Rivers or Rice?

There was a frequenter of a Buccaneer fan forum that went by the screen moniker of Radioman. Radioman claimed to be a retired radio personality who was privy to inside NFL information with numerous inside contacts. Prior to the 2005 trade deadline, Radioman had informed the public of a supposed trade in the works that would send Simeon Rice to San Diego in exchange for Phillip Rivers, which would allow the Chargers to relieve themselves of a hefty early round QB draft pick's salary, and give them the financial freedom they would need to re-sign their own free agent to be, QB Drew Brees.

I remember at the time this rumor circulated, many Buccs fans were up in arms declaring how trading away Rice and receiving Rivers in return was a bad deal for the Buccs, and how they hoped it wouldn't come to fruition. Looking back, as hindsight is always 20/20 I wonder how many of those same fans would give their left nut for that trade now? As a fan who never cared for Rice I was one of the very few that was all for it. Even I though, never imagined how lopsided and uneven that trade would have been in favor of the Buccs.

Simeon after a horrible start to the season and injuring his shoulder around week 6, played gimpy for two games before being placed on injured reserve after week 8, and ending his season prematurely. In those eight games Rice did play in, he produce a dismal 2 sacks. Fast forward to 2007 season, and Rice's failure of a pre-training camp physical sent him out the door and to the unemployment line.

Conversely, Rivers helped guide his team to a 14 - 2 record and came within minutes of playing in his first AFC Championship game as a rookie. Sure Rivers rode the coattails of one Ladanian Tomlinson, only the best player in the NFL, but Rivers certainly lent a helping hand and did more than his share. Yes, Rivers was treated with kid gloves for the first part of the year, but very quietly had a productive season. Phillip was in the top half of the NFL averaging 211.8 yards/game. Ranked in the top 7 in QB rating among starters 92.0, and amassed 3388 yards, completing 61.7% of his passes tossing 22 touchdowns and only 9 interceptions. Had those stats by Rivers been performed while wearing a Buccaneer uniform, it would have been one of the best seasons by a Buccaneer QB in the history of the franchise.


Sure Rivers would not have had the same success behind Tampa's offensive line, a line that donated Chris Simms' spleen to science without his permission. But for a franchise that has been searching for a franchise QB for most of it's 31 years of existence, Rivers would have been welcomed with open arms.
...JJC/ABuccsFan