Simms to stay with Bucs

Chris Simms is a Buccaneer - for now.

The fifth-year quarterback is expected to be among the 53 players turned into the league office by the Bucs Saturday.

It was a tough decision for the Bucs because Simms, 27, had just six snaps in the preseason in a game at Miami last week. He did not play Thursday night due to a hip strain.

How long Simms will remain on the team is uncertain. The Bucs signed Simms to a two-year, $7-million contract in December that included $5-million in guarantees.

The Bucs most likely will go with four quarterbacks - starter Jeff Garcia, backups Luke McCown, Bruce Gradkowski and Simms.

It's an unusual move for a NFL team to keep that many quarterbacks. Some teams only carry just two.

But the Bucs believe they have some value in Simms. In addition to the lucrative contract, he has spent five years in Jon Gruden's system.

But Simms has struggled to recover from his splenectomy last September. He began training camp with a sore left elbow and rarely got reps in 11-on-11 before the team left Lake Buena Vista.

In the last two weeks, Simms has shown progress and said Thursday night he could be ready to play in the Sept. 9 opener at Seattle.

"I'm not far off. I'm not going to say I was 100 percent myself last week when I played, but I'm getting there,'' Simms said Thursday. "And I think if I continue to work and do the rehab and stuff that I've been doing, we've got a pretty good hold on this thing right now and I'm doing the right exercises. I've really felt a difference the last few weeks.''

Comments

[Daniel]

Rick, do you have the list of players to be cut? Did they just release this info without the full list? Stephen said the cut list has to go to the league office first, so they press released this info alone?

[Rick Stroud]

The Bucs have not released any information as of yet. We've learned this through all our sources. Stay tuned for the complete list.

[John]

Not a bad move considering $5 million is guaranteed.

[Kevin]

i have complete faith in chris simms
he is a good quarterback
i have how people say that he is not tough, he was injured in the first quarter of the carolina game but still played through the injury risking his career. but he played through it and nearly won the game. he is tough and if jeff garcia gets injured or retires next year, i hope simms will step up and be our starter. (personally, i dont like gradkowski that much)

[Zack]

Rick, does it sound like the plan is to use Torrie Cox's open roster spot to keep Simms a while longer so a trade can be made?

[Emily]

You seem to be the only member of the media reporting this news - so far.

[kevink868]

I'm pleased with the decision. The organization has done the honorable thing here. Simms left an organ on the field for this club, not to mention he was the last QB to lead us to the postseason. The least he deserves is the opportunity to recover from his injuries and compete for his job when the time comes.

[Reality]

Is it due to the pending "issue" Gradkowski has on the horizon?

[Daniel]

Reality, Good point. David Boston's not yet released drug test could be a reason we see Chas Gessner stick around as well.

[Grads]

Hey - I resent that. I don't have "issues." I was just trying to get by - by getting by.

[Tom]

This has to be Gruden's last year. First Alstott. Now Simms. Something tells me Ol Chucky lost total control and it is about time.

[Bill]

My guess is that the Glazer's may have made the decision to keep Simms. They may feel Simms still has a place with the team in the probable soon to come post Gruden era. I wouldn't be surprised to see them get more and more involved with personnel decisions if the Buc's come stumbling out of the block figuring they can have the personnel in place for the new GM and Coach.

[rick stroud]

It's an interesting gamble keeping Simms. They could lose a player like Kenneth Darby, who might not clear waivers. Running backs tend to get hurt in this league and the Bucs have four. One of them, B.J. Askew, is a true fullback. The Bucs hope to bring Darby back on their practice squad.
As for Torrie Cox, he's on a suspended list. He doesn't count againt the 53.
I expect to see some more moves before the Bucs hit the field in Seattle. They're looking for a middle linebacker to back up Barrett Ruud.

[K.P]

trade Simms to Miami for a future 3rd or 4th round draft pick. Or anybody else for that matter, just not anyone in the NFC South. He a good enough QB to start in this league, but the Bucs are better going with the two younger guys they already have who don't scratch THEMSELVES from games

[Nick]

Let's get real here with Chris Simms, why would Gruden put himself in the same situation he was in last year when Simms got hurt?? Did we all forget he had to rely on a 6th round rookie inexperience QB to carry this team. Simms is not going anywhere, he's our back QB in case something should happen to Garcia. Gruden has Simms waiting at the hel not 2 unproven inexperienced QB like last year. Lets face it Garcia was bought in to give Simms the time he needs to recoup. Gradkowski has already shown us what he brings to the table, beside with the FBI probe going on, it would be a distraction for this team if that story got legs. Simms is Tampa Bay Buc's QB, not McCown or Gradkowski. Enough said!!

[DaTrouf]

He's coming w/them to Seattle, but he aint leavin'....