The signing of former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jeff Garcia and the acquisition of Jake Plummer, via trade from Denver, will prove to pay huge dividends for the Tampa franchise. That's if Plummer reconsiders retirement and decides to play in 2007.

This past season, the Buccaneers suffered a big loss at the quarterback position when starter Chris Simms injured his spleen during a game and had to have it removed. That injury cost Simms the remainder of the season, but he was signed to a two-year extension at the end of the season.

Is Gradkowski the odd man out?

So, if you're keeping track of the quarterback situation as it is today for the Buccaneers, they currently have Simms, Garcia, (possibly) Plummer and the man who filled in for Simms last season, Bruce Gradkowski.

Obviously a roster move will likely happen.

But what does all this mean for the Buccaneers? Tampa Bay currently holds the fourth selection in the up-coming April NFL Draft and currently I have the Bucs drafting Georgia Tech star receiver Calvin Johnson. I am sure the Buccaneers are hoping Johnson falls into their lap and gives them a young, offensive weapon to build their offense around.

Adding Johnson to an offense that already has Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, speedy Joey Galloway, and bulldozing fullback Mike Alstott, should cause problems in the NFC. The one question that appears to be on its way to being answered is, "Who's the quarterback?"

Bucs head coach Jon Gruden is considered an offensive guru, and the situation he has at quarterback is a tricky but intriguing one for him to deal with.

Garcia had a chance to relive his glory days from San Francisco with the Eagles last season when he took over for Donovan McNabb, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury. Garcia led the Eagles one game shy of a fifth NFC Championship game appearance in the last six years, but fell short against the New Orleans Saints. The question I have is, "Was Garcia lightning in a bottle or was his resurgence in Philadelphia something to build on?"

Will Simms be ready for training camp? That's a question many can't answer or won't know until he is ready to test his strength on the field. The spleen surgery affected Simms' ability to live a normal daily life, but an off-season of rest and strengthening should allow Simms to get back to 100-percent.

What does this mean for Gradkowski? I believe he will become the third-string quarterback for the Bucs. It's possible that the Buccaneers will draft a quarterback this April, but it's too early to tell. If Plummer decides to play this season and suit up for Tampa Bay, I don't know if the Bucs can carry both Garcia and Plummer, along with Simms, for the entire season. The phrase "three-headed" monster is usually used describing three productive running backs on one team, but having a "three-headed monster" at quarterback may become dysfunctional.

The Buccaneers are hoping this situation doesn't evolve into something dysfunctional, but instead become a positive on their team. A way for this situation to become a positive is to allow the plan of drafting Johnson to become a reality, and to disguise any deficiencies the quarterbacks may possess.