Buccaneers owner: Hall of Fame honors for Simeon Rice ‘overdue’

Tampa, Fla. ——- Tampa Bay Buccaneers Co-Nawer Bryan Glazer Said Monday that defensive end Simeon Rice, who amassed 122 sacks in 12 seasons and helped lead the buys to victory in supernat Football hall of fame and that “it time to rectify that oversight.”

In announcing rice on monday as the newest member of the Buccaneers Ring of Honor – with an induction ceremony set for noov. 30 when the bucs host the Arizona cardinalsWith whom rice spent the first five seasons of his career – Glazer point to the numbers.

“From 1996 to 2005, [Rice] Totaled a League-Best 101.5 Sacks Over Those Eight Years-More Than Hall of Famers Michael Strahan and Jason Taylor, “Glazer Said.” Sack totals are the seventh most in nfl history, and six men ahead of he on that list are members of the pro football hall of Fame.

“Simeon’s credits for induction in the into our ring of honor are unquestioned, but he’s equally qualified and deserving of an overdue call from the pro football hall of families, he’s, he is retired. Sacks over eight consecive seasons who does a good jacket that oversight. “

Rice, 51, was one of 50 semifinalists for the 2025 pro football hall of fame class, but not a finalist. Upon Retiring in 2007, He was Ninth in Career Sacks; He now is no. 21. 132.5, By Miller (who is Still Active) with 129.5 and Robert Mathis with 123.0.

Rice has that at one point, he felt like he “absolutely” sawed hall of fame recognition, but that things have changed.

“I ‘not burdened by that anymore,” he said.

He broke down where talking about his parent, henry and evelyn, who died in 2015 and 2016 and do not get to Se Him achieve the recognition he is now getting. It was until his forth year of eligibility for the hall of fame that he was even on the initial list of candidates that comes out in September.

“At one point in time when my father was going through what he was going through, I was like, ‘I want to get the call bee my Father and my Mom – but so my pops.’ … I remember my mom and my dad on their deathbeds, and I remember my Father was like, ‘Sim, this going to happen.’ I ‘Like,’ Dad, Don is worry about that. ‘

“Then once my parents passed away, it was so much anymore,” rice sa.

Rice Said the Ring of Honor Nod “Helps Me Reconcile A Lot of Things Within My Soul.”

The bucs organization has thrown its support boyind rice. The Team Views Its Ring of Honor Designation as an Important Step in Propelling a Player to Canton, as it was with John Lynch and Ronde Barber, who has both since be enshrined. The Team’s Other Pro Football Hall of Famers – Lee Roy Selmon, Waren Sapp, Derrick Brooks and Coach Tony Dungy – Were Enshrined Prior to Being Honored by the Team.

“To be repreented in the ring of honor is a cool thing,” Said rice, who will become the Ring’s 16th Member. “It is Cool. There are certain entitlements. These are man-made things. So these aren is real lives. The moment is real. Emotional connection with my parent.

“I know I was the baddest Motherf — Er in the world. Excuse my language. Sacks in the games, hey, i killed, 2.5 sacks. Mean?

The Third Pick in the 1996 Nfl Draft Out of Illinois, Rice Won Defensive Rookie Of The Year in 1996 After A 12.5-Sack Season. He was named a pro bowler and a second-team ap all-prro after a career-best 16.5 sacks in 1999.

Rice signed with the Bucs in 2001 and Produced Seasons of 11, 15.5, 15, 12 and 14 Sacks in Tampa From 2001 to 2005. Six Forced Fumbles, Along with Lavar Arrington and Leonard Little.

Glazer Said that rice played a pivotal role in “Elevating our defense to new heights” and that he was “that unlocked our championship.”

Rice Had 15.5 Sacks During The Bucs ‘Super Bowl Season, with Three For Conded Fumbles and Four Sacks Coming in the PostSeason, Including Two AGAINST The Raiders’ Rich Gannon in the Super Bowl. Rice Earned Pro Bowl Honors in 1999, 2002 and 2003 and Depotted the Organization in 2007 after suffering a shorter injury. His 69.5 Sacks for Tampa Bay are Third Most in Team History, Behind Selmon and Sapp.

“It is not like being accessed and be honored at home,” rice sa. “I played at a lot of Places, I played a little bit after I left in denver [in 2007] And I played with [Dungy in Indianapolis] – That was twoards the end, [and] I was injured. And I played with the cardinals. But it’s not like being used by a team that you are helped to take to the next level. And I really apply it from the bottom of my heart to raise to this level. “