How long before Bucs deal Simms?

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
Published September 2, 2007

TAMPA - It's hard to believe the Bucs plan to keep Chris Simms for the entire season.

Not when only three quarterbacks dress on Sundays and one of them is inactive.

Not when there are so many needs on a team that is coming off a 4-12 season.

And not when Jon Gruden has to win now.

Many executives around the league think the Bucs intend to part ways with Simms. But when?

Perhaps the Bucs are hoping that in the next several weeks, a team will lose its quarterback and be in a position where it is more inclined to deal a decent draft pick for Simms.

One thing is fairly certain. Had Simms been released Saturday, he would be an Atlanta Falcon this morning.

The Falcons were in the market for another quarterback after D.J. Shockley suffered a torn ACL and is out for the season, leaving them with starter Joey Harrington and backup Chris Redman.

The thought of giving Simms away to a division rival and former Bucs general manager Rich McKay was probably pretty unappetizing.

So the fifth-year player remains a Buc, and he is hoping to stay in Tampa Bay the rest of the year. The rest of his career for that matter.

Having had just six snaps during the preseason, Simms was a bit of a long shot to make the team.

He has struggled to recover from the splenectomy he suffered in September 2006. But he is doing exercises to improve his proprioception problems, and he has had significant improvement.

Just the same, Simms has never been a great fit for Gruden's offense.

Now Gruden has three other quarterbacks that share similar traits. Jeff Garcia, Luke McCown and Bruce Gradkowski are all right-handed and can make plays with their feet.

"That's important because no matter what you think, you tailor a big part of your offense to the quarterback," Gruden said.

The bottom line is Simms has value. The Bucs signed him to a two-year, $7-million extension in December, with $5-million guaranteed.

They're not giving him away. And who knows? Only one quarterback under Gruden in Tampa Bay - Brad Johnson in 2003 - ever went wire to wire.

GO FIGURE: Greg White, Leon Joe and Donald Penn.

You could've made a pretty good bet if you said those three players would make the team's 53-man roster while Ellis Wyms, Jamie Winborn and Mark Jones would not.

White, the Arena Football League defensive player of the year, joined the Bucs late in training camp and showed enough promise as a pass rusher to make the team.

SPREADING THE FIELD: For those who thought receiver Michael Clayton was on the bubble, hate to burst it.

Clayton was among five receivers kept by the team, a list that includes Joey Galloway, Maurice Stovall, David Boston and Ike Hilliard.

Look for Gruden to try to utilize more three-receiver sets. In fact, it wouldn't surprise anyone if the Bucs become more of a team that sets up the run by using the pass.

[Last modified September 2, 2007, 00:52:34]