This is why Jon Gruden collects quarterbacks.

   This is also why Jon Gruden flirted shamelessly with Brett Favre.

   He knows the chances of Jeff Garcia being healthy for an entire season is nothing more than a pipedream.

   Gruden announced at his Monday news conference that Garcia sprained an ankle in the season-opening loss at New Orleans.  Gruden also announced that Garcia is listed as questionable for Sunday's home opener with the Falcons.

   Questionable can mean anything.  It can mean the Bucs won't know if he'll be ready until warmups.  It can mean the Bucs already have a good idea if Garcia will or will not play and they don't want to tip their hand. 

    More than anything, it means Garcia will be limited in practice again.  And after a preseason of limited practice becauseof injury, Garcia needs all the work he can get.

    The Buccaneer message boards are working overtime with what-ifs.  "What if" ..the Bucs had met the Packers price for Brett Favre? 

    Derrick Brooks is also questionable with a bad hamstring.  This defense needs a healthy and speedy Derrick Brooks after watching the Saints roll up 5 plays of more than 25 yards.

    Maurice Stovall is also questionable with a neck injury.  That could have a huge effect on special teams. 

    What's a Buccaneer season without injury talk?

    The Buccaneers are 0-1 staring up at everybody else in the NFC South.  They make their home debut Sunday against the 1-0 Falcons and teh Bucs may not have Garcia, Brooks, Stovall and the previously-injured Davin Joseph.

    Gruden will know more when the players return for work Wednesday.

     Al Keck