The Bucs announced their final round of cuts yesterday and surprisingly Chris Simms made the roster. Gruden made the unusual move to keep four quarterbacks thus proving the notion that Gruden has never met a quarterback he didn't like. Although Simms potential (he's only 27) and higher contract (2 yrs, $7 M) likely played into the decision. Supposedly Atlanta, which only kept two quarterbacks, was eyeing Simms and Byron Leftwich. If for no other reason holding onto Simms helps keep the Bucs audibles and play calling out of the Falcons' proverbial hands.Since the Bucs are keeping Simms they only have room for four runningbacks, which means promising rookie Kenneth Darby was cut. Which leaves the Bucs with precious little depth at the position. Keeping the versatile Michael Pittman helps but Gruden is likely hoping Darby is not claimed by another team and the Bucs can place him on their practice squad.
Who gets to return kick now that Mark Jones, the worst player in Madden, has been cut? The updated Bucs depth chart leaves the kr/pr positions empty. Pittman has returned kickoffs before and Joey Galloway could pull punt returns duties if push comes to shove, but the Bucs desperately need a to get a kick return specialist.
On defense three cuts surprise me: Ellis Wyms, Jamie Winborn and Alan Zemaitis. Wyms was a starter last season but depth at the undertackle position pushed Wyms out. Winborn had the same problem as Wyms, despite showing potential depth at the linebacker position forced the Bucs to cut Winborn. And a forth round draft pick from last season Zemaitis never really caught on with the defense.
4 comments:
Rumor has it that part of the reason Simms made the roster is that Atlanta would have claimed him had the Bucs let him go, since Atlanta only has two quarterbacks (Harrington & Redman) due to the Vick scandal and the ACL injury to D.J. Shockley.
I sure as heck wouldn't have wanted someone with a warrior soul like Simms to go to a division rival, and I'm still not ready to give up on the guy either. Everyone bashed him last season based on two poor games that were more the OL's fault than Simms' fault, and he turned it around big time in the Panthers game before he gave us his freaking spleen and came back on the field for more. I think we owe Simms the chance to get healthy, come back to the field and prove one way or another what kind of a quarterback he is.
As for the glut... maybe we try to send Gradkowski to the practice squad? Something's gotta be done, especially since they've now gotta cut or IR someone else to make room for Trotter...
t.k., Chris Simms' warrior soul? sounds like you have a bit of a man crush...
but agreed simms deserves to stay on the roster based solely on his talent and potential. I still don't think he is a fit for Gruden's offense but he could be traded to another team in need of a quarterback.
I sure as heck wouldn't have wanted someone with a warrior soul like Simms to go to a division rival
Especially if that warrior soul also knew the offensive playbook inside and out. This alone may have made him worth it to the falcons.
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