody.''
Allen said the Bucs explored the prospect of acquiring Rattay during the offseason and were excited to find he was available before the NFL trading deadline of 4 p.m. Tuesday. Paul Hackett, the Bucs' quarterbacks coach, mentored 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy and QBs coach Jim Hostler earlier in their careers.
To make room on the active roster, the team released rookie fullback Rick Razzano.
``We feel he'll be a great fit for our team,'' Allen said. ``He'll come in and be our No. 3 quarterback. It gives us some great insurance and a feeling that we can sleep at night that we have a bona fide NFL starter.''
Simms and McCown, like Rattay a former standout at Louisiana Tech, have made a combined six starts as pros -- all last season when Simms made two for the Bucs and McCown started four as a rookie in Cleveland.
Rattay, a seventh-round pick in 2000 who spent four years backing up Jeff Garcia, started nine games last season and beat out Smith in training camp this year. But he struggled behind San Francisco's terrible offensive line after an opening victory over St. Louis, and Nolan decided to put his $49 million rookie into the lineup.
``He was the best quarterback we thought could help us right now,'' Allen said. ``And the fact that he has experience allowed us to look at enough tape ... we feel very comfortable we know what we're getting.''
At Louisiana Tech, Rattay started 33 games, finishing second in NCAA history with 12,746 yards passing. He was the third player in NCAA history with more than 100 career touchdown passes.
October 18, 2005
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers braced for life without Brian Griese on Tuesday, acquiring Tim Rattay from the San Francisco 49ers to back up young quarterbacks Chris Simms and Luke McCown.
The Bucs sent what was believed to be a sixth-round draft choice to the 49ers for Rattay, a six-year veteran who recently lost his caretaker hold on San Francisco's starting job to No. 1 overall draft pick Alex Smith.
Griese injured his left knee during Sunday's 27-13 victory over Miami, though the Bucs still haven't said how long he will be sidelined after helping them to a 5-1 start.
``We're getting some more analysis,'' general manager Bruce Allen said. ``He's still on the team. He is wanting to play. We're hopeful that he can. But we're going to get the proper medical opinion.''
Allen declined to discuss specifics of the injury, which occurred when Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas rolled into Griese's leg, or what doctors have told the team about the quarterback's status.
What's clear, though, is Griese will be out for a lengthy time.
Simms replaced him against the Dolphins and will have two weeks to prepare for his first start of the season because Tampa Bay has a bye this Sunday. Oddly enough, the Buccaneers' next game is in San Francisco on Oct. 30.
San Francisco coach Mike Nolan initially was reluctant to make the deal, which puts the 49ers' future even more squarely on the shoulders of Smith, who made five turnovers in his first NFL start on Oct. 9.
But Nolan liked the draft pick, the roster room created by the trade and the chance to exploit the team's depth at quarterback. Though Nolan refused to disclose the draft pick acquired, he acknowledged it could improve if Rattay reaches certain performance standards.
``This was a difficult decision for me, because I've learned some things about Tim,'' said Nolan, who wasn't impressed by Rattay's placid demeanor during training camp. ``I think he is a good solid backup, and that's an important role on any team. ... It wasn't so much that he didn't fit in. It was just that Alex was the guy that we drafted.''
Ken Dorsey, who started seven games last season while San Francisco went a league-worst 2-14, will be Smith's backup. Fourth-stringer Cody Pickett, who has played on the Niners' special teams in recent weeks, will be No. 3.
``We're one of very few teams that kept four quarterbacks this year, and one of the reasons was there was a high chance that at this time, somebody would be looking for a quarterback,'' Nolan said. ``It just so happened Tampa Bay was on a hunt because they needed somebody.''
Allen said the Bucs explored the prospect of acquiring Rattay during the offseason and were excited to find he was available before the NFL trading deadline of 4 p.m. Tuesday. Paul Hackett, the Bucs' quarterbacks coach, mentored 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy and QBs coach Jim Hostler earlier in their careers.
To make room on the active roster, the team released rookie fullback Rick Razzano.
``We feel he'll be a great fit for our team,'' Allen said. ``He'll come in and be our No. 3 quarterback. It gives us some great insurance and a feeling that we can sleep at night that we have a bona fide NFL starter.''
Simms and McCown, like Rattay a former standout at Louisiana Tech, have made a combined six starts as pros -- all last season when Simms made two for the Bucs and McCown started four as a rookie in Cleveland.
Rattay, a seventh-round pick in 2000 who spent four years backing up Jeff Garcia, started nine games last season and beat out Smith in training camp this year. But he struggled behind San Francisco's terrible offensive line after an opening victory over St. Louis, and Nolan decided to put his $49 million rookie into the lineup.
``He was the best quarterback we thought could help us right now,'' Allen said. ``And the fact that he has experience allowed us to look at enough tape ... we feel very comfortable we know what we're getting.''
At Louisiana Tech, Rattay started 33 games, finishing second in NCAA history with 12,746 yards passing. He was the third player in NCAA history with more than 100 career touchdown passes.
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