SIMMS STAYING AWAY FROM BUCS
Posted by Mike Florio on March 27, 2008, 8:54 a.m.
With his future in Tampa decidedly undecided and no mandatory requirement to participate in voluntary offseason sessions, quarterback Chris Simms is working out on his own, and waiting to see what the Buccaneers will do.

Simms even skipped last week's "quarterback orientation" (which in Tampa requires a full-blown banquet hall), the first time he has missed the session in his NFL career.

"I just think . . . it's in my best interest to continue my own workouts and to just wait and see what happens with the team," Simms said.  "I don't really know what's going to happen.  As far as the Bucs and the quarterback position goes, it's always an adventure."

The Bucs recently brought back Brian Griese, the player who became of no value to the team in 2006 after Simms delivered in late 2005 on his perceived potential.

Last year, Simms was unable to return from a September 2006 spleen injury that resulted in the removal of the organ.  He supposedly had some type of problem with his internal balance in 2007, and was unable to get his throwing form back.

He now says he's healthy.

"I'm back to 100 percent and just excited about getting back on the field again," he said.

But while the Bucs likely are hoping to get value in exchange for Simms' services, we can't imagine any team giving much for a guy who by all appearances stored his mojo in his spleen.  At a bare minimum, Simms will have to get on the practice field and show what he can do before anyone will seriously consider putting anything on the table.

Besides, Simms wasn't playing very well at all before the September 2006 game against the Panthers in which he reversed perceptions that he had become afraid of contact by taking a tremendous pounding in sweltering heat and continuing to keep going.

Though teams like the Vikings, who run a similar offense to the Bucs, might be interested, we're intrigued by the possibility that the guy who coached Simms' father, Bill Parcells, could try to get Chris down to Miami.  It could be that the Tuna is sitting tight because he knows that, eventually, the Bucs will cut Simms loose.