Niners trade Rattay to Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers braced for life without Brian Griese on Tuesday, acquiring Tim Rattay from the San Francisco 49ers to back up young quarterbacks Chris Simms and Luke McCown.

The Bucs sent what was believed to be a sixth-round draft choice to the 49ers for Rattay, a six-year veteran who recently lost his caretaker hold on San Francisco's starting job to No. 1 overall draft pick Alex Smith.

Griese injured his left knee during Sunday's 27-13 victory over Miami, though the Bucs still haven't said how long he will be sidelined after helping them to a 5-1 start.

"We're getting some more analysis," general manager Bruce Allen said. "He's still on the team. He is wanting to play. We're hopeful that he can. But we're going to get the proper medical opinion."

Allen declined to discuss specifics of the injury, which occurred when Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas rolled into Griese's leg, or what doctors have told the team about the quarterback's status.

What's clear, though, is Griese will be out for a lengthy time.

Simms replaced him against the Dolphins and will have two weeks to prepare for his first start of the season because Tampa Bay has a bye this Sunday. Oddly enough, the Buccaneers' next game is in San Francisco on Oct. 30.

San Francisco coach Mike Nolan initially was reluctant to make the deal, which puts the 49ers' future even more squarely on the shoulders of Smith, who made five turnovers in his first NFL start on Oct. 9.

But Nolan liked the draft pick, the roster room created by the trade and the chance to exploit the team's depth at quarterback. Though Nolan refused to disclose the draft pick acquired, he acknowledged it could improve if Rattay reaches certain performance standards.

CHARGERS, DOLPHINS SWAP QBS: The Chargers and Dolphins swapped third-string quarterbacks on Tuesday, with A.J. Feeley going to San Diego and Cleo Lemon to the Dolphins.

The Chargers also received a draft pick, believed to be a seventh-rounder.

Feeley started eight games last year, but was demoted by new Dolphins coach Nick Saban heading into the season.

Lemon has never taken a regular-season snap. He was on San Diego's practice squad in 2003 and was the fourth-stringer last season.

"Obviously we're very excited," said Lemon's agent, J.R. Rickert. "We're looking forward to the opportunity."