Bucs Fan Weighs in on Rice Dismissal

As most of you know, some of the best observations come from you, the fans.  So without further ado, some comments from the Bucs Message Board …

Rice’s potential to fully recover from this injury and be the player he was in the past is 50/50.  I tend to agree with Allen that his salary figure was too high for a part time player & a guy that looked out of sync last season.  He wasn’t healthy, for sure.  Its still a question mark if he can regain his form.  At 33 years old & with a bad shoulder he’s not a $7,000,000 player anymore.

From 2001-2004 he was truly near the top of pass rushing ends in the NFL.  But that’s when he was 27-31 years old.  Lets face it how many defensive ends continue to dominate their positions at his age?  He’s a great athlete.  His negatives were his lack of effort in the early part of games &  failure to stay healthy last year.  His positives were when a game is on the line and its a 3rd & 7 the guy plays his ass off, disrupts the passer & created a lot of fumbles.

If he was willing to bring his salary in line with his production currently, not what he did 3 years ago he’d be a keeper but I predict when he signs elsewhere he’ll probably get a 3 year deal worth $12,000,000 but only about $1,000,000 guaranteed and an escalating salary.  That deal will be roughly 50% of what the Bucs were paying him.  I’d be very surprised if any team would pay a premium for him.

The Giants aren’t willing to increase Michael Strahan’s salary and he makes less than Simeon and is more productive on first & second downs.

A tip of the Bucs Helmet to EOSchwartz.  Of course, comments are always welcomed and appreciated!