Jon Gruden Is SO Off Simeon Rice’s Christmas Card List

Add Simeon Rice to the list of former players who won't be introducing Jon Gruden at his Hall of Fame induction.

"He's the phoniest [expletive] in the world," said [Simeon] Rice, who helped the Gruden-led 2002 Bucs to a Super Bowl title and registered 69.5 sacks in his six years in Tampa. "Jon Gruden didn't have the decency, after all these years and all we've been through together, to talk to me face to face. I know he's happy today."

I don't think it's unusual for Gruden to let Bruce Allen handle all the unpleasant personnel stuff, but that doesn't seem to matter to Rice. I can't for the life of me think of one former Buccaneer who has had truly positive things to say about Gruden after their time with the team was up. They respect him on the field and they like his intensity, but once they stop receiveing those checks, they become like catty ex-girlfriends.

By the way, I've slept on it, considered it, and still don't like Rice's release. I didn't hear anything from minicamps that would suggest that Gaines Adams can immediately replace Rice. Having him relieve Rice in certain situations or in garbage time would have been fine, but it appears that Adams has the inside track on starting at right defensive end on opening day. Did no one watch a Texans game last year?