Simeon Rice: Bucs Should Get Mario Williams
March 8th, 2012
If there was any Bucs player radio show that was a must-listen for Joe it was Simeon Rice’s weekly trip to the sports radio airwaves. Rice is eloquent, smart and best of all, thoroughly unpredictable if not a little loony.
For example, it was Rice — at the Super Bowl radio row no less speaking on SiriusXM NFL Radio — who famously tore apart his former Bucs coach in a lengthy diatribe when he referred to Chucky as “a scumbag.” Joe was also fond of the time he referred to the performing style of his younger sister, an aspiring singer, as “panty-dropping music.”
Rice, a borderline Hall of Fame candidate, likes to boast that the Bucs are still trying to replace him. He’s right, though rookie Adrian Clayborn last year played the best right defensive end for the Bucs since Rice prowled the line of scrimmage.
Appearing with J.P. Peterson yesterday on WQYK-AM 1010, Rice was asked who he would sign if he was Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik. Rice’s answer was clear if not predictable: Houston free agent Mario Williams.
J.P. Peterson: if the Bucs were inclined to go out and spend money, you think they should go out and get Mario Williams?
Simeon Rice: I do. They need that presence. I think it would be a great addition for what they are trying to do in Tampa, rebuilding, so yeah, I definitely think they should go out and get Mario Williams. They’ve got money to spend. They’ve saved up a lot. You might as well move forward in a real dramatic way. I think that’s a way to get started by picking up a defensive end like that who is really dominant.
Now Joe wouldn’t be totally against grabbing Mario Williams. Wow, talk about a deep defensive line. But in Joe’s eyes, the back seven on the defense potentially could be the worst in the NFL if it is ignored.
At this point, it’s not unrealistic to suggest, without any additions, the back seven for the Bucs starting the season could be Mason Foster, Geno Hayes, Quincy Black, Myron Lewis, E.J. Biggers, Tanard Jackson and Corey Lynch.
No one can safely say Ronde Barber or Aqib Talib will playing in September and Cody Grimm is trying to recover from his second straight season-ending leg injury.
If Dominik doesn’t do something about the secondary much less the back seven, he better sign Williams because the Bucs will need a massive front four to cover up for the back seven.
March 8th, 2012 at 11:09 am
Would having Mario Williams be nice? Yes. Is it spending wisely? No. While I would love to see a dominant force I agree with you, Joe, that the back 7 has a much bigger need. I also believe that we have the makings of a pair of stellar DE’s for years to come.
Plus, the Glazers wouldn’t spend that much $$$.
March 8th, 2012 at 11:11 am
With that being said in my prior post, if we’re going to pretend the Glazers are going to spend like crazy, then imagine adding Williams, Finnegan, Carr, and Lofton. That I would not be upset with at all.
March 8th, 2012 at 11:18 am
The one thing about Mario Williams is guys like him never EVER hit the market like this in the prime of their careers. Never. One thing I do not want to do again though is make a guy the highest paid at his position, let alone the entire NFL, like we did with Faine and Winslow. You will never EVER get that value out of that guy.
I can’t see Dominik going after him, but I also wouldn’t blame him for trying.
On the flip side, we could probably sign both Cortland Finnegan and Stephen Tulloch for what Williams will cost.
March 8th, 2012 at 11:19 am
Geno Hayes would technically be an addition, as he is a FA.
Our back 7 looks so ugly, that if Claiborne was off the board, I say forget T-Rich, and draft Kuechly!!!
March 8th, 2012 at 11:25 am
A guy like Mario would make the whole defense better. I like Bowers and Bennett, but they ain’t Mario.
AND for those plays when we run a 3-4, Mario can make the switch to outside linebacker.
I said yesterday that getting Mario would be a Simeon move…nice to see even Simeon agrees.
I don’t think it will happen, but if it did I would love the move…so long as secondary were also addressed.
March 8th, 2012 at 11:27 am
Wish FA would just get here.
March 8th, 2012 at 11:29 am
“The one thing about Mario Williams is guys like him never EVER hit the market like this in the prime of their careers.”
Like Mike Wallace?
March 8th, 2012 at 11:32 am
Talk about NTO making a wise move. Clayborne, Bowers, Bennett… these young DEs showed ALOT of promise… some of the most promise on the team.
The issues are DT depth, LBs, and DBs.
Personally, I think TJax will be back and playing well and Grimm provides depth when healthy.
I think Biggers, Mack, and the other CBs are for depth or expendable.
They NEED CBs in FA and the draft, just like they NEED LBs in fro both areas as well.
If they go get Williams (which I HIGHLY doubt), then great, as long as it does not preclude them from actually signing players in areas that they really need help
March 8th, 2012 at 11:35 am
Hey j2.0,
Make a friendly bet with me … If Mike Wallace goes to a new team next season that he will have less yards than either of the last 2 seasons in Pittsburgh ??
And Joe, Corey Lynch is a FA too .. Makes that back 7 even thinner.
Anyone hear the intvw with Finnegan yesterday ?? He was quite imformed on the Bucs and Schiano and sounded legitimately excited if he had the chance to go to Tampa .. IMO
March 8th, 2012 at 11:50 am
I hope you’re right jvato. We could really use Finnegan and should be making every move we can to get him.
March 8th, 2012 at 11:54 am
Finnegan or Carr paired up with Mo Claiborne at CB
Grab an ILB and draft another OLB and move Foster to OLB
March 8th, 2012 at 12:07 pm
What people tend to forget is Mario Williams is an elite player that can impaxt the defense more than any other player in FA. Yes we do have some really good talent already but when u have a chance to add a pro bowler to the team, i don’t see how you pass that up.
March 8th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
I see how you pass it up….because you already have potential pro bowlers with Bowers and Clayburn and you desperately need to add CB’s and LB’s. Why spend all the money on something you are really not weak at when there are so many other positions you ARE weak at?
March 8th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
with the youngry defensive line the bucs have….can you imagine the competition to push each other and learn from a probowler? WOOF
Nothing hides a weak secondary better than a colapsing pocket!
March 8th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Ok I am going to issue an apology to a lot of people. I have been pretty outspoken against draft Luke Kuechly and a lot of people are for it so I decided to do some research and watch some film. I was wrong. The kid looks pretty damn good and a solid MLB and isn’t as undersized as I thought. Whereas he isn’t my first choice, I now understand why he is some people’s and for that I am sorry.
March 8th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Mario would be a great addition to add as an OLB who can be used to pass rush alot… but…. he is not even close to being a priority. They have too many holes elsewhere
March 8th, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Yest, the Bucs 3 best defensive ends show a ton of promise. Yet, two just came off rookie seasons and the other is a RFA. There’s no guarantee depth will be there in the coming years at the position. Why not insure it?
Everyone talks about the pass rush, but let’s not forget how much the run defense would improve with Super Mario.
March 8th, 2012 at 12:38 pm
J 2.0
“Like Mike Wallace?”
First of all, he’s not free, not even close. Since when is a 1st round pick free?
Second, he is not elite. Larry Fitzgerald is elite. Calvin Johnson is elite. Andre Johnson is elite. Mike Wallace is a deep threat cog piece in an offense that was extremely pass heavy. There is no way in hell that I would pay Mike Wallace upwards of $12 million dollars a year. No way. And I sure as hell wouldn’t give up a top 10 pick for that.
Can we drop the Mike Wallace thing now, it is not happening in a million years, I’m sorry to be the one to bust that bubble.
March 8th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
J 2.0
You were that against drafting Kuechly and you had never even watched him play? I’m not trying to pick on you, but c’mon dude.
March 8th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Mario Williams over Bennett, Bowers, Clayborn is an upgrade but not nearly the quality of upgrade as a Lofton/Finnegan over any Buc’s LB/Barber, Biggers, Lewis, and Mack. DE is a strong point. This will never happen. Cool to think about but it will never happen and that is a good thing.
March 8th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
ive been saying this for awhile now! we need a playmaker on defense like mario so what if we have bowers and clayborn already, look at the giants, you can never have enough pass rushers. but i dont see this happening so i can deal with signing finningan and tulloch or loften
March 8th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
If anything, DT needs depth more than DE needs Mario.
March 8th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
J 2.0 – classy apology. Kuechly is not my first choice, but he is my second choice if Claiborne is gone. I really think he’s going to be a great player.
March 8th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
gotbbucs,
Wallace would be your next elite WR on your list that’s why you stopped where you did. I know we won’t give up #5 to get him, but I do think he is worth it. Also, in Wallace’s first 3 seasons he had more Rec yds and Rec TD’s than Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, and Larry Fitzgerald did in theirs. How is he not considered in their category?
When it comes to Kuechly, I had seen him play, but being in Florida you don’t get a ton of exposure so I had to look at it a bit more in depth on my own. And after that I would say if we did trade down for some reason, I wouldn’t be upset if they drafted him. I can admit when I make mistakes.
March 8th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
@J 2.0 Solid. Way to own up.
March 8th, 2012 at 12:56 pm
@jvato24
I just listened to the Finnegan interview and it got me excited for free agency to start. He sounded like a smart, humble guy who wants to be wanted and would be open to playing for the Bucs. It also didn’t hurt that he mentioned VJax and Tulloch coming here too.
March 8th, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Simeon Rice also thinks HE should still be starting in the NFL.
That most certainly does not make him a strong adviser to Mark Dominik or any other GM.
Personally, I don’t appreciate the “scumbag” comment and put his “opinions” in the same waste basket as Shaun King’s.
Mario Williams here? THAT’S the ticket! How about Peyton Manning? LOL
March 8th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
J 2.0
I explained why he isn’t in that category. The three guys that I mentioned all had garbage for QB’s in their first three seasons too. There’s probably a good 8-10 WR’s in the NFL right now that I would take over Mike Wallace.
March 8th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Im sure we have enough dough to get more than just Williams. I think if we wanted we could get williams and a CB with Tulloch along ith a WR. Just my oppinion
March 8th, 2012 at 1:41 pm
No. No. No.
March 8th, 2012 at 2:50 pm
All of the Glazer anti-free agent apologists should remember how we got Simeon – and Brad Johnson, Keenan McCardell, Joey J, Ken Dilger, Pittman, Keyshan (trade) and a large portion of our super bowl team.
Or, we can rebuild cheaply for a decade exclusively through the draft.
March 8th, 2012 at 4:18 pm
@ J2.0
Mario Williams would not be “spending wisely”?
You gotta be off your rocker, homeboy!
Last time I checked, the only unwise spending is no spending at all.
March 8th, 2012 at 4:31 pm
@stevek
Whereas I like Williams and think he can be a great rusher, it is not a need for us at DE. We have 2 good young prospects that could end up being elite on their owm. Are we to deny them the possibility of development? Also Williams will get a monster deal, probably in the $50 million guaranteed with annual salary $11-13 million. Do we need to invest that much money for a guy when we have 2 guys that could possibly end up being better than him?
March 8th, 2012 at 6:16 pm
Read about the latest Talib “incident” yet?
Cb is our biggest need, so we can usher that piece of crap out of Tampa!
March 8th, 2012 at 6:52 pm
J2.0,
I just want to see the Salary Cap exercised. You are right on.
March 8th, 2012 at 7:34 pm
Stevek,
I really hope they do spend some damn money.
March 9th, 2012 at 9:02 am
It comes down to Williams versus potential. Williams is a guaranteed performer where as the latter is all potential based speculation with the current roster. Legitimate pass rush-pressures makes up for secondary deficiencies. The best secondary still only has so much time that they can cover #1 receivers. I am all for Williams at the right price.