Bucs release Simeon Rice

   

The Bucs opened training camp with a shocking decision to release defensive end Simeon Rice, just hours after he reported to the Celebration Hotel.

A news conference with general manager Bruce Allen has been scheduled at the team hotel for 8 p.m.

Rice, 33, who missed the off-season recovering from shoulder surgery, appeared in good spirits when he reported to training camp just before 4 p.m. Thursday. But team officials made the announcement shortly after 6:45 p.m.

It's unknown whether Rice failed a team physical. He played just eight games last season, recording a career-low two sacks and had not been cleared to participate in any off-season workouts.

The release of Rice puts the pressure on first-round draft pick Gaines Adams, who signed a 6-year, $46-million deal Wednesday.

Adams is expected to take over from Rice at right defensive end. He was among the first to arrive at training camp Wednesday shortly after signing one of the largest rookie deals in team history.

"I just want to earn that respect from the coaching staff and the players,'' Adams said of his decision to sign in time for the first workout Friday.

"It's like coming to college. I don't know what to expect. I'm nervous. But the first day starts tomorrow. The most exciting part is knowing it's done and I'm here on the first day and at practice the first day.''

Whether Adams can replace one of the NFL's all-time great pass rushers remains to be seen. Rice has been an enormous force in the Bucs defense for six season, ever since signing as a free agent in 2001.

He ranks second in the NFL among active players with 121 career sacks. But the 12th year veteran was in the final year of his contract that was scheduled to pay him about $7.5-million this season.

Check back here for more developments.

(2006 Times photo by Bill Serne. Click to enlarge.)
   

Comments

THE BUCS ARE COMPLETE IDIOTS
SCREW YOU GRUDEN...

[Quintin]

This is a horrible move on the bucs part... Gaines Adams better show up....

[Sharon Turk]

Well, what would we expect? He's good; we like him; he's from the Dungy days - is Derrick Brooks next?

GO COLTS!!

[Larry]

I had a feeling something was comming. With Gaines Adams, all the additions on D, but it is still a shock. But folks we are screaming for a winner and sometimes it hurts to make changes. And with the Bucs trying to sign Adams, one of the sticking points was where he would play and if he was going to be a starter.They're going to lay out a ton of money to Adams so let's see him play.Who knows anymore.

[Jeff]

Hurt, high priced=gone

[Ed]

Just another example of the low class small brain moves by Gruden and Allen. They let the guy come to camp to cut him 2 hours later? How lame can you get. Adams probably couldn't have learned to much from hthat guy right? Don't worry we'll see him again. Just like Lynch, in Hawaii wearing another teams helmet.

[Dan]

Some of you guys need to calm down. Rice failed his physical. This gives the Bucs a chance release him and free up A LOT of salary cap room. Face it, he took up a lot of salary cap room last year for only playing half a season (and not that well for that half either).

Rice won't be able to sign elsewhere until he can pass a physical. So, the Bucs will probably try to resign him to a more reasonable contract when he is physically able to play.

[JC]

Sure, Rice may not have made the impact he has had in the past, but why release him now (unless he didn't pass the physical)? He's in his CONTRACT YEAR. No doubt he would've been motivated by that, and Adams could definitely have learned a lot from him. Bad, bad move.

[dim bulb]

The glue factory happens.

[Wade]

This is really one of those tough decisions that have to be made to make this team younger and get out from under some of these ridiculous contracts. It is also potentially clearing cap room for Culpepper... $7M in cap space by making this move makes a lot of sense with Adams now on board. The timing is not the best, but if he failed his physical, it makes sense. Good luck Simeon, maybe we can bring him back at a better contract price. Go Bucs!!!

[Mike]

JC, a contract year doesn't necessarily mean more production. Do you remember what Warren Sapp did during his contract year? Exactly. A lot of the decisions that Gruden and Allen have made, I've had a problem with. This, I really don't. Rice is a playmaker, but I prefer someone who places as much emphasis on the little things as he does the "splash" plays. I could care less about Simeon's movie scripts or clothing lines. Give me 10 or so sacks a year and play well against the run!

[Larry]

I agree . I still got Creamcicle in my Veins. I loved the job Simeon has done for us and the addition to our reputation as a feared defense. But he is hurt,old (By NFL standards) I give Rice his props but we must move on. We scream for a winner but when we make logical choices people scream. Can't wait to hear talk Radio. I think Adams is our future. It's sad to see an old pal leave. Some day soon we are gonna see Mikey,Derrick, and Rhonde step down,and even the thought makes me sad. Heck I still have a spot in my heart for Dilfer. But as fans we want the Bucs to win. So her's to Simeon. yeah you were outspoken but we loved ya'. And here's to Gaines , welcome you seem like a nice guy , don't let us down. You have big shoes to fill.

[John]

Why is everybody so shocked? We've come to expect nothing less from Gruden.

Everytime I see Lynch I want to vomit. We'll never get another player like that! Rice will end up somewhere else and make the Pro Bowl at least two years like Lynch has down in Denver. Warren Sapp should have retired a Buc too!

Why did they do this? WE NEED MORE QB'S OF COURSE!

[Ex-Bucs fan]

The Bucs really suck! I cant wait until 2008-2009 season when someone else will be calling the shots on the sideline. Gruden has been nothing but a disaster to the overall team chemistry. I can wait for the Glaziers to fire both he & Allen.

[John]

Hey all of you cry babies and naysayers, the reality is "what have you done for me lately". Exactly, nothing, not since the superbowl year have we had ANY production out of this team. I say change is good and if it will get us to the playoffs and more - go for it. I personnaly liked Simeon, he had done a lot for this team over his playing years. You Dungy fans need to Cr_p or get off the pot, I loved him too, but this is not "DUNGY BALL" anymore, get over it or move to the Colts territories. If you are a true blue Bucs fan you will quit your whining and finger pointing and back this team as it should be. "GOOOOO BUCCCCCSSSSS."

[Larry]

Hey, why get down on Gruden and Allen? If Adams sat on the bench and Simeon was having an off season on the field you would scream. Call for Coaches head. But this is the NFL. It is a high pressure, high money business. The fans want results.And the Coach and Allen had to make a decision. Some fans cry how unfair they handled the release, how unkind.But have you noticed how many great pros get released? Is it fair to release a guy after the signing of his replacement? Or is it fair to string the guy along, all through camp, teaching his replacement all the tricks of the trade,then releasing him? Oh then the season starts and he has to learn a new progam in days? I'm sorry, but I think the way coach handled it is corrct. If Rice can pass the physical on another team , and he wants to play, give him a chance. Lay off the Coach.Maybe we can get rid of Gruden and bring in Dusty Baker, Sure he was in Baseball, but he was more worried about how his players felt then how they performed.

[Larry]

Hey Ex-bucs fan, You sound like a typical band waggoner. When your team does well WHHOOOrayyyyyy! I'm a fan. But they make a decision or suffer a set back then you go back to whomever you rooted for before or whomever is on top at the time. Sorry man I am a Bucs fan. Thick or thin I AM A BUCS FAN! Learn What a fan is!

[AL]

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.

[jim]

simple. failed physical = cut. business as usual. great player. no doubt. cap space freed up? priceless. good luck mr rice. appreciate your endeavors as a auperbowl champion tampa bay buccaneer. i like the sound of that. lets win another!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ray]

Don't get me wrong. I like Rice. But, he was too expensive for a damage good. I feel like some of you guys who are screaming at Allen/Gruden about this move are saying that just because you are in love with Rice. To me Rice now is like a Mercedes that you owned. That is Mercedes from 1987, past its prime with a lot of mileage. All it is got to show now is just the name. Sorry, Rice to see you go. Best of luck to you.

[Mike]

I just wanted to see what Buc fans were saying about Sim and the only thing that sticks out is "GO COLTS" What a LOSER. You sound like a REAL OLD SCHOOL BUC FAN! I loved Tony too, but GO BUCS is the only thing I can say, even at 4-12.

GO BUCS, Screw the Colts

[Jay]

The Bucs may have a winning or losing season, but I will always be a Simeon Rice fan. Thank you for everything Sim.

[derek]

lynch went on to be very solid after he got treated as he did here... I have a feeling quarles will also if he keeps playing and rice for sure will... age is sometimes looked at to much in the nfl and I have a feeling rice will end up being another lynch... as odd as it is its weird the bucs didnt figure even rice coming off injury couldnt be better then spires

[Dave]

It's no fun being a Bucs fan under the Gruden/Allen regime. I had respect for Dungy and MacKay, but these clowns represent the worst of the NFL.

[Scott]

Why is everyone so worked up by this move? Sim (was) a great player here, but in the bigger picture, we need to get younger. If we keep him whats to say we have another Mike Alstott on our hands, a roster spot with no productivity. It is not the end of the world....GET OVER IT... GO BUCS !!!!!!

[Collin Litwiller]

I have been a bucs fan for roughly 15 years. i have seen a lot of talent come and go but it seems like in the last 4 years or so, to many talented players were sent packing. Sapp was overrated but still a great player. Lynch was the biggest mistake by a team in years. Dwight Smith was a great player. Mcfarland trade was a horrible move, he is in his prime. Thomas Jones, the list goes on and on. Simeon is a great player as well but i think the move was a good one. if he was willing to renegotiate his contract they should have kept him. hopefully they can resign him for less. i just hope they don't sign anymore QB's.

[Ex-Bucs fan]

Hey Larry! I'm not a Bucs fan. My loyalty left when the Gruden regime came into town. I chose the 2008-2009 season to give them a chance to be my team again. Stupidity breeds stupidity & what I've come to realize is that 85% of the decisions made under the Allen/Gruden era have been more harmful than helpful to the team. The defense was built under Wyche & Dungy. Gruden & Allen came in touting this super offensive juggernaut, but have failed to move the ball each and every year no matter who was under center. Defense wins championships. This defense was a cohesive unit, tried and tested. The more Gruden puts his imprint on the team, the worse it will get. I applaud you for your loyalty to the team. I am a die hard football fan, not a BUCS fan. I’ll pick most teams over the Bucs on any given Sunday. This season will be no different. I have the Bucs going 5-11 and Gruden being sacked before the last game. Look me up when all of this happens and if it doesn’t you got 2 kegs on me! Deal?

[JIm]

It's a shame. Class counts. Dungy wouldn't have done it this way. The D has always been the mainstay of this team. You have to treat your people right. If you don't know what you're doing you shouldn't be in charge. I predict if things don't turn around Monte will be in charge. I can't think of anyone better for the bucs.