Is Simms finally nearing the end?

If you haven't seen the Chris Simms article in today's paper, you'll want to check it out.

Basically, the long and short of it is that Simms is opting out of voluntary offseason workouts because he doesn't know what his status is with the Bucs.

But I think we can probably help clear this up for him pretty quickly. I'll only say this once, so pay attention: He's outta here. He knows it and everyone else knows it. The tough part for Simms is that it seems as if the Bucs are delaying the inevitable. Simms is ready to move on because, at this point, it seems like the best solution for both the player and team. But the Bucs appear stuck on getting something in return for him, such as a draft pick in a trade. I see that being a tall order, expecting to reap much for a player who hasn't seen the field in nearly two seasons. Perhaps they'll end up with a very late-round pick.

Whatever happens, Simms obviously is frustrated. And his decision to keep his distance could hasten his departure. After all, what good is it keeping a guy who doesn't want to be here? In the end, the Bucs and Simms have wasted enough of each other's time, and this thing needs to end.

Finally, it appears, maybe it will.

Comments

[Mike]

How are you going to say that you can't wait to get back on the field and then not participate in workouts? if anyone needs the conditioning and more important time with the team, Its Simms. Even if you think you know that the team will trade you why not go out there and show everyone that you are 100% and ready to go?

[RD]

Mike... because he's not 100%, and he and the team are trying to get the most for their money...

[Stephen_Holder]

One point: He never said he's not working out. He said he is not working out with the TEAM. This isn't football-related work just yet. That's next month. This is conditioning: cardio, weight training, etc that is conducted by the team's training staff.

[Mike]

"I'm back to 100 percent and just excited about getting back on the field again," he said.

[Mike]

And what about him skipping the QB orientation? Its no big deal, just trade him. He is useless in this offense. The kid has talent but he just won't cut it here.

[devin]

look trade to packers or vikings for a defensive guy or a wide reciver

[Scott]

Either he's not 100% or just not very intelligent. Which could explain his play on the field. Without proving that he's healthy, how does he believe that any team would be willing to trade for him and his $2MM+ contract? If he's hoping to get cut and without proving he's ready, the best contract he'll get is the league minimum. Maybe he spent last year hanging with Pacman Jones.

[Jeremy]

Its too bad b/c I think Simms can be a good QB in this league. However, its obvious Gruden doesnt want to give him a chancce anymore. Once he traded for Greasy(UGH!) again, Simms knew he wouldnt be given a REAL shot to win a job. Just trade him or let him walk and find another job. He is still young and can play in this league. I like the kid and wish him well. I just hope he doesnt go to a NFC South team & flourish...that would make me sick!! Go Bucs!

[Dave]

I seriously doubt the Simms family is ALL about the money. Maybe he just wants to play, he does have a certain legacy to live up to, which I'm sure doesn't include collecting money from the bench.

All he wants is to be cut or given a chance to start. Only one of those scenarios looks to be realistic in TB. It's painfully obvious that Gruden has moved on with his QB plans, so why would he hang around?

As for the Bucs, I'm sure they're trying to get what they can for him. Most likely they're going to hold on to him until QB's start dropping in TC/Preseason. Then suddenly, he has value.

[JB]

Simms is frustrated? I'll tell you who's frustrated..me. Can we possibly get a few more stories written about the 5th string QB and how the mean old Bucs are doing him wrong. Geeze, give me a break. What exactly has Simms done in the last two years to warrant the coverage he gets from the Times? Why don't you guys get over your man crush and write some stories about draft prospects.

[Buc Fan]

Gruden has proven time and time again his x's and o's are up there with the best. The things he has been able to accomplish with this team is commedable. I dont agree with all the decisions but most have been made with the intenetion to get this team a win. As far as the talent upgrade at WR I would agree but what truely has to start developing or evolving is the off line and until this occurs any player(qb/wr/rb) you bring into this system is going to struggle. There is no way this offense is going to open up until this gets sured up. To get these big plays you have to have the time to let things develope and that has not happened much. Our defense is truely built to hold on to a lead and come after your qb but when you cant score points or get the protection to execute a strategy on offense it makes things much harder. Bottom line is the offense line has to become a force and then we will start seeing some consistance success or atleast be contenders year in and year out. Maybe win it all again.

[DR]

Gruden's x's and o's are way overrated. His offense has been in the top half of the league only once. His experiment with Simms was a complete failure. Even before the injury, Simms was lost. They gave Simms free money for some reason, maybe they thought they could trade him, but that is not true. If they're lucky, they'll get a 7th round pick for him. The Bucs have no intention of continuing on with Simms. They do the respectful thing and release him, he doesn't want to be here. But that wouldn't be something the Bucs would do. You all hate Rich Mckay, but when Dunn asked to be released, the Falcons released him.

[eric]

I don't know that Gruden is the offensive genius that everyone has made him out to be. He's had years now to get the offense rolling and we are consistently inconsistent. Gruden IS a good coach in general though. I think that Gruden's offensive style doesn't match Simms playing style. I think Simms would be a decent starter if he got a chance somewhere else... I wish him luck. I don't think anyone will bite on a trade for Simms knowing that we will SURELY cut him a some point.
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[shane]

simms is a sorry excuse for a qb/bench warmer and won't ever start anywhere else how do you throw 1 TD to 7 INT in just three games,of course Drew Brees did the same this year but finally got his offense rolling. I believe that Simms only went 6-5(6-6 if you count playoffs) as a starter in '05 because of Caddy and defenses stacking the box against the run. Bottom line is that simms sucks and I've always believed that and the only reason the Bucs haven't traded/released him is because he has little or no value and he would count against the salary cap.

[Stephen]

Simms has always been just a back up and nothing more. Even in college he was benched. Its just bad timing as this team just like any organazation is under pressure to get wins and with Simms not taking the bulls by the horns when given the opportunity and his injury has put his development way behind. Caddy will most likely be in the same boat when he comes back as he will probably never be the same or live up to his potential. I wish the best for Simms and hope he succeeds but i think the organazation has left it up to him to decide how bad he wants the job or if he just wants out of Tampa.

[Justin M]

Simms got a raw deal here. Gruden never took a liking to him and I dont know why. Simms works hard and he is a competitor. He has done everything the Bucs have asked and never complained until now.
When Garcia got here Gruden installed the shotgun. He never let Simms use it even when Chris was begging him to do so.
If Gruden knew he didnt like Simms why didnt he get rid of him two years ago? Simms would have commanded a 1st round pick then. Now what is he going to get us? A six rounder possibly. So we are going to trade Simms, who has the most upside and best arm of any QB on the team, for a sixth rounder we will use on a player who will most likely be practice squad.
Garcia is old and when he gets hurt it takes him longer to heal. That means our backups will see action, most likely, in the regular season. Everybody please think back and remember how overwhelmed Brian Griese seemed in the second half and particularly fourth quarter of close games. You are going to see it again.

[Valrico Rick]

I say trade him for some better bloggers! You guys would rag on your Grandmother! Geeez!

[Vince]

DR, you are a lost cause. You think Gruden wanted to "experiment" with Simms? What planet are you from? For a guy who loves Rich McKay, you sure do not seem to recognize his work.

[cory]

This is a is a mistake. Gradkowski should be cut and trade or cut mccown. You know Garcia isn't going to play all 16 games and this guy is our best option behind him. Gradkowski can't throw the ball more than 20 yards and you can't teach that, mccown is a mediocre backup and thats it, and griese is old and inconsistent. I would like the season to start with garcia, griese, and simms but that isn't going to happen.

[d]

Does everyone forget the amount of passes Simms had batted down when he was a starter? It got so bad the opposing D lines were changing their games for it. It was absurd. How about the indecision and failure to make reads?

A lot of you act as if Simms never got a chance here and Gruden just hated him from the beginning. The fact is he did get chances and failed to make anything of them. Should Gruden have played him just because he was a nice kid who showed some heart some of the time? No! Because in football, as in every other profession, the bottom line is performance. He who performs the best deserves the top spot.

This isn't a soap opera, its a competitive sport.

[RD]

McCown is 10 times better than Gradkowski and Simms combined, dude, what team were you watching?

[Chi-Town Arturo]

I will never forget the determination that Simms displayed in the Carolina game. He brought us back from being down by 14+ points to take the lead...all while he was suffering from a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding! If you combine how he must have felt while he was on that field with his poor start to the season...it would have been way too easy, and acceptable, for him to have removed himself from the game. He LED a couragous comeback - in a game that took a last second field goal to beat us - that epitomized exactly what a LEADER is supposed to do. He deserves better.

[Tony M.]

Let him go, it's not working out. Maybe he'll do really well somewhere else, but I don't think he'll ever do really well here.

Oh, and incidentally I agree with JB. Can we finally have some draft coverage please? It's almost here and I want to talk fresh blood.

[DR]

Chi-town, Chi-town, there is no arguing the fact that Simms did put everything on the field against Carolina, even his spleen, but that's just one game. One game doesn't make a player. That game against Carolina explains Simms career- he gave it his all, but in the end, came up short.

[DR]

Vince, let me guess, it was Rich Mckay who resigned Simms to a 2 year contract after he lost his spleen and didn't prove he could throw a football? Mckay must of done that too.

[Tom]

Best of luck Chris...I meet your mother and father at a sports dinner and they are very nice, indeed. I suspect you are as well. Trust you will enjoy a system that can provide protection for the QB... New England comes to mind... so the fans will see just how good you can be...

[Vince]

DR, I am not sure it is worth my time, but here goes. I think it is well known that McKay chose Simms over Gruden's objection. Correct? Simms has talent, but he is obviously not the best quarterback for Gruden's system.

There is some debate about the resigning, but no serious person believes that Gruden wanted to resign Simms. You -- a basher of all things Gruden (because he is not Dungy)-- implied that Simms was a failed Gruden experiment.

By the way, have you ever heard of the phrase "intellectual honesty?" If not, you might want to think about. Every argument you make on this blog is diminished by your obvious bias. If it rains tomorrow, it will be Gruden's fault (and it would not have rained if Dungy was the coach). Good luck with that approach.

[Who are you?]

Why do you care??

[RD]

Send him to Atlanta for a 7th round pick. Then McKay will be fired, finally, as people realize Simms should never have been drafted in the first place.

[DR]

Vince, tell that to yourself. You all praise Gruden for his Super Bowl win and then blame everybody else for failure. It was Mckay, it was injuries, it was too sunny, etc. Injuries happen to every team; good teams overcome injuries. Mckay had nothing to do with Tampa's collapse the after the super bowl. Who did Tampa lose? Dexter Jackson? Larry Brown jr., he was a bum. Their offense stayed intact and yet failed to move the ball. Gruden failed, he deserves credit for being a failure.

[Nick]

Well if Tampa is gonna let him go there must be long term damage. I still think he got hurt in the first Q of the Ravens game, you could see something was wrong. The next game at Atlanta he looked horific and Carolina just finished him off, but not before a heroic effort on his part against Carolina. Tampa took the lead late in the game only to have Delhome scramble for 30 yards and Casey hit a field goal.

If he's healthy and Tampa lets him go, He'll be another QB that left Tampa to win a SB elsewhere. I bet Miami picks him up, Parcells know Phil wasn't half as good as his son and still won a SB and 4 Div Titles!!

[btksta]

Hey, we all know DR is a tool who licks Jerry Jones' boots, but I have to agree with him about McKay who did a decent job here. Winning the NFL executive of the year award cannot be discounted. Most importantly, he changed the Bucs draft philosophy of trying to draft potential "superstars" such as Booker Reese, McCants, etc.who never did crap, to drafting players who may not be superstars but were productive college players. This insured that at least you had a player who would be on the field. So, let's see, McKay drafted, Dunn, Brooks, Alstot, Lynch to name a few. Pretty good. The nucleus of an eventual super bowl team. Since he left, not so good until last year when we had a solid draft.

[Vince]

DR, I figured it out. You are like a talk radio guy, you just like to say insane stuff to see if people will continue to respond. Your latest effort is a doozy:

"Mckay had nothing to do with Tampa's collapse the after the super bowl."

Now that is funny! If you think McKay had nothing to do with the Bucs troubles after the Super Bowl, then you might need some help, or a book, a tv, a radio, or at least a key to the door so you can get outside for a while. Wow. Good luck with that . . .

[Vince]

btksta, I think Dungy and the Buc's incredible personnel department (that is now scattered all over the league -- Ruskell etc. .) drafted the players you are talking about. McKay's contribution was to re-sign them all to cap crushing contracts. Have you seen what has been going on in Atlanta. Same thing, right? What's the common link between Atlanta and the Bucs -- McKay.

McKay is a good person, a good NFL guy and good for the league (competition committee etc), but he is not, nor was he, a good GM. If Arthur Blank asks you to step aside, that says a lot.

[Dr]

Are you kidding me? Mckay was responsible for a 7-9 team the year after? Get your head out of the sand. Was Mckay a terrible GM watching his Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game? You put a healthy Vick on the team last year, and they would have been good, not a bad 4-12 team. Let me guess, Mckay made Vick kill dogs too?
The fact is, Gruden did a terrible job with the same team after the super bowl. There is no GM that could have done any better in Atlanta last year. The Colts have salary cap issues year in and year out but they have true leaders on the team that restructure their salaries to make things work. It's unfortunate for the Colts because they draft so well, they can't afford their own draft picks. The NFL salary cap forces them to get rid of great players, but the Colts keep drafting them.

[Mike]

Mckay gave Vick a ridiculous contract and then could not afford to keep the stars on the defensive side of the ball.

[Mike]

TAnd the salary cap doesn't "force" any team to get rid of their players. That is the GM's responsibility to "manage" the slary cap. Mr. Allen has done a fine job of managing to clean up McKay's mess. Unfortunately for him, He took the shots from the media and fans when he had to make some unpopular decisions.

[DR]

Mike, the salary cap does force teams to get rid of good players. Look at basketball, and the NBA has it right. The Colts drafted Manning, James, Harrison, Wayne, and their defense paid the price with these guys getting the big money. Wayne's contract wasn't so bad but the Colts had to make a decision and throw money to the defensive side instead of signing James to a top 5 contract, which at the time, he deserved. The NBA is different in that the longer a player plays for a team, the less his contract will impact his team's salary cap. pretty much a loyalty clause. In fact, the player's own team can offer a contract other teams cannot match and not all of it goes against the cap. The NFL does not allow this. It's terrible. Addai is still on a rookie contract so we'll see if he's affordable when his time comes. The Colts cannot afford their own draft picks. The salary cap DOES punish teams like the Colts. It's a fact. I mean c'mon, think about...the Colts have players who deserve top 5 salaries in their positions, Manning, Harrison, Wayne, Addai, Sanders, Freeney, more than likely after next year, Clark. Harrison, not anymore, not after last year, but these are the type of players the Colts have drafted. The Bucs don't even have any top 5 talent any more.

[DR]

Did i mention that I like little boys?

[Vince]

DR, you are from another planet. Let see, team wins Super Bowl, team fails to repeat next year and plays at a low level? Hmm. Never heard of that before. Most teams repeat championships, Yeah . . . right.

Even though you are from Pluto, you must be capable of understanding my point on McKay. McKay may not be responsible for the year immediately after the Super Bowl, but his hands are all over the last few years. Have you heard about the Bucs salary cap problems? Who created those problems?

Also, if McKay was a good GM and Atlanta's problems were only the loss of Vick, why isn't McKay still GM?

Enjoy your time on Earth.

[JS]

I say simms for a late pick this year since we only have 5 (trades with denver for plummer.. dumbest move ever... and for michael benneth)... to get back at least a 7th would be nice.. hey what the heck the saints drafted colston with their 7th round pick (he was the third to last player en the entire draft to be drafted and look how that turned out)...

[Richard]

Hey Vince if you are going to say somebody is from another planet get your science together pluto is NOT a planet pluto is just a big rock floating in space

[Vince]

Richard, I stand corrected. DR, you are from a big floating rock in space.

[Braheem]

Simms is over reacting! The Bucs were ready to carry 4 QBs last season and Gruden has never been shy to put another guy in there. He played Simms when nobody thought he was ready prior to that shoulder injury. He played Bruce Gradkowski a 6th/7th rnd rookie for 12 games etc etc. There is no way Simms can legitimitly say he doesn't have a shot with the Bucs!! Garcia is OLD & SHORT....heck Gru-Allen still are holding out for Jake Plummer. Gruden is a world renoun QB Collector who will always give any QB a chance. SIMMS must know that he just cannot compete!!!

[Nick]

Have to agree with you Braheem "he just cannot compete" If Simms has lost his arm strenght and throwing mechanics, he's out of the NFL. But if Simms is healthy, my money is on him to win a SB with another team. Like I said before, it could be Miami!

[Chris]

Gruden's offense is designed around running the ball and the short passing game. Simms strength is throwing a great deep ball, so I think he would do much better in a vertical passing style offense with a great running game. Minnesota would be a great fit for him. I think he would be an upgrade from Tavaris Jackson. There are hundreds of stories about guys who didnt fit into a particular system on a particular team, went to another team and became good, solid NFL players. He is a good kid, leave him be and let him move on. Bashing should be saved for players like Pacman who actually DESERVE it.

[Vince]

Well said Chris

[kim]

Chris is still here after the same BS last year when he gets ready he will leave for the right team