Seems as though Chucky is still being Chucky, getting up at 3 a.m. to go hide in an office. Instead of One Buc Palace, Chucky is heading daily to the Ice Palace to break down tape and talk to coaches.

Brad Biggs of the NationalFootballPost.com has a feature about Chucky and how he flies in coaches from around the country to sit with him and pour over countless hours of game tape.

“The great thing about his TV gig is he can look at all the tape he wants to, and he’s studying every team in the league,’’ the source added. “I think he’s as passionate about it as he ever has been, but a year from now, that’s what I wonder about. When he jumps into something, he jumps in 100 percent, and he’s got a real passion for everything he does in his life. I think he’s going to be good at commentating. I gotta believe as much time as he’s still studying football, it’s going to help him in broadcasting, but he wants to get back into coaching.’’

The days aren’t quite like they used to be. Gruden heads out around noon or 1 every afternoon. He plays golf with Bruce Allen, the former general manager who was fired at the same time as Gruden, at Avila Golf and Country Club, and he’s involved with his kids’ activities.

“I think he wants to be back in coaching, but in the back of my mind, I wonder because he’ll be really good at this ‘Monday Night Football’ thing and then they’ll throw a bunch of money at him,’’ the source said. “Will he say, ‘I’d love to coach, but I want to spend more time with my family and they’re paying me a bunch of money’? He’s bitter about being fired, which he should be, and he’s a grinder. Look at all the NFL coaches who have been fired, and name me one who got an office and goes to work every day and is flying coaches in on his own dime. I can think of but one — Gruden. I think he’ll be back, but it depends on what’s open.’’

Sure, Chucky will be good at announcing. But he’ll be out of the booth (until he gets fired again) after this season. Chucky will either be coaching in Washington or Dallass next season. The Redskins have plenty of quarterbacks for Chucky to torment.