Simeon Rice Gets His Due, And Maybe A Boost For The Hall Of Fame
May 20th, 2025
Bucs great Simeon Rice is overcome with emotion as he begins his remarks at Monday’s press conference announcing he will be the next inductee into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor.
Two things stuck out to Joe yesterday when the Bucs officially announced legendary edge rusher Simeon Rice would be the next man inducted into the Bucs’ Ring of Honor.
In Joe’s mind, it should have happened years ago.
For some reason, Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks and John Lynch, and to a lesser degree, Rondé Barber, got all the love for that 2002 Super Bowl-winning season. Rice was almost an afterthought.
Please do not misunderstand Joe. Sapp, Brooks, Lynch and Barber were all-time greats and deserved all the accolades those four Hall of Famers received. But it was the addition of Rice that put that defense on a rare level.
In fact, Rice believes there was only one defense better. That was the 1985 Bears, Rice’s hometown team he grew up watching.
(Fun Rice fact: As a senior at Mount Carmel High School, the sophomore quarterback was Donovan McNabb.)
Rice was anything but an afterthought for Joe. The Bucs defense was damned good but when the Bucs signed Rice in March 2001 as a free agent, he made that Bucs defense complete. Rice helped turn that unit into one of the most ferocious defenses in NFL history.
With Rice balling out from the edge, it helped keep traffic off Sapp, and he ate. And, as Rice said yesterday, with him and Sapp getting after the quarterback, the rest of the defense turned into hungry beasts.
“It became a feeding frenzy,” Rice said. “The rest [of the defense] were like piranhas.”
How special was yesterday for Rice? And how much does Rice love football? When Rice stepped up to the podium to offer his remarks, he broke down, overcome with emotion. He took some 45 seconds to regain his composure. Rice’s younger sister had to step up and hand him tissues.
Rice got one word out when he began his remarks, “Honestly… ” and then he clutched his heart and began sobbing. That’s how much the Ring of Honor meant to him. That’s how much football means to Rice. That’s how much he loves the Bucs.
When he steadied himself, Rice promised when he is inducted into the Ring of Honor on Nov. 30 he will not “bawl,” even with the Bucs hosting the Cardinals, the team that drafted Rice third overall in 1996.
Rice was broken up, in part, because he said his father didn’t get to live long enough to see this day.
Cool stories of his time with the Bucs were flowing, including Rice talking about how Chucky had to once chase him off the Bucs’ practice fields and go home… past 10:30 p.m. … Rice also said upon signing with the Bucs he had to be demure and respect the locker room that was run by Sapp, Brooks, Lynch and Barber. After a while, he realized he could be himself so long as he produced.
And boy, did he ever produce.
Sapp and Rice did not get along at all in the early going, Rice said. Gradually, they became tight because they respected each other’s game so much. Real recognized real. Now, Sapp is one of Rice’s most vocal supporters for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
There were so many stars on the 2002 Bucs that Tampa became “Tinsel Town,” Rice said.
With a smirk, Rice remembered how the Bucs back then used the Florida heat to make opposing offenses wilt.
Rice recalled once an offensive line of an opponent was looking to find any crack in the Bucs, anything to offer a glimmer of hope. Hoping someone on the Bucs’ defense was getting run down, too. Instead, they saw Rice playing air guitar from across the line waiting for the snap — while those big uglies were sucking air.
Those linemen immediately melted, Rice joked.
Bucs great Simeon Rice embraces Bucs co-owners Darcie Glazer Kassewitz and Bryan Glazer yesterday at One Buc Palace.
The Bucs defense in 2002, Rice said, “Became a masterpiece.”
It certainly was.
Joe also liked yesterday how Bucs co-chairman Bryan Glazer scolded the Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors for all but ignoring Rice. Well done! They needed to be called out.
Joe isn’t sure if that will backfire for Rice but it needed to be said.
Damn right Rice deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
As for the Hall, Rice said if anyone doubts his credentials, they should watch how he produced facing tackles who are now in the Hall of Fame.
Case closed, he said.
Joe really liked how Rice pointed out Bucs teammates when he was asked if he should have been the MVP of the 2002 Super Bowl game. Rice gave Dexter Jackson, the man who did win the MVP, props, but added any number of his teammates could have won the MVP that day. Rice specifically cited Derrick Brooks and Greg Spires as worthy candidates.
Classy response there.
Rice summed up the afternoon, trying to explain what going into the Ring of Honor means to him.
“Nothing like being honored by a team you helped bring to another level.”
May 20th, 2025 at 4:00 am
Awesome! Well deserved but just took too long imo.
May 20th, 2025 at 4:00 am
Great memories! Thank you, Simeon!
I’m pretty sure his sack numbers give him a ridiculously clears case for the hall.
Those were the days! My heart is with that first Super Bowl team. Xtra special. Love our second ring, but that defense….A-train…
May 20th, 2025 at 4:31 am
Well deserved and finally here. So happy for Simeon.
Love hearing about the memories he has and how he summed it all up. Good guy!
May 20th, 2025 at 4:37 am
Watching Simeon Rice play was one of my greatest pleasures as a Bucs Fan.
He was smooth, powerful- and quick as a Panther.
And he had one more aspect to his game, that made him stand out among that incredible Buc Defense.
Simeon Rice was Cool.
So glad he’s gong on the Ring. He deserves it.
I wanna see him in Canton. He deserves that, Too!
May 20th, 2025 at 6:10 am
Kinda interesting how athletes always say this.
Nobody else who has kids or grew up watching this guy play ever said stuff like says this, and nobody who works now who does stuff says this kinda crap.
It’s a tribute to my parents. Blah blah blah. Like the guy think he’s a great for sure and for his time. I just think it’s weird and oddly convenient that guys are like here you go mommy and daddy I did this for you!
May 20th, 2025 at 6:14 am
He looks like he could still buckle up and play! Love when former NFL stars like Simeon and Brad Culpepper pursue health after their playing days.
He looks great for 50+! He deserves this honor for sure!
Everyday I try to practice one thing for sure. GRATITUDE. It’s so important and what is lacking in today’s society! Simeon “gets it!”
May 20th, 2025 at 6:45 am
Anyone who hasn’t done so should go watch the press conference on the Bucs website. It’s worth the time.
May 20th, 2025 at 6:48 am
Naaa what I’m saying
May 20th, 2025 at 6:54 am
ThatAintRight! Says:
“Nobody else… says this kinda crap.It’s a tribute to my parents. Blah blah blah.”
.
.
A strong and functional nuclear family is the foundation for successful societies. This is actually used to be common knowledge. As the nuclear family goes away as an ideal, civilization collapses. Just look around.
It is unfortunate that you were hatched, and don’t understand this. “Honor thy mother and thy father.”
May 20th, 2025 at 6:55 am
I was at the game in Carolina (2004?) when a fan was allowed to taunt Rice on the jumbotron. Rice delivered back to back sacks of Jake Delhomme. Awesome stuff!
May 20th, 2025 at 7:08 am
I haven’t missed a game since 1996. When I was 13
The first game I attended was in 1995 when Barry Sanders ran for over 200 yards.
In “the big sombrero.”
Simeon Rice and JPP changed the Bucs.
Without Simeon, we may not have won that Super Bowl. Without JPP, we may not have won our second Super Bowl.
After GMC made our team soft, JPP made our team TOUGH.
Simeon Rice and JPP. Two of the greatest defensive ends in NFL History.
May 20th, 2025 at 7:45 am
A slight decrease in the number of nuclear families has nothing to do with the collapse of civilization. Civilization collapses because the right wing has decided to turn its back on democracy and has become a power hungry mess.
On a positive note, Simeon was incredible and is worthy of every accolade he is getting. I hope he gets in the Hall too.
May 20th, 2025 at 8:03 am
Stpetematt Says:
“A slight decrease in the number of nuclear families has nothing to do with the collapse of civilization.”
.
.
Single-parent households have more than doubled just since the 1970s. A “slight increase.” LOL
And if you think that it has this has nothing to do with social stability, you should read some books. The “elites” wrote all about how they were going to destroy western civilization, and the number one target of those people was the nuclear family.
May 20th, 2025 at 8:06 am
@ Stpetematt
It’s crazy that the one thing that I admired most while I watched Simeon’s presser was the thing that you decided to come in the comments and mock. You really have your priorities messed up.
May 20th, 2025 at 8:08 am
Matt, cool it. You are 100% right about Simeon though.
May 20th, 2025 at 9:01 am
Well deserved!
May 20th, 2025 at 9:43 am
Couldn’t happen to a more deserving guy.
And @ teacherman, I remember that darn game. I was working in my yard putting up a clothesline. I was listening on the radio. On one play we caught Barry Sanders behind the line of scrimmage but the defender only managed to hold on to Barry’s shoe. He ran 81 yards for the touchdown with only one shoe.
May 20th, 2025 at 9:55 am
I just watched it.
Made me cry.
If you don’t watch it, you’re not a real Bucs fan.
If you don’t feel it, you are not a real human being.
And I like the Simeon and Bucky connection to Chicago.
Tough Men!
May 20th, 2025 at 10:00 am
Kids do just fine coming out of 1 parent families. If all the parents do is fight, they are far better off psychologically. And I’m completely correct about the right wing and its power grab as well as Simeon belonging in the hall. He should already be there.
May 20th, 2025 at 10:23 am
The stadium was wild, and we stood most of the games. Simeon did his “thing” across from the O-line to the sound of “welcome to the jungle”. Cool Cat!
Simeon et al. 2002 – Those were days!
May 20th, 2025 at 10:51 am
watched the whole 40 minute thing late last night and it was great…
if it kept going i would have just sat there listening to simeon talk passionately some more…
it’s kinda rare when an athlete speaks deeply from the gut and heart…
yet i did notice he had a very itchy rib on the right side of his torso…might need to go have that rack of ribs checked out at the doc 🙂
May 20th, 2025 at 11:04 am
My question for Mr. Glazer would be why did it take so long for Rice to be inducted into the ROH?
May 20th, 2025 at 11:31 am
Good for the Glazers to make the points about Sim. A true joy to watch.
May 20th, 2025 at 11:55 am
Teacherman – Amen to that! Made me cry too. So much straight from the heart.
May 20th, 2025 at 11:56 am
stpetebucsfan Says:
He looks like he could still buckle up and play! Love when former NFL stars like Simeon and Brad Culpepper pursue health after their playing days.
He looks great for 50+! He deserves this honor for sure!
—————————————————————————
When Simeon played for the Bucs I doubt that there were 10 NFL players in the NFL that were in better shape than he was.
Training camp wasn’t a challenge for him so he had to do EXTRA work-outs to get into the condition he wanted.
He trained hard the entire off-season for four different sports. I could only remember two of them so I asked ChatGPT about the rest and it said:
“During his tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Simeon Rice engaged in an intensive offseason training regimen that incorporated four distinct sports to enhance his athletic performance:
Track and Field: Rice performed sprints and agility drills at Phoenix Christian High School under the guidance of Maurice Streety, the school’s track coach.
Basketball: He played competitive basketball against former NCAA Division I stars, CBA players, and other professional athletes, focusing on agility and coordination.
Boxing: Rice incorporated boxing into his training to improve agility, hand-eye coordination, and aerobic capacity.
Hill Running: He concluded his workouts with sprints up a steep roadway known as “The Hill,” used by elite athletes to build endurance and mental toughness.
May 20th, 2025 at 12:04 pm
Algo doesn’t like criticism or compliments. How about that. Todd is great.
[“Algo” is going to get pissed off one of these days that someone constantly complains why his comments aren’t dug out of a moderation queue within 30 seconds and instead makes sure all the comments automatically end up in the trash bin. Is Joe allowed to attend press conferences? Is Joe allowed to go to a Bucs practice? Or God forbid work a Bucs game? Or is Joe supposed to stare at a screen like an autistic mental patient 20 hours a day waiting for your pearls of wisdom to drop in? Please remember: If Joe can’t monitor or attend press conferences, media availabilities, practices, games, etc., then there’s nothing for you to comment on. Making sure your comments appear is a much bigger pain in the backside for Joe than it is for you. — Joe]
May 20th, 2025 at 12:23 pm
Rice recalled speaking to former Buccaneers General Manager Rich McKay during the 2001 free agency period and making a bold prediction.
“I said, if you bring me down, you will be in the Super Bowl either this year or next year, trust me,” said Rice. “Because I could tell. I watched the Bucs play the Rams in that game, and I’m like, if I would have been playing, you would have won that game.”
May 20th, 2025 at 12:28 pm
I think Sim’s press conference from yesterday cements his position as my favorite Buc of all time!
May 20th, 2025 at 12:29 pm
The HOF means nothing if Simeon Rice doesn’t get in there. Do we win our first Super Bowl without him? I’m not so sure.
May 20th, 2025 at 1:13 pm
Wow, great inspiration!! I Just made my 16-year-old watch it right in the middle of Class! If that’s not true definition of a Hall of Fame career, we have our priorities wrong gentleman. If you played any type of competitive sports, you had to shed a tear! Well done, Go Bucs!!!