Quarterback Brian Griese left the Bucs in 2006 for Chicago. Now the Bears are hoping Tampa Bay might want him back.

In their effort to avoid paying Griese a $300,000 roster bonus that is due next week, we've learned the Bears are looking for a team willing to partner with them in a trade for the veteran quarterback. Naturally, they've asked the Bucs. But a couple of things make Tampa Bay unlikely to have interest in doing this deal.

For starters, the Bucs already have lost a couple of draft picks as a result of previous deals. What's more, the Bears appear to have no intention of keeping Griese around, so the expectation is that he'll be available soon as a free agent. Griese turns 33 next month and figures to have a few years left in the tank.

No one would be surprised if the Bucs made a move involving a quarterback this offseason because, well, they always do. But it remains to be seen whether this is the kind of move they have in mind.

What's less clear right now is what the plans are for Chris Simms and even Bruce Gradkowski. It's plausible one or both of those players are not on the roster come opening day in September.