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The Tampa Tribune, published 27 December 2004
Jon Gruden said quarterback Brian Griese will start against the Cardinals, but Chris Simms could play. Simms, limited to mop-up duty in one game since a shoulder injury sustained Oct.10, said he will take what comes. "Whatever the coach decides to do is fine with me," he said. "He knows the best direction for this team. I'm just along for the ride. I'll be there when they need me."
Simms said gaining experience is not imperative. "Of course you need it at some point to get better, but it's one game," he said. "Whether Coach wants to give me that experience or not, it's not the end of the world either way. I know it's good for me, but I'm still confident I can go out there and be successful."
A mistaken announcement Simms was entering the game for the final 59 seconds got cheers from the crowd. Simms was warming up, but Griese stayed in the game. "I thought there might be an appropriate situation to get him some snaps, some throws," Gruden said. "I'm excited about him. I'm intrigued by him."
TIM'S TIME
Tim Brown , 38, said his 24 catches for 200 yards and a touchdown this season do not indicate his career is waning. "I plan on playing football next year," he said. "Certainly, I feel as if I can still play this game and be effective."
SAME OLD SONG
Stop us if you've heard this one before, or something like it, anyway. Two interceptions, two fumbles (one lost), a botched punt and 10 penalties for 77 yards. "We work extremely hard throughout the week to eliminate mistakes, and we didn't do it (Sunday)," Joey Galloway said. "We didn't play well."
"We just have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot," Derrick Brooks said. "I know it sounds like a broken record, but it's not a broken record because we keep doing it. We stopped ourselves. It's very disappointing to see that."
COX BACK IN LINEUP
Torrie Cox found his way out of the doghouse and onto the field for the first time in three games. Cox returned his first kickoff in some time for 20 yards to help set up the Bucs' first scoring drive. It was his first return since his arrest Dec. 4 for suspicion of driving under the influence. Cox ended with five returns for 111 yards, including a long of 50 - his second-longest return of the season.
REMEMBERING REGGIE
Simeon Rice remembered the day Reggie White paid a visit to the Bucs training camp. Rice had a private conversation with the former Philadelphia, Green Bay and Carolina defensive lineman that he described as ``eye-opening.''
Rice and the rest of his teammates awakened to the news that White passed away Sunday morning. There was a moment of silence for White before the start of the game. `He was a great man, and hopefully this league finds a way to really pay tribute to him,'' Rice said. ``He was one of the greatest to have ever played. He opened doors for myself and for the younger guys that came after me even as a man, which is greater than anything, the way he lived.''
This summer, White accepted an invitation from Jon Gruden to speak to the team. At the time, White said he offered the Bucs ``insight'' but not too much because he didn't want them to beat Green Bay. White also said he liked the way Gruden treated former players and veterans on the team. ``That ruined my day,'' Gruden said of learning of White's passing. ``Reggie was a very close friend of mine. It was a tragic loss for mankind and certainly for a lot of us that knew him.''
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