Colts: claim DE Simeon Rice off Waivers (1 Viewer)

[IndyHavoc]

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Monday, November 12

COLTS ACQUIRE RICE

By John Oehser - Colts.com

Colts Claim Defensive End off Waivers

INDIANAPOLIS - The Colts have made a move to address the latest in a variety of high-profile injuries.

This move came on the defensive line.

And it came by signing a player familiar to Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy.

With Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney expected to miss a “significant amount of time” with an injury sustained Sunday, the Colts on Monday acquired three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Simeon Rice off waivers, Colts President Bill Polian said.

Freeney, who has registered a franchise-record 60 sacks in six NFL seasons – including 3.5 this season – sustained a foot injury late in the Colts' loss to the San Diego Chargers on Sunday night.

“We anticipate that Dwight will some significant amount of time – three, four games, maybe more,” Polian said Monday night on his weekly radio show.

Rice, who was released by the Denver Broncos on Friday, had signed with the Broncos on September 3 after being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Rice, a 12-year veteran and the third overall selection in the 1996 NFL Draft, has 121 career sacks, second only to Michael Strahan of the New York Giants among active players. He played in eight games with two sacks last season before being placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

Rice started one of six games

played with the Broncos this season, registering eight tackles and no sacks.

Rice played six seasons with Tampa Bay, from 2001-2006, registering 69.5 sacks in the Tampa 2, one-gap style of defense. Dungy coached the Buccaneers from 1996-2001.

“Simeon obviously knows our system,” Polian said. “He has played for Tony before. He fits like a glove.”

Polian said the move was similar to last season’s midseason trade with the Buccaneers for defensive tackle Anthony “Booger” McFarland.

McFarland started the last 11 regular-season games and four playoff games for Indianapolis last season, and was a critical part of the Colts’ Super Bowl run on and off the field.

“It’s Booger McFarland, Chapter 2, if you will,” Polian said. “We think it will be a positive acquisition for us. Hopefully, it will pay some dividends for us down the road.”

Polian said Rice could play against the Kansas City Chiefs in the RCA Dome Sunday.

“He’s a designated (pass) rusher at this stage of his career,” Polian said. “He’s not going to play 60 snaps at defensive end, but with the right rest and in the right situation in the right packages – which our defensive staff and particularly (defensive line coach) John Teerlinck does a great job putting together – and with the emergence of our young players at defensive tackle, he fits perfectly well.”

 

[IndyHavoc]

The injuries keep piling up. Don't think we're seeing alot of these guys getting back in the next 2-3 weeks. Most probably could come back, but really sounds like Dungy and FO are taking the long-road approach to letting these guys get totally healthy and hoping to squeeze into the playoffs and be healthy. We'll see...the AFC South is still one of the best divisions in the NFL thus far.

 

[Big Blue Wrecking Crew]

What is the impact of this on the Colts' run defense. Obviously a big hit to the rush, but, if they have to move people around, does it have an impact here?

I may be stuck starting Priest due to Bong Hit Henry (unless Shanahan wakes up and starts Young and announces it by Sunday)and Turf Toe Foster on my roster

 

[DropKick]

Saw some info this could be Lisfranc (sp?) and season ending.

Big hit to Indy if this proves true.

 

[JohnnyU]

Saw some info this could be Lisfranc (sp?) and season ending.Big hit to Indy if this proves true.

Report: Freeney's season could be over ESPN's John Clayton is reporting that DE Dwight Freeney may have suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury.The team is already expecting Freeney to miss 3-4 games, but swelling in Freeney's foot is preventing an official determination of the injury. If the report is true, Freeney would need season-ending surgery, and depending on the severity, could be questionable for the start of 2008 Nov. 13 - 6:11 pm etSource: espn.com

 

[PatsFan23]

“Simeon obviously knows our system,” Polian said. “He has played for Tony before. He fits like a glove.”

Like one of O.J.'s gloves I guess....

Rice just doesn't have it anymore?