It was thought to be a foregone conclusion that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would release quarterback Chris Simms before the team reported for training camp, which happens Friday. After all, Simms would be the fifth QB on the roster in camp, and there’s just not enough reps for all those guys.
Plus, Simms made critical comments toward coach Jon Gruden for the way he felt he was treated by Tampa Bay’s head coach after the spleen injury he suffered during the 2006 regular season, and he skipped the Bucs’ voluntary workouts and the team’s three-day mandatory minicamp during the offseason. Simms even lobbied for a trade or release through the local media.
Yet despite all that, Simms is expected to report to camp on Friday, and the club expects him to compete for a spot on the regular season roster.
“He will be reporting to training camp,” GM Bruce Allen said. “This will be a good chance for him to get back out onto the football field and get back into a practice- or game-like situation. We expect Chris there.”
Simms has one year remaining on his contract, and even with four other quarterbacks on the roster, the Bucs don’t want to let him go without compensation. Plus he serves as insurance should Jeff Garcia, Luke McCown or Brian Griese suffer an injury. And his trade value would rise should a QB-needy team also suffer an injury during its camp.
Griese and McCown are expected to battle for the backup job to Garcia, but Allen said Simms would be in that mix as well. For what it’s worth, Simms has maintained that he has regained his throwing form and is 100 percent healthy after sitting out last season.
“You don’t bring a player in and not expect him to compete for a position,” Allen said.
Of course, the Bucs might not have room for Simms should they acquire Brett Favre. Simms acknowledged that Allen had asked him about the future Hall of Famer, and Tampa Bay is a rumored destination.
“He asked me questions about Brett Favre,” Simms said. “He asked if I felt Brett would be able to come back and be good here if he didn’t have a lot of reps in training camp. I said I thought he would but there would have to be some compromise with coach (Jon) Gruden. He’ll just want the play called and to drop back and throw it in there. But it’s something we talked about.”
Knowing Gruden, he would be thrilled to have six quarterbacks.
