Simms confident as he takes over at No. 1 QB
By RICK STROUD
Published April 12, 2006
TAMPA - Not since his days at the University of Texas four years ago had Chris Simms begun the spring football season as the No.1 quarterback.
No wonder there was finally a spring in his step Tuesday when he took command of the Bucs huddle on the first day of Organized Team Activities.
"It's definitely a different circumstance for me," Simms said. "It's good coming in here and knowing my position and being able to just work hard and get better.
"It was fun. It definitely was good to get out here and get on the field. The every day of coming out here and running is tedious and it's good to get out here and play some football and put on the helmet a little bit."
Although the workout was closed to the media and the public, by most accounts the Bucs enjoyed near perfect attendance for their first full-squad gathering.
Most important for Simms, he was under center Tuesday behind the five starting offensive linemen who played in all 17 games last season.
"It's huge, especially for the type of offense we run," Simms said. "It's a little more complicated than a lot of them and the up front part is the biggest because you do a lot with the line calls and protection and things of that nature. To have them all together again, it's going to speed our process along that much quicker."
Another bonus for Simms is the return of receiver Michael Clayton, who missed all offseason workouts a year ago recovering from knee surgery.
"It's great. (Clayton) has been working his butt off all offseason and his knee is feeling better and better," Simms said. "It's just great to have him back because people kind of forgot about him last year and they don't realize he played with a bum knee the whole year and never complained or said anything. That's what I respect about him more than anything is his toughness, his willingness to compete and he'll be back in top form."
THIRD YEAR A.D.: One day after signing a four-year, $4.725-million contract, tackle Anthony Davis reported about 25 pounds slimmer than when the season ended.
"It's going to help me a whole lot," Davis said. "Last year, I still wasn't a pro. My main thing was just getting back into playing shape by training camp, so that was hard. This offseason, when I went home, I focused on working out. I became a pro. You've got to be a pro even when the season is over. So I became a pro when I came back in great shape."
GRAMATICA IS BACK: Former Bucs placekicker Martin Gramatica said he does not regard replacing the Patriots' Adam Vinatieri as a "no-win situation."
"Well, we all know he is the greatest clutch kicker in NFL history," Gramatica said in a conference call Monday. "I don't see it as no-win.
"I'm just looking forward to the opportunity to kick in the NFL again. I'm just very excited for the chance. I don't see it as a no-win situation because if I go in there and do my job, everything should work out."
Vinatieri signed a free-agent contract with the Colts.