Simeon Rice CALLS out Head Coach Jon Gruden

by JScott on Jul 27, 2007 7:45 AM EDT in News

Let me just jump right into it, Simeon Rice had the following to say after being released by the Bucs yesterday:

"He's [Gruden] the phoniest [expletive] in the world," said Rice. "Jon Gruden didn't have the decency, after all these years and all we've been through together, to talk to me face to face. I know he's happy today."

"The only fall-off year I had came when I was hurt," he said. "I came here for a million dollars in 2001. I took a pay cut to come to Tampa just to show the world what I could do, and I'm going to come back full throttle. I'm still not 100 percent. I played two games last year with one arm and I'm not right yet. If another team out there respects me, I'll be right in three or four weeks."

"I'm the most consistent thing they ever had in Tampa. I'm excited about the future, because I believe in me. I always bet on black, baby. The next step is to let my body heal up and then I'll be a maniac. I'm an ageless wonder."

Whoever gets me is gonna be happy," said Rice. "I'll be grabbing my crown back. I'll miss [Derrick] Brooks, Brian Kelly, Ronde Barber ... those are my guys forever."

"All the Bucs did today was give me an adrenaline shot in my arm." - Tampa Tribune

To be honest, I was right there with Simeon after reading his first few comments and I even wondered whether or not there would be a mutiny in the locker room (a divide if you will) toward Head Coach Jon Gruden. BUT that final line about needing an adrenaline shot makes me question whether or not Simeon had become complacent or less hungry toward the end of his stay in Tampa. Clearly thats not an excuse or reason to release the big fella AND mark my words we will PAY for it big time. This puts an unreal amount of stress on Rookie DE Gaines Adams and it also allows teams to key in on him, as there is no longer a Pro Bowl type athlete on the other side of the line to help draw coverages. Ouch, I hope you know what you're doing Gruden/Allen (The past doesnt bode well for you two i.e. Lynch/Sapp).

It will be interesting to hear teammates comments ..... Don't let us down St. Pete Times, Tampa Tribune, Pewter Report!!!!!

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MINUTE RICE

ME, I THINK THE DEFENSE HAS BEEN BUTHURED ENOUGH. LYNCH, SAPP, GOLD, RICE, SINGLETON.....SAD, WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED AFTER LYNCH AND SAPP SPLIT...THINK WE`LL BE A TOP 3 DEFENSE? HA..HA

by stixx692001 on Jul 27, 2007 10:20 AM EDT reply actions

GRUDEN STUFF

OKAY, ME AGAIN...I DO LIKE CHUCKY HE HAS FIRE AND ALL THAT BUT HE MAKES ME NERVOUS CAUSE HE`LL CUT SOMEONE QUICK...I THINK THESE GUYS RICE,SAPP,LYNCH,GOLD,DUNN,SINGLETON,THE GUY WHO RAN BACK 2 INTERSEPTIONS FOR T.D.`S IN THE SUPERBOWL,McCARDELL,SHOULD HAVE STAYED AND RETIRED AS BUCS. YOU KNOW WITH A BUC HALL OF FAME BANNER HANGING IN THE STADIUM. KINDA GIVES US A FEELING OF A GREAT TEAM FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS MUCH LIKE THE COWBOYS AND STEELERS AND OTHER TEAMS THAT HAVE HAD GREAT YEARS.YOU CANT WIN IT ALL ALWAYS. SO REMEMBER THE GOOD YEARS AND EVERY TEAM HAS UPS AND DOWNS....THE BUCS HAD MORE THAN MOST SO WE SHOULD RESPECT AND HONOR THE MEN WHO HELPED GET US OUT OF THE "YUCKS" AND INTO THE "BUCS".

by stixx692001 on Jul 27, 2007 10:42 AM EDT reply actions

exactly

the Simeon Rice Release just seems brash and to sudden. Like the process wasnt completely thought out, every avenue turned. The Patriots arent cutting the Troy Brown's and Chad Jackson's of the world, because they know those guys are worth something to other teams in the league. Now we basically saved 7 mil this season. Big deal, we hurt our front line exponentially.

Losing Simeon by no means derails our season, but it certainly adds another question mark to the defense and whether or not it will be strong (pass rush) enough without Rice

I'm with you on the banner mentality. It's just insane that we let these guys go and prosper in the league and we're stuck wondering where our success has gone. Former GM McKay chose not to bring Warrick Dunn back so i cant hold the Gruden/Allen regime for that mistake, but Lynch, Sapp, Jackson, and now Simeon are all gone on Gruden's and Allen's watch. By looking at those quotes up above, it seems Simeon will vastly improve whoever signs him and thats just odd for our defense that struggled mightily last season to record sacks.

by JScott on Jul 27, 2007 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions