Rookie's Return Home Ruined Bob Bellone The Tampa Tribune, published 4 December 2006 Debbie Gradkowski prepared a satisfying dinner for her son and some of his teammates Saturday. Sunday afternoon, the Steelers ate their lunch. Bruce Gradkowski, once a star high school quarterback in the Steel City, struggled mightily in the Bucs' 20-3 loss before another gathering of family members and friends at Heinz Field. Afterward, the rookie counted his blessings. "It was an amazing opportunity, and I was thrilled to come back to Pittsburgh," said Gradkowski, whose personal cheering section exceeded 100. "I wish we could have put on a better show, and me personally, but things happen like that." Things like that have been happening a lot lately. In his fifth loss in six weeks, Gradkowski was intercepted three times Sunday - the most of his first nine games. Eight of his passes have been intercepted in the past four games after being he was picked off only once in his first five NFL starts. Gradkowski also has failed to compile 200 passing yards in eight consecutive games since his debut Oct. 8 at New Orleans. There was plenty of blame to spread among the downtrodden Tampa Bay offense, which allowed five sacks. When Gradkowski wasn't hitting the ground, some of his key passes were through the hands of his receivers. The Bucs were in position to cut the deficit to 10-7 with five minutes left in the third quarter when Gradkowski found Michael Clayton wide open down the right sideline. The third-year wideout dropped the ball just inside the Pittsburgh 15-yard line. A chance at redemption slipped away three minutes later, when Gradkowski overthrew 6-foot-5 Maurice Stovall on a fade route in the left corner of the end zone. The ball was pulled down by former Florida State cornerback Bryant McFadden, five inches shorter than the 6-foot-5 rookie Stovall. "That's a couple of plays we need to make. Against a good football team like that, you really can't turn the ball over," Gradkowski said. "I think the corner just kind of sniffed out that it was going to be a fade ball from watching film on it," Stovall said. "He kind of ran toward that corner of the end zone before the ball was snapped. He just made a perfect play on the ball. He won that one." McFadden thinks the errant pass marked the turning point of the game. "He was pretty much wide open," said McFadden, who found himself out of position behind the intended receiver. "We were thankful. … That could have been a big situation where they got some points out of it." Jon Gruden didn't hesitate when asked if he was concerned about the confidence of his quarterback. "Yeah, I'm worried about every part of Bruce Gradkowski's whole life. He's been through a lot in the last three weeks," said Gruden, citing a Monday night game at Carolina, a Thanksgiving Day visit to Dallas and this trip to face his hometown team. I would say that's about as tough a quarter as you could ask any man to do. There's been some good moments. There's been some dark moments," Gruden said. Said Bucs receiver Ike Hilliard: "Sometimes we left him out there to dry. We can't do that with a young quarterback. We're expected to pick up our play to help him out."