Five Things We Learned About The Bucs In May

Tom EdringtonJun 1, 2009

The countdown to Buccaneer training camp is getting shorter. May is gone, June is here, and July is 30 days in waiting.

Here are five things we learned about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in May:

1. Leftwich vs. McCown Is On

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When he received his new "Jeff Garcia" contract from the Bucs, Luke McCown declared that the starting quarterback job is "his to lose."

Not so fast there, Luke.

The competition between McCown and veteran Byron Leftwich is on, and it's real.

"It's tight," admits head coach Raheem Morris.

Leftwich has superior experience on his side and the advantage of having been around in arguably the league's best lockerroom last season—Pittsburgh.

Leftwich might have an advantage when it comes to winning over the remaining veteran players on offense. McCown has mobility, Leftwich doesn't.

This competition will no doubt carry on in training camp and into the preseason before one of them prevails.

2. Aqib Talib Still Has Issues

Raheem's "bad boy" is still exactly that. The first-round draft pick with a load of baggage from Kansas and bad deportment at the NFL's rookie symposium decided to liven things up in May OTAs with a helmet swinging incident that wounded teammate Torrie Cox.

3. Barrett Ruud Will Probably Hold Out

Barrett Ruud wants a new contract. Barrett should get a new contract, but if nothing happens before training camp, it would be a surprise if he shows up on time.

4. The Bucs Are Desperate For Wide Receivers

Raheem is day-dreaming about Plaxico Burress beating the rap in court. Odds are very long that would happen. Burress is in trouble, and if he doesn't beat the rap, he'll get time AND a suspension from the commissioner.

5. Raheem Loves Sammie Stroughter

Following up directly on No. 4, Morris likes what he sees in rookie seventh-round pick Sammie Stroughter from Oregon State.

These are just a few of the developments thus far in the beginning of the Raheem Morris coaching regime.

There are many, many questions still to be answered. That is a given.