A regular contributor over at Mile High Report, styg50, has provided some good commentary on Simeon Rice in the comments here. Quote below, styg50 addresses whether or not Simeon is a "problem player":
But what does it say about a "problem player" who has no driving force within them to be independently good, regardless of what others are doing? In football I would say that it is a strong indicator that they have deeper concerns then their job (which may or may not be ok), and at worst it would indicate that they are second-handed psychologies. I would classify TO as a second-hand life, living more through how he is perceived than who he thinks he is. But he can change. Moss can change. They may already have. The test isn't when they are succeeding, but when the pressure is back on.
I don't know what to make of Rice. But I do know it will be real easy to find out. If he can produce and be effective for IND, than he isn't a liar. You need to listen closely if he talks about his injury and his performance (or lack thereof). And then watch.
I stand by my assessment that the Colts do not want to be the best friend of Rice, but merely a (hopefully temporary) employer. He says he was humbled by going to waivers. I don't believe him. He said he was humbled by being cut by TB too, and eventually he got over it, if he was ever humbled at all.
One thing that's consistent about Bill Polian and Tony Dungy is they typically do not bring in "problem players." Dungy loves Simeon, and Simeon loved playing for Dungy. I don't think Simeon fit the defensive scheme Denver was running, which, in my opinion, is an old and out-of-date system. Denver's system, designed by former-Dolphin defensive coordinator Jim Bates, relies on big, fat, slow DTs to take on two or more blockers and quick, fast, and tall DEs to shoot upfield. It requires heavy d-line rotation, but QBs like Manning, Brady, and Palmer kill these defenses because they simply don't allow you to substitute. That's no knock against Denver or its fans. I'm just not a fan of that system, which very few teams use now. Also, Denver needed Simeon to be a fulltime player, which he isn't anymore. Polian even said that on his radio show.
Simeon was built and bred to play DE in a Tampa 2. Any other defense and he is just a waste of a roster space. In Indy, I think he'll get used as a situational rusher. He's older now, and he's recovering form injury himself. Don't be surprised to see Josh Thomas start and have Simeon take Thomas' place on third down. Or, we could see Simeon on third down and long playing some DT in place of Ed Johnson. All in all, it's a good move, especially if Dwight is down for a month or so. The defense might have to carry this team for a while as players like Harrison and Clark heal up.
Imagine that: The defense carrying this team during the regular season. My how things change so quickly.