The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released defensive end Simeon Rice yesterday after failing a physical. At least that is what the Bucs management gave as their reason. Rice has a different story, saying it was all about the dollar signs.
"To be honest, the whole thing was just about the money," Rice said by telephone Thursday night. "That's all it was."
Rice, who is recovering from left shoulder surgery, was scheduled to earn $7.25-million this season.
General manager Bruce Allen admitted that Rice refused to take a pay cut to remain with the team. "He wasn't interested in that," Allen said.
If Rice in fact isn't that hurt, then expect Detroit to sign him or at least go after him hard. That is immediately what I thought of when hearing the news that he no longer had a team. Since his former defensive line coach is now the head coach of Detroit, meaning Rod Marinelli, I would imagine that Simeon Rice would like to come to play for the Lions.
Once the Lions get Calvin Johnson signed, then start to look for Detroit to go after Rice if they want him.