By DERON SNYDER
The (Fort Myers, Fla.) News-Press

SAN DIEGO - Simeon Rice loves life and he doesn't hide it. Tampa Bay's All-Pro defensive end, who led the NFC with 15.5 sacks, is rarely seen without a smile, and he's never overheard espousing anything but positive thoughts.

Rice has become one of the Buccaneers' most approachable and quotable players, which says a lot on a team that includes Warren Sapp and Keyshawn Johnson. But more importantly, Rice has become one of the most valuable players on, arguably, one of the NFL's all-time best defenses.

Oakland coach Bill Callahan said it's "critical" for the Raiders to contain Rice Sunday in Super Bowl XXXVII.

"The protection plan is even more critical because Simeon Rice is a pass-rush specialist," Callahan said. "He's the type of rusher who not only makes the sack, but generates the turnover-sack. He has the ability as he speed-rushes around the corner in the pocket, a knack and a feel for stripping the ball.

"He can make plays in the pocket. When they elect to drop him in coverage, he's capable of making plays as a linebacker. This is a dangerous guy that we have to account for on every snap, especially on third down when it gets into long-distance situations."

Rice has come a long way from his days with the Arizona Cardinals, who drafted him third overall in the 1996 draft. He never lived up to expectations in the desert, where he developed a bad reputation: Rice was considered a one-dimensional pass-rusher, soft against the run, a player who didn't put enough effort into study and preparation.

There weren't many suitors when he became eligible for free agency following the 2000 season. The two teams he most wanted to play for - the New York Giants and his hometown Chicago Bears - showed no interest.

But Bucs defensive line coach Rod Marinelli thought highly of Rice after working with the lineman at the 1999 Pro Bowl. Marinelli figured that Rice had all the talent in the world. Anything else he lacked - like effort, dedication and commitment - would be gained after working side-by-side with the likes of Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Warren Sapp.

Marinelli was right. Rice led the team with 11 sacks in 2001, his first season with the Bucs, and recorded 64 tackles, the second-highest total of his career. He progressed even further this season, with a career-high 75 tackles, a team-high six forced fumbles, and a league-high (for defensive linemen) 11 passes defensed.

Rice turned in one of the key plays against Philadelphia in the NFC Championship last Sunday, sacking and stripping Donovan McNabb to end a scoring threat with 41 seconds left in the first half. Rice, who also recovered that fumble, is confident he can have a similar impact in the Super Bowl.

"We put a great year together defensively and I was one of the main contributors," he said. "Now we're really in the place and the game to be, and this is another situation where I really have to tie this thing on and really let it unfold because I'm writing my history now. I'm as prepared as I can be and I can't wait until Sunday. We're really going to let it loose."

Rice has regaled the media all week with "Simeon Speak." It's a combination of colorful imagery and flowery verbiage, with poetic flourishes of run-on sentences and convoluted phrasing. His cheery, pleasant demeanor and warm, engaging personality have made his press conferences among the largest of any player.

"Some guys get full of themselves," Raiders/former Buccaneers guard Frank Middleton said to a group of reporters. "And I think you guys have Simeon a little full right now."

Middleton went on to provide some quotes that just might make their way to Rice's locker by Sunday.

"Simeon Rice doesn't scare me," Middleton said. "The last time I played him when he was with the Cardinals, he wasn't that good. You can make him shut it down. As long as you let him run up and down the field and not get hit, he's going to have a great game.

"We don't play like that. We are going to hit Simeon. I don't think he has ever been hit like we're going to hit him. If you hit Simeon hard enough and enough times, he will quit. He's talking about this show he's going to put on and I don't believe it."

It will take more than that to ruffle Rice. The Super Bowl experience can be overwhelming to some players, pressed for time and pulled in every direction by media, fans, friends and family. Not Rice. The way he's enjoyed the experience, he wouldn't mind if every week was Super Bowl week.

"I'm comfortable with everything that (the media) press out this week, because it doesn't matter," he said. "What matters is how we approach this game and the way we attack our game plan and execute it. All the other stuff - the hoopla, the microphones, the tape recorders and the cameras - that's all the action.

"Someone really could get overwhelmed but with me, that's not an option. When I speak, I speak the truth. I just try to be myself and hopefully people just accept me for who I am."

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