Bucs release Simms, Nece and rookie Moore

Quarterback Chris Simms finally got his wish: he was released by the Bucs Saturday.

Simms, 28, had hoped to be traded or released during the off-season. But the Bucs kept him through training camp and four preseason games, hoping another team might suffer a catastrophic injury at quarterback to increase his trade value.

The Bucs also released linebacker Ryan Nece and defensive tackle Dre Moore, a fourth-round pick from Maryland.

Nece was one of the few remaining members of the Bucs' Super Bowl team. He came to Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent in 2002.

Nece was a starter in 2003, 2005 and 2006. But he had fallen to third on the depth chart behind starter Cato June and backup Quincy Black.

One of the Bucs' most popular players for his charitable contributions after establishing the Ryan Nece Foundation, he appeared in 85 games, recording 141 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Moore, the 115th pick overall, didn't start playing football until his junior year in high school. He struggled with conditioning and failed to make many plays in training camp or the preseason.   

NFL teams had to trim their roster from 75 to 53 players by 6 p.m. Saturday.

The Bucs are expected to keep four quarterbacks - Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese, Luke McCown and rookie Josh Johnson.

""They released me,'' Simms said in a text message Saturday.

Simms played in three preseason games, completing 19-of-30 passes for 155 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. But he performed well enough to prove to other teams he is fully recovered from the effects of abdominal surgery that forced him to miss nearly all of the past two seasons.

The Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers are expected to have the most interest in signing Simms, who becomes a free agent.

The Cowboys' backup quarterback is 40-year-old Brad Johnson, Simms' teammate with the Bucs. The Packers have no experienced quarterback behind starter Aaron Rodgers.

""I really don't know what's going to happen,'' Simms said. ""I'm just going to wait and see.''

The Bucs also released running back Clifton Smith and were expected to place receiver Cortez Hankton on injured reserve.

One player who was happy Saturday was cornerback Elbert Mack, an undrafted free agent from Troy. Mack was notified that he had made the team after an outstanding preseason.

   

 

Comments

[Engelbert Humperdinck]

Please release me, let me go, for I don't love you anymore!

[Greg]

Well, the Bucs kept him out of the hands of Carolina who just traded for Josh McCown. Pittsburgh, Baltimore, or San Francisco may be in the market for him. Good luck Chris!

[george c. Costanza]

good luck, #2.

[mike j]

Did the Bucs get a trade offer of picks for Simms during the draft, or is that mere rumor??

[Chris Simm's Spleen]

*gurgle*

[boltcc]

Now Chris's slow torture by Gruden is over and he can make a fresh start

[bobbyd]

Good luck Chris.

Note to Chris's new offensive line: duck.

[Ben]

Now he can finally start fresh as a Winnipeg Golden Arrow or maybe apply for another year of NCAA eligibility

[ohio's biggest buc fan (jeremy)]

it's about time! we should have traded him a long time ago. we could have traded him for a 6th round pick at the draft witch is what we traded for griese. and josh johnson would have received some valuable reps in training camp. he wasn't made to run gruden's offence and the bucs are better off without him!!!

[Vince]

Jeremy, no one offered the Bucs a draft pick for Simms. That was a rumor started by . . . hmmm . . . who would benefit by creating a trade rumor about Simms?

[Bruce Allen]

I did not start a rumor about Chris Simms and I did not offer Brett Favre a contract.

[bobbyd]

Boy, I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in Gruden's office when they had the "we're releasing you" meeting.... I'm guessing Chris did a cartwheel or a pirouette, but then got hit by a defensive end and fumbled his playbook for old time's sake.

[J Feldman]

Wait... did Dre Moore get cut?

Dre Moore isn't just a 4th rounder, he's a 4th rounder we traded up to get! Ouch!

[JScott]

Moore should easily find the practice squad, he showed nothing until he faced the Texans JV Offensive line

[Joseph]

Stephen, why did Dre Moore get cut? Was it because he was out of shape?

[Tom]

Watch whatever team picks up Simms go to the Super Bowl right here in Tampa! BTW Gruden does not do the releasing of players, neither does Allen.

[Scott]

Nece really never did anything. He could play an entire game and you would never hear his name called. I don't think that he made a splash play in five years with the team....so, I was ready for him to go. Dre Moore not panning out more is a real dissapointment. Everyone was thinking that we got a steal with him....so much for that!

[bobbyd]

Tom,
There's a decent chance in that (Simms getting signed by a team that will make it to the SB). Apparently the Cowboys are in need of someone to hold the clipboard and we know Chris Simms is the perfect candidate for that. I definitely would have thought that the head coach would be involved in the cutting process (from what I've seen on Hard Knocks, that's how the Cowboys do it).

[Simms' other internal organs]

We're screwed!

[DV]

bobbyd, the Cowboys are definitely not the model franchise to base your opinions on regarding who controls what. Remember, Jerry Jones has his hands in everything, and Wade Phillips is a lame duck coach just waiting to be replaced by Jason Garrett.

[Pass Batting Dummy]

Does that mean I got cut, too?

[CVal]

Jeremy, what is a draft witch? BobbyD, Even tho Simms had two D-Linemen hitting him when he threw the ball, Buenning deserved a slap in the head for playing so far below his ability.Tom is right. The turk is not Allen or Gruden. You have to own "a pair" to do that job. Mr. Simms, unlike some of our fans, you're a class act. Thanks for the nice comments about Tampa. Best wishes to you and your family.

[bobbyd]

DV,
It wasn't really an opinion, but more of an impression. I wonder if anyone here really knows what the Bucs process is.

[bobbyd]

I think we should all make a pact to come back here in 3 years so whomever is right about Simms can gloat properly.

[John Klopfer]

Good luck Mr. Simms. I hope you have a bright future.

[Rudy LA Buccaneer]

Ryan Nece released. We should have kept him on the team. I think he is going get picked up from some other team (Lions) and surpass as a Linebacker. Did you forget this is Ronnie Lott's kid..
Nice one Allen and Gurden. Simms to Dallas.

[ken]

Where can we find out who else got the ax?

[JScott]

BucEm.com or PewterReport.com

[DV]

I think we should all make a pact to come back here in 3 years so whomever is right about Simms can gloat properly.

Posted by: bobbyd

That is the smartest thing I've heard all day, lmao!

[DV]

Ryan Nece released. We should have kept him on the team. I think he is going get picked up from some other team (Lions) and surpass as a Linebacker. Did you forget this is Ronnie Lott's kid..
Nice one Allen and Gurden. Simms to Dallas.

Posted by: Rudy LA Buccaneer

Lotts' kid? So I guess we shoulda kept Simms cuz he's Phil Simms' kid? Nece hasn't done squat since he's been here. Any other free agents out there who need to ride their dads' coat tails?

[Bucs '79]

Tampa was fair to Simms, most teams would have cut him a year ago. More heart than ability, I'm afraid, which also describes Nece. Gruden has a thing for players' and coaches' sons.

[Drew]

Oh where, oh where, has the Simm boy gone. Oh where, oh where can he be. As he plunked it off of an OL's head, oh where, oh where can he be.

Takes a bow, does a little shuffle and bids a fair thee well to Simmy boy.

[DV]

I don't think the Bucs handled Simms in poor taste at all. Consider that for the past 2 years they paid him very well to rehab and get his game back so that they could show him off and get him some game film to prove he could still play. They basically helped him audition for a new job while paying him. They could have just cut him 2 years ago and he would most likely be unemployed right now. It's a business, and if what they did had gotten them a draft pick or 2, I bet most fans would be okay with how it was handled. Unfortunately when you're a QB and you aim passes at the back of your centers' head... you might have a hard time ever being a starter!

[JScott]

DV they should have played him with the starters at least once during the Pre-Season if they were truly attempting to get something in return for him. Putting him in there with the 3rd stringers was laughable. He should have been released when Brian Griese was traded for.. The Bucs did the wrong thing there....

[DV]

JScott I see your point, but unfortunately with the battle for #2 being waged, and Simms not being involved with that, they played him where they could. Josh Johnson is lucky to have gotten the snaps he did, I think he's the real odd man out if you ask me. JJ could have used the extra snaps they gave Simms. All things considered, it played out as fairly to all 5 QB's as it possibly could have, IMO.

[JScott]

Yeah but the #2 spot was decided in Training Camp. Griese looked better than McCown when he arrived. After the Patriots game it was clear that Griese was the #2. Simms didnt even play against the Jaguars... It doesnt really matter though. its water under the bridge. Both sides are finally moving on

[DV]

I'm still wondering if Garcia will be cut or traded, since he felt the need to publicly disrespect his coach. Look where that got Simms...

[JScott]

Garcia's fine though. Despite the fan bases grumblings, Griese would send us to an automatic 4-12 season. Garcia alone guarentees 8 to 9 wins...

I'm not sure Garcia would re-sign come the off-season however

[Ben]

SIMMS IS DA BEST QB EVA

[JScott]

it's odd that there hasnt been more commotion about his views on Gruden's offense... No play by the Tribune or the Times on that Fox News Interview

[DV]

Griese did better than 4 wins in his last go around with the Bucs. Off topic, does Matt Cassel have incriminating photos of Bellicheat or something? How does he stick as the Pats #2 after obviously sucking and being outplayed by his backups, one of which got cut?

[JScott]

you gotta wonder why the roster announcements are so hard to come by, we're approaching 3 hours since the deadline

[Michael]

Buccaneers.com has all the roster cuts.

[Chris Simms]

Can you guys tell me which team has the shortest offensive line? Thanks!

[Turk]

Wonder how many here agree with JScott's summation of Griese's ability to lead the team and his opinion of the record should Griese be under center?

[DV]

What was Griese, 5-1 I think when he opened the season as our starter last time? Brian has a good understanding of how Gruden thinks, and isn't afraid to make decisions. Mind you they aren't always perfect decisions, but hey, with this defense poised to be top 10 material, a good ground game, and above average field position provided by special teams (hopefully), the dink and dunk of Griese running the west coast offense can in fact win games... even more so if Bryant can make most of his field goals.

[Gru Jonden]

To be honest, I think Griese should start because Garcia is rusty as heck. He'll probably end up on injured reserve anyway since he can't seem to avoid getting smeeshed when he scrambles. Go Bucs!

[bobbyd]

I agree DV. One could argue that same logic about Garcia. We don't need much from the QB position other than ball control and good decision making. Garcia proved he can do both last season (only 4 ints). Additionally, Garcia also proved he can throw the long ball too. He was 6th in the league in passes over 40 yards.

[G. Michael Reynolds]

well this suits me as ive heard great things about chris' little brother, thought like most other tampa fans i really liked chris. :(
good luck #2

[Malcolm "money bags" Glazer]

I think its about time to bring in the secret weapon... Joey Harrington!

[Chris Simms 2]

I just got picked up by the Rays. Some j*ck*ss keeps throwing home run balls with 2 outs left in the 9th.

[Chris Simms 2]

I just got picked up by the Rays. Some j*ck*ss keeps throwing home run balls with 2 outs left in the 9th.

[scott]

I hope Chris Simms is successful on another team but his time as a BUC was over a long time ago. Maybe a fresh start will do him good.

Scott

[Turk]

My biggest concern is where Garcia's mind is at. It is obvious he is ticked off big time. I know he IS a competitor but he said on TV that the playbook is too difficult and especially on him. I just don't think his mind is where it should be and that it will hurt the esprit of the offensive line and his ability to lead the team.

DV hit it on the head when he said that Greise "understands" the Gruden playbook and he makes it work. At least his head is in the right place and that is half the battle on the field.

[alan]

Man rick what are you going to do with no Chris around anymore to write about.
Looks like you may have to write about something compelling for once. Then again...

[bobbyd]

I believe this much... if Griese is performing better than Garcia in practice, you'll see him sooner rather than later. Gruden has no qualms about replacing someone with someone who he believes will perform better.

[DV]

Yeah you know, it aint a real confidence booster for your team mates when you show your @ss and whine and complain and go so far as to state that you should be the starting QB, yet at the same time say that the coaches' playbook is way over your comprehension level. How does that inspire a winning attitude? The best NFL QB's ooze confidence even if they lack talent (Vick?), but their confidence inspires their team mates. Garcia has gone the wrong direction.

[Tony G]

CVal, you are right about needing a pair to do the Turks job...guess that's why Tony Dungy sent the Turk to cut Brad Culpepper.

[ToddsBucs1]

From the Bengals we should sign Andews for OL and Ruji for back up RB.Get Moore back to the practce squad.Go Bucs!!!

[Ruji]

yay!

[Bucs4life]

Hey Alan,
Don't hate, apppreciate. Where'd you got your info on Simms, Nece and Moore getting cut? Wasn't on your fav website?

[Superdome]

uh oh

[wizdomheard]

Theirs always the practice squad for these players. Keep Hope Alive!