Allen: health deciding factor on Rice

General manager Bruce Allen, in a just-completed news conference, said defensive end Simeon Rice failed a physical at check-in today, a development which became the impetus for the decision to release him.

Allen said he was confident Rice would play somewhere this season, and said the player told him as much. But Allen said although Rice simply needs more time to heal, a return to the Bucs after his recovery is unlikely.

Rice underwent shoulder surgery late last season and was out of action throughout the offseason.

(Times photo - Brendan Fitterer. Click to enlarge.)

Comments

[Marti]

Can we give Bruce Allen a physical and see if that's the easiest way to get rid of him? BIG MISTAKE BUCS!!! Simeon, all the best to you and can't wait to see you back on the field and with a team who will give you the respect you deserve. Veterans, BEWARE...seems nobody is safe!!!

[Paul]

No one should be safe. If he is the Simeon Rice of 2004, then this was a huge mistake. If he is a 33 year old DE cashing in on the inflated last year of a long term contract, then it's a good idea to let him go and let the younger player get more snaps. The Bucs didn't want Cadillac Williams to sit the bench as a rookie, and it looks like they feel the same way about Gaines Adams.

[dim bulb]

The glue factory, a fact of life for superannuated jocks. I'd say LOL, but I really don't give a...

[Daniel]

Sim is 34 years old and not ready for camp. He was due to receive over 7 million dollars for a handfull of sacks and a bum shoulder. Why should we keep him? He's not a team guy and was always in left field with those wacky interveiws. Planet Sim is not the player he was and sentiment does not win games. Thank you for contributing to the Super Bowl Sim, but unless you are healthy and are willing to take a pay cut, this had to be done.

[Josh]

Sounds familiar...John Lynch failed a physical too and he has made a pro-bowl or two after being cut. Bruce Allen is the worst judge of talent to grace the Buc's ever! Gruden/Allen Must Go!

[Jeff]

That was John Lynch's own fault, if he didn't hide the injury just to get a big contract, and his play suffered miserably. Then he finally has it checked and it was only a bone spur, he feared much worse.He led his own exodus outta here.

[rick]

I agree with Daniel we need a team. 100% team not a player who thinks about himself. All you doubters out there just listen to his interveiws, we have alot of young d players coming in and we need a team player like Barber and Brooks etc. He failed the physical DONE

[chris]

The 'ol failed physical excuse to cut a guy. Just like John Lynch. I'm sure they will do #55 the same way next year. Nasty business, but if we go 4-12 again I think it's safe say that the Allen and Gruden will fail their physicals. Turn your head and cough boys.

[steve]

I think as fans we don't see the internal pressure by a franchise to win NOW. Rice is a tremendous talent, but do you tie up all that dough for a question mark next season? Not if was my team.

[Steve]

Good move to cut him, he wasn't going to be back next year anyway, and they certainly aren't a super bowl team with him, might as well save a few bucks (I don't think it's too significant as far as the cap goes), but he may not even be able to start the season. They made a great move getting him years ago, but it's time for a change.

[AL]

Daniel above makes a few good points and and my thoughts on the matter... When I read that the Bucs released Rice, it was an empty feeling. But when I stepped back and thought about it for a minute (a long minute), I realized that it does make sense. Simeon is 33 and would have made over 7 Mil. this year and he really didnt produce a whole lot last year. What really settled my nerves was the fact he did NOT pass the team physical. Doesnt everybody think that it makes more sense to pay that 7 MIl to someone who is a lot younger, passes the physical with ease and (hopefully)is going to be around in 5 years? I was a little disappointed in signing Adams, Okoye would have been great, but we are all going to cheer for whoever is in the pewter, regardless of who we lost. Our defense is pretty much remodeled, our offense is very young, and all we can do is hope for the best. Maybe next year we can draft a franchise QB and win the super bowl in 09. But one thing we have to keep in mind is that the young players that are good now, will get better in years to come. And you know as well as I do that, We will cheer for every Buc during every game regardless of who they are.

[Jay]

This absolutely breaks my heart. Sim is one of my favorite players ever to take the field for the Bucs, and I will miss his personality, his exuberance, and his ability to dominate the line. I'm not so much concerned with the nature of the business of professional football, but I'm proud to own his jersey, and proud to be a fan of Simeon the man. I wish him the best of luck, even if it means that he finds success on another team, and is able to return to form. From the bottom of my heart, thanks Sim - for everything.

[John]

Thank God players like John Lynch never failed a phys...oops!

Let's be sure and cut all our Pro Bowl veterans like Lynch, Sapp and Rice, Dwight Smith. Lord knows they're all washed up anyway!

CUT GRUDEN AND ALLEN NOW...Dang it!

[heath shell]

WHY DO ONLY THE ALLEN/GRUDEN HATERS BLOG, I GUESS PERSONAL REASONS, AND THE FAIRY TALE FANS. JOHN GRUDEN EAT,SLEEPS,LOVES,KNOWS FOOTBALL. YOU DONT BUILD A DYNASTY IN 1 OFF SEASON.
SPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE DEALS LIKE KEYSHAWN, OH THEN MCARDELL OH NOT TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE MONEY WASTED ON D.
I DID NOT PERSONALLY LIKE THE LYNCH DEAL BUT IM SURE IT WAS HARD FOR GRUDEN TO MAKE, AND DYNASTYS ARE NOT BUILT ON D. WELL FOR THE MOST PART SIMON IS NOT A TEAM BUILDER HE CALLS OUT PEOPLE AND HE CANT FOLLOW THOURGH.

NOTE THIS ALSO WHEN THE NEW BUCS DONT GET NATIONALY BROADCATED GAMES THEY WIN AS THE UNDERDOG, GRUDEN HAS NOT EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO PLAY THE CARDS HE WANTS TO PLAY,HE HAS MORE PLAYS MORE OPTIONS THAN ANY COACH.
LAST THING I PROMISE FOR ALL THE GRUDEN HATERS ABOUT THE SUPER BOWL,
SINCE YOU SAY THAT WAS DUNGY'S TEAM ,OK I CAN SEE WERE YOUR COMMING FROM BUT IF IT WAS THEN WE WOULD OF NOT BEATEN THE OAKLAND RADIERS OH THAT WAS GRUDEN'S OLD TEAM, JUST FOR KEEPS MAN KEEP THE LOVE FLOWWING

[AL]

Excellant point Heath. Dungy is a great person, he put together a good team, with a few exceptions. But he could not get the Bucs where we needed to go. Lets say dungy stayed another 2 years, would he have won the super bowl? He had plenty of chances the previous years. It was his team the year prior and how far in the post season did we get? now, if dungy did stay and actually win the super bowl, does anybody think he would have made any different moves with the roster? there wasnt enough money to keep the people we all loved. I do agree that getting rid of John Lynch was a bad idea, but money and prior injuries all play a part in the coaches decision making. We all have to accept what and who we get and accept the things we have no control over. Good luck to sim

[Larry]

Amen. Please let the Lynch deal go!And Couch Dungy, a fantastic man, but the chemistry wasn't there.I remember so many people calling for his head 'cause he couldn't win the big one.Simeon was great! No doubt. But he is an aging, wounded player.He would have made over 7 mil this year,he was offered a deal to restructure his contract. Gruden and Allen couldn't take the risk of Simeon having a season like last year for that money. Players need to recognize their own mortality in the sport and fans must see that to.Look at Jim Brown, Tiki Barber,even Mike Alstott, they realize they are getting a step slower,and they leave with class or renegotiate as Mikey has. It is a complex, age and money driven game

[DR]

You clowns keep dreaming of 2001 Super Bowl. Lets forget the fact that ever since the SB, the Bucs have gone south except one fluke year. Gruden has a losing record in 5 seasons, 3 losing seasons. If you think thats good, then you're a loser. Gruden doesn't know talent if it slapped him the face. Gruden doesn't develop talent. He is going to ruin these young players. They need to fire Gruden ASAP before he puts this team 5 years behind the rest of the league. 6-10 will be a great year for them this year.