Bucs' pass rusher Rice may be nice fit for Vikings

**NodakPaul** · 01-16-2007, 08:34 AM

Didn't see this posted.
Feel free to heckle me if it was...
http://www.startribune.com/101/story/933993.html

Buccaneers defensive end Simeon Rice will be 33 on Feb. 24. This fall will mark his 12th NFL season. And, oh yeah, his 11th one ended after only eight games and a career-low two sacks because of a shoulder injury.

But he could be the missing piece to Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin's version of the Tampa-2 scheme, not to mention a perfect one- or two-year tutor for young pass rushers Erasmus James, Ray Edwards, Jayme Mitchell and Kenechi Udeze....

**JellyBean2144** · 01-16-2007, 08:43 AM

Anything is possible. Rice has the size and might be a step slower...who knows. But if we get him, I hope that it is at a low price.

**slinkey** · 01-16-2007, 08:50 AM

how's his kneeholding up ?
I know he had microfracture sugery ayear or two ago..........

**skum** · 01-16-2007, 09:10 AM

He's ended the season on IR.. set to make alot of money next year - so he might get cut - unless he renews his contract..

Actually Rice could do us good in two ways.. Making the Bucs drafting Gaines Adams - leading to us getting Calvin, and grabbing Rice our selves :>

**VikesfaninWis** · 01-16-2007, 09:25 AM

If anything else, he would be a veteran presence, and a viable backup.. Like Scum said, that would change the way the Bucs got to draft, so Calvin Johnson may slip to us then..

**cyviking** · 01-16-2007, 09:32 AM

Rather have Freeney but Rice is not a bad option and if it could lead to gettting Calvin Johnson all the better.
;D

**Zeus** · 01-16-2007, 09:50 AM

"NodakPaul" wrote:

Didn't see this posted.
Feel free to heckle me if it was...
http://www.startribune.com/101/story/933993.html

Buccaneers defensive end Simeon Rice will be 33 on Feb. 24. This fall will mark his 12th NFL season. And, oh yeah, his 11th one ended after only eight games and a career-low two sacks because of a shoulder injury.

But he could be the missing piece to Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin's version of the Tampa-2 scheme, not to mention a perfect one- or two-year tutor for young pass rushers Erasmus James, Ray Edwards, Jayme Mitchell and Kenechi Udeze....

Too much money on a broken-down player?
Sounds like a plan to me!

=Z=

**vikinggreg** · 01-16-2007, 10:21 AM

"Zeus" wrote:

"NodakPaul" wrote:

Didn't see this posted.
Feel free to heckle me if it was...
http://www.startribune.com/101/story/933993.html

Buccaneers defensive end Simeon Rice will be 33 on Feb. 24. This fall will mark his 12th NFL season. And, oh yeah, his 11th one ended after only eight games and a career-low two sacks because of a shoulder injury.

But he could be the missing piece to Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin's version of the Tampa-2 scheme, not to mention a perfect one- or two-year tutor for young pass rushers Erasmus James, Ray Edwards, Jayme Mitchell and Kenechi Udeze....

Too much money on a broken-down player?
Sounds like a plan to me!

=Z=

Only if Smoot gets traded and some salary room can be freed up, then Rice can be the defenses overpaid underachiever.
I don't think he would come here on a 1-2 year contract for peanuts.
Also if we make a move at end one of these guys might be moving out Edwards, Mitchell or Udeze.

**skum** · 01-16-2007, 10:52 AM

Mitchell didnt make the 53 man roster last season anyways.. He came in because of the injury to Erasmus James.. I was pleased with what he did.. just pointing out

**NodakPaul** · 01-16-2007, 10:59 AM

I think it is hard to call him a broken down player.
Here are his stats:

Year Team

G Total Tkl Ast Sacks
1996 Arizona Cardinals 16 50 41.0 9 12.5
1997 Arizona Cardinals 16 47 33.0 14 5
1998 Arizona Cardinals 16 39 34.0 5 10
1999 Arizona Cardinals 16 48 37.0 11 16.5
2000 Arizona Cardinals 15 34 31.0 3 7.5
2001 Tampa Bay Bucs 16 44 39.0 5 11
2002 Tampa Bay Bucs 16 50 41.0 9 15.5
2003 Tampa Bay Bucs 16 50 45.0 5 15
2004 Tampa Bay Bucs 16 40 34.0 6 12
2005 Tampa Bay Bucs 15 40 33.0 7 14
2006 Tampa Bay Bucs 8 18 14.0 4 2
TOTAL 166 460 382.0 78 121.0

He was hurt last season, but even then he was one his way to another good year.
Yes, his sack total was down.
But he has only posted less than 10 sacks twice in his career before that, and both were with the AZ Cardinals (1997 and 2000).

Rice would be a huge upgrade to our DL, even if it was only for a couple of years...