Having confidence in one’s ability to succeed is a positive trait to have as an NFL quarterback. Luke McCown seems to have that and then some.

McCown pronouced himself to be the Buccaneers’ starter at QB until the team says otherwise, firing a shot across the bow of newcomers Byron Leftwich and Josh Freeman, along with fellow vets in Josh Johnson and Brian Griese, who all have eyes on that role with the club as well.

Here’s what McCown had to say on the subject yesterday:

“This has been a long time coming for me and I’m not letting anybody take it from me. And it’s the first legitimate opportunity. Say what you want about getting three starts at the end of a season. But this is my first real opportunity to be the starter, to be the guy. And I look at it as mine and you’re going to have to shoot me.”

It’s expected that Tampa Bay head coach Raheem Morris will allow the team’s top two players at the position to battle it out during training camp later this summer for the starting job, while at least one if not two of the remaining QBs on the roster will be looking for work somewhere else next season.