“Stop Looking Back”
August 9th, 2012
Earlier today, co-hosts of the “Todd and Booger Show,” Todd Wright and Booger McFarland, heard on WHFS-FM 98.7, welcomed former Bucs great Simeon Rice to the airwaves to talk — what else? — Bucs football.
McFarland asked Rice about the lack of sacks the Bucs have compared to when Warren Sapp, McFarland and Rice prowled the line of scrimmage some 10 years ago, and the subject touched a nerve with Rice, who in so many words said Bucs fans if not Bucs management are living in the past.
“I think they have to stop looking back and look forward,” Rice said. “None of us are what we once were. Tampa isn’t what we once were. It’s just not going to happen. You are just not going to find a Warren Sapp. You are not just going to find a Booger McFarland, you are not going to find a nose tackle that runs a 4.7 [in a 40-yard dash]. You are not. There is no such player. You know what I mean? It’s rare. You are not going to find a defensive end that can run 4.4, it’s rare. So you have to appreciate those things when they happen. I think in order for them to make an impact, and I think that’s what it is all about, making an impact with the team that they have, to develop where they are strong, the offense. Envelope that quarterback. Defensively they have to pay a special mind into what they are trying to build for the future. Is it likely they will have sacks like that and players who play like that? No, unless someone is going back in a time machine and bring the players of the past back. And since I can’t do that, I would look at the players they have and really evaluate what I have and hope for the best and create a gameplan.”
And yes grammar Nazis, Rice used the word “envelope” as a verb when referring to building an offense around Josh Freeman.
Rice added a couple of other interesting thoughts about how the Bucs have no excuses for the lack of play and as long as a player is productive in helping win games, “That’s all you can ask for.”
Joe’s of the mind that Rice has a helluva point. Quit trying to find the next Sapp, the next Rice. They are not there and the game has in many ways evolved into a different game since both hung up their cleats.
Just go out there and find the best 22 players you can and go from there. Don’t set up someone to fail by asking them to be Sapp or Rice because, the chances are, they never will be.
August 9th, 2012 at 8:00 pm
To Mr. Rice ; No, we won’t find another Sapp, nor another Rice, true, but I bet you, we are going to find two better than them, if we don’t already have them! Pay close attention to this season, there’ll be surprises and wonders!!
August 9th, 2012 at 8:09 pm
Love simeon, one of the most underrated athletes of my lifetime.
[simeon: No need to hijack a thread by dropping a link that has zero to do with the subject at hand. — Joe]
August 9th, 2012 at 8:25 pm
“envelope that QB”
Does that mean Rice wants to put some postage on Josh and ship him outta here?
But seriously what I take from that is Rice is saying the Bucs defense sucks and we better get better on offense cuz GMC is never gonna be a Sap or a Booger.
August 9th, 2012 at 8:46 pm
@ Mr. Lucky
What? I think you are reading way to much into what he said…
All he was saying is that we need to stop looking for people we use to have and start looking at the people we do have.
August 9th, 2012 at 9:34 pm
I longingly remember LeRoy Selmon and Dave Pear, but that was a 3-4.
You have to use your #1 picks wisely to acquire these living legends. GMC is not even remotely equal to these legends.
August 9th, 2012 at 9:50 pm
The guy made a better point than ANY of the talking heads have yet about the new Bucs.
And I have NEVER, EVER seen a DE that would ALWAYS crush the QB when we needed him on 3rd down/clutch plays. Guy was ubstoppable @ the exact time the opposition expected it. We will never see another tandem like Sapp & Rice. We could be as good, maybe better, but we will not find another DE come off the corner like Rice did back in the day.
August 9th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Robert:
Joe still thinks Rice should have been the MVP of the Super Bowl win. Dude hounded Rich Gannon all game long.
August 9th, 2012 at 10:20 pm
do any of you remember the great warren sapp early in his career? he had his critics.
joe,
i thought rice or brooks shoulda got it.
August 9th, 2012 at 10:20 pm
I agree Rice was definitely the Super Bowl MVP!
August 9th, 2012 at 10:51 pm
some clutch sack/strips too, man they were fun to watch, relentless pressure and ball swarming D
August 9th, 2012 at 10:59 pm
Don’t forget Monte. He had more than a little bit to do with it. Pure genius.
We may never see his like again.
How many top five defenses?
August 9th, 2012 at 11:16 pm
This message needs to go in Mark Dominik’s in box. Simeon is right on..
August 10th, 2012 at 1:02 am
Rice has a great point. People are overlooking and always comparing Sapp to GMC. GMC always say, “I’m not Sapp never have been nor will I be him. I’m going to be me!” The win column speaks for itself about his value to the team. We are much better with McCoy on the field. Injury just happens. If you want to be mad at anyone, then blame everyone that has a hand in the lack of depth at that position. Just terrible depth since McCoy has been drafted. Me personally, I’ll give McCoy an new contract until the team can do better depth wise. I still think it’s dumb to let Price go to Chicago. Just hope for the best at that position.
August 10th, 2012 at 7:07 am
Rice is right we will not find another Sapp. But we could drafted JP Paul and let the Giants pick him up. Hopefully the Bucs scouting improves.
August 10th, 2012 at 8:45 am
I agree MTM, JP Paul was right here at USF, under our nose, and we let him get away.
I disagree with not trying to find the next Rice or Sapp though.
We can surround Freeman with 10 hall of famers, and he will never be Drew Brees.
We need a defense to stop the Drew Brees and Cam Newtons.
August 10th, 2012 at 9:25 am
“out on the road today, saw a dead head sticker on a Cadillac. A little voice inside my head said don’t look back. You can never look back”
August 10th, 2012 at 9:42 am
Don’t mention Cam Newton in the same breath as Drew Brees yet. One good year does not make a career. I have a feeling that a little film on Cam is gonna make a huge difference and I also believe that if they continue to run him he is going to have a short career.
August 10th, 2012 at 10:25 am
We should have one at least one more Superbowl with that defense of old…
August 10th, 2012 at 10:38 am
Cannon
For sure!
August 10th, 2012 at 11:22 am
Mr Lucky Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 8:25 pm
“envelope that QB”
Does that mean Rice wants to put some postage on Josh and ship him outta here?
But seriously what I take from that is Rice is saying the Bucs defense sucks and we better get better on offense cuz GMC is never gonna be a Sap or a Booger.
.
How in the world do you get that??? What he said is that it will take time for the defense to get its legs under it…something I’ve been saying all off season (and even last year).
What you seem to have missed is how Rice mentioned that the old defensive players knew each other so well that they knew where each would be in any given situation. THAT is where this defense needs to get to be great. The old one didn’t get there overnight either.
August 10th, 2012 at 11:24 am
Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Says:
August 10th, 2012 at 8:45 am
I agree MTM, JP Paul was right here at USF, under our nose, and we let him get away.
I disagree with not trying to find the next Rice or Sapp though.
We can surround Freeman with 10 hall of famers, and he will never be Drew Brees.
We need a defense to stop the Drew Brees and Cam Newtons.
.
Last I checked, the Panthers were not a winning team. Cam Newton has a lot to prove before he deserves to be considered good. So far, he can run the ball. Whoopie.
And Freeman is going to knock peoples socks off the year.
August 10th, 2012 at 11:43 am
Can’t find or replace Booger?? We picked a Booger and then flicked it! Funny how Monte Kiffin thought Booger could replace Sapp.
August 10th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
Posted, or tried to post, a short comment about Dave Pear, but it seems GWTW for some reason….
August 10th, 2012 at 6:33 pm
he is right