The Simms Issue Needs Sorting As the Bucs’ season has long since disappeared down the plug hole, a natural focus for us has turned towards addressing the off the field issues in the hope that we can rebound to respectability as quickly as possible. The NFL is probably the easiest of all the major sports leagues in the US in bouncing back into the win column (see Saints, New Orleans) but in order to do so it takes a number of factors and a few smart moves to actually make it happen. Having extra draft picks is a help and we already have snaffled an additional 2nd rounder to tick this box, a decent salary cap position also effects things and with Simeon’s upcoming tearful farewell (not) amongst others we also have this covered. However the most important position on the football team remains that of quarterback - you need both depth and ability there and this brings us to the issue of Chris Simms status for 2007 and beyond. In simple terms he needs to be resigned and quickly so that we don’t even allow him the possibility of getting to the free agent market. It was pleasing to read the Bucs are already broaching the subject with his agent and an initial offer has been made. I’d suggest we need to go to a two or three-year deal to get him which as he’s only 25 this would represent smart business for both sides. A few things I think 1) I think I want to see us establish the run in games like this, and even if we are 34-10 down I still want to see us trying to get Cadillac untracked and push the learning curve for Joseph and Trueblood. We will need the running game down the road, now is the time to use essentially meaningless games wisely. 2) I think Jon Gruden is a fool if his agent is touting him around for other jobs, and he thought he could keep it quiet. These tings usually always get out, and it puts the issue of his job security even more under the spotlight – a situation both Gruden and the Glazers could well do without. 3) I think I watched the worst choke of the season, even better than the Cardinals effort in fact, from the Giants last Sunday in Tennessee. I’d wager Tom Coughlin will be taking his notorious 5 minutes early watch elsewhere next season . 4) I see we have recently extended the contract of Earnest Graham – thank f**k for that then, I can now rest easy in my bed. I could only forsee the offense completely collapsing without Earnest’s input in the coming two years. 5) Good to see the anniversary of the famous Bucs vs Miami game just pass, which led to the Editor actually becoming a Bucs fan. Can you imagine Paul as a Dolphins fan? No me neither, as he has a brain and actually knows something about the sport unlike most of the herd that follow those dear old “ooohhh we just missed the play-offs again” Dolphins. 6) I think it’s the second rivalry week in the FFL and thus the destinations of the Tractor Bowl, Tossers Trophy, Manning Card, Wilkins Shirt and Turkeyleg Truck will be known come Tuesday morning. These are the truly cherished NFL titles and the stick handed out could be quite lively this week – I bet Mr Jones is chomping at the bit. 7) I think after broken ribs, a collapsed lung and the current direction of the Bucs, adding in the fact that he already owns a Superbowl ring, Dave Moore is nuts if he doesn’t call it a career come January. Dave you’ve been a good servant but for your own sanity I think it’s time. Simms gets some security and a decent window to finally once and for all prove his worth and make the job his, whilst the Bucs assure themselves of depth at the pivotal position and allow Gradkowski to step back to his rightful spot on the bench. He could be a useful back-up QB in our system but as for being a long time starter in the NFL, let’s just say I have my doubts. If Bruce is the answer to the problem at Quarterback, then Houston we still have a problem. Granted I know Simms didn’t exactly light it up in the first three games of the year, but he was in good company in this respect with the Bucs offense as a whole and particularly the line playing like a division 1-AA college team back in September – come to think of it things haven’t really improved either! Anyway the point I’m trying to make is that I feel Simms not only deserves another shot, but he also clearly represents our best chance to win at the pivotal position on this football team and I urge Bruce Allen to make a decent commitment to him – if Simms gets to Free Agency he will walk, fact, and then well will be at QB? Bolloxed in my humble opinion. It’s off to sunny Pittsburgh we go this week in a match-up of disappointing – actually bloody appalling – teams. Let's look at this in cold hard facts, the more games we lose now the higher the draft pick we will get so I won’t be crying any tears when we get beat this Sunday, and believe me we will get beat. We can’t stop the run or the pass – to quote Coach McKay – and our offense will struggle to put points on the board, especially if we are behind early in this one which again we will be. It will be a cool late afternoon start, and the Steelers will run the ball down our throats at least 30 times. Lets grit our teeth and think of that high draft pick as we listen to Hardy and Gene, mainly Gene really, tell the story of another hefty defeat. The Steelers are a bogey side for us at the best of times and we could never beat them even when we were good – sadly these days we are far from good so I’d make this one my lock of the week pick. Nod of Acknowledgement to - Joseph Addai. . 4 TDs and 170 yards – the Cosmic Clap are grateful to the Colts rookie for clinching their first FFL play-off spot. More of the same please. Get in the Real World Award - Mike Vanderjagt Self-explanatory really. Self-centred, grumpy old bastard that Coach Parcells is, you just don’t fart him about the way this dude did. Imagine someone seeing FUAT as a better option than you at kicker! Sports News Story I No Longer Give a Toss About – Failed or Drug cheat track stars trying out for the NFLGod how tedious has this become? The script being as follows, Track star cheats in his own sport and gets banned, so adopts the belief that he can then go and play in the NFL – yeah right, of course you can. Quit giving cheats like Dwayne Chambers and Justin Gatlin the column space and let them disappear – if any of these drug enhanced sprinters amount to anything in the NFL, then (wait for it JD and the Ed) yes my arse is indeed a fire engine.