This week, the locals still can't make up their minds about him. A supermarket in suburban Brandon was caught selling Dilfer's jersey. The talk show hosts can't decide if they should rip Dilfer for his six star-crossed seasons or the Bucs for pulling his plug. Dilfer is, after all, the fourth ex-Tampa QB to get to the Big Bowl, following Doug Williams, Steve Young and Chris Chandler. He's practically a scratch golfer.
Scratch golfers know about humility.
Dilfer has failed enough to know failure is inevitable. It's how you handle it that matters. He's done all right in that department. Only, he doesn't. He drove by the house he'd bought just a year ago, in a chic enclave of town called Harbor Island.