Chris Simms is under contract to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but coach Jon Gruden hasn't made it a secret that he has no intention of ever putting Simms on the field in a Bucs uniform again. That puts Simms in an awkward situation, and he vented his frustrations in an interview with the St. Petersburg Times:
"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.''Simms said he knows for a fact that there were teams offering late-round draft picks to acquire him, and he's baffled that the Bucs didn't trade him. He also says the NFL forced him to be checked by a league-appointed doctor because it didn't think the team was telling the truth about his injuries.
But here's what I don't get: Why doesn't Simms just show up to off-season workouts and force the team's hand? Simms has a base salary of $2 million this year, and if he got hurt at the team facility the Bucs would have to pay it to him. By skipping workouts, Simms is actually helping the team hold him hostage.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-10-2008 @ 8:28AM
Larry said...
Gees holding him hostage? They paid him $5 Million last year as a hostage? $2 million this year. The hostage business rocks!
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6-10-2008 @ 9:58AM
Henry James said...
It's not about the money, though. The kid wants to play. He took the team to the playoffs and is capable of starting or being a tremendous backup and is still young.
When your heart and soul is poured into and you've trained your whole life to be a NFL player, do you want to be at home just collecting a paycheck? He's Phil Simms' son, man. He doesn't need the money.
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6-10-2008 @ 10:22AM
scott said...
I know,and for some one whos balls are batted down at the line of scimmage in almost every series of downs,sometimes consecutively,for that kind of money he needs to shut up and practice getting the ball past the line.
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6-10-2008 @ 10:31AM
sal cunningham said...
Chris Simms ... a jerk just like his dad Phil
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6-10-2008 @ 4:17PM
Brian McNamara said...
This is truly incredible. I believe Simms statements are self serving and very selfish. Simms needs to earn his positon on the Bucs. For being held hostage, he is getting paid quite alot money. He needs to work hard to enhance his reputation.
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6-10-2008 @ 6:00PM
Jaelyn said...
If there is anybody out there looking to pay millions for a 5'3", 103 lb. hostage, please reply by posting below:
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