Rice deal longer than thought
By STEPHEN F. HOLDER, JOANNE KORTH and GREG AUMAN
Published May 1, 2006
TAMPA - Defensive end Simeon Rice 's contract had been scheduled to expire after the 2006 season, but information from the NFL Players Association indicates he is under contract through 2007.
It is not known what change was made to Rice's contract, but union information shows he is scheduled to earn $6-million in base salary this season and $7.25-million in 2007. General manager Bruce Allen , who does not comment on the exact structure of contracts, would not confirm or deny Sunday that Rice's deal had been redone.
Rice, 32, ranked third in the league in sacks last season with 14 and has 56.5 over the past four seasons.
ALL IN THE FAMILY: Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin knows all too well the task the Bucs face twice each season now that former USC running back Reggie Bush plays for the Saints.
Kiffin's son, Lane, is USC's offensive coordinator.
"Every time I had the chance, I'd turn on the TV to watch SC," Kiffin said. "So, I've basically seen every play this guy's had. And the ones I missed, Lane brought home and showed me: "Watch this dad.' "Oh, that's great. Go, Reggie, go."'
And now?
"Ohhhh," Kiffin said.
Everywhere the Bucs turn in the NFC South, they will face strong runners. Atlanta has one of the NFL's top running games with Warrick Dunn , T.J. Duckett and quarterback Michael Vick . Carolina used its first-round pick on Memphis back DeAngelo Williams .
Kiffin was watching television Friday night when news broke that Houston GM Charley Casserly had reached a deal with N.C. State defensive end Mario Williams . When Williams became the No.1 overall pick, that left Bush, the Heisman Trophy winner, for New Orleans at No.2.
"Thanks a lot, Charley," Kiffin said.
FORMER IDOL: Early in his career at Stanford, defensive lineman Julian Jenkins patterned himself after Rice. That was before he added 35 pounds to his 6-foot-3 frame to reach 273.
"In the beginning of my career I was a little bit smaller and lined up further outside like he does," said Jenkins, the Bucs' fifth-round pick. "I was a speed rusher my first two years, but I didn't know how to be. As I got a little bit older I started playing more like a tackle. Now I've learned how to be a speed rusher and how to be an interior rusher, too."
Jenkins played in both a 3-4 and 4-3 scheme at Stanford, depending on the opponent. His versatility will allow him to play at least three positions.
"Anywhere I can prove myself worthy, that's where I'm going to play," Jenkins said.
ALWAYS A NEED: The Bucs added two tight ends, North Carolina State's T.J. Williams in the sixth round and Michigan's Tim Massaquoi in the seventh. The position is critical in coach Jon Gruden 's offense.
"We need tight ends," Gruden said. "We use them to run it, throw it. We need them. We thought about a tight end in every round, honestly. We weren't able to get one until the sixth round, but the ones we got have a lot of the traits we're looking for."
LOCAL TIE: The Bucs added an undrafted free agent in Riverview and West Virginia's Jahmile Addae . "They're close to home, and it was the opportunity to play under a great coaching staff," said Addae, a 5-foot-11, 210-pound safety who earned first-team All-Big East honors as a junior and senior.
UP NEXT: The Bucs will hold a minicamp for rookies, including the 10 draft picks, Friday through Sunday. The team is expected to add several undrafted free agents.
DRAFT BITS: Jenkins is the second Stanford player drafted in as many years by the Bucs, who selected Cardinal tight end Alex Smith in the third round in 2005. ... This likely was the franchise's final draft at One Buc Place. A new facility is scheduled to be ready when the team breaking training camp in August.