Second Stringer With Second Thoughts?

QB Chris Simms re-signed with the Bucs in December under the impression he would be able to battle an unamed veteran for the starting job. Over time, that unamed veteran became Jeff Garcia, and Simms' chance of leading the offense out against Seattle in September 2007 seemed to evaporate, barring injuries. The former Niner, Brown, Lion, and Eagle has all been all but named starter by Head Coach Jon Gruden, who like whichever QB he plays will be under pressure to perform. It's time to put up or shut up for "Boy Wonder", and the Pewter Pirates are putting all their eggs in Garcia's basket. This surely leaves fans and players alike wondering what the future holds for Simms, who dropped even further down the depth chart last week, with second-year pro Bruce Gradkowski taking reps with the 2nd team. Simms finally hinted that he's come to the realization that re-signing was an un-wise move, but he's unlikely to be cut due to the signing bonus he received, so a trade looks to be on the horizon, especially if Jake Plummer finally shows. The spleen-less wonder talked to the Sp.Times on Friday, and for those unfamiliar with this style, I will relay my thoughts here:

CRYSTAL RIVER - For more than three hours Thursday, Chris Simms was the Bucs' No. 1 quarterback again.

Luckily, it wasn't on an actual playing field.

He had just led about a dozen kids from the Children's Home on an interactive tour of Kings Bay, swimming with manatees and free-diving the deep pools of Three Sisters Spring.

Whenever a snorkel was fumbled to the sandy bottom, Simms recovered it. If someone needed encouragement, he offered it. The large creatures are protected here, but it's also a place where Simms could seek refuge.

He stood on the shore with his wetsuit unzipped to his waist, revealing the 9-inch scar from surgery to remove his spleen last September. It's the only visible sign of why Simms' career in Tampa Bay might be endangered.

How touching. Unfortunately, Simms isn't getting paid the big bucks to look at wildlife with children.

But there are other reasons. Simms is asked if he would've signed a two-year, $5-million extension with the Bucs last December had he known all that would transpire during this turbulent offseason?

"I don't know. I would've definitely re-evaluated the situation, " Simms said. ""That's an honest answer."

Surely Simms saw this coming. He had to know that Gruden would bring in the best veteran he could, and fall in love with him. After last season, he had to know that Gruden was losing his patience with him, as well as his confidence, in the Texas product.

Instead, Simms is regaining the throwing mechanics he lost after developing some "bad habits" while unconsciously trying to protect his abdomen. And the 26-year-old lefty has an uphill battle to reclaim his job from 37-year-old Eagles free agent Jeff Garcia, who has been declared the leader in the clubhouse by coach Jon Gruden.

This is a worrying thing for all Bucs fans to hear. His mechanics weren't wonderful to begin with, now they're worse... if possible, that is.

Entering his fifth pro season, Simms still is popular in the Bucs locker room and in the community. His Wild Adventures initiative, which he started last year, combines his love of children, nature and animals.

Well, the page won't load (http://www.nfl.com/stats/clubhousefavorites.html) but I'll take the Sp. Times' word for it.

Simms admits he never saw the trouble with losing his passing stroke coming.

"When you're just out there throwing by yourself, it's a little easier than when you've got live action and real routes being run and everything like that, " Simms said. "It's not something I saw happening, as far as the mechanical thing. But it's not something I'm really worried about, either."

Nice to hear he's not worried. For a guy that played so poorly last season, he's coming off as quite arrogant, as if he can easily win the starting job.

"I was trying to guard my torso, so I was throwing all with my arm and just short-arming it. I put myself in a bad position to throw the football."

Worse yet, Simms may enter training camp behind Garcia, Bruce Gradkowski and perhaps Luke McCown, at least based on reduced reps in the offseason.

Can't say I'm shocked. Some vets wanted Grads to start last season, and Gruden has had nice things to say about McCown in the past. Garcia, Gradkowski, and McCown are quite similar to each other, which means that if one must be subsituted for the other, less changes have to be made, in terms of play-calling. Simms could be traded if Luke shows anything in camp.

"It's tough. Of course I want to be out there and taking all the reps, " he said. "That's part of being an athlete and being a competitor. But the time will come. I know when July comes, nobody is going to be begging for more reps."

Simms smiled. He glanced at the boat that was shoving off for lunch at a nearby restaurant. A manatee surfaced nearby.

For the moment, neither seemed endangered.

"Oh, I see myself battling for No. 1, " Simms said. ""Without a doubt. No doubt."

At least he's hungry. He has the physical tools to be a Franchise QB, but it may be too little too late from a player whose "potential" we have heard all too much about.