Simms released from hospital

Chris Simms was released from St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa on Saturday, six days after the Bucs quarterback had emergency surgery to remove his spleen.

Simms’ spleen was ruptured during a Sept. 24 loss to the Panthers.

Team officials, including coach Jon Gruden, suggested Simms’ spleen ruptured in the fourth quarter on a hit by Carolina defensive tackle Al Wallace. The league fined Wallace $7,500 for using his body to drive Simms into the ground.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported Sunday that Simms believes the injury occurred in the first quarter and that doctors pumped three pints of blood from Simms’ stomach due to internal bleeding.

The Bucs likely will make a decision this week to put Simms, 26, on injured reserve, which would end his season, or keep him on the 53-man active roster in hopes of a late-season return. Recovery is expected to take at least six weeks.

Rookie Bruce Gradkowski will start Sunday at New Orleans.

Comments

[Jim Tancredi]

I read an article by Roy Cummings stating that the Bucs and Simms gambled on each other and lost. That's absurd to make that kind of statement. Though I don't have exact stats in front of me, Simms led 4 or 5 come from behind wins last season vaulting them to an 11-5 record and a playoff appearance. Had Shepherd not dropped the ball at the end of the game Vs. the Skins, no one knows for sure, but I believe they would have come back and won.

This year's different from the standpoint the offensive line isn't creating passing lanes and Gruden's play calling has been horrible. You take what a defense gives and if they're not giving you the short stuff in the middle of the field then don't try to force it. In any event, Simms needs to come back. I saw enough of Simms last year to make me a believer.

[Kim Hays]

I believe this will be Chuckie's last year in Tampa Bay if he doesn't do a little bit more to improve our game. We were the laughing stock of the NFL at the end of the 2002 season. I will go to my ashes in the Smokies knowing with all my heart that it was Tony Dungy's defense and PURE luck that got us the Super Bowl win. Chuckie don't continue thinking because we lost our a** to get you that the Glazer's can't or won't replace you either. GO BUCS!!!!!!!

[Michael Harris]

Kim, what are you smoking? Tony Dungy STILL hasn't won a Super Bowl even with the BEST Offense in the League. Get real. Gruden deserves ALL due respect and credit for coming in here and getting under achievers to play up to their potential. He took over an offense that was 29th in the league with that Super Bowl team and turned them into winners. Having said that, you may be right about this being his last year. The NFL is all about winning. Coaches who don't make the playoffs, several years in a row, don't deserve to keep their job. I think his offense is way too complicated. Personally, I agree with Roy Cummings. I don't feel that Chris Simms is a fit for Grudens offense. It specifically requires a mobile QB such as Gradowski. That's why Gradowski was getting all those snaps in training camp and pre-season. That was by design. Why do think the Bucs didn't sign Simms to an extension??? Now you're thinking!!!

[Jon]

Ok...Chris Simms had a to have his spleen removed, but it has been Sept 24 since it was removed. I have had to have my spleen removed due to health problems. I had mine removed Nov 1st. It has been little over a month that it has been out of me, I am back working full time, doing the same things that I did before having my spleen removed. Ok, Chris Simms is on IR, how bad was the hit that Al Wallace did? I wonder if there was more injuiries to Chris or the Bucs is keeping him on IR so that he can rest, then let him go as free-agent next year??? Bucs ship is sinking, and it is going down fast, this reminds me of Ray Perkins days when it was 2-14.