Simeon Rice says Jon Gruden is a scumbag

From Sporting News.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Simeon Rice called Jon Gruden “a scumbag” in a Tuesday interview with Sirius NFL Radio.

Rice, a 34-year-old free agent, had a lot to say to “Movin’ The Chains” radio hosts Pat Kirwan and Tim Ryan.

The following quotes are courtesy of ProFootballTalk.com editor and Sporting News contributor Mike Florio.

“You look at what he did when Chris [Simms] damn near died on the field; he wanted to release him right when he got injured. I get hurt, my shoulder’s torn off the bone. This dude releases me. You know what I mean? I’m your guy. The list goes on. Keenan McCardell, that situation was a debacle. Keyshawn Johnson, another situation [that] was a debacle. Joey Galloway, which was his man, was in the dog house all year because he got injured, broke his ankle or whatever. Brad Johnson, that situation was bad. Brings Jeff Garcia in here, oh, he’s going to change things. I helped recruit him [and he] released me, kept Jeff and then put him in the dog house. Gets rid of Brian Griese, brings him, starts a controversy. It was chaotic. I’m giving you facts.

“How I feel personally? I could tell you that, too. I think he’s a scumbag. I think he’s a scumbag personally. … You know what he told me? ‘Simeon you’ll be here in the next five years.’ I got injured [and] this man’s never said one word to me. I won a Super Bowl for you. I got 13 sacks, 12, 15 every year for you. I balled. I got injured [and] you let me go like it was nothing.”

Gruden, in an interview with ESPN on Wednesday, tried to take the high road. He did not mention Rice by name.

“I’m not the first coach to take potshots,” ESPN quoted Gruden as saying. “Hey, some people were taking potshots at Tony Dungy when I got here. Jeff Garcia, Michael Clayton, I wish those guys the best. . . . Some people have taken shots and I understand that not everyone likes or agrees with what I do as a coach.”