There are three primary reasons the Bucs won't pick up the option on the final two years of Dilfer's contract. The biggest factor is the success of rookie Shaun King, who ledthe Bucs to victories in six of the seven games in which he appeared. But Tampa Bay is King's team, which brings us to the second factor. Finally, the Bucs want to be fair to Dilfer, who will have a great opportunity as a free agent to start for another team. Possibly Jeff George or Randall Cunningham.
Most recycled quarterbacks are too old or too brittle.
Dilfer is 27 and durable. He has a playoff victory and a Pro Bowl on his resume. Were Dilfer forced to return to the Bucs, you'd have to wonder what kind of response he would get from the fans. Since the middle of the '96 season, Dilfer's record is 31-20. Although it will be an asterisk to this season, it was Dilfer who engineered the Bucs' turnaround.