Tampa Bay also acquires Plummer from the Broncos

	Jeff Garcia, who relieved an injured Donovan McNabb last season, went 6-1 as a starter. David Bergman/SI
	RELATED • Broncos deal Plummer to Bucs for '08 pick

By Peter King, SI.com

The Buccaneers signed veteran NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia to a two-year contract Saturday, and if Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden has his way, that won't be the only veteran starter he imports to compete with Chris Simms for the No. 1 quarterback job.

At the same time Tampa Bay was announcing the signing of Garcia, Denver announced the trade of veteran former starter Jake Plummer to the Bucs for a conditional 2008 draft choice.

There's is no indication that Plummer will accept the trade, and he may retire rather than accept the trade. But this trade gives Gruden time to sweet-talk Plummer into accepting the deal; and if he reports to the Bucs, it would create the most competitive quarterback environment in the NFL. Simms and Plummer began the 2006 season as starters, while Garcia relieved the injured Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia in November and led the Eagles to the playoffs. Together, the three players started 17 regular-season games and one in the playoffs last season.

Simms signed a two-year deal with the Bucs in late December, and though he knew he might have competition for the starting job after an awful first three games in 2006, there's no way he ever thought he'd be in a three-way battle for the job. If Gruden's trying to tick off Simms, who missed the final 13 games of 2006 with a ruptured spleen, he's doing a heck of a job.

Plummer reportedly wants to play for Houston coach Gary Kubiak, who would likely make him the starter and either demote, trade or waive incumbent David Carr. At this point in his career, after long stints with Arizona and Denver, he doesn't want to go to a new team and compete in a three-way race for a starting job.

The Bucs were hoping to finalize Plummer's status, either way, by the end of the weekend. But if they can't, they have the luxury of time to try to convince him to show up in camp this summer.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.