Simeon Rice released.. again.

[Darth Llama]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3102439

The brief tenure of defensive end Simeon Rice with the Denver Broncos ended on Friday afternoon when the 12-year veteran requested and was granted his release by the club after an unproductive stint.

"Under the current situation we felt like we were better with the younger players that we do have,'' coach Mike Shanahan said. "They give us the best chance to win and that's the direction we are going.''

The release was first reported by ESPN's Chris Mortensen and subsequently announced by Denver officials. The move makes Rice an unrestricted free agent, but also leaves him with an uncertain future.

Concerns about his surgically repaired shoulder and his age, along with his performance with the Broncos, might dissuade teams from considering him. Rice may be gambling that a playoff contender in need of pass-rush help will take a chance.

In his six appearances with the Broncos, Rice, one of the league's premier pass rushers of his era, registered only seven tackles and had no sacks. He was inactive for two games.

"He asked if it wasn't working out on both sides to be let go, and they obliged him,'' said Broncos safety John Lynch, who played with Rice at Tampa Bay.

"I'm disappointed it didn't work out,'' Lynch added. "I feel partly responsible for urging him to come here, and from the start it never worked out.''

Rice, 34, was released by Tampa Bay on the eve of training camp after six seasons with the Bucs, when the team said that he had failed a physical examination because of the shoulder injury that limited him to only eight appearances in 2006. Rice contended that the release was because he refused to accept a reduction of his 2007 base salary of $7.25 million.

After visiting with several franchises as a free agent, Rice signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Broncos a week before the start of the season. The Broncos guaranteed the deal and part of Friday was spent negotiating a settlement of those guarantees. It is believed that Rice was willing to forego money due him to gain his release.

Upset by a lack of playing time, and by being asked to rush from the unfamiliar left side, Rice acknowledged recently that he regretted signing with the Broncos. He demonstrated some flashes of his trademark upfield quickness, but Denver officials privately questioned the soundness of his shoulder and hinted he still wasn't fully recovered.

It seemed in recent days that the Broncos' brass was about as dissatisfied with Rice as he was with them.

Rice has long been one of the NFL's premier sack threats. His 121 career sacks are second most among active players, trailing only Michael Strahan of the New York Giants. He has eight seasons with double-digit sacks. His streak of five consecutive seasons with 10 or more sacks was ended last year because of the shoulder injury.

The normally durable Rice had missed just one game in his first 10 seasons in the league.

Rice was originally chosen by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the 1996 draft. In 172 games, he has 590 tackles, 37 forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries, five interceptions and 60 pass deflections.
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You guys think anyone will pick him up? I think the only teams that would take a chance on him would be a struggling team that Rice probably wouldn't want to play for. Maybe it's about time for Rice to retire?

[footballdan]

Rice is cooked. I'm still upset about his comments about Tillman. Rice can kiss my bright red rosey on main street.

[Tiz]

I don't think Rice will get picked up. He wasn't producing sacks and Denver's defense as a whole has been horrible agains the run..Rice was part of the problem there and not the solution.

[Tracker]

Originally Posted by Tiz

I don't think Rice will get picked up. He wasn't producing sacks and Denver's defense as a whole has been horrible agains the run..Rice was part of the problem there and not the solution.

I am not so sure about that. The main issue stated that led to him being released is that he was ******** about not playing enough.

He may not get picked up this year but I think that has more due to the fact and at this late stage in the game it may be hard to work him into a D and get things clicking.

If he does catch on with another team I think the Rams would be the most likely candidate. Little is out for the year, Rice was almost signed there before the season started and ended up going to Denver. But the biggest reason I see is Scott Linehan’s butt is on the line big time. I have a feeling he will try and do anything to help salvage what ever he can out of their season.

[tetters]

Originally Posted by Tiz

I don't think Rice will get picked up. He wasn't producing sacks and Denver's defense as a whole has been horrible agains the run..Rice was part of the problem there and not the solution.

Exactly...

[Tiz]

Originally Posted by Tracker

I am not so sure about that. The main issue stated that led to him being released is that he was ******** about not playing enough.

Now if he isn't playing enough on a horrible Denver Defense (he's played in 6 games and started 1 of them) then what makes anyone think he's good enough to make an impact on any other defense. Now he can claim that he was released because of lack of playing time but as shanahan pointed out he wasn't getting playing time because their younger talent was deserving of PT. If he was worth a **** he wouldn't have to complain of lack of PT and no team would have quickly released him. Bottom line, lack of production and being a shell of himself got TB to release him and that's the same reason why he's released from Denver.

Denver went into FA this year specifically looking for a pass rusher and when they lost out on Kearney they went to Rice. Now if Rice had anything, ANYTHING, left Shanahan would have used him because they wanted pass rushing skills.

So again I present this fact along with him never ever ever being a force against the run to you. Sure he'll probably get signed by some team wanting to give him a chance but then again so was Akili Smith 2 years ago and he never made it onto the field.

I understand the feeling about the Rams with Little being out but I think they'll spend their remaining time looking to develop the young talent that sat behind Little. If St.L had a decent record and was looking to try and sustain their defense in hopes of still making the playoffs then I'd agree on the Rams giving it a shot. But since they are winless and it's Linehan's 2nd year on the job I highly doubt he's going to be desperate enough to bring in someone who won't be there to help the team next year.