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Defensive Notes

Tampa Bay’s decision to cut Simeon Rice on the eve of training camp was shocking, but it will probably end up benefiting three IDP options, and some fantasy defense. The breakdown:

- Rice will catch on somewhere, and quickly, and assuming he’s healthy – the Bucs cut him after he failed a physical – he could record in the neighborhood of 8-10 sacks for his new team. The switch to a new team could benefit Rice, fantasy-wise; the Bucs would have probably spelled him some for top draft pick Gaines Adams, which is less likely to happen depending on where he ends up.

- Adams also benefits; he’s now basically guaranteed to start from Day 1. Adams had 10.5 sacks for Clemson a year ago, and as the No. 4 overall pick, has the potential to lead a turnaround of a once-dominant Bucs defense that has slipped in recent years.

- Finally, Tampa defensive end Greg Spires – rumored to be in danger of losing his starting job – will also remain in the starting lineup for at least another season. He won’t put up Rice-like numbers, but should at least be a serviceable option at the position.

- Whither Rice? The first rumored landing spot was Detroit, although fantasy owners will hope he winds up with a better group. Rice would certainly help the Lions (he couldn’t hurt) but wouldn’t necessarily make them draft-worthy. Should he wind up in a place like Denver, which has gobbled up veterans this offseason, he’d go a long way to making a good fantasy defense a great one.

In the magazine, we told you to keep an eye on a couple of longshot Bengals linebackers: Odell Thurman and David Pollack. Never mind. Pollack, rehabbing a neck injury, officially won’t play in 2007. Neither will Thurman, whose appeal to return from a year-long suspension was denied by commissioner Roger Goodell; he’ll miss the 2007 season, as well. That cements the values of projected starters Edgerton Hartwell on the weak side and Ahmad Brooks in the middle – with a caveat on Brooks. If the second-year player struggles, veteran Caleb Miller could take that role. The odds, though, are that Brooks will keep the job, and could be overlooked at a critical point-getting IDP position by a lot of owners due to his inexperience.

Kansas City defensive end Jared Allen had just a modest ranking initially, due to expectations he’d miss the first month of the season for a league suspension. That suspension was whittled down to 2 games, and Allen climbed accordingly. He’s currently a top-10 lineman in our eyes.

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