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.

Simms has spleen removed

Quarterback Chris Simms had his spleen removed in emergency surgery after Sunday's 26-24 loss to the Carolina Panthers, Simms' mother Diana has told the St. Petersburg Times. She said her son's spleen apparently was ruptured early in Sunday's game.

The Bucs say Simms is in stable condition.

It is thought the injury occurred in the second quarter. Simms took several hard hits during the game -- on several pass attempts and a touchdown run -- and he left the game once in the third quarter, reportedly to be treated for dehydration. The quarterback went down on a knee at the end of a Bucs possession, but he walked to the locker room under his own power. But he returned to help the Bucs take the lead in the fourth quarter.

After the game, he also left the field under his own power.

Simms was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. There, he underwent the emergency surgery.

Team physician Dr. Joseph Diaco released this statement Sunday night: "Chris Simms suffered an injury to his spleen during today's game and was taken to the hospital. He underwent a splenectomy (removal of the spleen) this evening and is in stable condition. Chris is doing well and we anticipate a full recovery."

At his postgame press conference, Jon Gruden had said of Simms:

"He got hit early and he hurt his ribs. We don’t know the extent of that, but he played hard today. He played tough and he showed a lot of grit. He really did. It is a credit to him. He made some big plays when we needed him. We tried a lot of things today — flea flickers and going for it on fourth down, and he responded to a lot of different scenarios. He is hurting right now, there is no question. He left the game. I don’t know that it was because of his ribs, dehydration or both. He is a very sore and tired man right now, and I am proud of how he hung in there against a very good run defense."

Doctors say a ruptured spleen is the most common serious abdominal injury caused by blunt trauma.

A ruptured spleen is a serious injury because it can cause patients to bleed internally. If it is not corrected, it can be fatal.

Doctors say that the severity of the injury is graded on a four-point scale, depending on how badly the organ has been bruised or torn. Sometimes the damage to the spleen and its blood vessels is so severe that the organ needs to be removed in order to control internal bleeding.

But in cases that are not as severe, treatment often becomes a judgment call. Whether patients are taken to surgery for a particular spleen injury often comes down to personal preferences of the surgeons or the particular policy of the hospital where the patient is treated.

Cadillac's good, but Brian Kelly?

Cadillac Williams returned to practice Friday and said if the game were today, he'd play.

Brian Kelly, on the other hand, missed practice for the second consecutive day. He has a foot injury -- bad news for a cornerback -- and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Atlanta.

If Kelly can't go, Juran Bolden starts at cornerback and Alan Zemaitis, a rookie, becomes the fifth defensive back in nickel coverages.

-- Stephen Holder

Bill Serne photo of Kelly ; click to enlarge.

Caddy's back problems are back

Running back Cadillac Williams was held out of Thursday's practice with back spasms, and is listed as probable for Sunday's game at Atlanta. While players listed as probable usually play, the fact that the back spasms have returned is a concern for the Bucs.

Williams experienced back spasms in last Sunday's loss to the Ravens, something that contributed to his lack of carries (he carried eight times). Williams is coming off a brilliant rookie season that was marred by a persistent foot injury that sidelined him for two games and limited him significantly in portions of other games.

He's one of the toughest guys who I've met and, obviously, this is not something that's just gone away here overnight like we had hoped," coach Jon Gruden said Thursday. "Hopefully he gets a good night's sleep and a day's rest helps him."

Also added to the injury list Thursday: cornerback Brian Kelly, who is probable with a sore foot.

Times photo; click to enlarge.

Hovan's back

Defensive tackle Chris Hovan returned to practice Wednesday and said he intends to play Saturday night against the Dolphins. Hovan had been sidelined all this week with a cut that became infected. The ailment required a visit to the hospital on Monday and treatment with antibiotics, but all is well now.

"It was a minor infection and we just didn't want it to lead to a major infection," he said.

Elsewhere, linebacker Shelton Quarles (ankle) was back Wednesday, but running back Michael Pittman (Achilles) was out again with his on-and-off soreness.

Hovan on hold; Fiedler not full speed

The news of the day out of Monday's morning practice was the absence of nose tackle Chris Hovan for a second consecutive day. Coach Jon Gruden said Hovan has "a mild infection of some kind we're looking at." And the starter could miss a couple more days, according to the coach. In other injury news, cornerback Torrie Cox (ankle) remains sidelined, and linebacker Marquis Cooper missed most of practice after suffering a shoulder injury, though he said he would be fine.

As for backup quarterback Jay Fiedler, who is coming off an injury to his throwing shoulder, he said he still hasn't been cleared to practice even on a limited basis, though he is increasing the amount of work he can handle. Monday, he participated in a post-practice passing drill with receivers Maurice Stovall, Chas Gessner and several other players.

But his unchanged status means he probably won't see the field this week against his former team, the Dolphins. And it's still a tossup as to whether he even plays the following week at Jacksonville. It's one of the things to keep an eye on as the Bucs try to sort out their quarterback situation. They will have to make a decision at some point on who to keep on the active roster, and Fiedler's injury situation will have a huge bearing on that call.

AP photo; click to enlarge.

Allen's back -- sort of

Free safety Will Allen, right, who underwent surgery last week on his fractured left thumb, returned to practice Tuesday morning at Bucs camp on a limited basis. He still hasn't been cleared to play on Friday and is still wearing a hard cast. The doctors still won't allow him to have contact, which is frustrating for a player who prides himself on his physical play.

Elsewhere, right tackle Kenyatta Walker continues to sit out with a knee injury, as well as guard Toniu Fonoti (ankle) who is close to making his return.

There's also been a bit of shuffling among the linemen who are healthy. Jeb Terry, who had been taking snaps as the first-team right guard, spent much of Tuesday at left guard where Dan Buenning is the incumbent starter. That opens the door for Davin Joseph to get a crack at the starting lineup. Or, it could just be a temporary move. Let's see what happens in the afternoon session.

Stay tuned.

Times photo by Brendan Fitterer; click to enlarge.

Monday M*A*S*H unit

The Bucs returned to the field Monday morning. Make that most of the Bucs.

Injuries kept tackle Kenyatta Walker (knee), tackle Torrin Tucker (knee), guard Toniu Fonoti (ankle), safety Will Allen (thumb) and defensive end Charles Bennett (hamstring) out of the lineup.

Walker doesn't seem to be improving, and it's becoming a strong possibility that he could sit out Friday's preseason opener against the Jets. That would open the door for rookie Jeremy Trueblood to start at right tackle. Walker hasn't practiced in five days.

Fiedler making progress

LAKE BUENA VISTA - Quarterback Jay Fiedler continues to make progress in his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery, but does not have a target date for joining practice.

Fiedler threw after practice Saturday, increasing the distance of his throws from short to intermediate length.

"It's coming. Every day I get out here it's improving,'' said Fiedler, acquired as a free agent when backup Luke McCown injured his knee during offseason workouts. "I took a day off (Friday) and that really helped get it fresh. I definitely took a step forward (Saturday)."

Fiedler has not had any setbacks.

"The next step is uncorking it and letting it loose," he said.

Allen injures thumb

LAKE BUENA VISTA - Starting safety Will Allen, left, has a thumb injury that forced him to miss the morning workout Thursday. He is being fitted with a splint and expected to return Friday.

Injuries are nothing new to Allen, who missed three games last season due to torn ligaments in his thumb. He is expected to replace Dexter Jackson at free safety.

The Bucs rested veterans Kenyatta Walker, Brian Kelly and Greg Spires.

Running back Derek Watson complained of soreness in his neck following a collision with linebacker Jamie Winborn Thursday morning. Tests on Watson's neck checked out okay but he is uncertain when he will return to practice.

Photo: US Presswire; click to enlarge.