Simeon Rice's stay in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' doghouse apparently won't last long. The flighty defensive end was sent home before Sunday's 15-10 loss at San Francisco. However, coach Jon Gruden reiterated Monday that the three-time Pro Bowl selection will return to the lineup this week against Carolina. "It's done with. We need Simeon Rice back," Gruden said. "I think he understands that. And we're looking forward to seeing him." Although the Bucs didn't announce the reason Rice was deactivated Sunday, the team's sacks leader is believed to have missed a team meeting after the club arrived in California on Saturday. Rice created a stir last year when he said the Bucs suffered from a lack of discipline under Gruden, who did not hold all players accountable for mistakes. Two weeks later, he missed a walk-through but still was allowed to play in Tampa Bay's season finale at Arizona.

Tampa Bay defensive end Simeon Rice was deactivated and sent home before the Buccaneers' 15-10 loss at San Francisco on Sunday for an undisclosed violation of club policy. Rice, a 10-year veteran who has been selected for three Pro Bowls, led the Buccaneers with five sacks in their first six games. Tampa Bay general manager Bruce Allen refused to comment on reports Rice missed a team meeting, but said Rice wasn't suspended. ``He's headed home. We don't get into the details,'' said Allen, who met with Rice on Saturday night to issue the punishment. ``Obviously, it has to do with club discipline. ... It's a (one-game) deal. We're just going to fight through this game and see where it goes from there.''

Tampa Bay quarterback Brian Griese is headed to injured reserve with torn ligaments in his left knee. The injury will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season. Head coach Jon Gruden declined to confirm that the quarterback had torn ligaments. "I don't know the official jargon. I've heard MCLs and ACLs," the coach said. "He's hurt. He's out for the year. He'll have season-ending surgery shortly." "We did everything we could, and Brian wanted to do everything also, to get as much information as we could," Gruden said after practice. "There was a glimmer of hope that we could put it in a cast and possibly get him back in four to six weeks.

Tim Rattay was acquired Tuesday by Tampa Bay as the Buccaneers addressed their shortage at quarterback after Brian Griese injured his knee. The Bucs sent an undisclosed draft choice to the San Francisco 49ers for the six-year veteran, who lost his job in San Francisco after four weeks to top overall draft pick Alex Smith. The transaction beat the NFL trading deadline of 4 p.m. Tuesday. To make room for Rattay on the active roster, the Bucs released rookie fullback Rick Razzano. Griese tore knee ligaments in Sunday's victory over Miami and will be out for a lengthy time. Chris Simms took over for Griese as the Buccaneers beat the Dolphins 27-13. Rattay, a seventh-round pick in 2000, started nine games last season and beat out Smith in training camp this season. But he performed poorly after an opening victory over St. Louis and was benched by coach Mike Nolan.

Doctors who have examined Brian Griese's left knee believe that the Tampa Bay quarterback has both a torn ACL and MCL, multiple team sources have told ESPN's Chris Mortensen. The Buccaneers have not yet made an announcement concerning the extent of the injuries. The injuries, however, are expected to keep Griese sidelined for the rest of the season. Coach Jon Gruden had said the knee injury could sideline the Tampa Bay quarterback for weeks or possibly the season. Gruden emphasized that the team had not received a firm diagnosis but raised the possibility that Griese, who has helped the Bucs to a 5-1 start, could be out for the season after being hurt during Sunday's 27-13 victory over Miami. "It is right now a twisted knee, a sprained knee. Whether it's more serious than that, we'll find out," Gruden said early Monday. "It could be a few weeks, it could be the end of the season. We don't know for sure. I'll just sit here and wait until I'm told the extent of this injury."

Quarterback Brian Griese missed the second half of Sunday's 27-13 victory over Miami with a sprained left knee. Griese was injured with 3:43 remaining in the second quarter when Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas rolled into the quarterback's knee as he was releasing a pass. The Bucs brought a cart onto the field, but Griese declined a ride and limped to the sideline. The team said Griese was taken to a hospital for tests during the game and would undergo further evaluation Monday. The Bucs, who have a bye next Sunday, didn't elaborate on his status.

Running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams sat out Sunday's game against Miami because of a sprained left foot. The injury also sidelined him the previous week against the Jets. Williams practiced during the week but was listed as questionable to play against the Dolphins in what would have been a long-awaited matchup between him and fellow rookie and former Auburn teammate Ronnie Brown, Miami's first-round draft pick. Williams opened the season by becoming the first player to begin his NFL career with three consecutive 100-yard games.

Ronde Barber admittedly lost his composure last Sunday and, as a result, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback could lose $30,000 because of an uncharacteristic indiscretion. Barber was fined $30,000 by the league office Wednesday as a result of his inadvertent swipe of umpire Butch Hannah during last Sunday's loss to the New York Jets. Barber, who was swinging at Jets center Kevin Mawae but missed and hit Hannah, likely will appeal the fine. The incident occurred midway through the second quarter following an interception by Jets cornerback Ty Law that gave New York possession at the Bucs' eight-yard line.

Cornerback Ronde Barber inadvertently punched umpire Butch Hannah in the eye when he swung at Jets center Kevin Mawae during an altercation in the second quarter of their game. After the Jets got the ball on the Buccaneers' 8 on Ty Law's second interception of the season, Curtis Martin rushed for 3 yards. After the play, Mawae and Barber got into it. While the two were yelling at each other, Barber took a swing at Mawae with his right hand -- but missed and landed a punch to Hannah's right eye. Hannah was sent sprawling to the field, holding his face, but he got up quickly. Hannah appeared to be OK and stayed in the game but was rubbing the eye afterward. Barber was flagged for unnecessary roughness but not ejected, giving the Jets the ball on the 2. Martin ran it in on the next play for his first touchdown of the season, giving New York a 7-6 lead with 7:32 left in the half. "It was two guys with their triple testosterone running high, acting like idiots," Barber said. "I'm a feisty dude and he's a feisty dude."

Coach Jon Gruden told The St. Peterburg Times that if Carnell "Cadillac" Williams is cleared to play Sunday, he'll play against the Jets. "If he's OK to play, if he's cleared by our doctors and trainers, he'll play," Gruden told the newspaper. "If he isn't, he won't. I can't tell you we're going to take any precautionary measures. This isn't the preseason. These are regular-season games and we have got to win, we have to find ways to win and we need our best players to win games." Williams has been bothered by a sore left foot for three weeks and a left hamstring strain that forced him out of last week's game.