Though Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune suggests that the requirement to cut team rosters to 80 by the start of training camp could hasten the departure of quarterback Chris Simms, we simply don’t see the two issues as being related.

The Bucs have begun the reduction efforts, dumping linebacker Patrick Chukwurah and defensive tackle Marquis Gunn.

Per Cummings, eight more need to go before camp opens.

But Cummings overlooks the fact that the Bucs currently are playing a high-stakes game of chess and/or chicken with Simms, whose failure to show for a recent mandatory minicamp already has allowed the team to pursue $400,000 from him in fines and bonus money.

If Simms doesn’t report for training camp, he won’t count against the roster, and could owe another $1.125 million or more.  If he makes it clear that he plans to report, the team can still squat on his rights for as long as possible, making it even harder for him to latch on elsewhere.

So, yeah, the Bucs need to cut eight more guys.   We’ve got a feeling that Simms will be the last guy out.

The wild card in this regard is ownership.  Last year, the Glazers reportedly vetoed plans to cut Simms, and instructed management to put him on injured reserve, where he received his full salary of $2 million.

This time around, the Glazers could put one or more of their feet down and order the front office to cut Simms loose.  Given their willingness to get involved in the process last year, it’s kind of surprising that they haven’t already insisted that Simms receive the freedom he craves.

UPDATE:  As a reader points out (and as we should have realized), the 80-man limit already applies.  As each draft pick signs, a player will have to go.  Still, we don’t believe it has any bearing on Simms’ short-term status.