Chris

Simms

Coach Gruden has set Simms up for success by giving him his first start at New Orleans. Expect Simms to start the rest of the season and be a slightly average QB2. The lefty showed a lot of promise and accuracy during the preseason. Considering Gruden’s history with QBs, Simms has plenty of long-term upside.

The competition with Brian Griese continues, but Simms has already wrapped up the job.

Since Simms isn’t taking the starting job back soon, Tampa won’t rush his recovery. Expect the second-year pro to be the team’s No. 3 quarterback this week.

He’ll be evaluated on a week-to-week basis, but the injury won’t require surgery. It looks doubtful Simms will practice this week. His value in re-draft leagues is back to nill. In a telling statement for his future, however, coach Gruden said Simms would be the starter if healthy.

“I was just trying to throw the ball and I felt something and couldn’t go on,” Simms said. With Brian Griese playing so well, the Simms era might be on hold for a while.

He’ll remain on the bench while Brian Griese is playing well anyhow.

No word yet whether he’ll be the No. 2 or No. 3 QB.

He should be Brian Griese’s backup as long as Tampa stays in the playoff hunt.

Simms is fully recovered from a shoulder injury that robbed his chance to start all season. His status as the quarterback of the future in Tampa is being complicated by Brian Griese’s excellent season.

Griese is listed as questionable. Simms still has a shot to start next season, even if Tampa re-signs Griese, as expected.