So, what are the accommodations like on USO tours? We always stay in “DV” quarters, which are on-base accommodations for “Distinguished Visitors.” These quarters can range from having an extra pillow on a standard-issue Army cot in a barrack-style room to comfortable single rooms for each member of the tour.

The first full day in Iraq began with an early wake up call and included meet-and-greets with US troops Mosul and Kirkuk before wrapping up with a Q&A with hundreds of troops at a reception in Baghdad.

The trip to Iraq is never easy, and this tour is no exception. But we are looking forward to a number of full, exciting and meaningful days ahead.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick spoke Sunday in the media room and spent the first several minutes of his press conference sending well-wishes to many of his former associates now scattered throughout the league.

Jamie Dukes has some burning offseason questions. Who should sign Michael Vick? Will the Chiefs keep Larry Johnson? Which team needs Ray Lewis the most?

A round of golf with my radio partner, Tim Ryan, against former Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Bruce Allen and head coach Jon Gruden made for a competitive time. Both of those men need to be back in football as soon as possible, but for one morning, beating me and Tim took center stage.

Sure, Simeon Rice called Jon Gruden a scumbag. But he didn’t mean anything bad by it.

Jon Gruden‘s firing as the Buccaneers’ head coach last week came as a surprise to those around the league. Gruden has a statue in the team’s training facility, for crying out loud — to honor Tampa Bay’s victory over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII. So the firing, despite the team’s December collapse, seemed like a surprise. Unless you played for him, of course.

NFL GameDay Morning is the longest, most comprehensive NFL pregame show on television. Warren Sapp, Marshall Faulk and Steve Mariucci, alongside co-hosts Spero Dedes and Alex Flanagan and reporter Adam Schefter, brought fans the latest news, injury reports, pregame analysis and game previews on NFL Network. Special player correspondents Willie McGinest and Antwaan Randle El provided additional analysis from Sunday game sites.

Over the past couple of weeks, the Glazer family called in various Buccaneers players to solicit their opinions on head coach Jon Gruden.

The Bucs control their own playoff destiny over the season’s final two games, but a playoff run will now take place without at least one of their defensive stalwarts.

NFL.com’s Steve Wyche reports from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta that QB Brian Griese will start for the Bucs against the Falcons.

The Bucs may be trying to clinch a playoff berth against the Falcons without QB Jeff Garcia.

Not only did Tampa Bay come out of Monday night’s game versus Carolina beaten, but also battered. Bucanneers coach Jon Gruden said defensive tackle Chris Hovan injured his knee, guard Jeremy Zuttah his ankle, and center Jeff Faine also was hurt.

Rarely do head coaches campaign for one of their players for the Pro Bowl. But rarely are players as overlooked as Tampa Bay’s linebacker Barrett Rudd.