The Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday released Pro Bowl defensive end Simeon Rice, FOXSports.com has learned. In a meeting between Rice and Tampa management, the team asked the 12th-year player out of Illinois to take a pay cut. When Rice refused, the team released him.
The timing is odd, to say the least, as Rice showed up and checked in to Bucs training camp before being called in to the meeting.
The Bucs left open the option for Rice to return, though that does not seem likely at this point.
Hours before cutting Rice, Tampa inked first-round draft pick Gaines Adams to a six-year, $46 million contract.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7064530?MSNHPHMA
