Tampa Bay Buccaneers Legend Simeon Rice spoke to the media after being announced as the 16th member for the Bucs’ Ring of Honor. Rice discussed creating a ‘masterpiece’ with the Bucs, what drove him to be great and honoring his parents.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good afternoon, and thank you for joining us as we
announced the newest inductee into the Buccaneer's Ring of Honor
as we prepare to celebrate.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Our fiftieth season.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
It was crucial to identify a player who embodied all
the qualities of an all time Buccaneer legend. We sought
a player who consistently delivered excellence, had been exceptional, and
had made a significant impact on our franchise. Simeon Rice
checked all those boxes, and we are proud to announce
(00:30):
him as a tenth member. I was sorry the sixteenth
member of the Buccaneer's Ring of Honor. Simeon's NFL journey
began when he was selected with the third overall pick
of the nineteen ninety sixth NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
He faced immense pressure as a top selection, but he
embraced it and found a way to thrive despite the burden.
(00:54):
In his first season, he'd racked up twelve and a
half sacks and earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
It was just the beginning of a magnificent twelve year career.
Simeon joined the Buccaneers in the offseason leading into the
two thousand and one season, he joined an elite defense
that already featured future Hall of famers Warren Sapp, Derek Brooks,
(01:15):
John Lynch, and Rondee Barber. The Tampa two defense, led
by great players, devised by Tony Dungee and perfected by
Monte Kifvin, led the Buccaneers to three playoff appearances from
nineteen ninety seven to two thousand. While these defenses were dominant,
they lacked an elite edge rusher, a game wrecker who
(01:36):
could disrupt the timing of the passing game. And after
the two thousand season, Simeon became an unrestricted free agent
and Monte convinced him that he was the missing piece
to make our defense one of the greatest of all time.
Simeon immediately elevated our defense to new heights, eventually helping
us deliver our first vote title a year later in
(01:57):
two thousand and two. He had a knack for making
great plays when they met the most and in our
Super Bowl thirty seventh victory, he posted two sacks, five tackles,
and a force fumble. During his six seasons as a Buccaneer,
Simeon amassed sixty nine and a half sacks, which still
ranks his third most in team history, behind Leroy Sealman
(02:20):
and Warren Sap. His list of achievements is long and impressive.
He owns three of the top five sax seasons in
Buccaneer history, and from nineteen ninety six to two thousand
and five, he totaled the league best one hundred and
one and a half sacks over those eight years, more
than Hall of famers Michael Strahan and Jason Taylor during
(02:40):
that same stretch. His mark of eight seasons with double
digit sack totals is the seventh most in NFL history
and six men and all six men ahead of him
on that list are members of the Pro Football Hall
of Fame. Simeon's credentials for induction into Our Ring of
Honor are unquestioned, but he's equal qualified and deserving of
(03:01):
an overdue call from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Notably,
he is the only retired player with one hundred sacks
over eight consecutive seasons who doesn't own a gold jacket.
It's time to directify that oversight. Simmons induction into Our Ring
of Honor will take place during halftime of our November
thirtieth game against the Arizona Cardinals, we cordially invite all
(03:24):
crew members to join us for what promises to be
another momentous occasion in celebration of fifty unforgettable seasons. Simon,
thank you for the pivotal role you played in elevating
our defense to new heights, and thank you for delivering
our first Lombardi Trophy. You were the missing piece that
unlocked our championship, and we welcome you as the newest
(03:45):
member into the Buccaneer Ring of Honor.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Honestly, HM, when you all played that video.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
The tears from my parents, I don't know if I
really ever reconcile my father passed away, but that's okay.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
I poured my heart into the sport.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
And if you know me, and I know some of
the media that watched me play, I was done. I
would be practiced ten thirty at night working on what
you've seen on this video. A lot of people thought,
because it came so easy for me, that I was
just talent. But what a lot of people didn't know
(05:07):
that's outside that the purview of the sport is that's
all that meant anything to me. I never wanted to
be a basketball player, and I was really good at it.
Never wanted to do anything else. I wanted to run
track a little bit, but the only thing that mattered
to me was playing football. And I love this game.
(05:30):
That's how I celebrated my mother and father. They're not
with me now, but that's okay. They hurt my spirit.
I the whole time, I was like, I'm not gonna cry,
but because I didn't want to give anybody my deepest feelings.
(05:54):
I love the game of football. I loved the old life,
and I didn't know how much it really meant to
me till I see my little son, James sitting over
there watching me, because he never got chants to see it,
but his grandparents did.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
And football was a game.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
For me where I wanted to honor my mother and father.
I wanted to make our name mean something, and I
think I got that accomplish coming here to Tampa. I
was leaving Arizona and I was an All Pro and
(06:36):
I was Rookie of the Year and all that stuff.
But I wanted to go someplace I can impact and
help when and they had the men to do it.
I sit there with money Kiffen and coach Martson, I
mean coach Marynelly, and they told me of whatever the
(07:00):
defense and what was meant and how this defense normally
kind of go and.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
I sat there and thank you. I sat there and I.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Listened to them talk about what it takes to win
here and how this team was already built and the
things that I could bring here and do here with
my energy and my excellence and.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
How I played the game. And I already I knew.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
How hard I worked, but I wasn't sure what this
team was. You know, I knew it was a great team,
but I but I didn't know the impact and what
I could do playing amongst the men that played here,
the Warren Savas that Derek Brooks lunches and guys like that.
And I wanted to be very respectful of those guys
(07:54):
coming here, because those that know me know I have
a big personality and I could take up a room.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
But I didn't want to really do that.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
But when I felt like when I got here, I
felt like it was okay to be myself. Tampa made
it a place that I could be myself, and I
felt like the men that I played with they allowed
me to be the best version of myself, you know.
And they were just as rowdy as me, just as
(08:23):
complex as me, just as loud as I could be.
And we were all aligned together to crystallize our career
and be the best versions of ourselves. And we were young,
we were aspiring, we were dangerous, We was unstoppable all
of our mindset, and we all needed each other. We
(08:44):
all needed each other, all of us to do the
special things that we were able to do and be
capable of in the game of football. Allowed me, especially
playing in Tampa Bay, to do that and really appreciate
the Glazer family, even Rich McKay and I know he's
(09:06):
not a part of the organization of bringing me here
to help take this team to the next level. You know,
the men that I played with, the guys that I
played with, the Rende Barbers and guys like that that
I mean, we set a tone here, man, We set
a tone here together as a family, and we all
(09:27):
held each other accountable. The accountability thing, that's something that
I picked up when I got here. When I was
in high school, my high school coach, coach Franklinny always
told me about dependability and I understood that, but then
when I got to Tampa, I understood about accountability, and
that was something even more different. That was even another
(09:52):
level of responsibility. And it's nothing like being accepted and
being honored at home. I played a lot of places
I played. I played a little bit after I left
in Denver, and I played with the Colt and No Man.
That was towards the end because I was injured, and
(10:12):
I played with the Cardinals. But it's nothing like being
honored by a team that you helped take to the
next level. And I really appreciated from the bottom of
my heart to to raise to this level. You know,
as a kid when the growing up, I wanted to
be just like the Walter Payton's you know, Michael Jordan
(10:34):
played in my city, but I wanted to be just
like Peyton. I actually thought it was gonna be a
running back. Didn't work out, that's okay, But to play
football and to be honored in football, as my little
sister told me, Josh, it's one of the highest levels
because you play the game and you just want to
make the team, and then when you make the team,
(10:55):
you want to start, and when you start, you want
to make an impact.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
To me, this is a.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
You know, this is such an honor to my family,
to my mother and father. You all just don't know
that's where it really comes from, because I buried my parents,
and I think this is just this is one of
those things that just hit home because this is something
my father always kind of like thought in the back
of his head, you know what I mean. So no
(11:22):
matter what I know, he's smiling down on this situation.
He told me, he telling me like SIMI and I
told you so that being said, I think the organization
I thank you guys tremendously for UH recognizing my abilities
and the impact and for me, I represent so much
(11:43):
more Mount Carwell High School, south Side, Chicago, roseland UH.
I represent the guys that played that will never get
their names called. I represent the guys that has their
names called. You know, I represent so much more than
just my I feel like I'm just a vessel, but
I feel like I'm a vessel for those that I've
(12:04):
impacted my whole life. And I hope I represented those
that I've encountered throughout my life as such, and for that,
I thank you all. I do love the game of
football and I appreciate this day and the day that
will come, and I promise you I'll hold myself high
that day. I won't be falling apart. But I'm just
(12:26):
thinking about my mother and father. So it just brings
that all the day. And I didn't share much tears
over that, but it was something that always resonated in
my heart. And I think this is kind of like
just puts that knell in their coffin where I'm like, okay,
you know what I mean. Two parents that came together
collectively to build the family we have and not in name,
(12:47):
it's being represented in light of what they could not
even imagine. So I thank you all the Glazer family,
I think the Tampa baoerball By organization as a whole.
And yeah, continue excellence, thank you.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Yeah, thank you. Simon. Go ahead and stand Simon, Simon,
you can stay at the podium. We're gonna go ahead
and do some Q and A.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
Media members, if you can, please raise your hand a
hex stun day microphone.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
What's up right? Uh, I'm righty.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Congratulations.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
First of all, thank you, great honor.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
You mentioned coming here from Arizona and this was a
team that had a good defense.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
I talked to Tony Dungee.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
He said, you put them absolutely over the top, but
your your own individual. You know, we saw you dancing
almost immediately on the field. What was it like to
to assimilate with that group and still manage to be
yourself and bring what was energy in addition to production.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Oh Man, First of all, I love football. I love it.
I love I love practice. I mean I was I
was one that's gonna practice and go to practice and
practice after practice and run after practice. I remember the time,
once upon a time that Gruen was like, se me,
you can't be here at ten thirty at night.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
You can't be here all night. You know what I mean?
I was there.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
They look out and they're like in the grass and
they're like, you're still out there? Because I truly understood
that this was only a moment. I truly understood that
I understand life is only a moment. And to play
with the guys that love to play, I was like,
these guys are just like me.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
You know, these guys are just like me.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
I mean you can from from Brian Kelly to Ron
Dave Barber to John Lynch, Derek Brooks to Shelton Quarrels.
I mean, I don't want all the guys. I mean,
they brought a collection of guys that really truly loved football,
and I understood this space and time, this place is
(14:51):
like Tensol Town football.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
You know.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
We had we had everybody, you know, Keith, Shawn John's,
we had all the guys, Brad Johnson, We had guys
down and we understood, we understood the assignment that this
was a special time. And you know, I had a
guy next to me nine to nine that pushed me
to the edge because I pushed him to the edge.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
You know what I mean. When I came down here,
I made him uncomfortable. You know, I did it.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
You know, this was his land, and I started making
plays no matter how you played. And then you have
to recognize that. So it was tentuous in our meetings,
you know what I mean. Now I'm like, you know what,
I came down here to play with you. Now I'm
down here to take over. And I needed him to
be the best version of myself. I needed him to
do some of the things that he was able to
(15:37):
poke and prode me to be the best version of
myself because I'm only on comfort. I'm only comfortable being alpha.
You know what I mean, and that's who I am.
And then we had the man in charge of our
d line that pushed it. He created even more attention.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
You do something great, he gonna put it on he
gonna put it on frame. All the men are gonna
look at it. This team is not led by a family.
This is a brotherhood. We're gonna be led by the strongest.
So you're gonna put your clips on board, you know, like,
this is what this team is. And that room created
a masterpiece because we were all competitive with each other.
(16:17):
It was competition at the highest level. So if you
were a guy that came in as a free agent
and you want to learn the game of football, you
learn defense, there's no better room to be in.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
You know.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
You go in that room and you learn from myself,
You learn from Sap, you learn from Brooks, you learn
from the guys that's there. You know, and wherever, even
if you get cut you move on, you're gonna have
a place to play.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Because the way we played ball is at the highest level.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Guys couldn't even practice at our level, you know what
I mean, And that's the way these guys practice. So
it was just a joy to be and there's a
level arrogance when you're out there and you're dancing at
one hundred and two degrees because you know you built
for it, you know. I remember there's an office line
that says, you know when you do that. He said,
(17:04):
that would piss me off so much because of the
fact that you're doing it and everybody is tired, and
I didn't know offensive linemen were looking for us to
like they looking for the crack. And then you're looking
up at me and I'm playing air guitar, you know
what I mean, And they're like, dude, you're not tired yet,
and I'm like, no, We're just getting started.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
So it was a joy.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
It was brilliant, and like I said, this is a
place where the guy's next to you pull out the
best versions of you and you had to stand strong
like that.
Speaker 5 (17:36):
Okay, congrats sim sim Take us back to the two
thousand and two postseason, especially going to Philly and then
facing the Raiders in the Super Bowl. How confident were
you that you were going to be the Eagles and
shut down the vent well.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Full? Like I said, that could be the most honest
version of myself. Now play anymore.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
I knew at that point there was nobody in the
world could block me anymore.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
That was a done deal. You know.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
From a personal standpoint, I played Donovan Downovan.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Me and Donovan went to high school together.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
I used to get kicked out of practice because I
wouldn't let him run plays, you know what I mean.
And this is for the biggest game of our life,
and they said that we couldn't win in what minus
forty degrees whether and for myself, whenever I took the
field with Donald McNabb, I always knew the advantage that
I came with. Now you got the backside picking things off,
(18:37):
going to a distance, you got Ryan Day picking it,
going to scoring. I think we scored on that didn't
score a touchdown on that. I knew our defense was
so good it was an offense. So I knew from
a personal standpoint, our front four nobody could block us.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
You know, from that front.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
Once you can't block your front floor, for everything else
is just it becomes a feeding frenzy, like a bunch
of paranas. So now we all making plays. Now we
all playing at our highest level, and even on the
backside that we were regardless of what we did they
stood tall no matter what. So from a collective, as
(19:15):
a collective, we've just played at the highest level. So
and then we were familiar with a team. And then
from a personal standpoint, I was familiar with their best player,
and their best player was familiar with me. So we
came in there with her, even though we didn't have
a lot of success there. But prior I know, from
a personal standpoint, this is going to be my second
(19:37):
time playing against you, but it's not my second time
planing against you. I've been playing against you my whole life,
and I've been dominating this offensive line, even when we
were in Arizona.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Now I'm now.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
You partner parlay me with a Warren sap No a
great expires, you know, and guys like that. Now it's
we're going to take it to a whole nother level.
And from my personal standpoint, I knew it was going
to be a means of a total domination. Just you
just know it, especially at that point in time of
(20:09):
my career. At that point in time my career, I
was I mean from our first day in the league,
I was down my first rookie year, I was rookie year,
and I dominated every all pro in the league, from Richmond.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Webb to.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Jonathan Ogden, you know what I mean. So this was
all familiar ground with me. Now I'm all grown up
with a collection of killers or what we would like
to say, guys that was capable at the highest level.
So now it's gonna get interesting because again I come
from a city where we had the eighty five Bears,
so I know what that looked like.
Speaker 6 (20:46):
Sime and congratulations, thank you two parter. I remember your
locker was right next to ninety nine Warren Shapes, and
there'd be times where Warren to be going back and
forth and you'd always just be grinning, very polite back there.
What was it like being next to ninety nine? You
told us about being on the field with him having
(21:06):
his locker right there. And number two, where do you
think your buccaneer defense ranks all time?
Speaker 2 (21:15):
I answered number two?
Speaker 3 (21:17):
I think all time, respectfully, it's number two all time.
That's where I think it's right behind eighty five Bears.
I think it's the eighty five Bears and then us,
you know, and me being next to Warren was an
interesting It was interesting.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
You know, because we started out rocky.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
We started I mean, because we both you know, this
is where he plays, this is this is you know,
I understood the assignment when I got here. When I
got here, I wanted I came here to play with him.
I didn't want. You know, there was between New York
here in Chicago and Chicago. When I went and had
that meeting, it didn't really go well. Mike Hatley said,
I was like Michael Johnson, all highlights, no substance. So
(21:59):
I was like, oh, And during that same meeting, you know,
I was on the phone with Rich McKay, like right
outside the restaurant at Smith and Lensky's in Chicago, and
I said, listen, we could get this thing done. I said,
if you bring me down, you will be in the
super Bowl either this year or next year. Trust me,
because I could tell like I watched I watched I
(22:21):
watched the Bucks play the Rams in that game, and
I'm like, if I would have been playing, you had
all won that game, you know what I mean, on
that fuzzy play at the end of the game or
whatever with the I for got Ricky.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Ricky pro Yeah, that catch.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
So I was familiar with my position at this was
at this time I wanted to win, so coming out
when we had that dinner and we came out with
Tony and he brought me down and we had the
dinner and Warren was supposed to be at the dinner,
so I said. They was like, Warren said, he what's
going to be on this way? I'm like, oh, okay.
So if somebody calls him and I'm like what's.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Up, Like where are you going? I'm like, oh, I'm
at the dinner where you at? He's like, I don't
know where you at. I was like, I'm at the
dinner where you are you coming? Like what you want?
So I'm like, I don't know what's up? What you on? Man,
I'll call you back?
Speaker 3 (23:11):
Click, And I'm like this dude just hunk, and.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Like what do he say? I was like, I don't know.
He just hung up on me, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
He was feeling me out, like he's trying to figure
out what type of dude that was.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Whatever. So then I get here and immediately Rod set
the room on fire.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
He was like, yo, this is what our expectations out
at you too. So that was kind of rocky from
the beginning, you know what I mean. And then I
realized it wasn't. It was all sweet, you know. I
got up into me and I'm like, you'll never call
this dude out. And I pointed to him, I'm like,
this dude's not making plays d and they got real
tumultuous and me and he says, he's like listen, He's like,
(23:52):
you're the new guy. He didn't say my name, but
he was talking to me, and everybody knew it. He's like,
everybody up here here we might not. I don't care
what you did anywhere else. I don't care if you
was all pro anywhere. I don't care if you did this.
When you're playing here, there's different rules and other guys
got a level of trust that you have to earn.
Let'm sitting here like okay. And then he started the
(24:15):
rotation thing and I'm like, oh, I'm in a rotation
for the first time in my career. Meanwhile, I got
nine to nine talking crazy to me too, like you
know what I mean, this defense is exposure. I'm like,
don't worry about that, don't worry about me. I'm a
b all right. I mean, long story short, As the
days and the weeks progressed and us progressed, there was
(24:36):
a high level of respect for myself and for him.
We start really respecting each other as opposed to to
entities colliding. Because we got in a big argument on
the field once and he looked at me. It's like
a yeah, they wanted to see that, and I'm like, hey, Brom,
I'm not to be played with like that.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
You know what I mean? Like yo, it went on
the whole time.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
I'm not gonna go into it too deep, but it
almost became like a situation. I'm like, I'm not the
one that's played with like that. Long story short is
somewhere in the great in between. We start really really
respecting each other as the play. You know, he's understood me,
and I understood him, and I love playing with him.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
And we became brothers. We really have.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
We became brothers, and I think because we really really
truly respected each other. So our relationship was a built relationship,
but it was built on respect.
Speaker 7 (25:32):
Yeah, congratulations Simeon. I think Brian called it a glaring
oversight that you're not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The numbers certainly speak for themselves. Is that something that
you feel like you absolutely need.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Once upon a time I did.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Once upon a time I did, because that's what again,
I didn't I play to be the best version of myself.
I grew up watching Walter Payton, even though I didn't
play running back like I thought. I grew up like
giving my soul to this sport. Like I said, like
my all seasons was about training. My own seasons was
(26:15):
about training. I trained within training, I practiced it in training.
I ran and did so all of that. Yeah, at
one point in time, when my father was going through
what he was going through, I was like, I want
to I want to get the call before my father
and my mom, but more so my pops because this
is where me and me and my mom and my.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Pops relationship was always solid.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
But when I started playing football, this is where me
and my pops relationships became super tight. And then I
took care of my family and all that. So there
was once upon a time I did like that. It
was like super important because I understood the position when
when I first when I first retired, I was number
(26:58):
nine on the all time list.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
I'm one of three that average double sacks his whole career.
I was the fastest to a hundred.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
So I understood. I knew that, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
But all of that up on playing with like I
wanted to I want to be thingos. I want all
the rings too, I want to win all the games
and things like that. I wanted my plate to be meaningful.
And that's what the sport was to me. The sport
was about impact. It's about how do you impact your sport?
So yeah, once upon a time I did, But then
(27:32):
once my parents passed away, it wasn't so much anymore,
you know, it wasn't so much anymore. But what the
Glazer family has you know, did now and what they
have shown me, like in terms of the retrospect of
how I feel and how they pulled out a lot
of emotions that I didn't want it to come out,
believing or not.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
I didn't even want my emotions to come out. I
was sitting there like I'm not going through it.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
Then I couldn't help it because of the fact that
I remember my mom and my dad on their death beds,
and I remember my father was like, so mean, this
is gonna happen.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
I'm like, Dad, don't worry about that, you know what
I mean?
Speaker 3 (28:06):
And again this helps me reconcile a lot of things
within my own soul. Like the game of football is
one thing, the game of life is another. And I
was consumed with being a football player once upon a time.
Now I'm consumed with being a father. And this is
you know, everything was about me before. Now everything is
(28:29):
about James, you know what I mean. So I put
everything in respect for what it is. And I know
I obsessed. I'm one of those persons that's like I
was doing films, I went the films. Go I Once
I get involved in something I obsessed on, I'm like,
I want to be really good at it. So that
being said, yeah, yeah, yeah, at one point in time,
(28:54):
it meant a lot to me, and who knows, maybe
it will one day as well.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
I can't yeah, I can't say, you know what I mean,
because I'm not burdened by that anymore.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
You know what I mean. To be represented in the
Ring of Honor is a cool thing, you know what
I mean. I mean, it's cool.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
I never you know, there's certain entitlements like it's these
are man made things, right, so these aren't real things.
We live real lives, right, the moments is real like
the experience is real, you.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (29:33):
Minus was more in philosophy of an emotional no connection
with my parents.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
That was it, you know what I mean? That was it.
I know I was the baddest in the world. Excuse
my lanreage. I didn't. I knew that. I already knew that.
I knew that.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
There's nothing that those that know me know that. You
know what I mean, There's not a ward that you
could give me that think that, you know what I mean.
And I know what it feels like to get for
US War sacks in the games. I know I was
to get six sacks.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
In the games.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
I'm taking over the guys that got jackets. I'm like, hey,
I killed him him three sacks in the game, two
and a half sacks over there. I don't want a
Super Bowl. I done did all those things, you know
what I mean? I literally did it. So yeah, I'm okay,
a sim congrats, thank you.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
First of all, did you really not.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Know Ronde didn't score?
Speaker 3 (30:28):
I knew he took off, Yeah no, I did. I
did know he scored. But I'm like, you know, it's
all a blurting. I know he took off. He scored,
a lot, you know what I mean, Which game he
had to pick to a house and one one because
I'm always like, you know what one pick he had?
I had a penalty y'all because I told the guy
(30:52):
to stop grabbing my face and he scored a touchdown.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
And I'm like, oh man, my fault. I know, I
had a fifteen yard pillow. Oh my dog. Yeah, so yeah, definitely,
definitely he scored a lot. You scored a lot, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (31:09):
Secondly, we've talked a lot about how you feel you
were disrespected.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Yeah the hall.
Speaker 4 (31:14):
Yeah, is it better and more validating that this group
that you want a super Bowl with honors you here.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (31:21):
Yeah, that's just And again I didn't even think about that,
Like I.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Pay no real special mind to anything. You know.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
I talked to Brian all the time, and he know
how difficult I can be to get me to do
anything because I kind of move how I move now,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
A lot Like I'm not I.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
Don't watch I don't watch sports a lot, you know
what I mean, Like I'm I'm watching Blue Eye, you know,
I'm I'm chasing I'm in here playing with Tonka toys
and hot wheels.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
My whole vibe is different, you know what I mean,
It just it just is.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
And this this pixel scab, this this makes me see
Like when I see that, I'm like, man, I love this.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
Like I was consumed by it.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
I didn't have a wife, I didn't have a girl,
you know, none that I was claiming at the time,
you know what I mean. I just had the game,
you know what I mean. I just and the game
was what my heart was. The game is all I
cared about. That's all I cared about. All I cared
about was balling. And it's like it's almost like they say,
(32:34):
you know, like a father to say, son, job well done,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
And I did play for that.
Speaker 3 (32:40):
Like I'm not one that's gonna sit here and tell
you I didn't play for greatness.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
I did play for greatness, you know.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
I remember they like, oh, get your super Bowl And
they asked me, We're sitting on a podium, like can
you believe this day. I'm like, yeah, I put in
fourteen hours a day for this sport, you know what
I mean, Like, this is what I.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Do all summer.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
My summer workout was regimen was I work out six
to eight hours a day training to be the version
of the person that you've seen. I know what it
feels like to run fifty fifties on the no rest,
fifty fifties back.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
Back, you know.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
And everything's gotta be at four point nine, four point seven,
you know what I mean, finishing like gunning it like.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
I know what that feels like.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
I know what it feels a run on thirty thirties,
just to be at pace so you can do two
minute offenses, you know what I mean. And I know
what it feels like to take over the two minute offense.
I remember what it felt like to try to pass
the ball on this defense.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (33:36):
If we don't get you on the front end, we
get you on the back end, you know what I mean.
So I understood that we understood that as a collective.
That's why you could look at it like this team
was so great and then like, Okay, the Super Bowl,
you should have been in Super MVP. Honestly, in my
heart of hearts, I speak on that I thought.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Any of us could have got the MVP.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
To be honest with you, I mean shout out to Derek,
but I felt like any of the guys that make
UH that that won it. But I felt like Brooks
could have won it. I felt like white Side always
say he did, you know what I mean? So we
had so many amazing guy white face, you know, we
had amazing guys that was playing at a high level,
and that was I felt like, yes from an individual standpoint,
(34:19):
but from a collective to get the collective to do it.
You see a lot of great UH players, but as
a collective to get.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
A team to do it, that's a whole other level.
Speaker 3 (34:29):
And because you want to test it, you see how
hard it is to do it to in a row
three in rows. That's why you have to look at
teams like the Patriots and teams like that be like, wow,
he was able to do it that many times and
stay that hungry and be that thorough shout out to MJ.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
You know what I mean. So yeah, answering any questions, time.
Speaker 7 (34:52):
For a couple more, got another one. Your son was
watching those highlights with you. I don't know if you
could see that.
Speaker 3 (34:59):
I could, That's what That's what I'm like, Oh my god,
I didn't know he was gonna react like that.
Speaker 2 (35:04):
Yeah, he was.
Speaker 7 (35:05):
I was watching and as time goes on, He's going
to be able to watch more and more of that
and start to understand what it meant and what what
do you hope that he takes from watching not just
your career, but but how you've moved about your life.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
Man commitment, like like when you commit to something, you
do it. I want him to know. I want James
to know that anything that you believe, you can do.
Any believe any your belief system is your power is
your like your your neutral power source or you ultimate
(35:43):
power source. Because if you believe something, all it takes
is diligence.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
Now and what does that entail?
Speaker 3 (35:50):
That means just don't quit, go after what you really want, unapologetically,
don't make excuses, stay steaded fast. Like we were speaking
before in terms of like, uh, we was eating and
we was talking about what motivates me to like train,
(36:11):
and I'm like, I'm past that stage now motivation, Like
I'm gonna do what I do because it's important. Like
I'm past because I'm disciplined. So when you when you
learn that level of discipline, it's past motivation. You hold
yourself to the iron, whether good or bad, because what
you want ultimately, regardless of how I feel about it,
(36:32):
I'm gonna do it. Don't matter how I'm gonna if
it's gonna rain to mind, doesn't matter, if it's not good,
if it's gonna be cold, doesn't matter. I'm still gonna
do it anyway because I alreadys put it the seed
in my mind of what's to come, and I want
that's what I want him to understand it. And that's
what I want him to to to understand. That's just
magic sauce in this world. To achieve greatness is that
(36:54):
you have to be diligent and you have to continue
it no matter what on that level of discipline. But
that level of discipline becomes a skill, and that's something
that you have to learn because there'll be many excuses
that you can pick from to say, Okay, I can
lighten up. But once you understand that, you you're kind
(37:14):
of like not going towards what you really want in
terms of a goal or a mission or whatever you're
trying to get accomplished. But as long as you have
a stat fatness like you just like I'm not going away,
like it doesn't matter. Like I remember as a kid
growing up playing a game of football. For me I
was gonna be a football player, and like, it doesn't
matter how hard it is for what's to become, I'm
(37:37):
gonna be there for it.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
So it doesn't matter what I have to go through.
I'm never gonna quit.
Speaker 3 (37:42):
I might not get what I want out of it,
and that's okay, but I'm not gonna stop until I
get what I want out of it.
Speaker 2 (37:49):
Simple as that.
Speaker 7 (37:52):
Your career, that.
Speaker 3 (38:03):
That was because of the again, in the same version
of when I'm speaking now, that was when you rationalize
things I was going through it. It was tough for
me because I'm like, I still play at a high level,
and I wasn't willing to humble myself anymore.
Speaker 2 (38:21):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
Sports is a humbling thing, and I wasn't willing to
humble myself to overcome anything anymore. I'm like, I've accomplished
pretty much everything I need to accomplish, you know. And
I understood that mentality at that point of my career
was like, let me show them what I made of
I came back too quick, and I wasn't I wasn't
(38:46):
injury free. I was still dealing with the injury that
I was kind of dealing with, and I'm like, I
just need to step away right now and get my
body right right.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
So at that point in time, I'm still going through it.
Speaker 3 (38:58):
And I talked to my little sister Yosh, and she
was like, so mean, you did everything, Like what else
is there to prove?
Speaker 2 (39:04):
And she went through her a whole.
Speaker 3 (39:07):
Dissertation of like the things that I've accomplished, the person
that I am, and that like again, I was telling
my little sisters the other day, I think that's the
that's my God's gift from my parents is my little
sisters and my family because they were able. She was
(39:28):
able to frame it, and then my other little sisters
as well. They were able to frame it in such
a way that I could accept what is now. And
I'm like, you know, there's so much more that I
can do now, and I can start making movies and
start you know, producing and directing, and I'm you know,
talented in other ways. But I know that's the cautionary
thing to me too, because I'm like, if I jump
(39:50):
in something else, I know I'm gonna jump into it fearlessly.
That's just how I am, you know what I mean.
And I did that and it was it went well.
It went well, you know what, I me, and I
was able to put a movie in the movie theaters
and direct films and produce movies and other films and
things like that, and it was fun, you know, up
(40:10):
until it was time to you know, start raising the family.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
Yeah, okay, thank you. That'll include the Q and a session.
Speaker 4 (40:18):
We're gonna take a brief moment here to clear the stage,
and then we'll take some photos.
Good afternoon, and thank you for joining us as we
announced the newest inductee into the Buccaneer's Ring of Honor
as we prepare to celebrate.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Our fiftieth season.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
It was crucial to identify a player who embodied all
the qualities of an all time Buccaneer legend. We sought
a player who consistently delivered excellence, had been exceptional, and
had made a significant impact on our franchise. Simeon Rice
checked all those boxes, and we are proud to announce
(00:30):
him as a tenth member. I was sorry the sixteenth
member of the Buccaneer's Ring of Honor. Simeon's NFL journey
began when he was selected with the third overall pick
of the nineteen ninety sixth NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
He faced immense pressure as a top selection, but he
embraced it and found a way to thrive despite the burden.
(00:54):
In his first season, he'd racked up twelve and a
half sacks and earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
It was just the beginning of a magnificent twelve year career.
Simeon joined the Buccaneers in the offseason leading into the
two thousand and one season, he joined an elite defense
that already featured future Hall of famers Warren Sapp, Derek Brooks,
(01:15):
John Lynch, and Rondee Barber. The Tampa two defense, led
by great players, devised by Tony Dungee and perfected by
Monte Kifvin, led the Buccaneers to three playoff appearances from
nineteen ninety seven to two thousand. While these defenses were dominant,
they lacked an elite edge rusher, a game wrecker who
(01:36):
could disrupt the timing of the passing game. And after
the two thousand season, Simeon became an unrestricted free agent
and Monte convinced him that he was the missing piece
to make our defense one of the greatest of all time.
Simeon immediately elevated our defense to new heights, eventually helping
us deliver our first vote title a year later in
(01:57):
two thousand and two. He had a knack for making
great plays when they met the most and in our
Super Bowl thirty seventh victory, he posted two sacks, five tackles,
and a force fumble. During his six seasons as a Buccaneer,
Simeon amassed sixty nine and a half sacks, which still
ranks his third most in team history, behind Leroy Sealman
(02:20):
and Warren Sap. His list of achievements is long and impressive.
He owns three of the top five sax seasons in
Buccaneer history, and from nineteen ninety six to two thousand
and five, he totaled the league best one hundred and
one and a half sacks over those eight years, more
than Hall of famers Michael Strahan and Jason Taylor during
(02:40):
that same stretch. His mark of eight seasons with double
digit sack totals is the seventh most in NFL history
and six men and all six men ahead of him
on that list are members of the Pro Football Hall
of Fame. Simeon's credentials for induction into Our Ring of
Honor are unquestioned, but he's equal qualified and deserving of
(03:01):
an overdue call from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Notably,
he is the only retired player with one hundred sacks
over eight consecutive seasons who doesn't own a gold jacket.
It's time to directify that oversight. Simmons induction into Our Ring
of Honor will take place during halftime of our November
thirtieth game against the Arizona Cardinals, we cordially invite all
(03:24):
crew members to join us for what promises to be
another momentous occasion in celebration of fifty unforgettable seasons. Simon,
thank you for the pivotal role you played in elevating
our defense to new heights, and thank you for delivering
our first Lombardi Trophy. You were the missing piece that
unlocked our championship, and we welcome you as the newest
(03:45):
member into the Buccaneer Ring of Honor.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Honestly, HM, when you all played that video.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
The tears from my parents, I don't know if I
really ever reconcile my father passed away, but that's okay.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
I poured my heart into the sport.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
And if you know me, and I know some of
the media that watched me play, I was done. I
would be practiced ten thirty at night working on what
you've seen on this video. A lot of people thought,
because it came so easy for me, that I was
just talent. But what a lot of people didn't know
(05:07):
that's outside that the purview of the sport is that's
all that meant anything to me. I never wanted to
be a basketball player, and I was really good at it.
Never wanted to do anything else. I wanted to run
track a little bit, but the only thing that mattered
to me was playing football. And I love this game.
(05:30):
That's how I celebrated my mother and father. They're not
with me now, but that's okay. They hurt my spirit.
I the whole time, I was like, I'm not gonna cry,
but because I didn't want to give anybody my deepest feelings.
(05:54):
I love the game of football. I loved the old life,
and I didn't know how much it really meant to
me till I see my little son, James sitting over
there watching me, because he never got chants to see it,
but his grandparents did.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
And football was a game.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
For me where I wanted to honor my mother and father.
I wanted to make our name mean something, and I
think I got that accomplish coming here to Tampa. I
was leaving Arizona and I was an All Pro and
(06:36):
I was Rookie of the Year and all that stuff.
But I wanted to go someplace I can impact and
help when and they had the men to do it.
I sit there with money Kiffen and coach Martson, I
mean coach Marynelly, and they told me of whatever the
(07:00):
defense and what was meant and how this defense normally
kind of go and.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
I sat there and thank you. I sat there and I.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Listened to them talk about what it takes to win
here and how this team was already built and the
things that I could bring here and do here with
my energy and my excellence and.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
How I played the game. And I already I knew.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
How hard I worked, but I wasn't sure what this
team was. You know, I knew it was a great team,
but I but I didn't know the impact and what
I could do playing amongst the men that played here,
the Warren Savas that Derek Brooks lunches and guys like that.
And I wanted to be very respectful of those guys
(07:54):
coming here, because those that know me know I have
a big personality and I could take up a room.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
But I didn't want to really do that.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
But when I felt like when I got here, I
felt like it was okay to be myself. Tampa made
it a place that I could be myself, and I
felt like the men that I played with they allowed
me to be the best version of myself, you know.
And they were just as rowdy as me, just as
(08:23):
complex as me, just as loud as I could be.
And we were all aligned together to crystallize our career
and be the best versions of ourselves. And we were young,
we were aspiring, we were dangerous, We was unstoppable all
of our mindset, and we all needed each other. We
(08:44):
all needed each other, all of us to do the
special things that we were able to do and be
capable of in the game of football. Allowed me, especially
playing in Tampa Bay, to do that and really appreciate
the Glazer family, even Rich McKay and I know he's
(09:06):
not a part of the organization of bringing me here
to help take this team to the next level. You know,
the men that I played with, the guys that I
played with, the Rende Barbers and guys like that that
I mean, we set a tone here, man, We set
a tone here together as a family, and we all
(09:27):
held each other accountable. The accountability thing, that's something that
I picked up when I got here. When I was
in high school, my high school coach, coach Franklinny always
told me about dependability and I understood that, but then
when I got to Tampa, I understood about accountability, and
that was something even more different. That was even another
(09:52):
level of responsibility. And it's nothing like being accepted and
being honored at home. I played a lot of places
I played. I played a little bit after I left
in Denver, and I played with the Colt and No Man.
That was towards the end because I was injured, and
(10:12):
I played with the Cardinals. But it's nothing like being
honored by a team that you helped take to the
next level. And I really appreciated from the bottom of
my heart to to raise to this level. You know,
as a kid when the growing up, I wanted to
be just like the Walter Payton's you know, Michael Jordan
(10:34):
played in my city, but I wanted to be just
like Peyton. I actually thought it was gonna be a
running back. Didn't work out, that's okay, But to play
football and to be honored in football, as my little
sister told me, Josh, it's one of the highest levels
because you play the game and you just want to
make the team, and then when you make the team,
(10:55):
you want to start, and when you start, you want
to make an impact.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
To me, this is a.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
You know, this is such an honor to my family,
to my mother and father. You all just don't know
that's where it really comes from, because I buried my parents,
and I think this is just this is one of
those things that just hit home because this is something
my father always kind of like thought in the back
of his head, you know what I mean. So no
(11:22):
matter what I know, he's smiling down on this situation.
He told me, he telling me like SIMI and I
told you so that being said, I think the organization
I thank you guys tremendously for UH recognizing my abilities
and the impact and for me, I represent so much
(11:43):
more Mount Carwell High School, south Side, Chicago, roseland UH.
I represent the guys that played that will never get
their names called. I represent the guys that has their
names called. You know, I represent so much more than
just my I feel like I'm just a vessel, but
I feel like I'm a vessel for those that I've
(12:04):
impacted my whole life. And I hope I represented those
that I've encountered throughout my life as such, and for that,
I thank you all. I do love the game of
football and I appreciate this day and the day that
will come, and I promise you I'll hold myself high
that day. I won't be falling apart. But I'm just
(12:26):
thinking about my mother and father. So it just brings
that all the day. And I didn't share much tears
over that, but it was something that always resonated in
my heart. And I think this is kind of like
just puts that knell in their coffin where I'm like, okay,
you know what I mean. Two parents that came together
collectively to build the family we have and not in name,
(12:47):
it's being represented in light of what they could not
even imagine. So I thank you all the Glazer family,
I think the Tampa baoerball By organization as a whole.
And yeah, continue excellence, thank you.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Yeah, thank you. Simon. Go ahead and stand Simon, Simon,
you can stay at the podium. We're gonna go ahead
and do some Q and A.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
Media members, if you can, please raise your hand a
hex stun day microphone.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
What's up right? Uh, I'm righty.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Congratulations.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
First of all, thank you, great honor.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
You mentioned coming here from Arizona and this was a
team that had a good defense.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
I talked to Tony Dungee.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
He said, you put them absolutely over the top, but
your your own individual. You know, we saw you dancing
almost immediately on the field. What was it like to
to assimilate with that group and still manage to be
yourself and bring what was energy in addition to production.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Oh Man, First of all, I love football. I love it.
I love I love practice. I mean I was I
was one that's gonna practice and go to practice and
practice after practice and run after practice. I remember the time,
once upon a time that Gruen was like, se me,
you can't be here at ten thirty at night.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
You can't be here all night. You know what I mean?
I was there.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
They look out and they're like in the grass and
they're like, you're still out there? Because I truly understood
that this was only a moment. I truly understood that
I understand life is only a moment. And to play
with the guys that love to play, I was like,
these guys are just like me.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
You know, these guys are just like me.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
I mean you can from from Brian Kelly to Ron
Dave Barber to John Lynch, Derek Brooks to Shelton Quarrels.
I mean, I don't want all the guys. I mean,
they brought a collection of guys that really truly loved football,
and I understood this space and time, this place is
(14:51):
like Tensol Town football.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
You know.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
We had we had everybody, you know, Keith, Shawn John's,
we had all the guys, Brad Johnson, We had guys
down and we understood, we understood the assignment that this
was a special time. And you know, I had a
guy next to me nine to nine that pushed me
to the edge because I pushed him to the edge.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
You know what I mean. When I came down here,
I made him uncomfortable. You know, I did it.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
You know, this was his land, and I started making
plays no matter how you played. And then you have
to recognize that. So it was tentuous in our meetings,
you know what I mean. Now I'm like, you know what,
I came down here to play with you. Now I'm
down here to take over. And I needed him to
be the best version of myself. I needed him to
do some of the things that he was able to
(15:37):
poke and prode me to be the best version of
myself because I'm only on comfort. I'm only comfortable being alpha.
You know what I mean, and that's who I am.
And then we had the man in charge of our
d line that pushed it. He created even more attention.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
You do something great, he gonna put it on he
gonna put it on frame. All the men are gonna
look at it. This team is not led by a family.
This is a brotherhood. We're gonna be led by the strongest.
So you're gonna put your clips on board, you know, like,
this is what this team is. And that room created
a masterpiece because we were all competitive with each other.
(16:17):
It was competition at the highest level. So if you
were a guy that came in as a free agent
and you want to learn the game of football, you
learn defense, there's no better room to be in.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
You know.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
You go in that room and you learn from myself,
You learn from Sap, you learn from Brooks, you learn
from the guys that's there. You know, and wherever, even
if you get cut you move on, you're gonna have
a place to play.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Because the way we played ball is at the highest level.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Guys couldn't even practice at our level, you know what
I mean, And that's the way these guys practice. So
it was just a joy to be and there's a
level arrogance when you're out there and you're dancing at
one hundred and two degrees because you know you built
for it, you know. I remember there's an office line
that says, you know when you do that. He said,
(17:04):
that would piss me off so much because of the
fact that you're doing it and everybody is tired, and
I didn't know offensive linemen were looking for us to
like they looking for the crack. And then you're looking
up at me and I'm playing air guitar, you know
what I mean, And they're like, dude, you're not tired yet,
and I'm like, no, We're just getting started.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
So it was a joy.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
It was brilliant, and like I said, this is a
place where the guy's next to you pull out the
best versions of you and you had to stand strong
like that.
Speaker 5 (17:36):
Okay, congrats sim sim Take us back to the two
thousand and two postseason, especially going to Philly and then
facing the Raiders in the Super Bowl. How confident were
you that you were going to be the Eagles and
shut down the vent well.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Full? Like I said, that could be the most honest
version of myself. Now play anymore.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
I knew at that point there was nobody in the
world could block me anymore.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
That was a done deal. You know.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
From a personal standpoint, I played Donovan Downovan.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Me and Donovan went to high school together.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
I used to get kicked out of practice because I
wouldn't let him run plays, you know what I mean.
And this is for the biggest game of our life,
and they said that we couldn't win in what minus
forty degrees whether and for myself, whenever I took the
field with Donald McNabb, I always knew the advantage that
I came with. Now you got the backside picking things off,
(18:37):
going to a distance, you got Ryan Day picking it,
going to scoring. I think we scored on that didn't
score a touchdown on that. I knew our defense was
so good it was an offense. So I knew from
a personal standpoint, our front four nobody could block us.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
You know, from that front.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
Once you can't block your front floor, for everything else
is just it becomes a feeding frenzy, like a bunch
of paranas. So now we all making plays. Now we
all playing at our highest level, and even on the
backside that we were regardless of what we did they
stood tall no matter what. So from a collective, as
(19:15):
a collective, we've just played at the highest level. So
and then we were familiar with a team. And then
from a personal standpoint, I was familiar with their best player,
and their best player was familiar with me. So we
came in there with her, even though we didn't have
a lot of success there. But prior I know, from
a personal standpoint, this is going to be my second
(19:37):
time playing against you, but it's not my second time
planing against you. I've been playing against you my whole life,
and I've been dominating this offensive line, even when we
were in Arizona.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Now I'm now.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
You partner parlay me with a Warren sap No a
great expires, you know, and guys like that. Now it's
we're going to take it to a whole nother level.
And from my personal standpoint, I knew it was going
to be a means of a total domination. Just you
just know it, especially at that point in time of
(20:09):
my career. At that point in time my career, I
was I mean from our first day in the league,
I was down my first rookie year, I was rookie year,
and I dominated every all pro in the league, from Richmond.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Webb to.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Jonathan Ogden, you know what I mean. So this was
all familiar ground with me. Now I'm all grown up
with a collection of killers or what we would like
to say, guys that was capable at the highest level.
So now it's gonna get interesting because again I come
from a city where we had the eighty five Bears,
so I know what that looked like.
Speaker 6 (20:46):
Sime and congratulations, thank you two parter. I remember your
locker was right next to ninety nine Warren Shapes, and
there'd be times where Warren to be going back and
forth and you'd always just be grinning, very polite back there.
What was it like being next to ninety nine? You
told us about being on the field with him having
(21:06):
his locker right there. And number two, where do you
think your buccaneer defense ranks all time?
Speaker 2 (21:15):
I answered number two?
Speaker 3 (21:17):
I think all time, respectfully, it's number two all time.
That's where I think it's right behind eighty five Bears.
I think it's the eighty five Bears and then us,
you know, and me being next to Warren was an
interesting It was interesting.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
You know, because we started out rocky.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
We started I mean, because we both you know, this
is where he plays, this is this is you know,
I understood the assignment when I got here. When I
got here, I wanted I came here to play with him.
I didn't want. You know, there was between New York
here in Chicago and Chicago. When I went and had
that meeting, it didn't really go well. Mike Hatley said,
I was like Michael Johnson, all highlights, no substance. So
(21:59):
I was like, oh, And during that same meeting, you know,
I was on the phone with Rich McKay, like right
outside the restaurant at Smith and Lensky's in Chicago, and
I said, listen, we could get this thing done. I said,
if you bring me down, you will be in the
super Bowl either this year or next year. Trust me,
because I could tell like I watched I watched I
(22:21):
watched the Bucks play the Rams in that game, and
I'm like, if I would have been playing, you had
all won that game, you know what I mean, on
that fuzzy play at the end of the game or
whatever with the I for got Ricky.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Ricky pro Yeah, that catch.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
So I was familiar with my position at this was
at this time I wanted to win, so coming out
when we had that dinner and we came out with
Tony and he brought me down and we had the
dinner and Warren was supposed to be at the dinner,
so I said. They was like, Warren said, he what's
going to be on this way? I'm like, oh, okay.
So if somebody calls him and I'm like what's.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Up, Like where are you going? I'm like, oh, I'm
at the dinner where you at? He's like, I don't
know where you at. I was like, I'm at the
dinner where you are you coming? Like what you want?
So I'm like, I don't know what's up? What you on? Man,
I'll call you back?
Speaker 3 (23:11):
Click, And I'm like this dude just hunk, and.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Like what do he say? I was like, I don't know.
He just hung up on me, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
He was feeling me out, like he's trying to figure
out what type of dude that was.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Whatever. So then I get here and immediately Rod set
the room on fire.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
He was like, yo, this is what our expectations out
at you too. So that was kind of rocky from
the beginning, you know what I mean. And then I
realized it wasn't. It was all sweet, you know. I
got up into me and I'm like, you'll never call
this dude out. And I pointed to him, I'm like,
this dude's not making plays d and they got real
tumultuous and me and he says, he's like listen, He's like,
(23:52):
you're the new guy. He didn't say my name, but
he was talking to me, and everybody knew it. He's like,
everybody up here here we might not. I don't care
what you did anywhere else. I don't care if you
was all pro anywhere. I don't care if you did this.
When you're playing here, there's different rules and other guys
got a level of trust that you have to earn.
Let'm sitting here like okay. And then he started the
(24:15):
rotation thing and I'm like, oh, I'm in a rotation
for the first time in my career. Meanwhile, I got
nine to nine talking crazy to me too, like you
know what I mean, this defense is exposure. I'm like,
don't worry about that, don't worry about me. I'm a
b all right. I mean, long story short, As the
days and the weeks progressed and us progressed, there was
(24:36):
a high level of respect for myself and for him.
We start really respecting each other as opposed to to
entities colliding. Because we got in a big argument on
the field once and he looked at me. It's like
a yeah, they wanted to see that, and I'm like, hey, Brom,
I'm not to be played with like that.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
You know what I mean? Like yo, it went on
the whole time.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
I'm not gonna go into it too deep, but it
almost became like a situation. I'm like, I'm not the
one that's played with like that. Long story short is
somewhere in the great in between. We start really really
respecting each other as the play. You know, he's understood me,
and I understood him, and I love playing with him.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
And we became brothers. We really have.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
We became brothers, and I think because we really really
truly respected each other. So our relationship was a built relationship,
but it was built on respect.
Speaker 7 (25:32):
Yeah, congratulations Simeon. I think Brian called it a glaring
oversight that you're not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The numbers certainly speak for themselves. Is that something that
you feel like you absolutely need.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Once upon a time I did.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Once upon a time I did, because that's what again,
I didn't I play to be the best version of myself.
I grew up watching Walter Payton, even though I didn't
play running back like I thought. I grew up like
giving my soul to this sport. Like I said, like
my all seasons was about training. My own seasons was
(26:15):
about training. I trained within training, I practiced it in training.
I ran and did so all of that. Yeah, at
one point in time, when my father was going through
what he was going through, I was like, I want
to I want to get the call before my father
and my mom, but more so my pops because this
is where me and me and my mom and my.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Pops relationship was always solid.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
But when I started playing football, this is where me
and my pops relationships became super tight. And then I
took care of my family and all that. So there
was once upon a time I did like that. It
was like super important because I understood the position when
when I first when I first retired, I was number
(26:58):
nine on the all time list.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
I'm one of three that average double sacks his whole career.
I was the fastest to a hundred.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
So I understood. I knew that, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
But all of that up on playing with like I
wanted to I want to be thingos. I want all
the rings too, I want to win all the games
and things like that. I wanted my plate to be meaningful.
And that's what the sport was to me. The sport
was about impact. It's about how do you impact your sport?
So yeah, once upon a time I did, But then
(27:32):
once my parents passed away, it wasn't so much anymore,
you know, it wasn't so much anymore. But what the
Glazer family has you know, did now and what they
have shown me, like in terms of the retrospect of
how I feel and how they pulled out a lot
of emotions that I didn't want it to come out,
believing or not.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
I didn't even want my emotions to come out. I
was sitting there like I'm not going through it.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
Then I couldn't help it because of the fact that
I remember my mom and my dad on their death beds,
and I remember my father was like, so mean, this
is gonna happen.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
I'm like, Dad, don't worry about that, you know what
I mean?
Speaker 3 (28:06):
And again this helps me reconcile a lot of things
within my own soul. Like the game of football is
one thing, the game of life is another. And I
was consumed with being a football player once upon a time.
Now I'm consumed with being a father. And this is
you know, everything was about me before. Now everything is
(28:29):
about James, you know what I mean. So I put
everything in respect for what it is. And I know
I obsessed. I'm one of those persons that's like I
was doing films, I went the films. Go I Once
I get involved in something I obsessed on, I'm like,
I want to be really good at it. So that
being said, yeah, yeah, yeah, at one point in time,
(28:54):
it meant a lot to me, and who knows, maybe
it will one day as well.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
I can't yeah, I can't say, you know what I mean,
because I'm not burdened by that anymore.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
You know what I mean. To be represented in the
Ring of Honor is a cool thing, you know what
I mean. I mean, it's cool.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
I never you know, there's certain entitlements like it's these
are man made things, right, so these aren't real things.
We live real lives, right, the moments is real like
the experience is real, you.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (29:33):
Minus was more in philosophy of an emotional no connection
with my parents.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
That was it, you know what I mean? That was it.
I know I was the baddest in the world. Excuse
my lanreage. I didn't. I knew that. I already knew that.
I knew that.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
There's nothing that those that know me know that. You
know what I mean, There's not a ward that you
could give me that think that, you know what I mean.
And I know what it feels like to get for
US War sacks in the games. I know I was
to get six sacks.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
In the games.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
I'm taking over the guys that got jackets. I'm like, hey,
I killed him him three sacks in the game, two
and a half sacks over there. I don't want a
Super Bowl. I done did all those things, you know
what I mean? I literally did it. So yeah, I'm okay,
a sim congrats, thank you.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
First of all, did you really not.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Know Ronde didn't score?
Speaker 3 (30:28):
I knew he took off, Yeah no, I did. I
did know he scored. But I'm like, you know, it's
all a blurting. I know he took off. He scored,
a lot, you know what I mean, Which game he
had to pick to a house and one one because
I'm always like, you know what one pick he had?
I had a penalty y'all because I told the guy
(30:52):
to stop grabbing my face and he scored a touchdown.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
And I'm like, oh man, my fault. I know, I
had a fifteen yard pillow. Oh my dog. Yeah, so yeah, definitely,
definitely he scored a lot. You scored a lot, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (31:09):
Secondly, we've talked a lot about how you feel you
were disrespected.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Yeah the hall.
Speaker 4 (31:14):
Yeah, is it better and more validating that this group
that you want a super Bowl with honors you here.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (31:21):
Yeah, that's just And again I didn't even think about that,
Like I.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Pay no real special mind to anything. You know.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
I talked to Brian all the time, and he know
how difficult I can be to get me to do
anything because I kind of move how I move now,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
A lot Like I'm not I.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
Don't watch I don't watch sports a lot, you know
what I mean, Like I'm I'm watching Blue Eye, you know,
I'm I'm chasing I'm in here playing with Tonka toys
and hot wheels.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
My whole vibe is different, you know what I mean,
It just it just is.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
And this this pixel scab, this this makes me see
Like when I see that, I'm like, man, I love this.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
Like I was consumed by it.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
I didn't have a wife, I didn't have a girl,
you know, none that I was claiming at the time,
you know what I mean. I just had the game,
you know what I mean. I just and the game
was what my heart was. The game is all I
cared about. That's all I cared about. All I cared
about was balling. And it's like it's almost like they say,
(32:34):
you know, like a father to say, son, job well done,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
And I did play for that.
Speaker 3 (32:40):
Like I'm not one that's gonna sit here and tell
you I didn't play for greatness.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
I did play for greatness, you know.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
I remember they like, oh, get your super Bowl And
they asked me, We're sitting on a podium, like can
you believe this day. I'm like, yeah, I put in
fourteen hours a day for this sport, you know what
I mean, Like, this is what I.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Do all summer.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
My summer workout was regimen was I work out six
to eight hours a day training to be the version
of the person that you've seen. I know what it
feels like to run fifty fifties on the no rest,
fifty fifties back.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
Back, you know.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
And everything's gotta be at four point nine, four point seven,
you know what I mean, finishing like gunning it like.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
I know what that feels like.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
I know what it feels a run on thirty thirties,
just to be at pace so you can do two
minute offenses, you know what I mean. And I know
what it feels like to take over the two minute offense.
I remember what it felt like to try to pass
the ball on this defense.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (33:36):
If we don't get you on the front end, we
get you on the back end, you know what I mean.
So I understood that we understood that as a collective.
That's why you could look at it like this team
was so great and then like, Okay, the Super Bowl,
you should have been in Super MVP. Honestly, in my
heart of hearts, I speak on that I thought.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Any of us could have got the MVP.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
To be honest with you, I mean shout out to Derek,
but I felt like any of the guys that make
UH that that won it. But I felt like Brooks
could have won it. I felt like white Side always
say he did, you know what I mean? So we
had so many amazing guy white face, you know, we
had amazing guys that was playing at a high level,
and that was I felt like, yes from an individual standpoint,
(34:19):
but from a collective to get the collective to do it.
You see a lot of great UH players, but as
a collective to get.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
A team to do it, that's a whole other level.
Speaker 3 (34:29):
And because you want to test it, you see how
hard it is to do it to in a row
three in rows. That's why you have to look at
teams like the Patriots and teams like that be like, wow,
he was able to do it that many times and
stay that hungry and be that thorough shout out to MJ.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
You know what I mean. So yeah, answering any questions, time.
Speaker 7 (34:52):
For a couple more, got another one. Your son was
watching those highlights with you. I don't know if you
could see that.
Speaker 3 (34:59):
I could, That's what That's what I'm like, Oh my god,
I didn't know he was gonna react like that.
Speaker 2 (35:04):
Yeah, he was.
Speaker 7 (35:05):
I was watching and as time goes on, He's going
to be able to watch more and more of that
and start to understand what it meant and what what
do you hope that he takes from watching not just
your career, but but how you've moved about your life.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
Man commitment, like like when you commit to something, you
do it. I want him to know. I want James
to know that anything that you believe, you can do.
Any believe any your belief system is your power is
your like your your neutral power source or you ultimate
(35:43):
power source. Because if you believe something, all it takes
is diligence.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
Now and what does that entail?
Speaker 3 (35:50):
That means just don't quit, go after what you really want, unapologetically,
don't make excuses, stay steaded fast. Like we were speaking
before in terms of like, uh, we was eating and
we was talking about what motivates me to like train,
(36:11):
and I'm like, I'm past that stage now motivation, Like
I'm gonna do what I do because it's important. Like
I'm past because I'm disciplined. So when you when you
learn that level of discipline, it's past motivation. You hold
yourself to the iron, whether good or bad, because what
you want ultimately, regardless of how I feel about it,
(36:32):
I'm gonna do it. Don't matter how I'm gonna if
it's gonna rain to mind, doesn't matter, if it's not good,
if it's gonna be cold, doesn't matter. I'm still gonna
do it anyway because I alreadys put it the seed
in my mind of what's to come, and I want
that's what I want him to understand it. And that's
what I want him to to to understand. That's just
magic sauce in this world. To achieve greatness is that
(36:54):
you have to be diligent and you have to continue
it no matter what on that level of discipline. But
that level of discipline becomes a skill, and that's something
that you have to learn because there'll be many excuses
that you can pick from to say, Okay, I can
lighten up. But once you understand that, you you're kind
(37:14):
of like not going towards what you really want in
terms of a goal or a mission or whatever you're
trying to get accomplished. But as long as you have
a stat fatness like you just like I'm not going away,
like it doesn't matter. Like I remember as a kid
growing up playing a game of football. For me I
was gonna be a football player, and like, it doesn't
matter how hard it is for what's to become, I'm
(37:37):
gonna be there for it.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
So it doesn't matter what I have to go through.
I'm never gonna quit.
Speaker 3 (37:42):
I might not get what I want out of it,
and that's okay, but I'm not gonna stop until I
get what I want out of it.
Speaker 2 (37:49):
Simple as that.
Speaker 7 (37:52):
Your career, that.
Speaker 3 (38:03):
That was because of the again, in the same version
of when I'm speaking now, that was when you rationalize
things I was going through it. It was tough for
me because I'm like, I still play at a high level,
and I wasn't willing to humble myself anymore.
Speaker 2 (38:21):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
Sports is a humbling thing, and I wasn't willing to
humble myself to overcome anything anymore. I'm like, I've accomplished
pretty much everything I need to accomplish, you know. And
I understood that mentality at that point of my career
was like, let me show them what I made of
I came back too quick, and I wasn't I wasn't
(38:46):
injury free. I was still dealing with the injury that
I was kind of dealing with, and I'm like, I
just need to step away right now and get my
body right right.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
So at that point in time, I'm still going through it.
Speaker 3 (38:58):
And I talked to my little sister Yosh, and she
was like, so mean, you did everything, Like what else
is there to prove?
Speaker 2 (39:04):
And she went through her a whole.
Speaker 3 (39:07):
Dissertation of like the things that I've accomplished, the person
that I am, and that like again, I was telling
my little sisters the other day, I think that's the
that's my God's gift from my parents is my little
sisters and my family because they were able. She was
(39:28):
able to frame it, and then my other little sisters
as well. They were able to frame it in such
a way that I could accept what is now. And
I'm like, you know, there's so much more that I
can do now, and I can start making movies and
start you know, producing and directing, and I'm you know,
talented in other ways. But I know that's the cautionary
thing to me too, because I'm like, if I jump
(39:50):
in something else, I know I'm gonna jump into it fearlessly.
That's just how I am, you know what I mean.
And I did that and it was it went well.
It went well, you know what, I me, and I
was able to put a movie in the movie theaters
and direct films and produce movies and other films and
things like that, and it was fun, you know, up
(40:10):
until it was time to you know, start raising the family.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
Yeah, okay, thank you. That'll include the Q and a session.
Speaker 4 (40:18):
We're gonna take a brief moment here to clear the stage,
and then we'll take some photos.
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Introducing… Aubrey O’Day Diddy’s former protege, television personality, platinum selling music artist, Danity Kane alum Aubrey O’Day joins veteran journalists Amy Robach and TJ Holmes to provide a unique perspective on the trial that has captivated the attention of the nation. Join them throughout the trial as they discuss, debate, and dissect every detail, every aspect of the proceedings. Aubrey will offer her opinions and expertise, as only she is qualified to do given her first-hand knowledge. From her days on Making the Band, as she emerged as the breakout star, the truth of the situation would be the opposite of the glitz and glamour. Listen throughout every minute of the trial, for this exclusive coverage. Amy Robach and TJ Holmes present Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial, an iHeartRadio podcast.
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