Rumors link Rice and Lions

Detroit might be a willing partner if the Bucs decide to trade veteran Simeon Rice

By RICK STROUD
Published January 7, 2007

TAMPA - During training camp, Simeon Rice stood on the sideline with the rest of the starting defensive line. The talk was about a familiar anthem that had made them one of the best units in the NFL.

"Four playing as one," Rice repeated several times.

Later in the week, the end bemoaned the loss of defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, who coined the phrase.

"I miss my little Italian friend," Rice said of the Lions coach.

Did he ever.

Rice had just two sacks in eight games before succumbing to season-ending surgery on his left shoulder.

Last week, Rice returned to the new training facility to resume rehabilitation.

General manager Bruce Allen, noting the Bucs finished tied for 30th in the league in sacks, sounded as if the team would welcome Rice back with open arms.

"He looks good. He's always been one of the most phenomenal training athletes you'll ever meet," Allen said. "Clearly this season, there are two really poor performances by us. Our quarterback position performed poorly, and our defensing the quarterback position performed poorly.

"Now when people look at that and say quarterbacks get a lot of blame and too much credit at times, it is a true statement because when an opponent's quarterback rating is so high, that's due to pass rush. It's due to coverage. A lot of sacks are based on good coverage, and a lot of interceptions are based on great pass rush. We missed the dozen sacks that Simeon would've brought; that he has brought the last five or six years in the NFL."

Rice has one year left on his contract that will pay him $7.25-million. Despite all of the professed love for Rice, you have to wonder if the Bucs won't attempt to trade him this offseason.

The perfect partner? Marinelli and the Lions.

Rice will be 33 next month, and the Bucs aren't likely to re-sign him after 2007. Tampa Bay owns four of the first 68 picks in the draft and could take a defensive end with its first or second choice.

The Rice-to-the-Lions rumor has been getting a lot of ink in the Detroit newspapers and Pro Football Weekly the past week.

The Lions need a pass rusher off the edge. And Detroit has what the Bucs lack, a surplus of defensive tackles: Shaun Rogers, Cory Redding and Shaun Cody. Redding is an unrestricted free agent who likely will re-sign. Don't expect the Lions to give up on Rogers, arguably their best player. Cody has played only 22 games in two seasons.

The Bucs are $24-million under the salary cap, and they could acquire a defensive end via free agency.

However, don't forget about the possibility of a trade or two.

"I think there will be some opportunities in that," Allen said. "There are some discussions that are already going on around the league. And whether it's trades, free agency or the draft, we're looking into acquiring players."

SAFETY FIRST: One of the most glaring mistakes Allen made last offseason was overlooking the safety position. Dexter Jackson signed with the Bengals, and the Bucs bypassed a chance to sign Dwight Smith.

The coaches were nervous about the position, and their fears were well-founded. Jermaine Phillips and Will Allen finished with respectable numbers, but they missed too many tackles.

"Once again, we go back to where we were last year at this time. Those safeties did perform well, and we had the No. 1 defense in the league," Allen said. "Will Allen did do some good things this year as did Jermaine Phillips. If you compare their actual statistics and the facts with other safeties around the league, you're going to be a little surprised.

"Now did we miss some bad tackles this year? Gosh, yes. Did they lead the team in missed tackles? No. Were they in the top 10? Yes."

BARRY NICE: One name to keep in mind as a replacement for linebackers coach Joe Barry the Lions' new defensive coordinator is Ken Norton, who coaches the same position for Southern Cal.

"Anyone is a possibility," defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said of Norton.

"Let's put it that way."

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@ sptimes.com.

[Last modified January 7, 2007, 01:46:55]