But barring injury, neither is going to start a game of any significance for the Bucs in 1999. This is their common bond. Each is 6 feet tall, and neither is able to look over Dilfer's shoulder. For a lot of fans, it's going to be disappointing to see Dilfer actually solidify his position in the off-season. And so an upgrade has been a popular subject in the off-season, whether through the deepest quarterback draft in more than a decade or through the acquisition of a veteran.
Results are in.
Meet the new field boss, same as the old field boss. No, no and no. Even the Bucs admit this is a crucial year for Dilfer, but they have done nothing to take his name off the calendar. Dilfer will get this year to show he can rebound from last year, when his number of big plays slid noticeably, and demonstrate why the Bucs should exercise an option in his contract to keep him in Tampa Bay beyond 1999. He's in the best shape he's been in physically, and he's in good shape mentally.