Whither Simeon Rice?
June 25th, 2012
Yesterday, eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune typed a column about how the Hall of Fame in Canton will likely add some Bucs players in the next few years.
Yes, we all know about Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks and John Lynch and Ronde Barber.
Later yesterday, Joe was watching (again) the “Top 10 Sack Artists” on the man’s channel, the NFL Network. Other than the top 10, many others were mentioned as those who just missed the cut.
In neither of Kaufman’s column nor in last night’s show on the NFL Network was the name Simeon Rice mentioned. This despite how Rice had double-digit sacks in eight of his 12 NFL seasons.
Joe wonders why Rice is rarely mentioned as one of the Bucs greats?
Yes, the Bucs had a strong defense when Rice came to Tampa Bay in 2001, but Rice made the Bucs defense simply lethal. Not only did quarterbacks and offensive linemen have to worry about Sapp, they now had to worry about Rice as well, a frightening proposition.
In Joe’s eyes, Rice should have been the MVP of the Bucs Super Bowl win against the Raiders. He simply harassed, hounded and, yes, sacked Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon all game long.
Now Joe knows that Rice getting elected into Canton is a Hail Mary pass. It likely won’t happen, not unless he is added by the seniors committee some 20 years from now.
Joe always found it strange when the top Bucs players from such a wicked defense are mentioned, Rice’s name is often overlooked.
June 25th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Simeon Rice is #13 on the all-time sack list, plus he’s one of only 28 players in the history of the NFL to have 100+ sacks. He was an awesome player for many years, and it’s beyond me why he gets ignored like that.
June 25th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
He and Sapp dominated that side of the D-Line… he’s a great player, great Buc but not a HOF… as much as it pains me to say this Lynch and Barber will not make it to the HOF… Mr. Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp 100% definately.
June 25th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
Simeon Rice was a fantastic player, especially for the Bucs. But I think Superbowl MVP is pushing it considering how many other players made an impact.
JS1506, there is NO WAY Barber does not make the Hall of Fame. Maybe not first ballot, but he’ll make it.
June 25th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
I was just wondering if its because all the ones that are talked about were drafted by the Bucs, except Hardy Nickerson. Its just a thought. I loved Rice, he was a beast
June 25th, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Rice was a frickin beast a pure pass rusher and one of my fav bucs of all time it was weird to me how he just kinda faded away. Joes right are d was good, really good rice made us great. Hopefully we get another rice type player in next years draft.
June 25th, 2012 at 3:00 pm
Simeon is just below the HOF standards. Had he grabbed that MVP in the Super Bowl it would be a different story. He also didn’t help he cause the time he was asked to leave the Pro Bowl. His personality did not endear him to many of those in greater NFL landscape. This can really be seen if you read his book (not the best but interesting none the less.)
To say that Lynch and Barber are not going to make the Hall at some point seems a bit rash. Lynch is a well known and liked as well as being one of the most feared tacklers to play the game. He was a superstar of a safety if there ever was one ( One that exclusively played the safety position). He also went on to play some really good years in Denver. He will likely not go in on the first ballot, but will get himself a bust.
Barber has a fantastic chance as he is on of the most consistent players to play in this league in a long time. No matter that he has less Pro Bowls he has the lifetime achievement of overcome that. 40+ints to go with 25+ sacks is on this man’s resume. That has not been achieved ever in the NFL. And that ridiculous streak of starts ( most by a Cb ever). The man he just passed last year ( Dick LeBeau) finally got his nod to step into the Hall a year of so ago (LeBeau was an absolute stud). Barber has been playing at such a level for so long and has all of accomplishments you could ask for as a corner.
Both of these men, along with Brooks and Sapp, will see their busts enshrined sooner or later.
June 25th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Let’s also not forget Mr. Barber was on the 2000’s All Decade Team that is voted on by the members of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee along with others.
June 25th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
A lot of players on the Bucs D made an impact in the Super Bowl, but it was WHEN Rice made his impact that was significant. Sure, Jackson had those two picks, but if Rice doesn’t sack Gannon on that drive after Brad Johnson’s pick, the Bucs are possibly down 7-0 and the whole complexion of the game could have changed. And you could argue Gannon’s interceptions were due in large part to the consistent pressure Rice was bringing.
June 25th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
Rice was a beast of a man. He was the best pass rusher the BUcs ever had. If Clayborn or Bowers turns into half the pass rusher he was and maintain a strong run defense, those two will be lethal as well.
June 25th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
I agree 100% with Joe’s evaluation of Simeon Rice and I believed he should have gotten the MVP of the SB as well. Rice does not get the credit he deserves because he was a free spirit. He wasn’t the toe the line type of player. Politically, he was not correct.
I believe he should be in the HOF but he never tried to polish his image, or promote himself as some type of football hero. He was just great and the best defensive end he possibly could be. It didn’t hurt playing alongside Warren Sapp
June 25th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Joe is spot on, one of the most overlooked components of that unbelievably good defense we had – under Mr. Kiffin’s guidance of course.
Pure genius it was.
Makes the present state of our defense even more depressing.
June 25th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
Can someone tell me if a current player in NFL has a very simliar style/game as Simeon Rice. I can’t quite get a handle on him. I was too young to know that much about his style back then
June 25th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
Rice was a STUD.
I hope we can make a play on a DE in FA this upcoming offseason.
Having Simeon coming of the edge with Sapp on the interior was a “Hall of Fame” tandem.
June 25th, 2012 at 5:30 pm
It didn’t help matters that Simeon played for years in Cardinals purgatory & developed a reputation there as a Prima Donna Sack Specialist who couldn’t (or wouldn’t) play the run (whether it was fair or unfair I do not know).
I liked what Monte Kiffin said in reply to the press about Simeon playing the run shortly after the Bucs aquired him. … “If he don’t play the run here, his butt will be on the bench” ….. or something to hat effect. Simeon definately came up some Big Plays when we needed them in the Superbowl, but Dwight Smith had two picks returned for touchdowns, (Derrick Brooks had one too) & I always thought Dwight should got the MVP, but his 2nd one was very late in the game.
June 25th, 2012 at 6:01 pm
We. Don’t. Need. A. DE.
June 25th, 2012 at 6:39 pm
I agree Joe, about the Superbowl, he should have been MVP! He was a beast that whole season( not to mention most of his career) he should be in the HOF.and the Bucs ring of honor.
June 25th, 2012 at 7:30 pm
He is another Chad Johnson to much mouth not enough smarts good player but just cant shut that trap long enough to get the accolades he has coming.
June 25th, 2012 at 8:54 pm
@ j lynch. S Rice is twice the player ocho ever was.come on man he was UN stoppable in Arizona with no one to help!
Maybe not a HOF but definitely a ring of honor!
June 26th, 2012 at 12:24 am
Have a Nice Day:
Let’s not get carried away. Joe agrees with you Rice was an absolute stud. But he was not even close to the best pass rusher the Bucs ever had.
Familiar with the name Lee Roy Selmon? Dude was constantly double- and triple teamed and he was virtually unstoppable.
Selmon was just on a whole other level than Rice, and most other humans.
June 26th, 2012 at 8:50 am
Simeon had some solid games for the Bucs, but I think everyon who watched him play would get frustrated by his inconsistency. Rice always seemed to go games without an impact, and then in a game he would rack up 3-4 sacks when some of them when we were either down by a lot or up by a lot.
Rice could be argued for the MVP of the Super Bowl. Two sacks on a big stage is pretty good, but Jackson’s INT’s came at big moments. Dwight Smith also had 2 INT’s for TD’s. Brooks had a great game and an INT for a TD. Pittman had the best game of his Buccaneer career in the Super Bowl. So I would say any of those players would’ve been a good selection for MVP.
I didn’t get a chance to watch Selmon play, he was before my time, but I would rank Rice very near the top of the list of top Buc D-Lineman. Sapp would be above him for sure and from what I know of Selmon, he would top the list.
Rice shouldn’t be a Hall of Famer, but certainly should be enshrined in the Ring of Honor.
June 26th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Simeon Rice would have been the MVP of the Super Bowl but the fans text in vote counted for three votes overall or something close to that and the fans went with Dexter Jackson while the media went with Simeon Rice. I remember reading Peter King’s article after the Super Bowl where King also makes a strong case for Rice being MVP and also explains how the media and fans voted.
I do agree that Rice has been overlooked. He really was one of the best of his era. He might not be first ballot HOF worthy, but I think he belongs in the hall eventually.