Simeon Rice Thanks Sapp; Slaps Tiki
June 27th, 2013
The controversy stirred up by intern-loving, former Giants disgruntled running back and fallen media mogul Tiki Barber’s statement that Warren Sapp is “an idiot” for saying former Bucs defensive end Simeon Rice has just as much if not a better resume for the Pro Football Hall of Fame than former Giants Michael Strahan continues.
This time, it is Rice who is talking on the record. Still giddy off his Chicago Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup, Rice spoke with Booger McFarland, co-host of the “Booger and Rich Show,” heard on WHFS-FM 98.7. Rice not only thanked Sapp for sticking up for him, and lauded Strahan, but slapped Tiki Barber for sticking his nose where it shouldn’t have been, Rice feels.
Booger McFarland: I agree with Sapp. I think you were one of the greatest pass rushers of all tiem and way better than Michael Strahan.
Simeon Rice: I felt mine [skills] is unparalleled. My skill level was unparalleled. You ask me a straight question, I this [Strahan] is great too. I thought his [skills] were really good. He had a great career, too. I felt like I was in a class of my own.
When I played, I played with a chip because I never got the respect I truly deserved. I always thought brilliance and greatness goes noticed but felt mine was associated with great talent, not hard work. “Stra” had a great career. I was different, a different breed.
As for Sapp pimping Rice both in print and on the NFL Network, Rice seemed humbled but also irritated by Tiki Barber.
“We weren’t the best of friends,” Rice said of Sapp. “One thing about Sapp is, although he seems like he is speaking out of the ordinary, he is speaking 100 percent real. The truth about football is the only thing important to him and he never did liked posers. If you balled, he would be the first one to give you props whether he liked you or not. I don’t think Tiki knows the knowledge that Warren is coming with. A great mind.”
As for how good Rice was, he said he would let the late, great Deacon Jones speak for himself. Rice talked about the time Jones visited the Bucs.
“He came into our meeting room and said, ‘Where is Simeon Rice?’ Then he told me, ‘I love the way you play. Keep doing what you are doing.'”
What more street cred can a defensive end get than props from the greatest of them all, Deacon Jones? That’s surely good enough for Joe.
June 27th, 2013 at 8:34 am
Just as Sim said… Tiki had no business stickin’ his nose in “Grown folks’ conversation.
June 27th, 2013 at 8:34 am
Great take by Simeon, he played against better linemen, and had slightly better sack producition.
Strahan may be a hall of famer, but no doubt, Simeon Rice should be there on the same ballot or before, as he was a “better” more productive pro.
June 27th, 2013 at 9:00 am
Makes you wonder why Simeon isnt widely considered on of the Bucs all time greats playing at the same time, i.e. Lynch, Sapp, Brooks. How many Simeon Rice jerseys do you see fans wearing?
The truth of it is there are players’ players who may never get into the HOF bc of the teams they are on and then there are those who arent spectacular but the media gushes over them bc of the market they are in. I just hope when the time comes for balloting for Ronde he doesnt fall into the former and have to declare he was “in a league of his own”.
June 27th, 2013 at 9:14 am
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_National_Football_League_players_with_100_career_sacks
Heres something that kind of puts things in perspective. I do not recall Kevin Greene ever being a big name. Being the third all time sack leader and not being in the HOF? Thats what happens when you play on the LA Rams and Carolina Panthers the majority of your career
June 27th, 2013 at 9:29 am
Kevin Greene was a known juicer. End of his legend. End of his consideration for the hall. No room for cheaters.
June 27th, 2013 at 10:07 am
Funny that Sapp’s basis in Rice vs. Strahan was that Strahan played left DE going up against inferior O-linemen. Except that’s where Deacon Jones, the greatest of all time, played. OOPS!
June 27th, 2013 at 11:13 am
BucsfaninChina,
To answer your 1st question, I believe it is because he wasn’t drafted a Buc and played a relatively short time here(6 seasons). The guys you mentioned all were drafted and developed in house. But let’s hope that changes with Revis, Goldson, VJax and Nicks.
June 27th, 2013 at 1:07 pm
True Tmac also consider the fact that Sapp and Brooks had roots in FL.
June 27th, 2013 at 1:46 pm
lightningbuc
Not a Fair comparison, in Jones Day the Right tackle was the Larger dominant player or at least equal because the running game was more important, Jones also started as a DT and switched to DE a few years into the league.
June 27th, 2013 at 2:00 pm
The reason Simeon Rice is not considered one of the greatest Bucs of all time is he was a first round pick of the Arizona Cardinals. The Bucs didn’t draft him. Before we signed Derelle Revis to turn things around we signed Simeon Rice (I believe Marcus Jones / Ellis Wyms started at RDE before Rice).
Simeon Rice is the greatest RDE of his era, a phenomenal pass rusher. I can still remember him opening up those long arms and swiping the ball out of the QB’s hands while taking him down! Like a bird of prey.
June 27th, 2013 at 4:59 pm
Jake S. & The 300’s,
Agree with both.
Simeon Rice was an absolute monster off of the edge, and proved to be a cornerstone for the Bucs D.
Sapp and Simeon might have been the best duo of their generation, phenomenal pass rush.
Thinking of Simeon Rice makes me want draft JaDeveon Clowney next year, at all costs.
June 27th, 2013 at 8:02 pm
Rice was the best!!
June 27th, 2013 at 8:10 pm
It’s good enough for me too.
Bucs sticking together.
I can’t wait for Ronde to start talking trash to Tiki.