The defending Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers come in to Nashville Sunday with hopes of shutting down MVP candidate Steve McNair as well as scouting some of their own younger players as they begin preparations for the future.

Buccaneers running back Michael Pittman's legal troubles make him a large uncertainty heading into next season, so the Buccaneers will take a good look at running back Thomas Jones again this week. Buccaneers Head Coach Jon Gruden says Jones is a complete NFL back.

''He's complete in that he can pick up blitzes...he's reliable in the passing game in terms of receiving the ball and he's a guy who makes you yardage,'' Gruden said. ''You give him a crease he can make the hole and run, so he's got real good range as a back. He shows good instincts and has real good upside because he's a young man.''

Along with scouting for the future, the Buccaneers will also focus on the present and Steve McNair.

''I don't think he'd be playing is he wasn't physically able to play,'' Gruden said. ''If McNair's gonna play, we expect him to be Steve McNair. The guy can create many ways. With his feet, with an occasional audible and with a rocket of an arm.''

Buccaneers Pro-Bowl defensive tackle Warren Sapp concurred with his head coach's assessment of McNair, and agreed stopping McNair is the key to defeating the Titans.

''Steve McNair is on of the best quarterbacks that is ever going to play this game,'' Sapp said. ''Right now their running game isn't what they want it to be and we can't let them turn a negative into a positive.''

Sapp also stated that if he were able to cast a vote for the MVP, McNair would be his first choice.

''No matter what it is or what he does or how he gets to the ballgame he's ready to perform for his ballclub and in the best way possible,'' Sapp said, ''and that's all you can ask when you're talking about a quarterback.''