Simms turned down 5-year extension this offseason (1 Viewer)

[Capella]

Not really huge fantasy news, but I found it interesting after some here questioned why the Bucs wouldn't try to extend him if they had faith in his ability to be their long-term QB (I know Wood was one person):

TAMPA — Opting for a one-year deal and the possibility of a bigger windfall later, Chris Simms declined an offseason contract offer from the Bucs that included $10-million in guaranteed money, the quarterback confirmed Wednesday.

“It was good money, definitely. But I was rolling the dice,’’ said Simms, who has since had a splenectomy and is sidelined for the foreseeable future. “I have no regrets.

“I’m human, and I do (feel regretful) about some things from time to time, but I try not to dwell on it and stay positive. If I do think about things like that, I try to use them as motivation and not let them bring me down.”

Simms, 26, became a restricted free agent in March and negotiated with the Bucs on a long-term contract. But until now, it was not known to what degree those negotiations heated up.

Simms turned down what was believed to be a five-year deal, choosing to sign the one-year tender of $2.1-million that gave the Bucs the right to match other teams’ offers.

If the right scenario played out, Simms stood to make significantly more in unrestricted free agency in the spring of 2007. He hoped to build on the gains he made in 2005, when he was 6-2 in his final eight starts and led Tampa Bay to the NFC South championship, then cash in with a contract on par with some of the league’s elite quarterbacks.

Simms’ agent, hard-bargaining Tom Condon, has negotiated contracts for quarterbacks such as the Jets’ Chad Pennington, whose eight-year, $64-million deal included $22-million guaranteed. Earlier this year, Condon negotiated a $60-million deal for New Orleans’ Drew Brees that is likely to pay $22-million in its first two seasons.

Simms figured, why not him?

“I’d proven that I could play in the league,” he said. “I realized that if I had done a one-year deal, barring me having an injury that was career-ending, I would be okay. I had proven that I have good physical tools. I love the game; put some good things on film. I knew I’d get my contract somewhere, somehow down the line. It didn’t really concern me.”

The decision “was not tremendously tough,” Simms said.

“I totally believed in what I was doing. If I had to do it all over again, I would probably do the same thing. Hindsight is always 20/20, but as long as I stay healthy, I’ll get mine down the line.”

That climb got significantly tougher when Simms was injured Sept. 24. He believes he can return this season, saying he has targeted Thanksgiving to be game-ready.

“It’s going to be a few more weeks before I can start doing real light workouts,” he said. “Then from there, it’s, 'Okay, I can work out. Now I can start throwing lightly.’ I’ll, of course, need a little time to get back into shape. And then the final thing is going to be can I take a hit again? Right now, I have a big scar going down the middle of my chest.”

Assuming Simms can meet his goals, there is no guarantee he will play. In his starting debut Sunday, rookie Bruce Gradkowski completed 20 of 31 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns.

Simms, who has one touchdown and seven interceptions in three games, said his return has not been addressed by coach Jon Gruden or general manager Bruce Allen.

“Right now, we have a lot of things going on within our organization that are (more pressing),” Simms said, alluding to the team’s 0-4 start. “We’ve got to get win No. 1. My situation will take care of itself.”

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/10/11/Sports/S..._down_10_.shtmlProbably not his best decision.

 

[Otis]

Ouch.

 

[ImTheScientist]

My spleen is hurting just thinking about that ... probably was great advice from his dad

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

and here I thought the negotiations broke down because the Bucs weren't willing to pony up the money to commit to Simms long term. 10 mil is not a massive bonus, but it is considerable enough to know that a team is comfortable with a player as their long term starter. IF the Bucs bring Simms back, I expect him to be a dogfight with Gradkowski to win the job.

 

[ImTheScientist]

and here I thought the negotiations broke down because the Bucs weren't willing to pony up the money to commit to Simms long term. 10 mil is not a massive bonus, but it is considerable enough to know that a team is comfortable with a player as their long term starter. IF the Bucs bring Simms back, I expect him to be a dogfight with Gradkowski to win the job.

If Gradkowski can put up similar stats to Simms stats last year I would be willing to bet that Simms is the back up. Gruden loves Gradkowski.

 

[Capella]

and here I thought the negotiations broke down because the Bucs weren't willing to pony up the money to commit to Simms long term. 10 mil is not a massive bonus, but it is considerable enough to know that a team is comfortable with a player as their long term starter. IF the Bucs bring Simms back, I expect him to be a dogfight with Gradkowski to win the job.

I guess the only positive to come out of this miserable f'n season is that the Bucs will know who their long-term QB is by the end of December.

 

[ThisGuy]

Simms doesn't fit well with Gruden and may have looked as FA as a way out. Dallas will make a pretty strong run at him this offseason.

 

[Punchie]

I still get the feeling this will turn out like the Grossman vs. Orton stuff last year. I do like Gradkowski, but I'm not sure about his long-term value.

 

[ImTheScientist]

Simms doesn't fit well with Gruden and may have looked as FA as a way out. Dallas will make a pretty strong run at him this offseason.

I think Dallas would only want him as a backup.....I doubt they would prefer him to ROMO.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

I still get the feeling this will turn out like the Grossman vs. Orton stuff last year. I do like Gradkowski, but I'm not sure about his long-term value.

I know its just one game, but Gradkowski looks way more capable than Orton did at this point last year. I think soon Gradkowski will join Colston in the "how did the scouts whiff so bad on rating this guy's draft stock?" club.

 

[SillyWillyJimmy]

I still get the feeling this will turn out like the Grossman vs. Orton stuff last year. I do like Gradkowski, but I'm not sure about his long-term value.

I know its just one game, but Gradkowski looks way more capable than Orton did at this point last year. I think soon Gradkowski will join Colston in the "how did the scouts whiff so bad on rating this guy's draft stock?" club.

Orton never had a single game as good as Gradowski's last game.

 

[CrossEyed]

I still get the feeling this will turn out like the Grossman vs. Orton stuff last year. I do like Gradkowski, but I'm not sure about his long-term value.

I know its just one game, but Gradkowski looks way more capable than Orton did at this point last year. I think soon Gradkowski will join Colston in the "how did the scouts whiff so bad on rating this guy's draft stock?" club.

Orton never had a single game as good as Gradowski's last game.

And the only reason Gradkowski didn't get drafted early is that he went to Toledo. The guy had monster stats in college. Completed over 70% of his passes in his sophomore and junior years. He's for real and I think he's the QB in Tampa for quite a while.

 

[Capella]

I still get the feeling this will turn out like the Grossman vs. Orton stuff last year. I do like Gradkowski, but I'm not sure about his long-term value.

I know its just one game, but Gradkowski looks way more capable than Orton did at this point last year. I think soon Gradkowski will join Colston in the "how did the scouts whiff so bad on rating this guy's draft stock?" club.

Orton never had a single game as good as Gradowski's last game.

And the only reason Gradkowski didn't get drafted early is that he went to Toledo.

The reason he didn't get drafted early is because he's short and has no arm strength. I do like his prospects of running Gruden's WCO with his accuracy, but the long balls I've seen him throw in camp, preseason and now Sunday were absolutely brutal. Just floating ducks. They basically can't extend the field past 30 yards with him. Tavarious Jackson was a second-round pick...what school did he go to?

 

[ImTheScientist]

Tavarious Jackson was a second-round pick...what school did he go to?

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

I still get the feeling this will turn out like the Grossman vs. Orton stuff last year. I do like Gradkowski, but I'm not sure about his long-term value.

I know its just one game, but Gradkowski looks way more capable than Orton did at this point last year. I think soon Gradkowski will join Colston in the "how did the scouts whiff so bad on rating this guy's draft stock?" club.

Orton never had a single game as good as Gradowski's last game.

And the only reason Gradkowski didn't get drafted early is that he went to Toledo.

The reason he didn't get drafted early is because he's short and has no arm strength. I do like his prospects of running Gruden's WCO with his accuracy, but the long balls I've seen him throw in camp, preseason and now Sunday were absolutely brutal. Just floating ducks. They basically can't extend the field past 30 yards with him. Tavarious Jackson was a second-round pick...what school did he go to?

I fully with your assessment of why he dropped. Those long balls look like dying quails at times. Still, Brees and Pennington seem to do just fine with no deep arm, because their strengths are based on what's between their ears. I think Gradkowski fits that mold.Jackson went to Alabama State (cant resist answering rhetoric questions)

 

[DrJ]

$10 million guaranteed, for a QB, with the new salary cap numbers = pretty much nothing.

He did the right thing. If he can prove to be a worthwhile starter without his spleen, he'll have no problems getting that much money still.

 

[MLBrandow]

The real question is how much will Simms be worth on the open market?

Let's assume:

a) Gradkowski doesn't light the world on fire, but performs as admirably as a quality backup should.

b) Simms is deemed 100% recovered from the spleenectomy by the end of the season.

What kind of money do you think a reasonable team might throw at him? He showed some real promise and looks as though he could be a classic square-peg-round-hole problem in Gruden's offense, what with his arm strength and the relative quickness of the west coast offense routes.

Would be interested to see some empirical data if there are any good case studies similar to this. I can't think of any other than Brees off the top of my head, but Brees also made the Pro Bowl and had a lot more games under center than did Simms.

 

[Banger]

The real question is how much will Simms be worth on the open market?Let's assume:a) Gradkowski doesn't light the world on fire, but performs as admirably as a quality backup should.b) Simms is deemed 100% recovered from the spleenectomy by the end of the season.What kind of money do you think a reasonable team might throw at him? He showed some real promise and looks as though he could be a classic square-peg-round-hole problem in Gruden's offense, what with his arm strength and the relative quickness of the west coast offense routes.Would be interested to see some empirical data if there are any good case studies similar to this. I can't think of any other than Brees off the top of my head, but Brees also made the Pro Bowl and had a lot more games under center than did Simms.

maybe $5 mill guaranteed, 2 year deal.

 

[coolnerd]

The real question is how much will Simms be worth on the open market?Let's assume:a) Gradkowski doesn't light the world on fire, but performs as admirably as a quality backup should.b) Simms is deemed 100% recovered from the spleenectomy by the end of the season.What kind of money do you think a reasonable team might throw at him? He showed some real promise and looks as though he could be a classic square-peg-round-hole problem in Gruden's offense, what with his arm strength and the relative quickness of the west coast offense routes.Would be interested to see some empirical data if there are any good case studies similar to this. I can't think of any other than Brees off the top of my head, but Brees also made the Pro Bowl and had a lot more games under center than did Simms.

Good question. I think that if some team deems him a starter, he could still get the $10 million guaranted as that is pretty mediocore money for a starting NFL QB.

 

[Warpig]

 

[QUEZILLA]

My spleen is hurting just thinking about that ... probably was great advice from his dad

I agree, his dad probably had a big say in his decision.

 

[Slinger]

Chris Mortenson just said that this wasn't the case on ESPN...obviously becuase of this thread.

 

[[scooter]]

How big of an ego must this kid have to turn down $10M in guaranteed money? He was a first-year-starter with almost as many career INTs as TDs (10 to 11).

 

[my man otis]

' date='Oct 15 2006, 12:23 PM' post='5724324']How big of an ego must this kid have to turn down $10M in guaranteed money? He was a first-year-starter with almost as many career INTs as TDs (10 to 11).

no offense, but what the #### are you talking about?He turned it down b/c if he had a good year he'd get more than that next year.Confidence in your abilities does not = ego.

 

[Neil Beaufort Zod]

Just like in fantasy football, you can't really predict injuries. After seeing what Pennington and Brees got, I can see why he'd want to take a stab at that kind of money. With big bonuses and guarantees, you protect yourself financially against...a big injury. Ironic, eh?

I think he'll get many offers, but not really "definite starter" money. More like "you can compete for the job" money.

 

[[scooter]]

' date='Oct 15 2006, 12:23 PM' post='5724324']How big of an ego must this kid have to turn down $10M in guaranteed money? He was a first-year-starter with almost as many career INTs as TDs (10 to 11).

no offense, but what the #### are you talking about?He turned it down b/c if he had a good year he'd get more than that next year.Confidence in your abilities does not = ego.

It does when you're the 19th-ranked QB and you turn down the opportunity to be paid more than a LOT of QBs who are statistically better than you.

 

[Statorama]

I'm kind of puzzled why Simms thinks he's in Brees class. Simms isn't/wasn't very good, and there's only a handful of teams he has/had a legitimate chance to start for.

 

[my man otis]

' date='Oct 15 2006, 12:40 PM' post='5724520']

' date='Oct 15 2006, 12:23 PM' post='5724324']How big of an ego must this kid have to turn down $10M in guaranteed money? He was a first-year-starter with almost as many career INTs as TDs (10 to 11).

no offense, but what the #### are you talking about?He turned it down b/c if he had a good year he'd get more than that next year.Confidence in your abilities does not = ego.

It does when you're the 19th-ranked QB and you turn down the opportunity to be paid more than a LOT of QBs who are statistically better than you.

okey dokey.

 

[Wadsworth]

' date='Oct 15 2006, 12:23 PM' post='5724324']How big of an ego must this kid have to turn down $10M in guaranteed money? He was a first-year-starter with almost as many career INTs as TDs (10 to 11).

Correct me if I'm worng because I don't follow Tampa all that closely, but haven't the Bucs in the past refused to redo deals? I know the McCardell situation was complicated and got person, but wasn't the core issue the Bucs refusing to redo the deal they signed with Keenan as a WR2 when he was clearly the WR1 after Key left? If the Bucs have gottena rep for not readdressing contracts when player out performs expectation it might have played into why Simms refused the offer if the offer was indeed made.