"This is the story of how the Bucs let Super Bowl-winning quarterback Aaron Rodgers get away.

It's a loser's lament shared by many teams, for sure. The Cal star lasted until the Packers selected him 24th overall in the 2005 draft.

But considering the cross-country private workout arranged by then-Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden, the surprise receiver sprung on the then-21-year-old Rodgers and the phone call a few days before the draft, at least Rodgers was convinced he would be a Buccaneer.

"Jon actually called me, when I was in New York, on Thursday, April 21 (two days before the draft), and sounded like at the time they were going to take me with the fifth pick,'' Rodgers said Wednesday."