Hi, everybody.

I’m Bucs Chick, the newest chick in the coop. (And that was officially my first and last coop joke. So many milestones!) I’m really excited to be a part of Chicks in the Huddle–I am obsessed with football, and I’m stoked to be able to talk shop with other women.

My love of the Bucs was born when I grew up in Tampa, but I’ve become a way more obsessive fan since moving out of state. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. And lucky for us fans, there is a huge amount to discuss in the world of the Bucs already this offseason, so let’s get to it, shall we?

There have been a lot of changes for the Bucs this year, but there’s one that stands out as the most radical.

No, it’s not the hiring of new head coach Raheem Morris.

It’s not the release of Derrick Brooks either.

It’s not even the drafting of a real-life quarterback of the future.

No, the biggest change this year is less of an event and more of a non-event.

You’ve perhaps heard that Brett Favre is coming out of yet another faux-tirement? Well, guess what? The Bucs don’t want him!

Now, I know what you non-Bucs fans are saying:
Where’ve you been, Bucs Chick? Favre wants to play for Minnesota and stick it to his old friends at Lambeau. Favre in Tampa is never gonna happen!

I’m not denying that’s true, but the thing is, in Jon Gruden-ville “never gonna happen” doesn’t exist. You can bet that if Gruden were still the coach today, he’d have rented an apartment in Mississippi, and one in Minnesota, and probably one in Green Bay, too—just to be safe. He’d shop at Favre’s grocery store and hang out at the high school where Brett throws with the kids. He’d rent a four-wheeler and drive it on Brett’s property.

Pointless? Probably. Exhausting? Definitely. But remember, this is the same guy who encouraged the Bucs to buy the rights to Denver quarterback Jake Plummer, and seemed incapable of letting go of the hope that the retired Plummer would wear a pair of pewter pants. Despite the fact that the dude retired just to avoid playing in Tampa.

So right about now Gruden would be fired up, and there would be reports on ESPN and SI and in every Tampa paper about how Gruden was really getting close to closing the deal, how Brett loves a coach on a four-wheeler and really that’s what was missing in his career all along, and how we should all run out and buy #4 jerseys…

…And then Favre would sign with the Vikings.

But this year it’s a new world. Now we just have to hope one of the QBs we have can play.

At least Favre isn’t signed yet.