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Bucs sack riled Rice
Defensive end released after failing his physical and refusing a paycut. He vows to play again.
By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Published July 27, 2007
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General manager Bruce Allen said that Simeon Rice was not interested in taking a pay cut. Now he's gone.
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[Brendan Fitterer | Times]
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[Brendan Fitterer | Times]
Newly signed defensive end Gaines Adams from Clemson signs autographs for fans outside the team hotel. The pressure is on the Bucs' No. 1 pick.
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CELEBRATION - The Bucs say it was about his health. Simeon Rice says it was about his paycheck.
Either way, one of the most prolific pass rushers in Bucs history is just that. History.
Hours after the Bucs released Rice for failing a physical, the 33-year-old defensive end was still seething about the team's decision to end his six-year career in Tampa Bay.
"To be honest, the whole thing was just about the money," Rice said by telephone Thursday night. "That's all it was."
Rice, who is recovering from left shoulder surgery, was scheduled to earn $7.25-million this season.
General manager Bruce Allen admitted that Rice refused to take a pay cut to remain with the team. "He wasn't interested in that," Allen said.
Rice appeared in good spirits when he reported to training camp just before 4 p.m. Thursday and accompanied teammates from the Celebration Hotel to the training facility. In fact, coach Jon Gruden had pronounced the entire team healthy and ready to begin practice this morning at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex.
But just a few hours later, the Bucs called an 8 p.m. news conference to announce Rice's release.
Allen said the Bucs could've placed Rice on the physically unable to perform list but worried his recovery may take longer than expected. Rice missed the final eight games last season, recording a career-low two sacks.
Rice, who was headed to Chicago late Thursday, vowed to return to action in about a month with another team.
"We roll with the punches, dog," Rice said. "You know I'll be back, with a vengeance and better than ever. I know they've got some big shoes to fill down there now."
Allen said it was only a coincidence that Rice's release came shortly after the team signed first-round pick Gaines Adams, Rice's heir apparent at right defensive end, to a six-year, $46-million contract.
"I know that's an easy addition formula to make," Allen said. "But they're really not related. Simeon's situation is separate from Gaines'. We saw Gaines as a talent in the draft. This move was not really related to that. Say Gaines didn't sign on time, Simeon wasn't going to play anyway."
Allen said the release of Rice will accelerate Adams' ability to improve as an NFL player. "We see Gaines as a part of our long-term future," Allen said. "For him to get more exposure is not a negative, it's a positive."
Whether Adams can replace one of the NFL's all-time great pass rushers remains to be seen. Rice has been an enormous force in the Bucs defense since signing as a free agent in 2001.
The 12th-year veteran ranks second in the NFL among active players with 121 career sacks.
However, Allen said he did expect Rice to recover in time to play this season.
"We anticipated and he anticipated being healthy coming to camp," Allen said of Rice. "We held him out of our offseason programs. I don't think it was any burden to him. He needs some more time to recover. Simeon agreed. He's going to get aggressive with it. He was very confident he has a lot of football left. I don't think the last chapter in Simeon Rice's career has been written."
Meanwhile, the pressure increased on the 24-year-old Adams to contribute quickly to a defense that recorded just 25 sacks last season in falling out of the top 10 for the first time in a decade.
"I just want to earn that respect from the coaching staff and the players," Adams said of his decision to sign in time for the first workout today.
"It's like coming to college. I don't know what to expect. I'm nervous. But the first day starts today. The most exciting part is knowing it's done and I'm here on the first day and at practice the first day."
Whenever Rice is cleared to play, he shouldn't have much trouble finding work. The Redskins, Lions and Bears could all have an interest in a pass rusher.
In six seasons with the Bucs, Rice was named to the Pro Bowl twice, in 2003 and 2004.
News of Rice's release stunned teammates.
"Shocker, eh?" punter Josh Bidwell said. "I'd better play well because nobody is safe. I'm as shocked as you are."
Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@sptimes.com. Fast Facts:
Simeon Rice by the numbers
69 1/2 sacks as a Buc, third on the team's all-time list behind Lee Roy Selmon (781/2) and Warren Sapp (77).
15 1/2 sacks in 2002, second on the Bucs' single-season list behind Sapp (161/2).
4 sacks in one game (vs. Redskins in 2003), tied for the Bucs' franchise best with Marcus Jones (vs. Detroit, 2000).
[Last modified July 27, 2007, 06:53:38]
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Comments on this article
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by Ann
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07/30/07 03:02 PM
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So now we go from bad to worse. I hope the Bucs loose every game this year.
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by willie
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07/29/07 12:55 PM
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Yes he was overpaid but,over the hill?, I think not. If Lynch, Jones, Jeravichious, Quarells, Mac Cardel,Sapp, possibly Alstott and the Bucs have had two consecutive losing seasons. Maybe Gruden is the problem, Don't you think?
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by Jeremiah
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07/29/07 07:26 AM
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Over the hill, overpaid, and injury plagued...sounds like a Redskin to me. Snyder sign him to a lucrative 6 year deal with all the money up front.
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by john
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07/29/07 01:28 AM
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haha morons he will sign with the skins, i guarantee it. and i bet he'll have 4 sacks against you loser Buc's when we play you next season! hahaha
dan snyder, do it
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by Brian
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07/28/07 08:38 AM
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old an injured is not worth 7.25m Sim should know that.I think he wanted out!
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by Tony
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07/27/07 10:39 PM
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Peace out, cub scout.
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by The Floridian
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07/27/07 10:14 PM
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Here it is folks. Simeon was hurt would you pay that much for no return if you owned the Bucs? I think not. I like simeon and I liked Lynch but the bottom line is these were the right calls to make at the time. You can't make everyone happy. GO BUCS
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by Maggie
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07/27/07 08:56 PM
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rice's release could be a blessing. He will go the way of all the others-released without the Buc organization showing class or professionalism -Dungy,Lynch, and others that got away and excelled Dunn,Thomas, McCardell. Well, payback's a mother 6-10.
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by Keith
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07/27/07 08:33 PM
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The redskins knew he was going to be here thats why they didn't go after D-ends this off season. Look for them to do the same with D- tackles, when one comes available.
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by Tj
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07/27/07 06:50 PM
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I don`t understand? You say we need to get younger fine. Then they release a older player and everyone seems to be in a uproar that was the wrong one to release. Gotta take a chance sometime, why not now? Maybe Adams will turn out to be as good?
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by Tommy
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07/27/07 06:06 PM
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No doubt The Li-downs will sign him. He is Marinelli's guy. Millen will do whatever Marinelli wants because Rod is his last hope of of showing that he actually knows something about building a football team (He doesn't.) Stupid Ford will throw money
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by Brent
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07/27/07 03:32 PM
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Hmmm. Simeon Rice would look good in Vikings Purple! Erasmus James and Kenechi Udeze combined for a whopping total of 0 sacks, so Simeon Rice couldn't do any worse than those two here in Minny...
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by Irish Mike
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07/27/07 03:03 PM
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He let go of Rice? Well, it's about time. She helped to make a bollix of Iraq...oh, you mean SIMEON? Well, he bit last year too.
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by BN
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07/27/07 02:58 PM
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Gruden and Allen know they need to win this year or else. Bottom line: if they couldn't win without Rice he'd be here. Rice could've avoided this by taking the cut since he'll only play 10 games or so this season anyway. His pride cost him his job.
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by Kassey
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07/27/07 02:14 PM
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Like Booger, Rice will become the final piece to another teams run for the RING
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by Michelle
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07/27/07 02:08 PM
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Ummm...this sounds just like the whole Lynch debacle. Bucs thought he was too injured, too old an not worth the $ and now he's kicking butt on the Broncos. Same thing will happen with Rice.
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by Andy
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07/27/07 02:00 PM
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We are only twenty five years away from our next super bowl.
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by Edgar
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07/27/07 01:48 PM
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Even with or without Simeon Rice on the team, they are a 6-10 or 7-9 team. Simeon Rice is on his last legs. Rice had a nice career with the Bucs but they have to move on. The only player they should have never got rid of was Warrick Dunn.
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by Dave
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07/27/07 01:00 PM
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This move doesn't make the Bucs better. I predict 7-9.
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by tbone
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07/27/07 12:55 PM
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I think it was time for Rice to go I flat out saw him quit on plays. Look at the crushing comeback by Indy a couple of years ago. He just stood there and watched Seee Yaaa!@
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by Keith
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07/27/07 12:44 PM
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Why is it that atheletes sign these multi million dollar deals and its never about the money. But the first thing they Whine about when they are renegotiating there contract, or after they have been let go. Its about Money! they dont want to pay me!!
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by Mo
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07/27/07 12:37 PM
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A mess as usual! I can't wait to see Rice hand the Bucs their butts when he plays against them just like Sapp did
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by Clint
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07/27/07 12:20 PM
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The Bucs are back to being the laughing stock of the NFL. Nice Job, boys.
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by Steve
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07/27/07 11:58 AM
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NEWSFLASH FOR THE IDIOTS!!!
Gruden didn't get rid of Sapp. The decision to get rid of sapp was made in 2003 when everybody's hero, McKay gave Booger all that money. That contract ensured that Sapp would be gone in 2004.
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by DMC
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07/27/07 11:04 AM
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Smacks of the old Culverhouse days.
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by Cole
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07/27/07 10:56 AM
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I am shocked... is he really so unhealthy that Gruden's gang feels the only option is to get rid of the most productive guy on the Defense? Okay, so he had a bad year- so what? He will recover and become Defensive MVP for another team. Nice work.
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by Jesse
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07/27/07 10:38 AM
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He couldn't play the run and his sack numbers are way down. He's older and is starting to show it. I'd rather see that cap space go to someone else. Everyone says we are so deep at QB. I see only one on our team, Garcia.
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by Irv
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07/27/07 10:18 AM
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so a loooooong season just got longer. lets finally cut gruden and his boy allen and restore a little respect to this franchise. any player who competes with gruden for the spotlight will soon find themselves on the way out of town. what a joke.
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by Darren
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07/27/07 10:08 AM
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Simeon is the man, but lets be honest not a $7.25 million man. Football is also a business and that $ needs to work in other areas. Simeon knows he is welcome, but not at $7.25. Get healthy, check the market, and then negotiate a new contract here.
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by Alicia
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07/27/07 09:57 AM
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Another stupid decision made by the magnificent duo of Allen and Gruden. Lynch, Sapp, McCardell, Jones, Quarles, now Rice. Makes it hard to root for a team with no dynamic players left. maybe they should bring the orange uniforms and paper bags back!
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by Patrick
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07/27/07 09:51 AM
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We will miss Rice for sure. Thanks for the highlights, Simeon! Good luck, take care...
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by SAM
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07/27/07 09:39 AM
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When is everyone going to get the knowledge that this team has gone downhill since they hired Gruden maybe they should get rid of Gruden. First Lynch and now Simeon whose next?
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by Bud
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07/27/07 09:35 AM
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I believe all the "cuts" the Bucs have made in the past few years are all related to trying to operate an NFL franchise on the cheap as they have gotten rid of all their great players amd it was Dungys team that went to the Super Bowl, not Grudens!
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by JOhn
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07/27/07 09:13 AM
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The Bucs will stink again and Gruden is no offensive genius. If it was it wouldn't matter who was his quarterback, he'd be able to come up with something that produces.
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by Tom
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07/27/07 09:08 AM
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I've been saying since the end of last season that we should have resigned White and let Rice loose. We wouldn't have had to waste a 1st rounder on Adams.
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