The first notion filtered through the media corps as the Broncos went through pre-practice warmups and calisthenics, where onlookers murmured to each other, asking “Where is Simeon Rice?” and “Do you see (No.) 97 out there?”
The answer came after practice, when Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced that the 12-year veteran defensive end was released following an eight-game tenure in which he was inactive twice, started once and logged 11 total tackles and a pass breakup during the six games in which he played. Most notably, he didn’t record a sack, and now has two sacks in his last 14 games played after notching 56.5 sacks in the previous four seasons.
“When we lost Ebenezer (Ekuban), we went out to try to find a proven player that we thought could help us,” Shanahan said. “In the current situation, we felt like we were better with the younger players that we do have. They gave us the best chance to win. That’s the direction (in which) we’re going.”
The team added three younger defensive ends this week — Josh Mallard and Paul Carrington, who played under current defensive-line coach Bill Johnson in Atlanta last year, and rookie Larry Birdine.
When asked whether the release was related to Rice’s shoulder — which has been problematic since last season and led to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ decision to release him in July — Shanahan declined to specify the reason why Rice’s production was below expectations.
“I really can’t tell you what it is,” Shanahan said.
“I wish him well. He’s going to keep on trying to play for another football team. I’ve watched Simeon for a lot of years and he’s played exceptionally well in the National Football League. It just didn’t work out for us.”
Safety John Lynch, who played with Rice during the 2001-03 seasons with Tampa Bay as well as this year, said he was “disappointed” at the news.
“I feel partly responsible for urging him to come here, and from the start it never worked out,” Lynch said. “Everyone, I’m sure, has their reasons. He’s a Hall of Fame player in my mind, and I’m just sorry it didn’t work out here. I’ve seen him at his best, and he’ll go on to have success if he wants to play elsewhere.
“He was frustrated from the start. He’s a guy who demands a lot of himself. He takes a lot of pride in his profession. I think early on he was still struggling with the injury. He thought he was well here, and it just wasn’t working out. Sometimes everyone’s not a match, and this wasn’t a match. It’s disappointing for me because I like both sides and I would’ve liked to see it really work out, but it didn’t, so both sides moved on.”
Also from the practice …
Running back Travis Henry and Lynch were limited in their on-field work; both will be game-time decisions … Shanahan also expects Jay Cutler to be ready to play Sunday.
Tags: Simeon Rice
Get rid of Bates and his terrible “D” system !!!!
Pantera1040 you are right when bates coached his last team they were good but look at his personal they were undersized but very fast, in this league unless you have the jags front four, you cannot hope to stop the run or get pressure on the quarter back, two very good defenses this year come to mind, the colts and the steelers, watch they always have there safteys up near the line of scrimmage troy for pitt, and snaders for indy, these to freaks always are at the top of the food chain in team tackles, the steeler game is the only one this year where we brought pressure, and it worked, o lineman are to big and to fast anymore to play 60′s football,I love lynch but he is the most affective at the point of attack at the line of scrimmage, you pay bailey and bly top five salary in there given positions let them earn it and man up apply pressure, stop the run, make them pass againist our corners, i would rather watch an opposing team beat us through the air then put up 250 rushing football is not rocket science coach my eleven againist yours, right now every team we face is licking there lips to get a chance to pad there stats, every year I here the same s–it from sirius satallite football, now they have the stats right to back up there negative talk right mr. adam schien, this might help the defense head up shoulders square wrap up drive threw, remember that its what I teach my high school players, if you all ever need a refresher go to your local high school, or as k dave logan his team is quite good
The injures on the O Line are killing the Broncos because If it wasn’t for young Offensive line Cutler would not be getting pounded. Shanny also needs to start Selvin instead of Travis Henry. Notice Selvin gets a better average in almost every game than Travis. We can’t make big plays down the field either because The defensive lineman have already past the blue paper curtain and getting to Cutler. So i say drop BATES because his system does not work in Denver and he should go back to whereever he came from. and find someone else who’s system is not so complicated or hard to fit players into. When Travis serves his suspension cut him and find another back thats not worth as much money but still works in the zone blocking scheme. well i hope the broncos beat the cheifs and Go Broncos!
Broncos Defense “Building Blocks”
DE – Tim Crowder
DT – Marcus Thomas
DT – 1st/2nd Rnd Draft Pick
DE – Elvis Dumervil
WLB – Jarvis Moss
MlB – D.J Williams
SLB – Ian Gold
CB – Champ Bailey
CB – Dominique Foxworth
FS – 1st/2nd Rnd Draft Pick
SS – 4th Rnd Draft Pick
That’s right Jarvis Moss at linebacker. He’s got the speed and range of a linebacker and can be a real threat on the edge in an upright position. He could be the Mathias Kiwanuka of this year, DE to LB
Hand bates a newspaper and tell him to find a new job! i think moss would be a great LB as well, maybe we could look for a proven leader in that middle spot and possibly draft a player to later take that position, just a thought.
I think D.J Williams is doing the best he can with a poor D-line, it all starts up front, if you look at the top MLB’s around the league, they’ve all got a solid D-line. Urlacher and Ray Lewis would not look nearly as good behind this D-line. Put this season down as a transition phase for Williams, just wait till he’s comfortable with a solid group around him so he can make plays without second guessing
Jarvis Moss as a LB is a very interesting idea. I agree about DJ too. He doesn’t get a lot of respect for what he does, because he is not the most vocal of guys. I agree with Vinci, that it’s going to be tough for any MLB to make plays when his D-Line is not occupying blockers. The little bit of game action I’ve seen, DJ is drawing more than his share of blockers, yet he is still consistenly finishing games with around 9 or 10 tackles. If the MLB is truly the QB of this defense, I think it’s reasonable to be patient with DJ, and let him have a chance to grow into the spot just as we agree we need to give Cutler a chance to do that. Just a thought…
I don’t care what anybody says…I like Dj Williams and the guy is doing the best he can with that horrendous D-line. I’m liking the idea of jarvis Moss as a LB.
I still believe in these guys…the defence needs to play the way the did against the Steelers…because in my opinion that was their best showing this season.
GO BRONCOS!
I think Rice had to go, Shannahan is building a young defense and Rice didnt fit in, he is still a good player but didnt fit in with the new crop of young linebackers.. But that young defense in a couple of years will be a great defense for years to come. Go Bronncos
Is SAMMYBRONC a retard?????????????