Trent Dilfer Released, History Repeated?
(January 26, 2000)

Trent Dilfer has been released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Money was the key factor in not exercising the contract option for the Buccaneers all-time winningest quarterback. Shaun King is now the undisputed starting QB, which also may lead to free agent Eric Zeier looking elsewhere. Since the Bucs may now be down to one quarterback, they must address that position over the off season. It is tough to put a positive spin on releasing a former number one draft pick.

Time will only tell if the release of Trent Dilfer was the right move. Lets hope so. Lets hope that Shaun King becomes a superstar. Lets hope that history does not repeat itself. Take a deep breath and lets recall the sad legacy of the Buccaneers quarterback position.

You could even start the commentary on the Buccaneers quarterback blunders before the team played a game. Back in 1976, some questioned the Bucs very first trade. They sent two players and a second round draft pick to San Francisco for backup quarterback Steve Spurrier. Space does not permit a list of all the names that played QB over the first couple of seasons, but it seems that everyone but John McKay got a chance.

Stability came when Doug Williams was drafted in the first round of the 1978 draft. Before his second season, he would become the starter. The real quarterback follies began in 1983 when owner Hugh Culverhouse failed to resign Williams. After spending some time in the USFL, Williams went on to become Super Bowl MVP with Washington.

Insanity ensued, or was it the fabled Williams curse? Bucs trade number one pick in the 1984 NFL draft for quarterback Jack Thompson. After the fall of the USFL, the Bucs got Steve Young at the start of the 1985 season. Thompson cut. Vinny Testaverde drafted with the top pick in the 1986 draft. Steve Young traded to San Francisco, goes on to become Super Bowl MVP. Testaverde handed starting job in just his second season, Bucs sign ancient Joe Ferguson as backup. Before 1990 season, Bucs trade number one pick in the 1992 draft for quarterback Chris Chandler. Chandler released, leads Atlanta to Super Bowl. Testaverde signs with Cleveland, later has success with the Jets. Craig Erickson, in his second season, now number one guy. Trent Dilfer picked with first round pick in 1994. Erickson traded, Dilfer handed the starting job in just his second season.

Now, Trent Dilfer is no longer a Buccaneer and Shaun King has been handed the starting job in just his second season. The Dilfer-bashers are gloating. Actually, Dilfer brought some stability to, perhaps, the most turbulent time in team history. A few months after he was drafted, a whirlwind was set in motion by the death of Hugh Culverhouse. Who would buy the team? Where would they play? Malcom Glazer buys team for record price. Stadium controversy leads to more rumors. Sam Wyche out, Tony Dungy in. Dilfer becomes first Bucs QB to go to Pro Bowl. Community Investment Tax passes and state-of-the-art stadium built. After an injury ends his season, the last images of Dilfer on the Bucs sidelines are of him pushing a trash-talking Rams player at the end of the NFC Championship Game.

Best wishes and good luck to Trent Dilfer, however, if history is any indication Shaun King may need it more.