The UFL is back on the field Saturday night with the New York Sentinels taking on the Florida Tuskers. You can catch all the action live here on FanHouse.
ORLANDO -- Simeon Rice has carried the chip on his shoulder for so long that it became a standard part of his football uniform.
It's a boulder now.
Rice, a 12-year NFL veteran and three-time Pro Bowl selection, began practice this week with the New York Sentinels of the startup United Football League, confident of regaining the form that once made him one of the game's most dangerous defensive ends.
"I have some unfinished business,'' Rice said from outside the Citrus Bowl, where the Florida Tuskers and the Sentinels share training-camp facilities. "I've done it all, but I never felt like I got the credit I deserved. So I'm coming back to get that. This is my road back.''
Shortly after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to part ways with head coach Jon Gruden, Buccaneers players from past and present began taking a place in line for an opportunity to sound off on their former boss. The word "scumbag" was used, while several players suggested that he was, for the most part, a two-faced liar that would tell them one thing and end up doing the exact opposite.
Gruden has remained relatively silent on the matter, but opened up in an interview with Chris Harry of the Orlando Sentinel. Among the topics discussed: the spread offense, Tim Tebow and how a person responds to being called a "scumbag."
A month ago, Eagles defensive end Jevon Kearsewas benched, and he'll probably be released in the coming weeks. The former Pro Bowler never lived up to expectations in Philadelphia after several monster seasons with Tennessee during the first half of his career.
As Michael David Smith wrote on November 16, Kearse had 35 sacks in his first three NFL seasons, and has managed 34.5 sacks in the six years since. And now with Juqua Thomas getting most of the playing time -- and making substantially less than Kearse ($1 million to $6.5 million for 2008) -- it's pretty clear how this is going to end:
"I've seen [the big picture], but I don't let it get to me," Kearse said. "I just want to take something positive from this season and that is to get healthy. I want to use this time that I haven't been playing or practicing and let my knee get right and see what the future holds."
Kearse seems like a good guy who's been slowed by one injury or another. If he can prove he's healthy, he'll certainly get a shot with another NFL team, probably something similar to what the Broncos and Colts offered Simeon Rice.
Hopefully Kearse's story has a happier ending than getting cut twice before heading home to wait for the phone to ring, although I suspect Eagles' fans would've settled for just a little more productivity during his four years in Philly.
NFL Network's Adam Schefter and ESPN's John Clayton are reporting that the Indianapolis Colts have claimed defensive end Simeon Rice, days after the Broncos placed him on waivers.
The move is intriguing for a few reasons. First, it raises the question of whether the injury suffered by Dwight Freeney last night is serious enough that the Colts are worried that they won't get him back for a while. Rice would be something of a replacement for Freeney because Rice in his prime was pretty much the same player as Freeney is now. Unfortunately, Rice is now well past his prime.
It's also an interesting move because it reunites Rice with his old coach, Tony Dungy. Rice played one season in Tampa Bay for Dungy, and he's always been most comfortable in the "Tampa 2" defense that Dungy coaches, which emphasizes quickness on the defensive line. Of course, Rice had a lot more speed the last time he played for Dungy than he did now. But if Freeney is out for a significant time, Rice is better than anyone else the Colts will find.
The Broncos released defensive end Simeon Rice last week, bringing to an end the very brief Denver tenure of the former All-Pro.
But now comes news from the Denver Post that Rice wanted out of Denver so badly that he actually paid the Broncos to set him free.
"I'm in this to be great and I wasn't allowed to be great in Denver," Rice said. "I gave up some money to get out of there. It was that important to me. I need to be somewhere where I'm allowed to be great. I didn't just wake up in Denver and forget to play football."
Rice got a one-year, $3 million contract with the Broncos, and as a vested veteran he was entitled to all of that money as a guarantee. It's not clear how much he paid the Broncos to get out of his contract, but he apparently thinks that by buying his way into free agency, there's a chance that he could get another contract with another team this season. If I were advising Rice, I'd tell him not to hold his breath.
Defensive end Simeon Rice made his name as a pass rusher. Prior to 2007, he registered 121 sacks, including double-digit totals during a five-year stretch with the Buccaneers from '01-'05.
Now, though, the 12-year vet can't even get on the field. Released this summer by Tampa Bay, the Broncos signed the former third-overall pick and promptly declared him unfit to play. Head coach Mike Shanahan doesn't think Rice is fully recovered from an off-season shoulder injury, and for the second straight game, he won't be active. To say Rice is unhappy, would be a ginormous understatement:
Rice made it clear he isn't exactly making plans to seek another stint with the Broncos after his one-year contract, which he signed in September, ends.
"I got two more months here," Rice said. Asked about next year, Rice said, "I'm going week-to-week. Every week seems like a decade. This is the longest year of my life." "I have (121) career sacks, I can't play on this defense?" Rice asked.
That's a great question. According to Football Outsiders, the Broncos rank 28th in defense (22nd against the pass, 29th against the rush). I can't imagine things could get any worse with Rice out there.
But there is more bad news for Denver: with wideout Javon Walker and center Tom Nalen already out, cornerback Champ Bailey looks like a no-go as well. Bailey, who is battling a quadriceps injury, practiced on a limited basis yesterday, and will be a game-time decision.
The Broncos thought they were getting a nice veteran upgrade to their defense when they signed Simeon Rice during training camp. He missed half of last season with the Bucs because of a shoulder injury but was released in a financial move after the team drafted Gaines Adams in the first round. The joint was operated on over the summer but Rice was deemed healthy enough to be part of the defensive line rotation when the season started and Denver had high hopes for his pass rushing skills.
It hasn't played out that way. Rice was inactive against the Chargers on Sunday because Mike Shanahan didn't think he was healthy enough to play. Films show a player who is using just one arm to attack offensive linemen and he's had almost no impact. He expects to play when the Broncos return from their bye against the Steelers a week from Sunday.
Write that in pencil, though. His $3 million contract was a reasonable gamble before the season but it's not one that looks like it will pay dividends unless his shoulder makes a dramatic recovery. The Broncos have too many defensive needs for a rehabbing Rice to play himself into shape. Elvis Dumervil provides steady pressure on the quarterback, Rice's greatest skill, while its the run-stopping that needs serious help.
When the Broncos have the ball: The Bills couldn't stop the run last season, while the Broncos consistently ran all over teams. Does anyone actually think the Broncos will take an alternative approach on Sunday? I certainly don't.
Travis Henry, another brand new Denver running back, will get plenty of carries against a Bills defense that ranked 29th in the NFL last season; a Bills defense that no longer has Takeo Spikes or London Fletcher. However, what they do have is rookie linebacker Paul Posluszny -- a standout from Penn State who figures to excel in the NFL.
The Broncos will also aim to get second-year quarterback Jay Cutler comfortable in his first opening weekend start. Once the run is established, keep an eye out for a long play action pass. It could be Henry, Henry, Culter-to-Javon Walker all day long.
The UFL is back on the field Saturday night with the New York Sentinels taking on the Florida Tuskers. You can catch all the action live here on FanHouse.
ORLANDO -- Simeon Rice has carried the chip on his shoulder for so long that it became a standard part of his football uniform.
Shortly after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to part ways with head coach Jon Gruden, Buccaneers players from past and present began taking a place in line for an opportunity to sound off on their former boss. The word "scumbag" was used, while several players suggested that he was, for the most part, a two-faced liar that would tell them one thing and end up doing the exact opposite. 
Another day, another former Buccaneers player sounds off on Jon Gruden. Following the criticisms from MIchael Clayton and Jeff Garcia, not to mention the report that fans also played a role in the Buccaneers coaching change, former defensive end Simeon Rice sounded off on Sirius NFL radio (via Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk) and tossed Gruden under the proverbial bus. And then ran him over with it. Repeatedly. 
A month ago, Eagles defensive end Jevon Kearse was benched, and he'll probably be released in the coming weeks. The former Pro Bowler never lived up to expectations in Philadelphia after several monster seasons with Tennessee during the first half of his career. 
NFL Network's Adam Schefter and ESPN's John Clayton are reporting that the Indianapolis Colts have claimed defensive end Simeon Rice, days after the Broncos placed him on waivers. 
The Broncos released defensive end Simeon Rice last week, bringing to an end the very brief Denver tenure of the former All-Pro.
Defensive end Simeon Rice made his name as a pass rusher. Prior to 2007, he registered 121 sacks, including double-digit totals during a five-year stretch with the Buccaneers from '01-'05. 
The Broncos thought they were getting a nice veteran upgrade to their defense when they signed Simeon Rice during training camp. He missed half of last season with the Bucs because of a shoulder injury but was released in a financial move after the team drafted Gaines Adams in the first round. The joint was operated on over the summer but Rice was deemed healthy enough to be part of the defensive line rotation when the season started and Denver had high hopes for his pass rushing skills. 
To get you ready for week 1, FanHouse is previewing all 16 NFL games. Here is the Buffalo Bills/Denver Broncos preview.
