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Adam Schefter of NFL Network is reporting that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have cut quarterback Chris Simms.
Simms is not eligible for waivers, which means he becomes an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any team he chooses.
One team that may be interested in Simms’ services is Chicago, where starter Kyle Orton and backup Rex Grossman don’t inspire much confidence. Although Caleb Hanie is on the Bears’ roster as the third quarterback right now, it seems likely that he could be out of work and the Bears could make an offer to Simms.
Simms started 15 games in five years for Tampa Bay.
August 30th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Hell, he could pick any of the NFC North teams. He could easily be the back up for the Lions or Packers, start for the Bears or Biqueens.
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
August 30th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Wonder if the Giants will make a play. They shouldn’t feel to comfortable with the Carr wreck as the lone backup.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
August 30th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Gruden should be hit in the balls for how he’s handled Chris Simms. He knew heading into the season that he wasn’t going to use him on the Bucs roster this year.
Cut the kid and give him a chance to catch on somewhere in camp.
This is embarrassing, and this is coming from someone he usually likes Gruden…
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Rating: 4.2 / 5 with 10 rating(s)
August 30th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Any thoughts on if Parcells would bring Simms to Miami?
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August 30th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
I don’t get it. Simms wouldn’t bring more to the table than Orton or Grossman. It would be a mistake to risk putting Hanie on waivers to snap up Simms. Waive Grossman for Simms though? I like that more.
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Rating: 4.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
August 30th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Simms got paid a lot of money to sit on IR last season, the Bucs can use him however they see fit. They signed him to the same deal Jeff Garcia got after his (Simms) injury.
So screw off.
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Rating: 2.85 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
August 30th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
ditto that word2. Simms was competing for a job and failed. Besides, Gru is theCOACH, not gm
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Rating: 2.6 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
August 30th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
“Gruden should be hit in the balls for how he’s handled Chris Simms.”
I KNOW!!! I mean it’s downright deplorable the way they resigned Simms and paid him more than 5 million dollars just a few months after his injury, clearly knowing he would be injured a long time, and may not even play a down again.
The nerve of them trying to shop him now he’s FINALLY healthy for hopes of a draft pick for return on that 5 million dollar investment. I’m sure Simms offered to return all that dough he made while there was no chance of him earning it on the field. It was probably just not publicized.
Gruden is just despicable!
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
August 30th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Bye Bye cry baby Chris - If your Dad was not Phil Simms you would not have even made PFT.com
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
August 30th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
So keeping Simms through camp, and then cutting him for nothing in return, when you knew you weren’t going to keep him, is better than getting a draft pick for him before the draft?
Are you people retarded?
I’m talking to you word2that, bigbuc, buccanole, and tssjj2000. Wish I was in your FFL.
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Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
August 30th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
CHRIS SIMMS SUCKS !!! why in the world would anyone be clamoring for his services. If the Bears cut Hanie to pick up this spleenless piece of crap someone should give Jerry Angelo the Moe Green treatment.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
August 30th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Grossman for Simms if they do make a move……hanie looked amazing in preseason!….
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August 30th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
They weren’t offered any draft picks, that was bs put out by Simms and his agent. He was under contract, they can use him as they see fit. If one of their QB’s went down in training camp he’d be the insurance policy as he’s been in the system for five years (even though he sucks). Thats why you keep him on the roster.
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Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
August 30th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
MagicSoccerSpray, who said the Bucs were offered anything for Simms (do you work for the Bucs and have some inside info?) and if the actually was it was probably a late round pick. Why not hold on to him to see if he plays well in the preseason and maybe get a decent pick for him. Your jerkoff thinking you know what if anything was offered for Simms.
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Rating: 2.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
August 30th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Somebody tell me why these teams can’t get Jake Plummer out of retirement. He’s better than Orton, Simms, etc.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
August 30th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
He won’t be able to help the Bears. Their offense is the worst unit in football. I hear their quarterbacks coach is working on getting Orton and Grossman to say “you want fries with that?” as they break the huddle so they can prepare for their future after this season. The only hope is that their offensive offensive line (not a typo) is able to get those two stooges knocked out and we can see Caleb Hanie. How bad does you offense have to be to hope for that? And the receivers? They cut their best receiver, Mike Hass (2nd coming of Tom Waddle, also known as the greatest receiver of all time), when their starters may end up being two former corners (Davis and Hester). Although looking at Orton and Grossman, it probably is more important for their receivers to be good tacklers than good receivers…
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
August 30th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Bruce Allen has stated repeatedly that there was NO trade interest in Simms.
Knowing they weren’t going to use him, don’t you think the Bucs would have traded him for something IF THEY COULD HAVE??
The NFL is a business. Employees who aren’t contributing get canned. It really is that simple.
Gruden is not tasked with “handling” players, much less nurturing the fragile psyches of Mama’s boys. His job is to field a winning team. Obviously Simms was not contributing enough to be a part of the Bucs plans. He probably had a much greater opportunity than others with his level of ability.
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
August 30th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Magic,
Happen to have an iota of proof what if anything was offered? Before you offer speculation…Bucs fans know speculation “Farve will be a Buc”, “Parcells is the next Bucs coach”, etc.
Or let me guess, you know Bruce Allen? Rumors get started by other teams all the time around draft time.
So, the reality is: The Bucs payed poor boy Simms 5 Milly+ to hold the clipboard, and there’s nothing wrong with holding him through training camp. (unless we had a tool like you as our GM jumping at the first weak offer)
At best even if a late round pick had been offered at the draft, it’s smart to hold him through camp in hopes of raising his value. If it doesn’t they are not losing jack SQUAT!
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
August 31st, 2008 at 7:09 pm
At my workplace, and one of the workers severed part of his hand in machinery. The potential threat of liability was of grave concern to owner management. They immediately assumed a defensive posture, and set out to determine the level of fault and possible liability. In fact, there is a specific chain of command for guarding against the risk of liability.
Now, zoom back to the Bucs vs Panthers, September 2005. On national TV, Simms suffers severe, life threatening injury. But after examination by team doctors, and being misdiagnosed as suffering from “bruised ribs and/or dehydration”, he was marched back onto the field, being assured by the professional opinions.
Gruden assumed his usual posture of itching and belly-aching on the sideline, while Simms sucked it up, and mustered his strength, until taking a knee under excruciating pain.
Point is, the Bucs organization did not do Chris Simms a favor by maintaining him on the roster during his recovery and rehab. They simply opted for the road of the least liability. Chris’ injury was not dealt with properly, hence their liability. Anytime an employer sends an employee to task, after faulty medical evaluation, that would potentially result in the death of that employee, they have exposed themselves to extreme liability. Not being stupid, they maintained Chris on the roster, paying out his contract, rather than create a situation of injustice, that might lead to a franchise crippling lawsuit.
Under football compensation terms, Chris earned his money. Pain and suffering alone has been barely covered. He had every right, as a man, to request relief from such a patronizing situation.
The majority of Buc fans are homer sheep — disgusting. Ragging on Simms, extolling Gradkowski, like Gruden’s little lap dogs.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
August 31st, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Thoughtful post, tiptopbucfan. The liability issue for misdiagnosis makes a lot of sense in explaining why the Glazers insisted the Bucs keep Christina on IR for a second season.
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