Rice should be ready by training camp

Defensive end Simeon Rice stretched and shared a few laughs with teammates Tuesday morning, but that was the extent of his appearance on the practice field at the Bucs' mandatory minicamp.

By RICK STROUD
Published June 20, 2007

Bucs coach Jon Gruden, left, jokes with Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and Jack Harris during an interview.
	[Brendan Fitterer | Times]

TAMPA - Defensive end Simeon Rice stretched and shared a few laughs with teammates Tuesday morning, but that was the extent of his appearance on the practice field at the Bucs' mandatory minicamp.

Rice, 33, missed the final eight games last season and still is recovering from shoulder surgery. He has not been cleared to practice this off-season, but the Bucs expect him to be ready for the start of training camp July 27.

Rice returned during the afternoon session and ran a series of windsprints on the adjacent practice field. Even though he is in the final year of his contract and the team used a first-round pick on Gaines Adams, his eventual replacement, the Bucs expect Rice to return to Pro Bowl form.

"I don't know if you guys were out here, but the guy is running like a horse, " cornerback Brian Kelly said. "Just watch out. Sim, 97, shows up to play, and we know what we can get from him."

Kelly, who missed much of the voluntary offseason workout program rehabbing a turf toe injury, declared himself healthy to start the season.

Rookie guard Arron Sears, a second-round pick from Tennessee, also did not practice due to undisclosed "issues." Coach Jon Gruden said Sears would be ready by training camp.

Although it was hardly a surprise, one player who did not attend the mandatory minicamp was Broncos free agent quarterback Jake Plummer, who has announced his retirement. Plummer could be subject to fines, but the team won't comment on whether he would face sanctions.

Since trading for Plummer in March, the Bucs have not been able to convince the 32-year-old quarterback to report.

"We're talking about Jake Plummer here, " Gruden said. "So we'll reserve a roster spot for the Snake a little while longer. If it were Jake Jones or Jake Johnson or Jake Gruden, we'd probably bypass the holding pattern that we're in right now. ... At this point, he's retired, and hopefully at some point, he changes his mind or reconsiders."

GARCIA TAKES CONTROL: Quarterbacks Jeff Garcia and Bruce Gradkowski took the majority of snaps. Chris Simms, who still is trying to regain his throwing motion following surgery in September to remove his spleen, continues to struggle.

"Again, he's coming off a serious injury, " Gruden said. "We want to take a look at Jeff Garcia. He's getting the brunt of the work right now. And Gradkowski's performing very well. ... But Chris' reps will increase when he earns it, when he gets back physically and when he starts moving our football team."

NEW BUCS: The Bucs signed punter Sean Douglas and defensive end Jeremy Pittman. To make room for those players, the team released linebacker Jerry Mackey and kicker Garrett Rivas. Douglas handled the punting duties at the University of Washington the past three seasons and finished his career with a 42.8-yard gross average. Pittman, a tryout player during a three-day rookie minicamp in May, had 24 tackles and one sack last season at Central Arkansas.

INJURY REPORT: Defensive end Charles Bennett, defensive tackle Darrell Campbell and tight ends T.J. Williams and Keith Heinrich were held out of the morning practice with an assortment of injuries.

[Last modified June 20, 2007, 00:10:58]