The first cancellation caused by the early March blizzard was the scheduled visit defensive end Simeon Rice yesterday was supposed to make to the Giants. Rice, a pass-rushing demon who will not return to the Cardinals, is expected to visit the Buccaneers, but a source who knows Rice well said he has been told that Rice wants to play for the Giants and will pay a visit sometime soon.

The interest by the Giants is serious, as they have shifted their primary free-agent focus from obtaining an experienced cornerback to adding a defensive end. Signing Rice would mean the end of Cedric Jones’ career in New York, as the Giants would basically trade one high salary for another. Jones, the sixth overall pick in the 1996 draft, has not lived up to expectations and while he is a solid, smart player, the Giants do not see him developing into a pass-rusher and would waive him to make room for Rice. He is scheduled to make $1.5 million in 2001.