Simms manages to survive cuts

The fifth-year pro remains one of four QBs as the Bucs trim their roster to 53 players.

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

TAMPA - Chris Simms is a Buccaneer - for now.

The fifth-year pro was among four quarterbacks kept by the Bucs as part of their 53-man roster announced Saturday.

Simms, 27, had just six snaps in the preseason, all last week in a game at Miami. He did not play Thursday night against the Texans because of a hip strain.

How long Simms will remain on the team is uncertain because he could be traded. The Bucs think Simms has value after signing him to a two-year, $7-million contract extension in December that included $5-million in guarantees.

Keeping Simms came with a price. The Bucs released promising Alabama rookie running back Kenneth Darby, who led the team in rushing in the preseason with 135 yards (4.1 average) and a touchdown.

That left the Bucs with the same number of running backs as quarterbacks.

"It just came down to a numbers game," running backs coach Art Valero said. "It's going to be a small (running backs) room with just four."

There were several other notable players among the cuts Saturday. Defensive tackle Ellis Wyms and linebacker Jamie Winborn were released in favor of keeping rookies Greg Peterson and Adam Hayward.

Receiver Mark Jones, who served as the team's punt and kickoff returner, was released, too.

Wyms, who joined the Bucs as a sixth-round pick in 2001, had three years left on his deal that would have paid him $3.9-million this season, $4.8-million in '08 and $5.7-million in '09.

"We had an idea beforehand," said Wyms' agent, Brian Levy. "He'll be fine. We've already heard from four teams."

Levy said the club had approached Wyms about restructuring his contract but "it wasn't an issue in the end."

"(Wyms) is a little younger than some of the other guys, so I'm not sure where they're going, but Ellis will be all right," Levy said.

Winborn, who backed up Derrick Brooks at weakside linebacker, elected not to exercise his option to become a free agent and returned to the Bucs in the offseason. But with Antone Cash on injured reserve with a season-ending knee injury, the team is expected to acquire a middle linebacker.

The Bucs continued their poor history of second-day draft picks, releasing cornerback Alan Zemaitis (fourth round in 2006) and defensive end Julian Jenkins (fifth round in '06).

The team parted ways with Paris Warren, the club's leading receiver in the preseason with 15 catches for 191 yards and four touchdowns. Warren suffered a dislocated ankle making the winning touchdown reception in the final preseason game against Houston and was waived injured.

The Bucs kept seven of their 10 2007 draft picks. The only exceptions were offensive tackle Chris Denman and cornerback Marcus Hamilton. Denman, receiver Chas Gessner and cornerback Carlos Hendricks were waived injured.

By far, the most intriguing decision of the day was keeping Simms because it's unusual for any NFL team to have four quarterbacks. In fact, some teams only carry just two.

Simms has struggled to recover from his splenectomy in September 2006. He began training camp with a sore left elbow and rarely got reps in 11-on-11 before the team left Lake Buena Vista.

In the past two weeks, Simms has shown progress and said Thursday night that he could be ready to play in the Sept. 9 opener at Seattle.

"I'm not far off. I'm not going to say I was 100 percent myself last week when I played, but I'm getting there," Simms said Thursday. "And I think if I continue to work and do the rehab and stuff that I've been doing, we've got a pretty good hold on this thing right now and I'm doing the right exercises. I've really felt a difference the last few weeks."

Staff writer Stephen F. Holder contributed to this report.

[Last modified September 2, 2007, 00:19:06]