Rice may need surgery
The Bucs could lose their second defensive starter to surgery.
Defensive end Simeon Rice, who missed his first game in six seasons with Tampa Bay last week, could need season-ending surgery on his left shoulder.
Both Rice and coach Jon Gruden confirmed Thursday that surgery might be needed to repair Rice's shoulder. The NFL's sack leader the past four seasons could miss his second straight game Sunday against the Redskins.
""If I feel good, I'm going to play,''' Rice said. ""If I don't...I mean, they understand me, my passion for it. Unless they want me to get surgery and stuff like that.''
When asked if he needed surgery, Rice said, ""I don't think so, but I'm not a doctor. But I feel like I'm getting better.
""I've got to get this right. I can't keep being the one-armed bandit out there.''
If Rice is lost for the season, it could mean the end of his career with the Bucs. He has only two sacks this season and is scheduled to earn $6-million in base salary next season.
Coach Jon Gruden also acknowledged the inevitable.
""I don't know for sure, but I think that could possibly be the case,'' Gruden said when asked if Rice needed surgery.
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I knew he must be hurting badly, he's played so Un-Rice like. White played great last week. Why don't they just dump Rice, clear some cap room, sign White and get some help with what may be number 1 in the draft position in '07, if they keep losing.
Posted by: Michael Harris | November 17, 2006 at 05:36 AM
I don't know what the Tampa franchise is thinking. They need to wake up and acquire play-making key individuals who CAN catch and run. Jon Gruden needs to wake up off his three year vacation and get back to football.
Posted by: Jon | November 19, 2006 at 02:44 PM
SIMEON 2007: TOO BAD THE BUCS COULD NOT SWITCH HIM TO [LB]. WHAT A FORCE AT 6'-5" & 268. PLUS HE COULD BAT BALLS , INTC SOME AND HAS GREAT SPEED FOR THE BLITZ. WOULD HE OUT DO NECE? AS A [TE]HE IS LIMITED AS THEY PUT A TOP BLOCKER ON HIM. IT TAKES 10 TRIES TO GET PAST THE BLOCKER. NOT SO EASY. WHITE IS STRONGER FOR THE POSITION !!!
Posted by: RICHIE RICARDO | November 20, 2006 at 07:45 AM