Bucs put Simms on IR
Chris Simms’ season will end without him taking a snap in a game.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers plan to place the backup quarterback on injured reserve today, creating room on the roster to bring in a replacement for injured running backs Carnell “Cadillac” Williams and Michael Pittman.
Simms had his spleen removed after taking several hard hits in the third game of last season and has struggled to regain his form. He took only a few snaps during the preseason, but the Bucs retained him as the fourth quarterback in hopes that his performance in practice would improve by now.
“We were hopeful and Chris was hopeful,” general manager Bruce Allen said during a conference call Tuesday. “He’s not at full strength, and we don’t anticipate he’ll be at full strength until the off-season.”
The Bucs lost Williams, the 2005 NFL offensive rookie of the year, to a season-ending knee injury two weeks ago. Pittman started last Sunday against Indianapolis, but was carted off during the second quarter with a high ankle sprain that’s expected to sideline him six-to-eight weeks.
The injuries leave the Bucs (3-2) without much experience at running back.
Earnest Graham, a contributor on special teams for most of his four years in the NFL, is set to make his first pro start Sunday against Tennessee. Rookie Kenneth Darby is the backup after beginning the season on the practice squad.
The Bucs brought in former Raiders fullback Zack Crockett for a workout last week and took a look at other players whom Allen would not identify.
Falcons lose Gandy
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Wayne Gandy will miss the rest of the season after the first major injury of his 14-year career.
The Falcons confirmed that Gandy tore the anterior cruciate ligament on Atlanta’s next-to-last offensive play of a 20-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans. He will need surgery.
The 36-year-old Gandy was in his 14th NFL season and second with the Falcons.
Bengal suspended
The NFL has suspended starting cornerback Johnathan Joseph for Sunday’s game at Kansas City, the Cincinnati Bengals said.
Joseph will forfeit his salary for both this game and the New York Jets game on Oct. 21, the club said. He was suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
The second-year pro was arrested in northern Kentucky on Jan. 22 after a Boone County sheriff’s deputy stopped a vehicle he was a passenger in and smelled marijuana, according to the police report. Joseph told the deputy he had marijuana in his Super Bowl backpack, where it was found, the report said.
He was placed in a diversionary program open to first-time offenders and the Bengals said he complied with all league and law-enforcement obligations to resolve the case.
Joseph was the ninth Bengals player arrested on a variety of charges over a nine-month period.
Packer charged
Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett was charged with two counts of disorderly conduct stemming from an altercation with two women in a bar in Appleton, Wis., this summer.
“We will enter not-guilty pleas to the two charges and will defend these charges aggressively,” lawyer Avi Berk said.
The Packers, who gave the 26-year-old Barnett a six-year, $34.85 million contract extension in April, have monitored the situation since Barnett’s arrest, but have previously declined to comment.
NFL spokesman Randall Liu has said that the case is subject to league review under the terms of the NFL’s personal-conduct policy.
The two misdemeanor charges carry a maximum combined penalty of six months in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Scott done for season
The Minnesota Vikings placed backup defensive lineman Darrion Scott on injured reserve.
Scott was on crutches in the locker room on Monday with an apparent problem with his left foot sustained during practice.
To fill his roster spot, guard Brian Daniels was signed off the practice squad. Also, linebacker Cameron Siskowic was waived off injured reserve.