Chris Simms speaks out on Gruden..."Irreparably Broken" (2 Viewers)

[Ministry of Pain]

Link

TAMPA - Chris Simms wants you to know that it's not about the city or the fans or the team's owners. His ongoing absence from "voluntary" offseason workouts, it's about just one thing - the head coach.

Though he respects his knowledge and deeply appreciates all that he's done for him as a player, the beleaguered Bucs quarterback said Monday that his relationship with Bucs coach Jon Gruden has been deteriorating for months and is now at a point where it is irreparably broken.

"It is totally broken," Simms said by phone from his New Jersey home, where he will be today when another round of workouts begin at One Buc Place. "And it kills me to say that, because the Bucs have been great to me; the fans have been great to me; I love being in Tampa; my family loves being in Tampa.

"It's an awesome sports town, a town that loves football. But the relationship between me and Coach Gruden - it's broken. It just is. And I don't see any way it's going to get better again."

The break, Simms said, began last year at training camp, where it quickly became obvious to most observers that Simms was struggling to regain his form following surgery to remove his spleen the previous September.

Simms said Gruden never fully acknowledged the impact of the injury and the subsequent surgery had on him and even went so far as to suggest it might have been something Simms was imagining or possibly making up.

"I do believe that he thought I might be faking it," Simms said. "I mean, he asked me, 'Is it in your head?' For him to say that, that's just not right. There are just a lot of things that I can never forgive him for."

Painting Simms as healthy when he clearly wasn't was one of them, Simms said. Another was forcing Simms to play against Miami during Week 3 of the 2007 preseason when Simms had been given very few team reps in practice.

"I was nowhere near ready to go," Simms said. "I don't know what the reason was for having me out there. And for coach to say during camp that I was healthy and just wasn't practicing well, that was a low blow.

"I mean, he never once sat down at any point with me and asked me what I was going through, how I felt, even as a person. That said a lot to me. That's why I feel like I can never play for him again."

The Bucs did not comment on the matter late Monday.

Simms, meanwhile, said that sitting down and discussing the matter with Gruden would not better the situation.

"How can I look Coach Gruden in the eye when I know he wanted to cut me at the end of training camp - just nine months after the most serious injury you can have probably other than a spinal cord injury?" Simms said. "I don't get a year to recover after I put my life on the line? That really hit me in the heart. It made me feel like things are severed beyond repair. I don't believe he wants to iron it out."

Simms made it clear that he doesn't share the same feelings for the Bucs' owners or their general manager, Bruce Allen, whom Simms said inquired "three or four times during camp" about his health and well-being.

He also said he owes "his life" to team physician Joe Diaco, who played an integral role in getting Simms the treatment he needed to survive his spleen injury.

Simms said he still wonders, though, why it was that he had to seek out the specialist that eventually concluded he was not recovering from his spleen injury as quickly as he thought he would.

"My injury was unique; not a lot of people had been through that and it wasn't like there were a lot of people who knew how to rehab it," Simms said. "But it was like they wanted to ignore it. I don't know why.

"I mean, I know for a fact that they didn't have plans to keep me. The Glazers made them do that. But nothing has changed. I'm not in their plans for this season.

"I know for a fact that on Jon Gruden's personal depth chart, I'm right next to Jake Plummer. I guess they're holding me hostage in case something happens to one of their other quarterbacks or if some team needs a trade or something."

Simms said he would welcome a trade or an outright release and added that he has already asked the Bucs for one or the other. He said the reason the team has given him for not honoring that request has been "muddled."

Simms' future remains muddled, too, but only to a point. Though he said he's still not sure whether he will attend next week's mandatory minicamp, he said he's certain to attend training camp.

"I'll be there," Simms said. "If they want that media circus, they'll have it. But they have to know that I won't be happy, I won't ever be happy here again. Ever."

My feelings: I never could believe that Phil Simms didn't launch an attack on Gruden and the Bucs medical staff after the Panthers game where his son was hurt. I never really felt like Gruden cared all that much and maybe he didn't. At the time Simms was struggling and the bucs were not a very god football team, it felt like Simms was the scape goat but once he went down, who was left to blame? If i were an NFL QB, playing under Gruden would not be my 1st choice, and I know he has had success with guys like Rich Gannon, won a SB with Brad Johnson...I think he works better with 30 something vets who he can communicate with better.

 

[Sammy Traveller]

is this why Plummer would rather retire than play for Gruden?

very damning indictment of Chucky.

 

[twitch]

is this why Plummer would rather retire than play for Gruden?very damning indictment of Chucky.

Biggest case of little man's syndrome anyone will ever know.

 

[bigums]

Maybe he just expects a professional football player to be a little tougher? Recovery time for a spleenectomy is 4-6 weeks. He's saying he wasn't right 9 months later. I would question his mental makeup as well if he's still blaming everything on the injury. The knock on Simms even back at UT was the mental side of the game. Nobody ever questioned his talent or pedigree.

Gruden's not the sweetest guy, but this is professional football. Jimbo the heavy equipment operator isn't getting 9 months to recover, so why should Simms?

 

[Itchy Amos]

I am sure that Gruden isnt the most sensitive guy around, but Simms doesnt sound too mentally tough.

He is upset because his coach didnt ask him about what he was going through? Because he was forced to play in a pre-season game?

It is not like he has won multiple super bowls and the organization owes him something. If he is ok to practice, then he should be ok to play in a pre-season game.

 

[by_the_sea_wannabe]

Maybe he just expects a professional football player to be a little tougher?

 

[Itchy Amos]

Maybe he just expects a professional football player to be a little tougher? Recovery time for a spleenectomy is 4-6 weeks. He's saying he wasn't right 9 months later. I would question his mental makeup as well if he's still blaming everything on the injury. The knock on Simms even back at UT was the mental side of the game. Nobody ever questioned his talent or pedigree.Gruden's not the sweetest guy, but this is professional football. Jimbo the heavy equipment operator isn't getting 9 months to recover, so why should Simms?

You beat me to it.

 

[Knight who says Ni]

I'm not sure I understand the correlation between mental toughness and injury recovery - if you are injured, you are injured, simple as that, and you know when you are injured. Never have I pulled a hamstring and thought that dealing with it mentally would get me back out onto the field in 1 week instead of 3. I would be interested in hearing what team physician Joe Diaco has to say about it; it sounds like it was a unique type of injury

 

[gump]

2 things:

1) The Bucs resigned Simms AFTER the injury. Poor guy

2) Simms injury could be construed as partly mental. He couldn't coordinate his arm with his head.

I will agree, as I've always said, that Gruden needs to grow up some and improve his relationship-building and sustaining abilities if he wants to be a better head coach.

 

[Kirby]

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

is this why Plummer would rather retire than play for Gruden?very damning indictment of Chucky.

Biggest case of little man's syndrome anyone will ever know.

Gruden may be a "difficult" coach to play for, but I'd rather have him at the helm than some player apologist like Marvin Lewis. Plummer, Simms and MeShaun all have over-inflated senses of self-worth, and Gruden is or has just helped them see things "more clearly". See, for example, Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, Drew Bledsoe, Terry Glenn, etc.

 

[twitch]

is this why Plummer would rather retire than play for Gruden?very damning indictment of Chucky.

Biggest case of little man's syndrome anyone will ever know.

Gruden may be a "difficult" coach to play for, but I'd rather have him at the helm than some player apologist like Marvin Lewis. Plummer, Simms and MeShaun all have over-inflated senses of self-worth, and Gruden is or has just helped them see things "more clearly". See, for example, Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, Drew Bledsoe, Terry Glenn, etc.

I would never want him at the helm of my team. Not for a second, not for free, not if he came along with 2 1st round picks AND Derrick Brooks. He's had too many players call him out, or in Plummer and Simms' case, simply not be willing to play for him. He's the most overrated coach in the league, and if not for playing against his former team in the SB, who's offense and QB he of course knew like the back of his hand, that absolutely TERRIBLE Oakland coach at the time who didnt have the sense to mix things up, and a TB defense who's brilliance he had nothing to do with, he'd never have won a ring. Gruden is not a guy many players around the league want to play for. Unlike our guy.

 

[identikit]

is this why Plummer would rather retire than play for Gruden?very damning indictment of Chucky.

Probably some truth to this, but Jake's need for daily weed is more likely the reason he hasn't returned to the NFL.

 

[bigums]

I'm not sure I understand the correlation between mental toughness and injury recovery - if you are injured, you are injured, simple as that, and you know when you are injured. Never have I pulled a hamstring and thought that dealing with it mentally would get me back out onto the field in 1 week instead of 3. I would be interested in hearing what team physician Joe Diaco has to say about it; it sounds like it was a unique type of injury

I disagree completely. Sometimes you play through a little pain. Sometimes you need to suck it up and be a man. Injuries can be diagnosed, but guys have played through sprains, tears, fractures, and worse. When you want to be "the guy", people need to know you'll run through a wall and still be with them at the end. You don't say things like "nobody asked me how I felt". If the standard recovery time for an injury is 4-6 weeks and the team doc has cleared you to practice and play 9 months later, I think you have to start to question the mental state. Especially when the guy is known being a little weak in that area.ETA: And twitch, come on. If he's so overrated and Callahan was so terrible, who got Oakland to the Super Bowl? You can't have it both ways. He's not a guy I would ever want to be friends with, but the guy has shown the ability to coach well in the NFL.

 

[T Bell]

If Gruden told him today that he was the starter, Simms' issues with Gruden would magically disappear. This isn't about what Gruden did or didn't do last summer when Simms was recovering, it's about the fact that Simms is clearly no longer in the team's plans given the existence of Garcia and now Johnson on the roster.

He understandably wants to go to another team. Whatever.

 

[Fiddles]

as a fan id like to see simms get a chance somewhere else

 

[Koya]

Simms seems to be telling this rather straight forward. He does not appear to be attacking Gruden but rather setting the record straight. You can sense his disappointment, frustration and even some sadness as Simms obviously respects the organization, outside of the head coach.

Simms is nothing special, but you have to feel for the kid. This isnt some punk, but rather a good kid who doesnt seem to get in trouble and someone who is part of a good football family with an exceptionally respected father (who would be a HOFer if he played in a different offense, but I digress). Gruden seems to be the issue here and its unfortunate for a guy like Simms.

 

[twitch]

I'm not sure I understand the correlation between mental toughness and injury recovery - if you are injured, you are injured, simple as that, and you know when you are injured. Never have I pulled a hamstring and thought that dealing with it mentally would get me back out onto the field in 1 week instead of 3. I would be interested in hearing what team physician Joe Diaco has to say about it; it sounds like it was a unique type of injury

I disagree completely. Sometimes you play through a little pain. Sometimes you need to suck it up and be a man. Injuries can be diagnosed, but guys have played through sprains, tears, fractures, and worse. When you want to be "the guy", people need to know you'll run through a wall and still be with them at the end. You don't say things like "nobody asked me how I felt". If the standard recovery time for an injury is 4-6 weeks and the team doc has cleared you to practice and play 9 months later, I think you have to start to question the mental state. Especially when the guy is known being a little weak in that area.ETA: And twitch, come on. If he's so overrated and Callahan was so terrible, who got Oakland to the Super Bowl? You can't have it both ways. He's not a guy I would ever want to be friends with, but the guy has shown the ability to coach well in the NFL.

I think its been pretty well established Callahan was a god-awful coach. He proved that once again at Nebraska. That Oakland team was a veteran team that had a # of players that knew how to win, including Rice, Brown and Gannon. And who said the man couldnt coach? Brian Billick could also coach. And like Gruden, he wears a ring because of a great defense that he had very little to do with. Just look at his seasons in Tampa. His best season was his first with arguably the best DEFENSE anyone's seen since the '85 Bears. Since that first season, his teams went 7-9, 5-11, 11-5, 4-12, and 9-7. He's had one year of double digit wins since that 1st year taking over Dungy's team and beating his old one in the SB. Is that a coach I want leading my team? Seasons with 4wins, 5 wins and 7 wins? 9 wins? That's hideous. His record is 36-44 since that first season, and his teams went 7-9 and 5-11 years 2 and 3. What's the explanation there? If that's coaching well, they can have it.

 

[T Bell]

Simms seems to be telling this rather straight forward. He does not appear to be attacking Gruden but rather setting the record straight. You can sense his disappointment, frustration and even some sadness as Simms obviously respects the organization, outside of the head coach.Simms is nothing special, but you have to feel for the kid. This isnt some punk, but rather a good kid who doesnt seem to get in trouble and someone who is part of a good football family with an exceptionally respected father (who would be a HOFer if he played in a different offense, but I digress). Gruden seems to be the issue here and its unfortunate for a guy like Simms.

Simms was born into football privilege and has always considered himself deserving of the prize (whatever that may be) wherever he's been. He showed up to UT in a limo, instantly turning off his teammates, and proceeded to not live up to his billing. He has natural talent but what has he done to develop it? How has he progressed as a QB? I think he thinks he deserves the starting job without having to earn it. Yeah, he's talented. Yeah, he showed toughness with that injury, and yeah that injury derailed his career for a time. He's still not as good as he thinks he is and whining about a coach not giving him a shoulder to cry on isn't very impressive to me. Welcome to the NFL.

 

[Mike]

He's the most overrated coach in the league, and if not for playing against his former team in the SB, who's offense and QB he of course knew like the back of his hand, that absolutely TERRIBLE Oakland coach at the time who didnt have the sense to mix things up, and a TB defense who's brilliance he had nothing to do with, he'd never have won a ring.

Great synopsis.I'm not saying Chris Simms is a great or even very good QB, but from what I've seen in Gruden's handling of Simms over the years, Simms has been given a very raw deal. Why they continued to roster him all this time I found bizarre. Holding hostage is a good way to put it as Simms stated.

 

[Limecuda]

I have never been a fan of Simms since he replaced Applewhite at Texas strictly based on who he was, but the kid took a hell of a hit and played through it. This was not your average run of the mill spleendectomoy (sp?). This kid played through it to the point where it almost cost him his life. In hindsight how would most of us respond to our "coach" (boss) after going through something like that? Knowing the staff kept him in the game because obviously they felt he was fine only to later learn he was in very bad shape.

I'm sure he has to be a little gun shy at the moment, but if Gruden really wanted the kid he'd "put him under his wing" and help build him back up. He was looking promising before the injury maybe not elite but serviceable.

 

[KCC]

"I mean, he never once sat down at any point with me and asked me what I was going through, how I felt, even as a person. That said a lot to me. That's why I feel like I can never play for him again."

Gruden is not there to be his psychotherapist. If this is really why he feels he can't play for Gruden again, then I put it on Simms.

 

[bigums]

I'm not sure I understand the correlation between mental toughness and injury recovery - if you are injured, you are injured, simple as that, and you know when you are injured. Never have I pulled a hamstring and thought that dealing with it mentally would get me back out onto the field in 1 week instead of 3. I would be interested in hearing what team physician Joe Diaco has to say about it; it sounds like it was a unique type of injury

I disagree completely. Sometimes you play through a little pain. Sometimes you need to suck it up and be a man. Injuries can be diagnosed, but guys have played through sprains, tears, fractures, and worse. When you want to be "the guy", people need to know you'll run through a wall and still be with them at the end. You don't say things like "nobody asked me how I felt". If the standard recovery time for an injury is 4-6 weeks and the team doc has cleared you to practice and play 9 months later, I think you have to start to question the mental state. Especially when the guy is known being a little weak in that area.ETA: And twitch, come on. If he's so overrated and Callahan was so terrible, who got Oakland to the Super Bowl? You can't have it both ways. He's not a guy I would ever want to be friends with, but the guy has shown the ability to coach well in the NFL.

I think its been pretty well established Callahan was a god-awful coach. He proved that once again at Nebraska. That Oakland team was a veteran team that had a # of players that knew how to win, including Rice, Brown and Gannon. And who said the man couldnt coach? Brian Billick could also coach. And like Gruden, he wears a ring because of a great defense that he had very little to do with. Just look at his seasons in Tampa. His best season was his first with arguably the best DEFENSE anyone's seen since the '85 Bears. Since that first season, his teams went 7-9, 5-11, 11-5, 4-12, and 9-7. He's had one year of double digit wins since that 1st year taking over Dungy's team and beating his old one in the SB. Is that a coach I want leading my team? Seasons with 4wins, 5 wins and 7 wins? 9 wins? That's hideous. His record is 36-44 since that first season, and his teams went 7-9 and 5-11 years 2 and 3. What's the explanation there? If that's coaching well, they can have it.

He took over a veteran team that gave up 2 firsts and 2 seconds to get him. Also, the team was up against the salary cap with tons of bonuses coming due thanks to McKay (who conveniently took another job right before it hit the fan). Parcells didn't take the job because of the future he saw with the salary cap. Couple that with losing your firsts and seconds for 2 years and I don't think many guys would have those 11 and 9 win seasons. I'm not giving the guy a pass, but many coaches have done less with more. The two highest win totals came after the high draft picks started to filter back into the team.Just like everybody loves to tout the NE (Pioli) and Philly (Banner) front offices for successes on the field, I think you have to really count the mess McKay made in your account of Gruden's performance for the first couple of years (post-SB). All that said, less than 9 wins this season and I think the argument needs to be revisited...

 

[T Bell]

Before we get too far into the pity party for Simms, I'm just wondering how long it was before everyone here agrees that Rich Gannon got a fair shake as an NFL starter.

 

[Knight who says Ni]

I'm not sure I understand the correlation between mental toughness and injury recovery - if you are injured, you are injured, simple as that, and you know when you are injured. Never have I pulled a hamstring and thought that dealing with it mentally would get me back out onto the field in 1 week instead of 3. I would be interested in hearing what team physician Joe Diaco has to say about it; it sounds like it was a unique type of injury

I disagree completely. Sometimes you play through a little pain. Sometimes you need to suck it up and be a man. Injuries can be diagnosed, but guys have played through sprains, tears, fractures, and worse. When you want to be "the guy", people need to know you'll run through a wall and still be with them at the end. You don't say things like "nobody asked me how I felt". If the standard recovery time for an injury is 4-6 weeks and the team doc has cleared you to practice and play 9 months later, I think you have to start to question the mental state. Especially when the guy is known being a little weak in that area.ETA: And twitch, come on. If he's so overrated and Callahan was so terrible, who got Oakland to the Super Bowl? You can't have it both ways. He's not a guy I would ever want to be friends with, but the guy has shown the ability to coach well in the NFL.

I understand what you're saying, and I don't necessarily disagree with you - it is obviously possible to play through some pain, but that is generally at the risk of making the injury worse and increasing recovery time. There are also some injuries that you just can't play through - from what I read, if Simms had waited 45 minutes more to seek medical help, he would have died from blood loss. That's why I said that I would be interested to hear what the team physician said - if Simms was indeed 45 minutes from dying due to his injury, that is a pretty serious set of circumstances. Not being a doctor, and not having any familiarity with the splenectomy procedure, anything I could say about his recovery time would be pure conjecture.

 

[KCC]

Before we get too far into the pity party for Simms, I'm just wondering how long it was before everyone here agrees that Rich Gannon got a fair shake as an NFL starter.

Great point. And guess who it was who finally gave him that opportunity.

 

[acapella]

Before we get too far into the pity party for Simms, I'm just wondering how long it was before everyone here agrees that Rich Gannon got a fair shake as an NFL starter. <_<

Great point. And guess who it was who finally gave him that opportunity.

Did Gruden coach in Minnesota when Gannon was starting?

 

[T Bell]

Before we get too far into the pity party for Simms, I'm just wondering how long it was before everyone here agrees that Rich Gannon got a fair shake as an NFL starter.

Great point. And guess who it was who finally gave him that opportunity.

Did Gruden coach in Minnesota when Gannon was starting?

I think you're missing the point. The shelf life of NFL QB's is as long as any other position excpet for kicker or punter. Simms was (barely) a 3rd round pick five years ago, and he had a season-ending injury in year four that cost him the balance of that season and the next one as well. I'm trying to figure out why he thinks he's owed something here. I've always felt he was a pretty talented guy whose own head seemed to be his biggest obstacle, sort of similar to Rex Grossman, only better IMHO. Crying about how Gruden hasn't shown him enough sympathy isn't the right play here. Demand a trade, or shut up and prepare. There's really no other option here.

 

[brock]

simms sucked before his ruptured spleen. he won't be able to ride his daddy's overrated coattails much longer.

 

[Christo]

I'm trying to figure out why he thinks he's owed something here.

Where does it say he thinks he's owed something?

 

[Delusions Of Adequacy]

Maybe he just expects a professional football player to be a little tougher? Recovery time for a spleenectomy is 4-6 weeks. He's saying he wasn't right 9 months later. I would question his mental makeup as well if he's still blaming everything on the injury. The knock on Simms even back at UT was the mental side of the game. Nobody ever questioned his talent or pedigree.Gruden's not the sweetest guy, but this is professional football. Jimbo the heavy equipment operator isn't getting 9 months to recover, so why should Simms?

Jimbo the crane operator doesn't take shots to the abdomen as part of the job. Truth is, nobody knows what the recovery time should be for a splenectomy for an NFL quarterback.Truth is Gruden never liked Simms.

 

[massraider]

"I mean, he never once sat down at any point with me and asked me what I was going through, how I felt, even as a person. That said a lot to me. That's why I feel like I can never play for him again."

Gruden is not there to be his psychotherapist. If this is really why he feels he can't play for Gruden again, then I put it on Simms.

Yes, he is. This is his QB, not his long snapper. If the coach (this offensive-minded head coach) has no relationship with Simms, and intimates that Simms is dogging it, then Gruden needs to at least be looked at under the microscope a bit.

 

[QUEZILLA]

I agree with some of the stuff Simms said, but I don't have sympathy for a guy that got a $3 mil signing bonus. What is interesting is that Simms comment came a day after the Bucs QB coach, Olsen talked about all 4 QB's, and didn't even mention Simms. This could have made him blow a gasket.

"I feel good about the position. We have a really good mix," Bucs quarterbacks coach Greg Olson said. "A young player that we're hoping won't have to play right away in Josh. We're still hoping to bring Luke along. This will be a big year I think for Luke McCown. But Jeff Garcia is our starter. Brian Griese has proven that he can play and win in this league, and I think those two guys, probably I'd say, Jon has a tremendous amount of confidence in those two guys at this point. Hopefully that will carry over into training camp and we'll start the season out with those two guys, but it's a great mix of players, veterans and some young players that are still learning, and they got two great veterans to learn from so I'm excited about the group overall."

Not one mention of Simms. Doesn't sound to me like he is in their plans either.fwiw, Simms has never been Gruden's style QB. McKay made the draft pick, not JG.

 

[the hairy scotsman]

Maybe he just expects a professional football player to be a little tougher? Recovery time for a spleenectomy is 4-6 weeks. He's saying he wasn't right 9 months later. I would question his mental makeup as well if he's still blaming everything on the injury. The knock on Simms even back at UT was the mental side of the game. Nobody ever questioned his talent or pedigree.

Gruden's not the sweetest guy, but this is professional football. Jimbo the heavy equipment operator isn't getting 9 months to recover, so why should Simms?

Yeah, that was the knock...from people who had no idea what they were talking about.

He showed up to UT in a limo, instantly turning off his teammates, and proceeded to not live up to his billing.

He showed up in a limo, raising some eyebrows, but he turned out to be probably the most well-liked guy on the team during his time at Texas. As for not living up to his billing...really? Can you back that up with more than pure conjecture? Yeah, he had a meltdown in the Big 12 CG. Of course, Mack left him in there well after the meltdown was in full swing. He shoulda been on the bench in that game long before that. He had far more huge perfomances where he carried the offense than bad ones, including massive comebacks where the defense couldn't stop anyone and Texas still lost...and he was still blamed for the loss. Many people also blamed him for the Holiday Bowl loss in which he led the late comeback only to have three straight perfect GW TD passes dropped in the end zone. Kid could never do anything right in many people's eyes.

I was there personally watching in the 15 degree weather in Lincoln when he came trotting off the field with a finger on his throwing hand angulated 90 degrees during a timeout. He got it straightened out right there, calmly walked right back out on the field, and fired a TD strike to Roy Williams.

He left it all on the field...at Texas and Tampa, where he nearly died for it.

He also has taken more unadultered, unjustified crap from Texas and Tampa fans, and other fans as well, than any qb in recent memory has from his own fans, and has never to my knowledge uttered even one sour note in return.

I really don't know what to say anymore to anyone who questions this kid's heart.

Shame.

 

[the hairy scotsman]

Maybe he just expects a professional football player to be a little tougher? Recovery time for a spleenectomy is 4-6 weeks. He's saying he wasn't right 9 months later. I would question his mental makeup as well if he's still blaming everything on the injury. The knock on Simms even back at UT was the mental side of the game. Nobody ever questioned his talent or pedigree.

Gruden's not the sweetest guy, but this is professional football. Jimbo the heavy equipment operator isn't getting 9 months to recover, so why should Simms?

Jimbo the crane operator doesn't take shots to the abdomen as part of the job. Truth is, nobody knows what the recovery time should be for a splenectomy for an NFL quarterback.Truth is Gruden never liked Simms.

Exactly.

As a firefighter, the normal recovery time for a simple vasectomy (yeah, I know) recommended by my doctor was 3 times as long as recommended for a normal patient. I wouldn't even begin to compare the rigors of my job to those of an NFL qb. Those guys are insane...and apparently Simms' recovery wasn't progressing normally. It happens all the time.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Any way you slice it, Simms is very weak quarterback.

This reflects more on him then on Gruden.

 

[the hairy scotsman]

One more thing...you guys talking about playing through pain. You do know there's a difference between playing through pain and playing through injury, right?

I've heard countless pro athletes talk about this, saying that adrenaline can carry you through pain, but many injuries...eh...not so much. The injuries just often weaken or severely debilitate you to the point of inability to perform, whether it hurts too bad or not.

 

[Capella]

is this why Plummer would rather retire than play for Gruden?very damning indictment of Chucky.

Biggest case of little man's syndrome anyone will ever know.

Gruden may be a "difficult" coach to play for, but I'd rather have him at the helm than some player apologist like Marvin Lewis. Plummer, Simms and MeShaun all have over-inflated senses of self-worth, and Gruden is or has just helped them see things "more clearly". See, for example, Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, Drew Bledsoe, Terry Glenn, etc.

I would never want him at the helm of my team. Not for a second, not for free, not if he came along with 2 1st round picks AND Derrick Brooks. He's had too many players call him out, or in Plummer and Simms' case, simply not be willing to play for him. He's the most overrated coach in the league, and if not for playing against his former team in the SB, who's offense and QB he of course knew like the back of his hand, that absolutely TERRIBLE Oakland coach at the time who didnt have the sense to mix things up, and a TB defense who's brilliance he had nothing to do with, he'd never have won a ring. Gruden is not a guy many players around the league want to play for. Unlike our guy.

what a mess this post was.

 

[cstu]

"I mean, he never once sat down at any point with me and asked me what I was going through, how I felt, even as a person.

WAT? Grow up Chris.

 

[Capella]

FTR, I liked Simms, but he was absolutely god-awful before he got hurt in 06 and now he sounds like a real ##### with his remarks yesterday. It was pretty incredible how he got up off the turf and almost brought the Bucs back against the Panthers in that game he got hurt, but this is some real childish-I'm not getting my way stuff. Pretty gay to be going to the media with it.

 

[Capella]

Also, the word is the Bucs were going to cut Simms last year but the Glazers blocked it. Not sure how true that is, but that's the report.

 

[KCC]

"I mean, he never once sat down at any point with me and asked me what I was going through, how I felt, even as a person. That said a lot to me. That's why I feel like I can never play for him again."

Gruden is not there to be his psychotherapist. If this is really why he feels he can't play for Gruden again, then I put it on Simms.

Yes, he is. This is his QB, not his long snapper. If the coach (this offensive-minded head coach) has no relationship with Simms, and intimates that Simms is dogging it, then Gruden needs to at least be looked at under the microscope a bit.

Football coaches should be great with Xs and Os, but there is absolutely nothing about their backrounds that trains them or qualifies them to ask someone who is recovering from a traumatic injury "What are you going through now and how are you feeling as a person?" (to use Simm's very own words) What if Simms is dealing with PTSD - which would be a foreseeable consequence given the serious nature of the injury inflicted upon him - and answered Gruden with "I can't stop shaking when I try to sleep at night and I start hyperventilating whenever I think about football." How should Gruden respond to that? Should he suggest a course of therapy? If so, what kind? More importantly, what in the world qualifies him to make such a suggestion? If Simm really wants to talk about "what he's going through and how he feels as a person" then he should really see someone with the training to help him sort those things out.

 

[massraider]

"I mean, he never once sat down at any point with me and asked me what I was going through, how I felt, even as a person. That said a lot to me. That's why I feel like I can never play for him again."

Gruden is not there to be his psychotherapist. If this is really why he feels he can't play for Gruden again, then I put it on Simms.

Yes, he is. This is his QB, not his long snapper. If the coach (this offensive-minded head coach) has no relationship with Simms, and intimates that Simms is dogging it, then Gruden needs to at least be looked at under the microscope a bit.

Football coaches should be great with Xs and Os, but there is absolutely nothing about their backrounds that trains them or qualifies them to ask someone who is recovering from a traumatic injury "What are you going through now and how are you feeling as a person?" (to use Simm's very own words) What if Simms is dealing with PTSD - which would be a foreseeable consequence given the serious nature of the injury inflicted upon him - and answered Gruden with "I can't stop shaking when I try to sleep at night and I start hyperventilating whenever I think about football." How should Gruden respond to that? Should he suggest a course of therapy? If so, what kind? More importantly, what in the world qualifies him to make such a suggestion? If Simm really wants to talk about "what he's going through and how he feels as a person" then he should really see someone with the training to help him sort those things out.

I was being slightly facetious by saying he should be his psychotherapist. But you don't have to be qualified to ask about someone's well-being.The only point I was trying to make is that I think a head coach, especially one such as Gruden, should have a good relationship with his QB. Not all positions are created equal, and a lot of head coaches' are directly tied to their QB. would like to think that if my QB was injured, my coach would be concerned, and inquisitive. I think you are hung up on the idea that Simms wanted Gruden to have all the answers. That's not it, at all. But if Gruden never really asked him how he was doing, or acted like he thought Simms was faking, then Simms has a valid point, and it seems like the Bucs should just let him go.

I have no problem if Simms isn't Gruden's 'guy'. But I also have no problem with Simms making his statements, if they are true. I don't think he is being overly sensitive, I think a QB should expect a different relationship with his coach than other players.

 

[renesauz]

When I first read this, I felt like Simms was being a wuss....overly sensitive and all that, and was all but ready to pile on.

And then, a couple hours later, I thought about it a little.

Dude gets hurt at work.

Guts it out in heroic fashion.

ALMOST DIES FROM HIS EFFORTS.

Months pass.

Boss never once asks him how he's doing after his near death experiance on the job?

Boss assumes he's dogging it, instead of having trouble recovering (REGARDLESS of the why in the recovery (IE: Physical or mental)).

Boss benches player.

Boss still never talks about the problems with the employee.

If the story is accurate, and Gruden never checked up on him, then I can't fault Simms for feeling this way. I would be furious in his spot. Obviously, Gruden is a horrible boss, no matter how good a coach he might be.

I've always been a Gruden fan, and never been a Simms fan, but he deserves better then this.

 

[Bri]

couldn't he just ask for a trade?

 

[T Bell]

couldn't he just ask for a trade?

No, because- get this - he's Chris Simms, mkay?

 

[Christo]

couldn't he just ask for a trade?

No, because- get this - he's Chris Simms, mkay?

Did you even bother reading the OP?

Simms said he would welcome a trade or an outright release and added that he has already asked the Bucs for one or the other. He said the reason the team has given him for not honoring that request has been "muddled."

 

[Bri]

couldn't he just ask for a trade?

No, because- get this - he's Chris Simms, mkay?

Did you even bother reading the OP?

Simms said he would welcome a trade or an outright release and added that he has already asked the Bucs for one or the other. He said the reason the team has given him for not honoring that request has been "muddled."

Yeah I did, it's just that I think one way comes across better than the other.Teams may have wanted a young QB, now it'll be if teams want a whiner/complainer or somesuch

 

[Knight who says Ni]

When I first read this, I felt like Simms was being a wuss....overly sensitive and all that, and was all but ready to pile on.And then, a couple hours later, I thought about it a little.Dude gets hurt at work. Guts it out in heroic fashion.ALMOST DIES FROM HIS EFFORTS.Months pass.Boss never once asks him how he's doing after his near death experiance on the job?Boss assumes he's dogging it, instead of having trouble recovering (REGARDLESS of the why in the recovery (IE: Physical or mental)).Boss benches player.Boss still never talks about the problems with the employee.If the story is accurate, and Gruden never checked up on him, then I can't fault Simms for feeling this way. I would be furious in his spot. Obviously, Gruden is a horrible boss, no matter how good a coach he might be.I've always been a Gruden fan, and never been a Simms fan, but he deserves better then this.

This is my line of thinking as well, and I don't really understand the mentality of those saying he should just tough it out. If I nearly died on the job and my boss not only didn't check up on me, but acted indifferent to my injury then I would put in my 2 weeks notice without a second thought.

 

[bigums]

When I first read this, I felt like Simms was being a wuss....overly sensitive and all that, and was all but ready to pile on.

And then, a couple hours later, I thought about it a little.

Dude gets hurt at work.

Guts it out in heroic fashion.

ALMOST DIES FROM HIS EFFORTS.

Months pass.

Boss never once asks him how he's doing after his near death experiance on the job?

Boss assumes he's dogging it, instead of having trouble recovering (REGARDLESS of the why in the recovery (IE: Physical or mental)).

Boss benches player.

Boss still never talks about the problems with the employee.

If the story is accurate, and Gruden never checked up on him, then I can't fault Simms for feeling this way. I would be furious in his spot. Obviously, Gruden is a horrible boss, no matter how good a coach he might be.

I've always been a Gruden fan, and never been a Simms fan, but he deserves better then this.

This is my line of thinking as well, and I don't really understand the mentality of those saying he should just tough it out. If I nearly died on the job and my boss not only didn't check up on me, but acted indifferent to my injury then I would put in my 2 weeks notice without a second thought.

But where do you draw the line on the touchy-feely? If your job is to get your body hammered each week, how severe of an injury requires a heartfelt phone call from the boss? What if the GM (your boss' boss) is calling to check on you? Your immediate supervisor maybe just doesn't operate that way. There's a big difference between pushing an injured player to go for it against medical advice. Simms was cleared to practice and play by the team physician. He didn't do well and part of that may have been due to the layoff and recovery from his injury. Bottom line - Gruden never really liked him and his inability to step up in this situation (whether justified or not) sealed the deal for him. When your manhood is challenged and your response is to go to the media and complain that nobody asked how you feel, I gotta say that maybe professional football isn't the sport for you.