Rice passes physical with Andrews

Defensive end Simeon Rice, released by the Bucs for failing a physical, said he passed a battery of exams administered by renowned orthopedist Dr. James  Andrews in Pensacola last weekend and has been cleared to play this season.

"With flying colors," Rice said by telephone Tuesday.

Rice said in addition to a physical exam, Andrews performed X-rays and an MRI on his surgically repaired left shoulder.

"It was all 100 percent," Rice said. "Dr. Andrews said, 'What kind of physical did you take down there?' I told him they just checked for my mobility in the shoulder and said I failed. He said, 'They didn't even test you for any kind of structure in the shoulder?'"

Rice said he was asked by Bucs general manager Bruce Allen to take a pay cut of $2.5-million from his $7.25-million salary. When Rice refused, he was released.

Rice was in New York and scheduled to dine with members of the Giants' front office Tuesday evening. He is expected to undergo a physical Wednesday.

"I can do everything. I'm clear," Rice said.

However, Rice said he does not intend to rush his decision. He also has received interest from the Washington Redskins and Tennessee Titans.

More rain!

For the third time in four days, rain has altered the Bucs afternoon practice at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex. Today's full-team session is being moved to a nearby indoor facility and will be scaled down to a one-hour walk-through.

Rice takes a beating

Simeon Rice is causing controversy all over the place these days.

The defensive end who was released by the Bucs last week is visiting with the Giants today and is a candidate to join the team with Michael Strahan still not in training camp because of his contract dispute. Here's where it gets thorny: Giants Pro Bowl right end Osi Umenyiora spoke out about the possibility of Rice signing with the team, and it wasn't pretty.

"Nobody's talking about Julius Peppers. I mean, Simeon Rice is an outstanding pass rusher, but that's what he is," Umenyiora told the Newark Star-Ledger.

Umenyiora, photo at left, added, "I don't know where he's going to play.  I know he can't play left defensive end because they run the ball there. He can't play right defensive end. Well, he's been a right end. . . .  (But) I'm not moving to the left side. Absolutely not. Not even a question. I'm a right end. I've been successful at right end. I don't feel the need to move to a different position. . . I'm not going to move to left defensive end if they sign Simeon Rice, is what I'm trying to tell you. If the team asks me, 'Okay, we need you to move to left defensive end because we need you at that position,' I will. But I'm not going to move to that position because Simeon Rice is coming in. I won't do it."

Lastly, we'll leave you with this gem from Osi: "I'm not going to go so far as to call him what a lot of other people have called him. But I'm not sure. They say he's not the best run player and I guess people gave him that reputation for a reason."

Bucs admit Simms has sore elbow

One day after Bucs general manager Bruce Allen said there was nothing wrong with Chris Simms' arm, coach Jon Gruden says his quarterback has a sore elbow. Simms said his throwing arm was sore and he was taking an anti-inflammatory.

And no one could say for sure when Simms will be fully recovered.

"Well, I don't quite feel like myself,'' Simms said. "I don't know how to say it. But it's hard for me to tell you guys. I think the only thing i can say to you is I'm going to continue to work and I'm not quite where I need to be.''

Gruden said Simms has had a sore elbow for a couple days and was hopeful the fifth-year pro could increase his workload in the next few days.

Photo by James Borchuck | Times

 

Brooks in the mix

Linebacker Derrick Brooks participated in team drills Tuesday morning, an indication the hamstring he tweaked on Friday is mending. Also, veteran corners Ronde Barber and Brian Kelly were given the morning off, as well as running back Michael Pittman.

Photo by James Borchuck | Times: Derrick Brooks, right, with Cato June.

Few throws for Simms

We're nine periods into the morning practice and Chris Simms has thrown three passes to this point.

He's participated in a number of running plays where he simply handed off to a back.

One of his passes into the corner of the end zone wobbled badly before falling well short of its target.

Culpepper heading west

Daunte Culpepper apparently had a productive workout for with the Raiders yesterday, and the latest according to the NFL Network is that the sides are in contract talks.

Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said the team is intrigued by Culpepper, and it's believed the free agent quarterback will travel to Oakland today for another workout that will be viewed by the team's staff and front office. Monday's workout reportedly took place in Florida and was attended by just a single member of the team's personnel department.

Sounds like if the Bucs are serious about Culpepper they ought to act now. Given the physical problems Chris Simms is facing, the need is certainly there.

This will be something to watch in the coming days. Camps all over the league are underway and Culpepper soon will see what few options he has dwindle. If it's going to happen, it's probably going to be soon.

Rain washes out practice

The Bucs afternoon practice Monday was canceled because of heavy rain. The session was to be devoted to special teams.

Bucs face tough decision on hurt Simms

   By RICK STROUD

   LAKE BUENA VISTA - Quarterback Chris Simms has a sore left throwing arm, has to take anti-inflammatories and other medication to get on the field and may be a candidate for injured reserve.

   For the second straight day of training camp Monday, Simms had reduced throwing reps and was largely a bystander during the Bucs' 11-on-11 drills.

  Simms, 26, still is experiencing complications from surgery to remove his spleen last September. He is suffering from symptoms similar to those of proprioception, a kinesthetic sixth sense that allows you to know the position of your arms and legs in relation to your body.

   The lack of body awareness makes it particularly difficult when Simms has to turn his torso or throw on the run.    

   ""I'd rather just not comment about the situation right now, honestly,'' Simms said without elaborating on his condition.

   However, general manager Bruce Allen called the Times report Monday 'completely inaccurate.'

   ""Chris, as all quarterbacks who go through training camp, deals with different soreness,'' Allen said. ""We have some defensive linemen who have sore elbows. Sore shoulders from pounding. But nothing unusual. I saw the report, the headline and all that. It's inaccurate.''

   The sore arm is unusual for Simms, who has been known to throw every day during the off-season without incident.

   He took several weeks off in July at his family's home in New Jersey and remained optimistic after Friday's workout. But Simms began to struggle over the weekend and appears to have plummeted to fourth among quarterbacks behind Jeff Garcia, Luke McCown and Bruce Gradkowski.

   The Bucs had hoped that Simms would recover in time to compete for a job in training camp. But his injury leaves the team with few options.

   Simms signed a two-year, $7-million contract in December, a deal that included a $3-million signing bonus and $5-million in guarantees for 2007.

   The Bucs cannot place him on the Physically Unable to Perform list because he passed a physical at the start of training camp, according to Allen.

   "'His arm is not an issue,'' Allen said. ""His health is not an issue.

   ""Does Chris feel like he's at his A game right now? Probably not. He missed a lot of time last year with his injury. But he's been working very hard this off-season working very hard and he wants to back into rhythm, there's no doubt about that. And he will work to get there.''

   However, Simms' struggles may make it difficult for the Bucs to trade him. He is in his fifth season with the Bucs. If Simms plays the preseason and suffers another injury, the Bucs could be on the hook for his $2-million base salary for 2007.

   ""It comes back to the same old thing,'' said quarterbacks coach Paul Hackett. ""You got to get healthy and you've got to be healthy when you do get the reps. In the (Organized Team Activities) and in the springtime, when you look back it, we were very pleased. He's p----d because he's not himself.''

   Simms went 0-3 as a starter last season with one touchdown and seven interceptions before suffering a ruptured spleen in the Bucs' 26-24 loss to Carolina Sept. 24.

   He didn't learn of the injury until he was examined after the game and underwent emergency surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. Doctors told Simms he was bleeding internally and had to receive five pints of blood.

   Simms spent the rest of the season on injured reserve and wasn't cleared to begin throwing a football until December. It was the same month that Simms decided to forgo free agency and sign a contract extension with the Bucs.

   Simms said he developed some bad mechanics trying to protect his abdomen and struggled during the off-season workout program that ended in July. His consistency hasn't improved since the start of training camp.

   ""First of all, he has a very unusual injury,'' Allen said. ""You can't say there's something typical of having your spleen removed. But what he's been able to do, he's proved that physically he's fine. We just have to see if we can't get a little bit better each day.''

   In March, the Bucs signed Garcia as a free agent and traded for Denver Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer. But Plummer, 32, says he is retired and has been placed on the Did Not Report list by the Bucs.

   If Simms' condition doesn't improve, the Bucs may be forced to add another quarterback sooner than later. They met with Dolphins free agent Daunte Culpepper two weeks ago. But Culpepper is serving as his own agent and is seeking a one-year contract.

   

      

       

       

   

   

   

   

    

   

      

Brooks still slow

It's Monday morning at Disney and linebacker Derrick Brooks is still struggling with that hamstring injury.

He's dressed in full pads but is pretty much a spectator.

(Pictured: Derrick Brooks. Times Photo - James Borchuck. Click to enlarge.)

Quiet afternoon

Today's afternoon practice is a pretty uneventful one.

Quarterback Jeff Garcia is one of many vets skipping the session. Add to that list Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber and Brian Kelly.

Chris Simms should get somewhat caught up on his snaps with Garcia out, but he was very erratic in the 7-on-7 portion a few minutes ago.

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

June arrives in December of Brooks' career

Derrick Brooks needs to get healthy and back on the field.

Not just because hamstring strains can linger for months. But because at 34, Brooks doesn't have a lot of sand in his hourglass and linebacker Cato June has been a wrecking ball.

With Brooks out, June has conveniently shifted over from strong side linebacker to weakside linebacker in passing situations, the position Brooks plays.

June, 27, is fast, instinctive and a heck of a pass defender in coverage. All the things that made Brooks a 10-time Pro Bowl player.

"I think he looks great,'' Gruden said of June's performance in Brooks' position. "He looks really good, just like he looked for Indianapolis. He's a very instinctive, very fast, very tough football player. He loves it and we need speed on that position in this defense.''

Brooks knew he could not practice Sunday, but still decided to dress out in full pads for the morning workout.

"He's hurt,'' Gruden said. "He came out in pads but he was not able to practice. He wants to be a part of it any way he can and he is a leader on this team. And by dressing out, that's the smart thing to do.''

It's too early to say Brooks is in danger of losing his job. But the Bucs won't hesitate to play June in his place if things don't go well early this season.

(Pictured: Cato June. Getty Images. Click to enlarge.)     

Quarles makes a visit

Former linebacker Shelton Quarles made an appearance at this morning's practice at the request of coach Jon Gruden.

We're sure Quarles would rather have been suited up than in street clothes, but he seemed to be in good spirits and even exchanged pleasantries with general manager Bruce Allen, with whom he had a long-running dispute about his ability to continue playing that ultimately resulted in his release in April.

(Times photo - Carrie Pratt, 04/07. Click to enlarge.)

Brooks is practicing

Linebacker Derrick Brooks, who did not practice Saturday because of a hamstring tweak, is in uniform this morning. This is the team's first practice in pads and the 13-year vet probably didn't want to miss it.

Change of plans

A nasty afternoon thunderstorm has forced the Bucs inside.

They have moved practice to the Omni Hotel at nearby Champions Gate, where the Bucs have taken over a ballroom.

That's bad news for quarterback Chris Simms, who was scheduled to take the majority of the reps in the afternoon while Jeff Garcia sat out the session. But now, all the Bucs can do is a walkthrough, which isn't nearly as productive as the full-speed practice they originally planned.

Rain alters practice

Every year, Jon Gruden schedules what seems like an inordinate number of two-a-day practices, but he does so expecting as many as a half-dozen afternoon practices to get rained out. And it didn't take long. Thunder, lightning and heavy rain kept the team from taking the field at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex Saturday afternoon, officially the fourth practice of training camp. The team hopped on busses and headed for a nearby hotel with an indoor facility large enough to accomodate more than 80 players. But the session was cut to an hour.

Gruden said Saturday morning the team will practice in pads Sunday morning. All of the offseason workouts were in shorts and jerseys, so this will mark the first practice in pads since the end of last season.

(Times file photo - Scott Keeler. Click to enlarge.)

Gruden gets visit from old friend

Jon Gruden got a surprise visit from an old friend recently: none other than former Bucs defensive lineman Warren Sapp. He stopped by the Bucs' training facility one day late in the offseason to see some of his old pans and ran into his former coach. Gruden said the two had a good chat despite Gruden playing a role in Sapp's departure from Tampa Bay.

But the most memorable aspect of the visit for Gruden was Sapp's waistline.

"He's 288 pounds," Gruden said. "Man, he looked incredible."

(Pictured: Warren Sapp. Getty Images. Click to enlarge.)

Brooks sits out of practice

Linebacker Derrick Brooks sat out of practice Saturday morning due to hamstring injury. Brooks came off the field early Friday complaining of soreness.

""I don't know what it was,'' Brooks said. ""I just kind of pulled up.'' Also, defensive end Greg Spires and Michael Pittman were held out of practice.

Coach Jon Gruden said many veterans will be given time off from time to time to keep them fresh. During this afternoon's practice, quarterback Jeff Garcia will be one of them. Gruden said he plans to hold him out of the afternoon practice to allow him to get physical treatment and to work out.

Lots of money, nothing to buy

So, Bruce Allen seemed pretty proud of the fact the Bucs have cleared lots of salary cap space, with the release of Simeon Rice leaving the team with more than $15-million in cap room, according to Allen.

Here's the thing: it's nice to have the money, but what's the point? Free agency is, um, all but over. The cupboard is bare because just about anyone who is on the market is available because they either have a major issue or just aren't very good.

So, as we're sitting here taking in the afternoon practice, we were just wondering what all the fuss was about. Even if the Bucs want Daunte Culpepper, his market value is so low that the Bucs had plenty of room to sign him even before releasing Rice.

Now, to be fair, the move to release Rice probably had more to do with principle than an actual need to create cap space. The Bucs, whether you agree or not, didn't want to invest $7.25-million this season in a player who is not yet healthy and one who didn't always see eye-to-eye with the team's braintrust.

And here's something else to consider: maybe the Glazer family is keeping a tighter grip on their wallets. They do, after all, have some considerable expenses across the pond, with Manchester United, the English soccer club they own. And remember, the Bucs spent very conservatively in free agency despite having oodles of cap space. Fact is, it's not like an NFL team to leave a considerable amount of cap space on the table, so this is a little strange.

But who knows? Maybe Peyton Manning will get cut and the Bucs will be the only team with the cap room to sign him!

(Pictured: Brian Kelly, Ronde Barber and their teammates take a break during Friday's practice. Times photo - Brendan Fitterer. Click to enlarge.)

Gruden going great guns

The Bucs have more than just a passing fancy with the shotgun formation. Absent from Jon Gruden's voluminous playbook in the past, the shotgun will get a workout at training camp at the rate of 30 of 40 snaps a day.

"I grew up in a different place, I guess," Gruden said. "I grew up under Bill Walsh and Mike Holmgren, and those guys weren't in the gun very often. ...But modern-day football now is a blitz league, a creative blitz league. There aren't a lot of teams that line up conventionally, snap-in and snap-out. We're looking for an edge in pass protection and the shotgun can certainly help us."

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

Petitgout responds

Left tackle Luke Petitgout was as surprised as anyone to hear the critical comments from Giants general manager Jerry Reese about him in the New York Post.

Petitgout said he was angry about it but wouldn't have any retaliatory comments after learning the GM of his former team called him, among other things, a marginal player. He said only, "I don't know why he's worried about me. It is what it is."

Petitgout said it gives him "something to put up in my locker" for inspiration. The tackle played eight seasons for the Giants but was released unexpectedly after 2006, a season in which he missed the final seven games with a broken leg.

Click here to see Reese's comments.

(Pictured: Luke Petitgout during minicamp. Times photo - Brendan Fitterer. Click to enlarge.)

One down, 33 to go

The Bucs wrapped up their first practice, and here are some initial impressions:

The battle between Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall is going to be worth watching. Clayton, looking smooth and fast on his feet, caught everything he could get his hands on, including a ball thrown behind him in traffic. All that, only to be upstaged by a leaping catch by Stovall that earned ooohs from the crowd and high-fives from teammates. Stay tuned. If the first practice is any indication, the competition at No.2 receiver will be a highlight of camp.

Quarterback Chris Simms took what amounted to second-team reps during team drills, 7-on-7 and 11-on-11, taking his turn after Jeff Garcia and before Bruce Gradkowski. We'll see if the order changes in future practices. But coach Jon Gruden, when asked about Garcia, went out of his way to praise Simms' performance.

Overall, players caught a break with cloudy skies that kept temps in the 80s. We'll see what the thermometer reads at about 3 o'clock.

(Pictured: Michael Clayton. Times photo - Brendan Fitterer. Click to enlarge.)

Gaines takes center stage

Simeon Rice's departure means the pressure just got turned up on first-round pick Gaines Adams.

With Rice on board, the thinking was Adams would have a nice tutor in Rice, the three-time Pro Bowl selection. Now, it's up to Adams.

"He's a great player and a great teacher," Adams said of Rice. "I would have loved to learn from someone like him."

Instead, Adams has other concerns. His first will be earning the job at right defensive end. It's becoming increasingly clear that Patrick Chukwurah will get a legitimate shot to win the job, too. Chukwurah joined the Bucs as a free agent from the Broncos in March and figured to be used as a situational pass rusher, but Rice's release could mean a more prominent role for Chukwurah. In fact, he was lined up with the first team at defensive end in today's morning practice.

(Pictured: Gaines Adams at camp Friday. Times photo - Brendan Fitterer.)

They're practicing!

The Bucs are on the field at Disney's Wide World of Sports, the first practice of training camp. The first of many, by the way. It looks like everyone is participating, including offensive lineman Dan Buenning, who missed all of the offseason workouts while recovering from knee surgery. And, yes, quarterback Chris Simms is getting reps in passing drills, and he has some zip on the ball. We'll keep watching; so check back later.

Meanwhile, check out these comments by first-year Giants general manager Jerry Reese in the New York Post about former Giants offensive lineman Luke Petitgout, who signed with the Bucs during the offseason and is the projected starter at left tackle:

"People are so worried about left tackle ...I think that's so overrated," Reese said. "People act like Petitgout was the second coming. He never made the Pro Bowl, and I don't think he ever was a first alternate. Now all of a sudden he's the savior? That's ridiculous. I don't think we're that bad off without Luke Petitgout. He was not a star left tackle. He was a solid left tackle on some occasions and other times he wasn't. Luke has been a marginal player for a long time."

Gee, Jerry, tell us how you really feel.

(Pictured: Luke Petitgout during minicamp. Times photo - Brendan Fitterer. Click to enlarge.)

Bucs release Rice after failed physical

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

Rice, who was recovering from shoulder surgery, failed a physical administered by the team Wednesday night, according to general manager Bruce Allen. When Rice refused to take a pay cut from the $7.25-million salary he was scheduled to earn this season, he was released.

Rice, 33, appeared in good spirits when he reported to training camp just before 4 p.m. Thursday and accompanied the team on the bus to Disney's Wide World of Sports. But Allen announced Rice's release four hours later.

Allen said the team offered Rice a chance to restructure what would've been the final year of his contract. "He wasn't interested in that,'' Allen said.

Allen said the Bucs could've placed Rice on the Physically Unable to Perform list but worried that he might not recover from his injury. He missed the final eight games last season, recording a career-low two sacks.

"We anticipated and he anticipated being healthy coming to camp,'' Allen said. "We held him out of our off-season programs. I don't think it was any burden to him. He needs some more time to recover. Simeon agreed. He's going to get aggressive with it. He was very confident he has a lot of football left.''

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.''

Allen said the release of Rice will accelerate Adams' ability to improve as an NFL player.

"We see Gaines as a part of our long-term future,'' Allen said. "For him to get more exposure is not a negative, it's a positive.''

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.

The 12th-year veteran ranks second in the NFL among active players with 121 career sacks.

Whenever Rice is cleared to play, he shouldn't have much trouble finding work. The Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears could all have an interest in a pass rusher.

In six season with the Bucs, Rice was named to the Pro Bowl twice, in 2003 and 2004.

"I don't think the last chapter in Simeon Rice's career has been written,'' Allen said.

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

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.)

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.)
   

Sabby signs

Second-round pick Sabby Piscitelli, out of Oregon State, has signed his contract. It's a four-year deal.

That means the Bucs have only second-round pick Arron Sears left to sign, and Jon Gruden said the latest word was that he should be official by night's end.

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

More QB news

Because it wouldn't be right to go a day without some quarterback news around here, here's the latest from Jon Gruden.

Regarding Daunte Culpepper, Gruden warned against reading too much into his meeting with the free agent who was recently released by the Dolphins. Gruden said the team was "looking into his situation," but said "nothing is imminent."

And regarding Jake Plummer, Gruden hasn't given up hope the quarterback won't show despite his failure to report on Thursday. Gruden also disclosed that he traveled to Plummer's home state of Idaho to meet with the quarterback, to "look into his eyes."

Still, it appears Plummer has no intentions of playing football in the forseeable future, according to Gruden. But, Gruden said, "men have been known to change their minds.

"We're trying to convince him to continue playing."

(Pictured: Daunte Culpepper. Getty Images. Click to enlarge.)

Gruden: bring it on

Jon Gruden isn't naive. He knows he's under pressure to win this season after three losing seasons in the past four.

Asked today if he feels he is on the hot seat, he intially bristled, then stood tall.

"A lot of my friends around the league are on that same hot seat," he said. "But I've kind of always liked the kitchen a little hotter."

Contrasting the situation now with that in 2002 when he arrived in Tampa, Gruden said, "There was no pressure when I got here. (Now) there's pressure on all of us."

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

Spires: D-Line key

The pressure is on for the defensive line, which wasn't up to snuff last season when it posted just 25 sacks -- tied for 30th in the NFL.

Defensive end Greg Spires is well aware of the expectations.

"Last year we didnt get as many sacks as we wanted, so we have a lot of pressure to go out there and get the sacks and help this team," he said "With Simeon (Rice) being healthy (plus) we brought a couple (new) guys in, hopefully we'll solve that problem."

The Bucs have revamped their defensive front, adding Gaines Adams, Kevin Carter and Ryan Sims.

By the way, there's more to come here. Word is we're going to hear from Mike Alstott soon. Maybe we'll ask him if this is going to be his final season -- again.

(Pictured: Simeon Rice, left, and Greg Spires. Times photo - Brendan Fitterer. Click to enlarge.)

Big Gaines

Gaines Adams is officially a Buc.

Adams, the team's first round pick, just strolled into the Celebration Hotel alongside his agent, Fletcher Smith, just after signing his contract. And what a contract it is. We've learned Adams signed a six-year deal worth $46-million, $18.56-million of it guaranteed. Those numbers represent a 14.4 percent increase over the value of last year's No. 4 pick, the Jets' D'Brickashaw Ferguson.

It was feared Adams' negotiations would extend into Friday, when the first training camp practice is scheduled to be held. But Adams held true to his word and reported to Celebration before even most of his teammates.

He became the highest-drafted player to sign thus far from the 2007 draft class. Others, such as Cleveland's Joe Thomas, the No. 3 pick, might have protracted negotiations that extend well into camp. Smith said he and Adams were happy to finalize the deal if the Bucs were willing to offer what Smith projected Adams' market value to be.

His presence in camp is key. The Bucs want to experiment with several different lineups and looks with their defensive front seven, and Adams is liekly to be a major part of those efforts.

He, like the rest of us, doesn't know precisely what the team's plans for him.

"I'm not worried about that," he said. "I'm just coming in and working hard and doing whatever Coach (Jon) Gruden wants me to do."

He's just ready to play.

"I'm very excited," he said. "It's a dream come true."

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

The Bucs stop here

Jason Fineran of Tampa, sits alongside his father Jeff outside the Celebration Hotel waiting for a chance to meet and greet the Bucs players as they check in  for training camp at the Wide World of Sports near Orlando.

(Times photos by Brendan Fitterer)

Jarret Johnson, 2, of Clermont waits in his stroller surrounded by Buccaneers helmets that his father, Frank, and others hope to get autographed.

Three Bucs out, but signings heat up

  It's going to take some work and maybe a few breaks for the Bucs to have all their players signed before the first training camp workout Friday.

   Bucs first-round pick Gaines Adams and second-rounders Arron Sears and Sabby Piscitelli remain unsigned as the team reports today at the Celebration Hotel by 4 p.m.

   There's even a possibility that Adams, a defensive end from Clemson, could stage the Bucs' first extended rookie holdout in more than a decade. That's because few first-rounders, particularly around Adams' fourth overall spot, have signed.

   There was a little movement late Wednesday night when the Falcons signed defensive lineman Jamaal Anderson to a five-year deal that could be worth $31-million.

   Sears, the 35th player in the draft, could be next to reach an agreement with the Bucs. That's because the Eagles signed quarterback Kevin Kolb, the player taken just behind Sears. The agent for Piscitelli indicated late Wednesday that the two sides were still not close to an agreement.

   All three of the Bucs top rookies could play important roles on the defense. Adams' impact will depend on the health of veteran Simeon Rice, who is coming off shoulder surgery.

   It should be an interesting day at the Celebration Hotel. Check back for further updates.

(Pictured: Gaines Adams. Times photo - Brendan Fitterer. Click to enlarge.)

   

   

   

   

      

Last minute roster shuffling

If you read The Times, you already knew this. But for the record, the Bucs officially announced the signing of Quincy Black today. The third-round pick from New Mexico got a four-year deal with a signing bonus of $825,000. Not too shabby for a third-rounder.

But there were some other roster moves on the eve of the opening of camp. The Bucs have claimed offensive lineman Enoka Lucas off waivers from Houston and released quarterback Zac Taylor and guard Anthony Wollschlager.

Lucas joined the the Texans as an undrafted free agent from Oregon in May, but was released on Monday. He was an All-Pac 10 first team selection last season and is capable of playing center and guard.

Taylor was an intersting experiment while it lasted. He was a record-breaking quarterback at Nebraska under Bill Callahan, a close friend of Jon Gruden. That relationship influenced the Bucs to give him a chance as an undrafted free agent. But in the end, the Bucs just have too many quarterbacks. So, we're now at six QBs and counting. Maybe we'll have a contest to guess who's the next one to go.

As for Wollschlager, we hardly knew ya. Sorry to see it end so soon after he was brought in as an undrafted free agent in May.

Culpepper running out of options

Maybe Daunte Culpepper will join the Bucs, after all.

The word is that the Bucs encouraged Culpepper to make a decision by the time the team reports to training camp Thursday at Disney's Wide World of Sports.

Culpepper's options appear to be dwindling and he doesn't have time to take the free agent tour. Falcons coach Bobby Petrino said his team has no interest in the Dolphins' free agent despite the indictment of Michael Vick. That could be a strange situation for the Falcons, anyway, since starter Joey Harrington backed up Culpepper in Miami last year.

The biggest surprise might be the sound of the door shutting in Jacksonville. Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said on his radio show Tuesday that Culpepper would not be joining them.

"We said we'd investigate it and we have,'' Del Rio said. "My gut is it's not going to be a fit for us and for him.

"I think it's all about a player and a team finding common ground. I'm just telling you that at this point he has other suitors out there and we feel good about our quarterback situation with Byron Leftwich as our starter and David Garrard as our backup.''

What other suitors? It could be that Del Rio is simply saying Culpepper's price tag is too high. Or maybe Culpepper still sees himself as a starting quarterback. But the Falcons, Jaguars and Rams have all said no to Culpepper.

For the time being, the only team that has publicly shown interest in signing Culpepper is the Bucs, who snuck him into town last Thursday.

From the Bucs' perspective, Culpepper has a lot more NFL pedigree than either Chris Simms or Bruce Gradkowski. If starter Jeff Garcia becomes injured, coach Jon Gruden would find himself in the same situation as he did last year.

He doesn't exactly fit the Bucs' offense. But if Gruden can retool his attack for Simms in 2005, he can do it for Culpepper. You also know that Gruden can charm the socks off of any quarterback.

Some believe Culpepper might not be physically able to play until late in 2007. His health is an issue. Culpepper also has to realize that where ever he plays, he won't be starting the first game. In fact, he might have to sit the entire season and use it to get healthy.

Money is another factor. You can bet the Jags wouldn't pay Culpepper more than Byron Leftwich and the Bucs aren't going to give him more than Garcia.

But  with each passing day, it appears more likely the Bucs could actually land Culpepper.

Dungy gets lots of laughs on Letterman

Tony Dungy's tour to pitch his book "Quiet Strength" came to an end Tuesday night when the former Bucs coach traded jokes with the host during a taping of "Late Show with David Letterman" in New York. Read the story from IndyStar.com.

Barber: hyperbole or reality?

Cornerback Ronde Barber made a startling comment to Sports Illustrated's Peter King this week, saying the following:

"I would bet you that every player in the NFL knows someone who has been to a dogfight."

We're not sure whether Barber is being a wiseguy here or just speaking what he truly believes. I plan to ask him when the Bucs report to camp tomorrow in Celebration. This one could need a little clarification. Hard to believe that a blanket statement like that would apply to everyone in the NFL. But we're not naive enough to think that Michael Vick has the market cornered on dogfighting, either.

If Barber has anything to add, we'll let you know right here.

Training camp schedule

Bucs camp schedule

Thursday: Players report

Friday: 8:30-11 a.m., 2:45-5:15 p.m.

Saturday: 8:30-11 a.m., 2:45-5:15 p.m.

Sunday: 8:30-11 a.m., 2:45-5:15 p.m.

Monday: 8:30-11 a.m., 2:45-3:55 p.m. (special teams only)

July 31: 8:30-11 a.m., 2:45-5:15 p.m.

Aug. 1: 8:30-11 a.m., 2:45-5:15 p.m.

Aug. 2: 8:30-11 a.m., 2:45-3:55 p.m. (special teams only)

Aug. 3: 8:30-11 a.m., 2:45-5:15 p.m.

Aug. 4: 8:30-11 a.m.

Aug. 5: 8:30-11 a.m., 2:45-5:15 p.m.

Aug. 6: 8:30-11 a.m., 2:45-3:55 p.m. (special teams only)

Aug. 7: 8:30-11 a.m., 2:45-4:50 p.m.

Aug. 8: 8:30-11 a.m., 2:45-4:50 p.m.

Aug. 9: 10:15-11:15 a.m. (walkthrough)

Aug. 10: Patriots at Bucs, 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 11: Off

Aug. 12: 2:45-4:30 p.m.

Aug. 13: 8:30-11 a.m., 2:45-4:45 p.m.

Aug. 14: 8:30-11 a.m., 2:45-4:45 p.m.

Aug. 15: 8:30-11 a.m., 2:45-4:45 p.m.

Aug. 16: 8:30-10:45 a.m.

Aug. 18: Bucs at Jaguars, 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 25: Bucs at Dolphins, 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 30: Texans at Bucs, 8 p.m.

- Practices are free until moved to Tampa starting Aug. 17

- Games air on Ch. 8

Kenyatta headed for Carolina?

Here's a blast from the not-so-distant past:

Kenyatta Walker. Remember him?

Well, according to the Charlotte Observer, the former Bucs right tackle reportedly in Charlotte for a free agent visit with the Panthers, with whom he had some heated exchanges while playing for the Bucs. Walker was released after the season and is coming off a very involved knee surgery. He has since been replaced here by Jeremy Trueblood. In Carolina, Walker, a former first-round pick, would be used as a backup to starting tackles Travelle Wharton on the left and Jordan Gross on the right.

You may remember Walker's well-documented run-ins with Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers and Walker's infamous false starts in games against the Panthers. Those could make for an interesting subplot if Walker signs on.

Maybe Dungy will read the top 10 list

Tony Dungy is scheduled to appear on the Late Show with David Letterman tonight (11:30, Ch. 10) to discuss his memoir, Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices & Priorities of a Winning Life.

Culpepper may be waiting on Vick

   Theories abound as to why there hasn't been any word from Daunte Culpepper.

   The Dolphins free agent quarterback snuck into Tampa Thursday to meet with Bucs coach Jon Gruden, general manager Bruce Allen and senior pro personnel assistant Doug Williams.

   Since then? Nothing. Culpepper, who acts as his own agent, has not even responded to a single e-mail from the media as is his custom.

   We're told there are two possibilities for this. One, Culpepper is waiting out the Atlanta Falcons, who could suspend indicted quarterback Michael Vick as early as today. The Falcons are believed to have reached out to Culpepper, who would be a better longterm answer than Joey Harrington.

   Secondly, Culpepper the agent is likely asking for too much money for Culpepper the quarterback.

   Dolphins coach Cam Cameron said the team was on the path to trading Culpepper. Although he didn't identify the team, it was most likely the Jaguars.

   Cameron said Culpepper was cooperative at first, but then something happened and the deal never materialized. That's another way of saying Culpepper wouldn't accept a reduced salary, believed to be the in the $3-million range.

   The Bucs were wise to make their pitch to Culpepper first. Given Tampa Bay's tenuous quarterback situation, the Bucs would prefer Culpepper not go to the NFC South rival Falcons. Early reports were that the Falcons weren't all that interested in Culpepper. But as time passes, there's a grim reality in Atlanta that Vick may never play again for the Falcons.

   Most speculated that Culpepper would be a Jaguar by now. He's waiting on something. A better opportunity to start, more money or both.

         

The clock's ticking

Camps across the league are opening this week, and still, there are just three first-round picks signed.

The Bucs' Gaines Adams is among those still unsigned. But as we've already told you, his deal could be struck soon after a weekend meeting between Adams' agent and general manager Bruce Allen in Tampa. The agent, Fletcher Smith, is is based in Chicago but flew to town for the get together. That's clearly a significant development.

As for the rest of the Bucs' unsigned picks, third-rounder Quincy Black's deal is all but done, with just a few minor annual salary details left to be worked out on the four-year pact. He was nearing an agreement with the team on Friday, and today could be the day. All the major obstacles in the negoatiations have been dealt with, it appears.

Things didn't seem that far along with negotiations between second-rounder Sabby Piscitelli when last we heard. And there hasn't been any word on the status of Arron Sears' contract.

Like you, we're waiting for news. The minute we get more you'll see it posted here.

Adams nears deal with Bucs

   Here's the latest on first-round pick Gaines Adams: first the Bucs have to pay him, then they can decide where to play him.

   The Clemson defensive end may be nearing an agreement with the Bucs.

   General manager Bruce Allen met with Adam's agent, Fletcher Smith, at Fleming's Steakhouse Saturday night, six days before players report to training camp in Orlando.

   The two sides exchanged proposals and were close enough for Smith to come to town in hopes of finalizing a deal in the next few days.

   Earlier Saturday, Allen completed the signings of all the Bucs' second day draft picks by announcing an agreement on a contract with Alabama running back Kenneth Darby, a seventh-round pick.

   An agreement with Adams could go a long way toward getting all the Bucs' draft picks into camp on time, since his deal will account for most of the rookie salary pool.

   Also unsigned are two second-round picks -- Tennesee guard Arron Sears and Oregon State safety Sabby Piscitelli - and linebacker Quincy Black, a third-rounder from New Mexico.

   Adams, the No. 4 overall pick, is expected to compete at right defensive end with veteran Simeon Rice, who missed the final eight games after undergoing shoulder surgery.

   At the very least, Adams will be used on passing downs, much the way the Bears utilized rookie Mark Anderson last season.

   The Bucs have a good history of getting rookies into camp on time. The last rookie to hold out was defensive tackle Anthony McFarland in 1999, but he reported to camp just a few days late.

   Check back later for an update.

   

   

One pick signs, another close

The Bucs continued their furious pace in signing draft picks when seventh-round offensive lineman Chris Denham signed a contract today.

But there could be bigger news by the end of the day with third-round pick Quincy Black, a linebacker, nearing an agreement. The sides were closing in on a deal late Thursday and it appears a deal could be struck soon. Black, from New Mexico, is one of the more intriguing picks of the Bucs' 10 rookies, mostly because of his versatility and special-teams ability.

Denham, out of Fresno State, will compete on the right side of the line, where he has been working mostly at tackle but also at guard.

In all, the Bucs have five more rookies to sign: first-round pick Gaines Adams, second-round picks Arron Sears and Sabby Piscitelli, Black and seventh-round pick Kenneth Darby.

Culpepper visits with Bucs

   Jon Gruden apparently could use another quarterback.

   Would eight be enough?

   The Bucs coach met Thursday with former Vikings and Dolphins free agent Daunte Culpepper, the team confirmed.

   Although the Bucs had no comment on the meeting, it is believed to have taken place at the corporate airplane hangar at Tampa International Airport. Also greeting Culpepper was Bucs general manager Bruce Allen and Doug Williams, the team's senior pro personnel assistant.

   Culpepper, who missed most of last season recovering from knee surgery, had his contract terminated Tuesday by the Dolphins.

   The Bucs already have seven quarterbacks on the roster, a list that includes Jeff Garcia, Bruce Gradkowski, Chris Simms, Luke McCown and Jake Plummer.

   Garcia already has been declared the starter for the 2007 season while Simms has struggled to regain his form since undergoing surgery to remove his spleen last Sept. Pummer has announced his intentions to retire.

   The meeting with Culpepper came one week before the Bucs report to training camp at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista. 

   Culpepper, 30, became expendable when the Dolphins traded for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Trent Green about six weeks ago. Culpepper, who serves as his own agent, could not be reached for comment. He won his release because the Dolphins chose not to contest it in a grievance that was scheduled for Wednesday. 

    But upon being released, Culpepper said he was anxious to find a new team.

   ""Now that I have won my freedom and I get to choose my next team, I am just like many other people who have to go out and find employment so that I can take care of my family,'' Culpepper said in an e-mail.

   There are still several questions surrounding Culpepper. One is his health. The Dolphins would not allow him to participate in team drills and he has spent 21 months rehabbing from torn ligaments in his knee. The other is salary. Culpepper was due to earn $5.5-million this season, although his value has been reduced dramatically as two teams have given up on him in the past two years.

   But Culpepper is only a few years removed from one of the best seasons in NFL history, when he threw for 4,717 yards and 39 touchdowns in 2004 with the Vikings. In 84 games as a starter, Culpepper has completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 21,091 yards and 137 touchdowns.

   The Bucs could have competition for Culpepper. Jacksonville has already informed their quarterbacks of their interest and former Vikings coach Mike Tice is on the staff there. St. Louis also could be another landing spot because quarterback Marc Bulger will be a free agent and coach Scott Linehan was the Vikings and Dolphins' offensive coordinator.

   Check back for further details as the story develops.

            

And you thought the Bucs had problems?

I would not want to be on the Atlanta Falcons beat these days. What a mess Mike Vick appears to have gotten himself into with Tuesday's federal indictment in an alleged dog-fighting ring. Good luck to the guys having to sort it all out.

You know, for all the issues the Bucs have with their own quarterbacks, they seem to pale in comparison to this brouhaha. Sure, Chris Simms still hasn't regained his form nearly a year after his splenectomy, the ever-erratic Bruce Gradkowski could end up being the backup and Jake Plummer is... well, we don't know where Jake is.

But it could be worse, Buc fans. While the league hasn't indicated that it will take any action against Vick before the outcome of his case, commissioner Roger Goodell has a lot to consider here. He's taken action against other players in similar situations, though -- in most cases -- those players had prior legal transgressions. Still, the league has set a precedent in the recent past by not hesitating to act before a player's case has made its way through the legal system (i.e. Pacman Jones).

So, if the league acts and Vick is suspended for any length of time, we're talking about the Falcons lining up Joey Harrington, a player even the Dolphins didn't want despite Cleo Lemon being their best quarterback option at the beginning of the offseason. We tend to think Jon Gruden would be okay with this in the Bucs' two meetings against the Falcons.

Anyhow, any thoughts on what the league should do here? Wait or act now? I'm still undecided. What do you think?

Bucs reward club seat holders' loyalty

TAMPA — The Bucs are rewarding fans for their loyalty the past decade: Club seat holders will not have to pay an additional seat deposit to renew their contracts.

The team plans to use the remaining money in those accounts as a new deposit beginning in 2008. They even promise "discounted" prices on tickets for those who stay aboard.

But there could be some bad news: the Bucs apparently are out of the refund business. New club seat holders are expected to be charged what amounts to a seat license to purchase tickets. Although no details of the new plan have been disclosed, the cost of the license will most likely be the same as the price of each ticket purchased on the account.

In addition, club seat owners will have the option to enter new agreements for terms of six or 10 yes.

Those owning Club 1 or Club 2 seats, and have at least four tickets on their account, will have an opportunity to purchase tickets to Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa in Feb. 2009. 

The Bucs haven’t revealed whether a similar policy will be enacted for general season ticket holders.

Team officials began informing club seat owners of the new plan in letters mailed last week. The deadline to renew club seats is Sept. 7.

Click here to read more from Wednesday's St. Petersburg Times.

Two more rookies onboard

The Bucs signed two more of their draft picks today, with fifth-round choice Greg Peterson and sixth-round selection Adam Hayward signing deals.

Peterson, a defensive tackle from North Carolina Central, is expected to compete for a backup role in training camp. He was a Division II All-American in his two years at NCCU.

Hayward, a linebacker from Portland State, started 11 games there after transferring from Colorado State. He had 11 sacks and 19 tackles-for-loss in 22 games at Portland State.

The Bucs have now signed four of their 10 draft picks. Also signed are fourth-round choice Tanard Jackson and seventh rounder Marcus Hamilton. But there is some heavy lifting left to do. First-round pick Gaines Adams isn't expected to be signed before next week, when most first-rounders will be finalizing their deals as camps set to open. Ditto for the team's pair of second-round picks, Arron Sears and Sabby Piscitelli.

A couple old pals

Saw a couple old friends over the weekend at Michael Clayton's charity basketball game: cornerback Juran Bolden, who was released by the Bucs earlier in the summer, and Edell Shepherd, who had a tumultuous couple of years here with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.

Bolden was, as usual, in good spirits despite not having landed on a roster just yet. He's been on a few visits, including one to Detroit, and he seemed confident that his services would be needed before long. He found a silver lining in not being currently employed: he might not have to go through a full training camp, which is certainly not the worst thing in the world.

As for Shepherd, he spent last year in Houston and has now joined the Lions. He was the same happy-go-lucky guy he was while he was here and had his 1-year-old son in tow. He and his wife recently opened a clothing boutique in Carrollwood and things seem to be going well for the former Buc.

He's come a long way since his last moment in Tampa. We know you remember the dropped would-be winning touchdown reception against the Redskins in the 2005 playoffs. That, of course, came on the heels of a touchdown reception that set up a winning score during that regular season against the those same Redskins. Roller coaster year that was for Shepherd.

All in all, it was a laid-back evening even though many of the big names were no shows (JaMarcus Russell, Joseph Addai, etc).

Two weeks to go

This is a tough time in the lives of football writers. Camp is creeping up on us and there's nowhere to hide. Two-a-day practices, unforgiving heat, lots of stories to write and preseason special sections to produce, all while in exile for three weeks in the Land of Screaming Kids (a.k.a. Disney).

But for the rest of you, we're sure this is a time of great anticipation. The Bucs hold their first practice two weeks from today, and camp is sure to be intriguing for many reasons.

Which got us thinking: what's the No. 1 question facing this team heading into training camp? Is it the status of Simeon Rice, and whether he'll bounce back from his shoulder surgery? Maybe you think it's Jeff Garcia, and whether he can duplicate the success he had in Philadelphia last season. Or for some, it could be Chris Simms. Remember him? What's his status and outlook for the fall?

Care to comment? If so, let's debate the biggest issue facing the Bucs.

Darius heads West

Free agent safety Donovin Darius got a brief look from the Bucs, but Tampa Bay didn't pull the trigger on the veteran who is coming off a broken ankle.

So, on Tuesday, the Raiders instead signed the former Jaguar who earlier this summer left Jacksonville as the franchise's career leader in tackles.

At the moment, it seems the Bucs will stand pat at safety. Darius was the most attractive free agent safety left on the market. Tampa Bay's decision to resist signing him possibly means the Bucs are happy to enter training camp with last year's starters Will Allen (free safety) and Jermaine Phillips (strong safety) along with rookies Sabby Piscitelli and Tanard Jackson, among others.

At this point, the most attractive names left on the market are (over-the-hill?) veterans like Robert Griffith and Sammy Knight. So, it's probably wise not to expect a big splash at this position.

We'll know soon whether it was the right call or not.