One of the biggest story lines in Bucs’ training camp this year is the battle for the starting QB position. We won’t know until exhibition games begin how things are really shaping up, but here’s the the current situation:

The Backup—Luke McCown

McCown: Big dawg or puppy dawg?

Age-28, Height-6’3”
College-Louisiana Tech
Cleveland Browns (2004)
Tampa Bay Bucs (2005-present)

Reasons he should start: Every dawg has his day, right? McCown started his career as a backup in Cleveland (in front of the famed Dawg Pound) before heading to Tampa in a similar role. Early signs this offseason pointed to the QB 1 job being his to lose–a seemingly giant leap out of the dawg house he’d been stuck in under Gruden. McCown has been vocal about wanting the job and expecting to earn it, and confidence is always appreciated. Plus, former Cleveland teammate Kellen Winslow has championed McCown’s cause, and if a guy whose job it is to catch the ball has confidence in him, how bad can he be?

Reasons Bucs Chick is scared: Unfortunately, pretty bad. Bucs fans are no strangers to backup QBs as starters. While a successful season would be something of a fairy tale for McCown, perhaps we should ask Brian Griese, Chris Simms, or (urp) Bruce Gradkowski how many playoff games they won in pewter and red. Or perhaps we shouldn’t.

The Journeyman—Byron Leftwich

Hey, Falcons! Matt Ryan is overrated. Start Leftwich!

Age-29, Height-6’5”
College-Marshall
Jacksonville Jaguars (2003-2006)
Atlanta Falcons (2007)
Pittsburgh Steelers (2008)
Tampa Bay Bucs (2009-present)

Reasons he should start: He has a rocket arm, and new offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski is all about airing the ball out. (This assuming we have receivers who can run fast and catch the ball. Miss you, Galloway! Sigh.) Plus, he played well in relief of Ben Roethlisberger last year.

Reasons Bucs Chick is scared: Leftwich used to play for the NFC South-rival Falcons, and Bucs Chick vividly remembers spending each Bucs/Falcons game chanting, “Play Leftwich! Play Leftwich!” See, no matter how much or how little pass rush we had had during those games, we could always rack up the sacks against Leftwich. Do the Bucs really want Falcons fans (not to mention fans of every other team we play) to have reason to chant?

The Rookie—Josh Freeman

Things are looking up for Freeman.

Age-21, Height-6’6”
College-Kansas State
Rookie, drafted 17^th overall

Reasons he should start: He’s built like Roethlisberger and seems level-headed. He was drafted to be the future leader of the Bucs. Since there is no current leader and since expectations for the team are subterranean, why not start the future now? Plus, with the Bucs’ solid offensive line, a rookie run shouldn’t become a career-destroying bloodbath like it was for David Carr or Joey Harrington.

Reasons Bucs Chick is scared: When Bucs Chick started riding her red Schwinn 2-wheeler at age 6, she had training wheels. Freeman might want the same. Playing Tampa’s first 7 games (against the Cowboys, Bills, Giants, Redskins, Eagles, Panthers, and Packers) would be more akin to starting out on a unicycle. Blindfolded. With a monkey playing the cymbals on his head. Particularly since Freeman played only 3 years of college ball and even that was in the defense-lite Big 12.

Final Prediction: Seems like the Bucs will play McCown the first few weeks and then let Freeman take over, but fingers crossed that someone wins the job flat-out in training camp. (So far, it’s not happening.)