Broncos sign Rice to rush passer, tutor young D-linemen

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Nobody's more excited about Denver's signing of free agent sacks specialist Simeon Rice than Broncos safety John Lynch.

The two won a Super Bowl together in Tampa Bay during the 2002 season, and both believe this reunion in the Rockies could lead to a second ring.

"He's a teammate who I loved playing with and one of the great pass rushers of all time. So, we'd be -- anyone would be -- fortunate to get him," Lynch said Monday while the sides were signing the one-year deal at Broncos headquarters.

Rice, whose 121 career sacks rank second to Michael Strahan among active players, was released by Tampa Bay this summer after the Buccaneers signed first-round draft pick Gaines Adams.

Rice had failed a physical earlier in the day after reporting to camp, but has since passed his medical tests. The 33-year-old started the first eight games last year before being sidelined by a shoulder injury.

Lynch said Rice told him he was fine: "He told me his shoulder's feeling good and he feels like he's ready to play."

Coach Mike Shanahan courted Rice, who ranks 13th all time in sacks, to bring experience and pressure to a young defensive line.

After an injury-shortened 2006, Simeon Rice is looking to revive his career in Denver. (Getty Images)

"He's a big-time pass rusher, he's been in the league for a while, he's got a lot of talent," Shanahan said.

And he'll be expected to lead by example when it comes to showing the Broncos' rookie class of Jarvis Moss, Tim Crowder and Marcus Thomas the NFL ropes.

"This was a big signing for us this late in the process of putting together the 53-man roster prior to (opening) weekend," general manger Ted Sundquist told the Associated Press. "I think our scheme will open things up on the edge for him and allow him to use his physical tools to rush the passer. He can be at times flat dominant and give opposing offensive tackles fits with his length and speed."

Rice's "big playmaking ability and leadership will be a huge asset to our defense. I also feel our young defensive ends will gain a lot from being around this player," Sundquist said.

Strahan, among others, has been critical of Rice in recent years, claiming that he gets sacks but doesn't play the run well, something Lynch said was an overstated observation.

"He's a terrific football player all-around. A lot of people like to give him a hard time about his run defense. It doesn't always look pretty, but he gets the job done," Lynch said. "He and Strahan are right there in terms of sacks.

"And the thing I always loved about Simeon is his sacks came in big times. Fourth quarter, third downs, fourth downs. He's just got a flair for the dramatic. When your team needs a play, he makes it," Lynch said. "He's one of the great ones ever at stripping the ball. He doesn't just sack the quarterback."

The Broncos are loaded with youth along the defensive line, where they are led by veteran John Engelberger and two free agents; the three rookies; two players with only a year's experience; one with two years in the league; and one who's been suspended for the first month of the season.

They lost Ebenezer Ekuban for the season to an Achilles' tendon injury and jettisoned starters Gerard Warren and Kenard Lang last month.

While the contract was being completed, Moss said he would welcome the addition of Rice even though it would undoubtedly cut into his playing time as a rookie.

"There would be no envy or jealousy," said Moss, the Broncos' first-round draft pick out of Florida. "I think it would be a great situation for him and a great opportunity for me to get the chance to learn from a Hall of Fame-caliber defensive end. I can't think of one negative."