Simms breaks silence

[Jfeldz]

I found this read this on bucs beat... i found out how to quote
http://blogs.tampabay.com/bucs/2008/....html#comments
and
http://www.tampabay.com/sports/footb...icle615273.ece

Chris Simms says his relationship with Jon Gruden is beyond repair and has been told he will not be with the team in 2008.

But with no trade on the horizon, the Bucs' forgotten quarterback wants to be released immediately, bringing an end to his career in Tampa Bay that seemed inevitable after missing nearly two seasons following surgery to remove his spleen.

"I feel like I'm being held hostage," Simms said. "I hate that all this has happened. I love Tampa. My family loves it here. But I've been quiet long enough. I feel like it's time to let everybody know why I'm not out there."

In an interview with the Times Monday, Simms broke his silence on why he has not attended the Bucs' off-season workout program.

He also shed some new light on his deteriorating relationship with Jon Gruden, who was instructed by the Glazer family to keep Simms on the roster last season against the wishes of the head coach. The Bucs signed Simms to a contract extension at the end of the 2006 season that paid him $7-million over the past two seasons. He is scheduled to earn a $2-million base salary in 2008.

Simms, who eventually was placed on Injured Reserve last season, says he's completely recovered from complications of his surgery in 2006. He is even entertaining attending the Bucs' mandatory minicamp, but not before lobbing bombs at the Bucs.

"I don't know how anybody can expect me to go back there and look coach Gruden in the eye and believe the relationship is hunky dory after some of the things that were said and done," Simms said. "Things were handled wrongly from the business end of it and definitely things were handled wrongly as far as how you treat a person.

Among the items Simms revealed Monday:

• Simms says he has confirmed that three teams contacted the Bucs on the second day of the NFL draft last April to begin discussions about trading a sixth- or seventh-round pick for the estranged quarterback. But when the Bucs selected San Diego quarterback Josh Johnson in the fifth round, "it basically ended that discussion."

• He said there is a 50 percent chance he attends the Bucs' mandatory minicamp June 17-19. If he still is on the roster in late July, he plans to report to training camp. "I'm not holding out or doing anything like that," Simms said. "if they want to deal with that media circus, that's fine with me."

• Simms offered that Gruden wanted to release him at the start of last season but the Glazer family intervened and made sure he had a spot on the roster, forcing the Bucs to keep four quarterbacks.

"I had a number of people tell me in the organization the Glazers basically made sure I wasn't released," Simms said. "That's the hardest part of this whoile thing. The Glazers are a great family. They're very caring human beings. I respect them in so many ways.'

• The NFL was so suspicious when the Bucs placed Simms on Injured Reserve last year that they made him fly to Missouri to be examined by a physician to determine if he had a season-ending injury.

"I had never been on a single injury report, so the NFL was a little suspicious," Simms said. I had to go see a doctor in Missouri that worked for the NFL. He was shocked there were all these MRIs of my elbow and shoulder but nothing of my abdomen. He put me through a battery of tests and knew I had some core issues there."

Simms says he knows he's not in the Bucs' plans for 2008. In fact, his name on a chart in Gruden's meeting room is off to the side next to Jake Plummer, the retired Broncos quarterback whom the Bucs will try to collect $7-million of his pro-rated signing bonus during a hearing in New York Wednesday.

"I know for a fact I'm not in their plans. I don't understand the hold up at this point. When Bruce Gradkowski got cut last week, Bruce Allen told him it was because there's not enough reps in practice for every quarterback. It's a crappy situation.

"How can I look (Gruden) in the eye when I know he wanted me cut last year. He did not want me to be part of the team and I have a lot of resentment about that. Nine or 10 months after a serious injury, I put my life on the line, it was the most serious injury they've ever been associated with, I worked as hard as I could to get back and he wasn't even going to give me a full year.

"I have a serious issue with that, I really do."

Simms said he felt the Bucs mishandled his injury last training camp, insisting that he had passed all physicals and was completely healthy. In fact, they attributed his performance to 'rustiness.'

"The way they handled it was wrong," Simms said. "I don't know if they wanted to cut me and didn't want to liable or they were hoping somebody would trade for me, but for him to say I was completely healthy and passed all the physicals and that I just wasn't performing well, that was a low blow. It was."

At one point, Gruden asked Simms if his problems had a mental component.

"He asked me, 'Is this injury in your head?'" Simms said. "I found that completely ridiculous. I was going through a tough time. I kept my mouth shut all summer. I felt I was betrayed to a degree. Nobody took time to talk to me on a personal level and see how I was doing."

Simms said the club did a series of tests on his elbow and shoulder when he complained of arm tightness, the result of not using his body to throw the ball.

"Anybody with common sense would check the area where there was a 10-inch scar going down the middle of my stomach first."

According to Simms, he was pressured into making an appearance in a preseason game at Miami, playing in just one series.

"The night before the game, coach asked me if I was ready to play," Simms said. "At that point, I knew there was no way I was ready to play. I had only had a few scout team reps for several weeks. But I went in there because I felt like they were giving me no choice."

"I understand the business part of this and what's in the team's best interest," Simms said. "But the time has come where I've got to look out for my interest, too.

"I feel great, I'm ready to play football again and I can't see how they expect me to back there and play and think everything will be fine. I'm doing this for legitimate reasons. I have a legitimate beef here. Things were done wrong from a business aspect and things were done wrong on a personal level. That's not how you treat people that have busted their butt for you."



[Last modified: Jun 10, 2008 09:47 AM]

[maryjanewatson]

God I HATE Chris Simms...

He feels like he's being held hostage?

I'm sure he didn't feel that way when he got a huge contract with no expectation of playing last year.

What a friggin' idiot. I hope this is enough to push the last stalwart Simms fan off the bandwagon. Wait until it's too late for him to get a decent offer from another team in camp, then cut his butt.

[freedog]

Originally Posted by Jfeldz

just read this on bucs beat... i dont know how to quote, but here is a link...
http://blogs.tampabay.com/bucs/2008/....html#comments

did anyone expect the head coach to treat his player any different? WOW players coach he is not.

[blackbeard78]

Well I dont blame him for this , the kid put his life on the line for the team and then Gruden does this to him. I dont understand that at all. Chris may not have been the best option all the time but he did put his heart into the game , and for that i give him credit. Gruden just doesnt know how to treat players or people

[maryjanewatson]

Originally Posted by blackbeard78

Well I dont blame him for this , the kid put his life on the line for the team and then Gruden does this to him. I dont understand that at all. Chris may not have been the best option all the time but he did put his heart into the game , and for that i give him credit. Gruden just doesnt know how to treat players or people

The team does what? Pays him about 10x more last year than he would have gotten elsewhere knowing he won't be able to play?

[SCHRODER]

Sorry about this Simms.

I think you're a good kid, strong arm, and have a winning mentality. I hope things work out for you and thanks for the super brief memories. With your new team (if you get to go) I hope you learn to let the ball go sooner.

I wish people understood the Bucs org is run like a Fortune 500 company and not a "feel good" organization. Produce or you're fired. That's the way it works.

Simms is a kid with a good family, good values, and is someone I'd hate to see in the NFC South playing against us.

GO BUCS!!!!

[IndianaA-Train]

He is being a little **** and gossip monger. The issues he was talking about should have stayed in house and not been discussed openly. By the way ... GRUDEN WANTED TO CUT A QUARTERBACK ... I thought that was interesting.

He should be cut and now he is even more worthless than he was before. I find that interesting that the Glazers told them to keep Simms ...

Cut him and move on ...

[IchabodCrane#84]

Seriously what a contadicting baby.

"I feel like I'm being held hostage,''

-- Simms offered that Gruden wanted to release him at the start of last season but the Glazer family intervened and made sure he had a spot on the roster, forcing the Bucs to keep four quarterbacks.

"I had a number of people tell me in the organization the Glazers basically made sure I wasn’t released,'' Simms said. "That’s the hardest part of this whole thing. The Glazers are a great family. They're very caring human beings. I respect them in so many ways.'

So he feels like he's being held hostage even though Gruden wanted to release him, but the Glazers made Gruden keep him. They ensured he got his 5 million and are very caring and he has a lot of respect for them.

At one point, Gruden asked Simms if his problems had a mental component.

"He asked me, "Is this injury in your head?' Simms said. "I found that completely ridiculous. I was going through a tough time. I kept my mouth shut all summer. I felt I was betrayed to a degree. Nobody took time to talk to me on a personal level and see how I was doing.''

Nobody took the time to talk to me on a personal level? Except maybe when Gruden asked you how were you doing mentally!!!

I had so much respect for Simms toughing it out through that Carolina game. He should true grit and passion for the game, and now he's here, with an opportunity that he shouldn't even have to prove himself and he's *****ing about it.

You've been out of the league for two years, and Gruden may not have you in his plans, so instead of honoring your 5 million dollar contract and maybe proving someone wrong, why don't you just sit on your *** and ***** and moan. Ungrateful little punk.

[underdog]

The kid sucked, and couldn't throw over the line.

Gruden was right, and did the right thing by benching him and wanting him gone. The coach has to make that call. It is amazing that the Glazers got involved.


AND


And now I wonder what other personnel decisions the Glazers are making that was covered up?

[nhbucsfan]

Simms offered that Gruden wanted to release him at the start of last season but the Glazer family intervened and made sure he had a spot on the roster, forcing the Bucs to keep four quarterbacks.

So he wants to be cut, but is ****ed at Gruden when HE wanted to cut him? He should be mad at the Glazers for keeping him around.

Simms says he has confirmed that three teams contacted the Bucs on the second day of the NFL draft last April to begin discussions about trading a sixth- or seventh-round pick for the estranged quarterback.

There's nothing wrong with keeping him around for TC to show how healthy he is. His value only goes up to the team.

[buc4evr]

I can't blame the Glazers, they paid the guy $7 milllion for being on IR. At least they didn't cut him last year when he was "healed" but not able to give it 100%, instead he got millions and a chance to rehab and get his throwing mechanics back. He will be released and make a lot of money as a back-up this year and may even have the chance to start.

Chris needs to talk to hard working people who have lost their jobs and lost their houses to the mortgage scams and then tell me he wasn't treated fairly.

[nhbucsfan]

I had respect for the guy. He seemed to try hard, even though he wasn't awlays sucessful.

Now he's just a weenie.

[DreadNaught79]

Originally Posted by nhbucsfan

So he wants to be cut, but is ****ed at Gruden when HE wanted to cut him? He should be mad at the Glazers for keeping him around.

Great post... I didnt hear this kid whining about the 2 year contract he signed when we knew he wasnt going to play due to his spleen injury. Now that he is healthy he is talking about being a "hostage". Gimmie a break, Sounds like the spoiled little kid I always thought he was.

I cant wait until we cut this kid and I am not worried about him catching on somewhere else because he will never be better than average.

Look on the bright side, at least all he broke was his silence....

[The12thMan]

Wow, Simms needs to STFU. He blames Gruden when Gruden WANTED to let him go. I wouldn't mind being held hostage by an NFL team for a couple million dollars just sitting on my ***.

[FranchiseFreeman]

God I hope we keep him, I loved watching him throw at the back of the O-Lines head!

[nhbucsfan]

Originally Posted by TampaBayzAllDay

God I hope we keep him, I love seeing him throw at the back of the O-Lines head!

Not as enjoyable as when he went to the sidelines after to meet Gruden.

[FranchiseFreeman]

Originally Posted by nhbucsfan

Not as enjoyable as when he went to the sidelines after to meet Gruden.

True.

[The12thMan]

Originally Posted by Rod_Tidwell

Look on the bright side, at least all he broke was his silence....

No, I'm sure he broke wind too.

From his mouth.

[maryjanewatson]

I hope we keep him until 2 minutes before the season kicks off, because I'd hate to reward him for this by giving him what he wants.

[BGcarnage32]

Originally Posted by maryjanewatson

God I HATE Chris Simms...

He feels like he's being held hostage?

I'm sure he didn't feel that way when he got a huge contract with no expectation of playing last year.

What a friggin' idiot. I hope this is enough to push the last stalwart Simms fan off the bandwagon. Wait until it's too late for him to get a decent offer from another team in camp, then cut his butt.

Woah woah! Do we completely agree on something..like, absolutely agree?

Something is wrong here.

[Ryan24]

Originally Posted by blackbeard78

Well I dont blame him for this , the kid put his life on the line for the team and then Gruden does this to him. I dont understand that at all. Chris may not have been the best option all the time but he did put his heart into the game , and for that i give him credit. Gruden just doesnt know how to treat players or people

What did the coach do to him?

Let's see....he supposedly hurt but he said he wasn't hurt last season. He also failed to bring up the "hurt" issue when he signed his contract in the first place.

He also wanted to be released last season and Gruden was willing to oblige, according to Simms, yet wasn't "allowed" to. So how that's the coach's fault escapes me.

He also blames that the Bucs haven't taken care of the business side to all of this yet he has made $5 million dollars off a contract he signed while "hurt". So how he comes to the conclusion that the Bucs have screwed him and he's being held hostage is might perplexin'.

[maryjanewatson]

Originally Posted by BGcarnage32

Woah woah! Do we completely agree on something..like, absolutely agree?

Something is wrong here.

Watch your head, the sky is falling!

[Gettin'Vicious]

somewhere, in a land far away...

a seagull turds in the sea and a bigger ripple is made than this.

somewhere, in a land not too far...

a little Amish man listens to the World's tiniest violen and a tear escapes his eye.

somehwere, in a nearby circle...

a mouse queefs ever so silently -- and that my friends, is this Chris Simms interview.

[The Tampa 2]

Sorry, but if I were Simms I'd be ****ed too. He's not getting any younger and it would suck to have a shot to start at quarterback in the NFL for some team and to be robbed of that time? No, I'd be extremely ****ed.

[DreadNaught79]

Originally Posted by maryjanewatson

I hope we keep him until 2 minutes before the season kicks off

I know it would cost us 2 million but I hope we keep him than put him on IR first chance we get. Then we can report his injury has "bruised ovaries".

[Take Five]

I really don't want to say the writing is on the wall but,
the writing is on the wall. There I said it.

[maryjanewatson]

Originally Posted by Ragnarok

Sorry, but if I were Simms I'd be ****ed too. He's not getting any younger and it would suck to have a shot to start at quarterback in the NFL for some team and to be robbed of that time? No, I'd be extremely ****ed.

Tell you what -

He gives back all the money he was given before last year to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, and the team cuts him.

[zpanther]

Originally Posted by Ryan24

What did the coach do to him?

Let's see....he supposedly hurt but he said he wasn't hurt last season. He also failed to bring up the "hurt" issue when he signed his contract in the first place.

He also wanted to be released last season and Gruden was willing to oblige, according to Simms, yet wasn't "allowed" to. So how that's the coach's fault escapes me.

He also blames that the Bucs haven't taken care of the business side to all of this yet he has made $5 million dollars off a contract he signed while "hurt". So how he comes to the conclusion that the Bucs have screwed him and he's being held hostage is might perplexin'.

I agree. Also, if the Glazers forced Gruden/Allen to keep Chris last season, they could just as easily have had him released earlier this year. Something just doesn't jive here. Of course, truth can be stranger than fiction. Who really knows?

[The Tampa 2]

Originally Posted by maryjanewatson

Tell you what -

He gives back all the money he was given before last year to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, and the team cuts him.

Ok, trade the spleen back and we're squared with him.