Tag: Phil Simms

Former NFL QB speculates Dolphins poised for big jump in 2021

Former NFL QB speculates Dolphins poised for big jump in 2021

The Miami Dolphins haven’t been a trendy pick for any futures forecasts in the NFL in quite some time. The last time Miami was a popular team and considered a year away from contending for a Super Bowl was probably in the mid-2000s when the team got hot in 2005 to finish 9-7 in their first season under former head coach Nick Saban. Of course, Miami would whiff at quarterback that offseason and Miami’s progress under Saban flatlined so dramatically that by the end of the following season, Saban had jumped ship back to the University of Alabama.

It was a brutal blow to the Dolphins, one the team never recovered from. By 2007, Miami was 1-15.

But the optimism is starting to return for the Dolphins thanks to the new direction the team is attacking the future with courtesy of Brian Flores and Chris Grier. The Dolphins are one of the youngest teams in football, they’ve already drafted their potential franchise quarterback and the team has a ton of NFL Draft picks this spring.

Oh, right. And the Dolphins are 8-4 and very much in the thick of the AFC playoff race. As a result, people are starting to notice, including former NFL quarterback and CBS’ Phil Simms; who offered this glowing review of where the Dolphins currently sit — and just how high their ceiling may be.

If the Dolphins were to touch anything close to what Simms suggested should be on the table for this franchise, the Dolphins would be thrilled. Miami hasn’t won a playoff game since before Saban served as a their coach and they’ve only made the playoffs twice since Saban jumped ship, too. There’s so much that this Dolphins organization simply hasn’t touched in terms of success; but there’s no reason to doubt that Miami is on the right track to revive the glory days of old. And if they do, Simms can be one of the ones who said he properly called his shot despite nearly 20 years of evidence suggesting that he not.

Giants’ Phil Simms has record-setting day wasted vs. Bengals in 1985

New York Giants QB Phil Simms set some still-standing franchise records against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1985, but lost the game.

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In 1985, the New York Giants were one of the NFL’s best teams, amending from the doldrums of nearly two decades of losing seasons. Under the stewardship of general manager George Young and head coach Bill Parcells, the Giants were coming off a playoff appearance the year before that saw them lose to the eventual Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Playoffs.

The Giants got off to a 3-2 start in ’85 and headed to Cincinnati to play the 1-4 Bengals at Riverfront Stadium. The Bengals were in their second season under head coach Sam Wyche and featured Boomer Esiason at quarterback, who took the reins that season from aging legend One Anderson.

The Giants, two-point favorites in the game, got behind, 21-0, in the first half but rallied back late in the third quarter to narrow the game to 21-20 only to see the Bengals pull away again. The Giants’ fourth quarter rally fell short and they lost, 35-30.

“It was a hot, steamy day in Cincy, I remember that,” Simms told Giants.com. “My uniform was a different color when the game was over because the heat, the turf, whatever. We threw it because we got behind. I threw two picks, if I remember. But physically, it was probably one of my top two or three games ever throwing the ball. We just made so many good throws and catches in the game, it was ridiculous. But we never could get into the end zone.”

The Giants actually dominated the game. They outgained Cincinnati by a mile (470 yards to 199) and finished with more than twice as many first downs (34-16) while outscoring them in the second half by 13 points.

Simms was as hot as he’d ever been in his 15-year career with the Giants, completing 40 of 62 passes for 513 yards, which to this day remains the franchise’s single-game record. But it wasn’t a very clean game by the Giants. Simms was sacked seven times for 70 yards and lost a fumble. Rookie running back George Adams also lost a fumble.

“I don’t remember the sacks being a big part of why we couldn’t get it done,” Simms said. “It was just one of those days where the turnovers, I don’t know what else, maybe the sacks, but we moved the ball, of course, with 500 yards, we moved it well. That’s what I remember.”

By comparison, Esiason was just 15 of 24 passing for 193 yards but threw three touchdowns.

The game was memorable for other reasons. We often see Boomer and Simms together on television either discussing football in the studio or paring up for an advertisement, but this was the first of two meetings between the blonde signal callers — both classic games.

The second game came in 1991 (also at Riverfront) when the 7-5 Giants faced off against the 1-11 Bengals. Simms had another fine outing (26 for 44, 293 yards, three touchdown) but lost, 27-24, after leading 17-7 in the third quarter. Esiason wasn’t a world beater in this game, either, completing 17 of 30 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown.

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Throwback Thursday: Giants rout Washington, 41-7, in 1993

In the latest Throwback Thursday on Giants Wire, we go back to 1993 when the New York Giants routed Washington, 41-7.

1993 was a new era for the New York Giants. The short-lived Ray Handley era was over and the Giants had hired long-time rival Dan Reeves as their head coach. Phil Simms was reinstalled as the starting quarterback as Jeff Hostetler left to sign with the Raiders via free agency.

The Giants still had some remnants of their 1990 Super Bowl championship team, Simms and future Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor being two of the big names along with most of the offensive line. Two rookies on the roster would also go on to become Giants legends: defensive end Michael Strahan and linebacker Jesse Armstead.

The Giants began the Reeves era with three straight victories before dropping a 17-14 decision at Buffalo in Week 4. The next game would be against the Washington Redskins at RFK Stadium in DC.

Washington was just two years removed from their last Super Bowl win and were no coached by Richie Petitbon. The Redskins were past the days of the Hogs and the Three Amigos. They had lost three of their first four games coming into their meeting with the Giants and the game did not have the same feel it had for the past decade when Joe Gibbs and Bill Parcells were the opposing coaches.

Simms and Taylor were both in the final seasons of their careers and Taylor felt it could be his last hurrah at RFK.

“Now that I think about it, Lawrence seemed pretty sentimental,” Simms recalled. “He wanted it pretty bad, and I can’t remember him ever being like that. Maybe because this might be his last season, I don’t know. I wasn’t so sentimental. I wasn’t, because I plan on bringing my butt back here at least one more time.”

He wouldn’t. Simms was released the next offseason and then joined Taylor in retirement.

As for the game, it wasn’t much of one. Washington was banged up on defense but their offense still had Mark Rypien at quarterback, Ricky Ervins at running back and Art Monk, Ricky Sanders, Desmond Howard and Tim McGee at wide receiver.

The Giants rolled to an easy 41-7 victory, scoring the first 27 points of the game. Led by an odd trio of running back Lewis Tillman, tight end Howard Cross and wide receiver Mike Sherrard on offense, Simms hit on 14-of-17 for 182 yards and three touchdowns for a 150.9 rating.

Tillman had his second best game as a Giant, rushing 29 times for 104 yards and a touchdown. Cross and Sherrard caught two touchdowns apiece (one of Sherrard’s was a 42-yard option pass thrown by running back Dave Meggett) and the final was scored by fullback Kenyon Rasheed to further illustrate the point in history this game took place.

“It was one of those games where we wanted to come out immediately and establish ourselves,” said guard William Roberts. “At one point, I think it was maybe the second quarter, you could tell they were starting to have doubts in themselves and were getting tired. They just didn’t have the personnel this game to keep up with us.”

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Flashback Friday: Giants, Rams finally meet in 1984 playoffs

In our latest Flashback Friday, we travel back in time to 1984 when the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams met in the playoffs.

The New York Giants and the Los Angeles Rams have been playing one another since the Rams entered the NFL as the Cleveland Rams in 1938. The Rams played in Cleveland from 1938-45, wining the NFL Championship their final season there before heading to Los Angeles in 1946.

The Giants and Rams both had many successful seasons after the war and played each other many times during the regular season over those years (nine to be exact), but by the time the NFL merged with the AFL in 1970, the two had never faced one another in the post season.

The Rams qualified for the postseason each year from 1973-80, finally going to the Super Bowl in 1979. The Giants, as we know, did not appear in the postseason during that time, but by 1984, were an NFL power on the rise.

In 1984, the Rams — coached by former USC icon John Robinson and led by running back Eric Dickerson (who set the NFL single season rushing record with 2,105 yards), finished second in the NFC West behind the 15-1 San Francisco 49ers, earning a wild card berth with a 10-6 record.

They would host the New York Giants (9-7), who finished second in the NFC East under second-year head coach Bill Parcells and a (finally) healthy Phil Simms at quarterback.

The game took place in Anaheim Stadium, where the Rams moved in 1980 to avoid the television blackout rules that had dogged them while playing in the cavernous, 92,000-plus seat L.A. Coliseum, which was impossible to sell out.

The two teams had met in Week 5 in Anaheim with the Rams winning easily, 33-12, buoyed by their defense which sacked Simms five times and tied a record for safeties in the game with three. The Giants were able to rush for only eight yards on the day while Dickerson rambled for 120 on 22 attempts.

This game would be different. The Rams came into the game having clinched the playoffs in Week 14 while the Giants had to hold on to gain their spot after losing their final two games of the regular season.

Dickerson rushed for 107 yards in the game, but the result would be very different thanks to the Giants’ own resident Hall-of-Famer, Lawrence Taylor.

“The Giants were 5-point underdogs against the Rams, and their offense gained only 192 yards, only 40 on the ground,” wrote the New York Times’ Frank Litzky. “Almost all of Phil Simms’s passes were short, and he completed 22 of 31 for only 179 yards.”

“But the Giants took leads of 10-0 in the first quarter and 13-3 in the third and held on. Bill Currier’s recovery of Dickerson’s first-quarter fumble set up Rob Carpenter’s 1-yard touchdown run, and Ali Haji-Sheikh made his three field-goal attempts – from 37, 39 and 36 yards.

Dickerson’s fumble and Jeff Kemp’s fourth-down fumble with two minutes left in the game resulted from crushing tackles by Lawrence Taylor, the Giants’ all-pro outside linebacker.”

The Giants won, 16-13, and would go on to lose to the 49ers in the Divisional Round the next week. It was beginning of the Giants’ ascent under Parcells that would lead to two Super Bowl championships over the next six seasons.

”You can’t back us in the corner,” said Parcells after the game, ”and not expect us to fight.”

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8 best Giants not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

The New York Giants have many players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but here’s a look at the best eight who do not reside in Canton.

The New York Giants have scores of players who have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio but there are others that fans soul love to see bestowed with the honor.

Here are eight players who are either eligible or past their eligibility that I feel should have (and still may) been considered for the Hall.

Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Greg Larson, center (1961-73)

Larson played 13 seasons for the Giants with his career beginning in the final years of the Giants’ golden era of the 1950s and 60s. He would play in 179 games as a Giant and was a mainstay at center from 1963 until his retirement in 1973, missing just three games over that period.

Larson was widely unsung due to the Giants’ nosedive as a franchise under Allie Sherman in the 1960s, but he did manage to make the Pro Bowl in 1968.

I’m not quite sure if he is Hall of Fame-worthy, but I’m sure he’s as good, if not better, than some of the centers who have been enshrined in Canton.

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Chris Simms ranks Kirk Cousins as 13th best QB in league

In 2020, Cousins will have the 15th-largest cap hit among NFL quarterbacks at $21 million.

Most would agree that Kirk Cousins is in the middle of the pack when it comes to quarterback rankings in the NFL.

Chris Simms’ quarterback list reflects that as he has Cousins ranked 13th overall.

Simms played five seasons in the NFL from 2004-2009 and is the son of Super Bowl winning quarterback Phil Simms.

The 2019 season was a big one for Cousins. He won a career-high 10 games in a season while throwing for 3,603 yards, 26 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also earned his first-career playoff win in the wild card round against the Saints.

The Vikings gave Cousins a two-year, $66 million extension this offseason.

In 2020, Cousins will have the 15th-largest cap hit among NFL quarterbacks at $21 million.

Retired Giants Eli Manning, Michael Strahan join ‘Rise Up New York’

Retired New York Giants Eli Manning, Michael Strahan, Phil Simms and Justin Tuck have joined the “Rise Up New York” benefit.

On Monday, May 11 at 7:00 p.m. ET, Robin Hood, New York’s largest poverty-fighting organization, iHeartMedia and various other television and radio stations will present the “Rise Up New York!” virtual telethon.

“New York City is at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis has created a whole new set of challenges for the millions of New Yorkers who already struggled to make ends meet,” said Robin Hood CEO Wes Moore in a statement. “This is a moment where we must all come together and rise up together as a community in support of our neighbors and in support of one another.”

The purpose of the benefit is to, “to raise awareness and funds to help New Yorkers whose lives have been dramatically impacted by COVID-19. … 100% of donations will provide support for food, shelter, cash assistance, health and mental health, legal services, education and more – helping fellow New Yorkers rebuild their lives as the city moves towards recovery and beyond.”

Celebrities and personalities such as Jimmy Fallon, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Robert De Niro, Mariah Carey, Billy Joel and New York City mayor Bill De Blasio are slated to attend/perform at the event, which will be hosted by Tina Fey.

But fans of the New York Giants may recognize a few other faces as well.

In addition to Phil Simms and Justin Tuck, retired quarterback Eli Manning and Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan will also be taking part in the event.

“People have to step up and raise to this occasion to help your neighbor,” Manning said during a SiriusXM NFL Radio interview on Monday.

“From a Giants standpoint and my teammates, these are the people that have cheered for us and been there for us in tough times and celebrated with us when we’ve won championships and gone through the Canyon of Heroes. They were there cheering for us and had our back during rough times and supported us during tough times and now it’s our time to return that favor. They need our help.”

The ultimate goal of the event if to get one million New Yorkers to donate $10 each.

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Phil Simms explains why he didn’t take the Tom Brady route

Retired New York Giants QB Phil Simms explains why he didn’t take the Tom Brady route and decided to retire instead of playing elsewhere.

Former New York Giants great Phil Simms is content with his NFL career. In 1993 when the Dan Reeves Giants decided he was no longer in their plans, he could have moved on to another team as so many quarterbacks have done in their careers, but wisely chose not to.

Simms had offers from the Cleveland and the Cardinals, but decided that 15 years — all with the Giants — was enough. His family was entrenched in New Jersey and didn’t want to be uprooted for what would likely be a short run somewhere else.

“That was the main reason why I didn’t go,” Simms said, via NJ Advance Media. “Looking back, I kind of go, ‘OK, if I had kept playing for another year or two, maybe my body would’ve taken a few too many hits.’ So I’m lucky that I feel good.”

That was still back in the day when quarterbacks were not as protected as they are today. Since then, many quarterbacks have gone on to second acts. Peyton Manning left the Colts and went on to lead the Broncos to a Super Bowl. His little brother, Eli, has chosen not to follow in his footsteps. So far, that is.

Not the same could be said for the 43-year-old Tom Brady, who still itches to play. His New England Patriots career, which has brought him six Super Bowl rings, apparently was not enough. He continues on now in Tampa, where hopes to do what the elder Manning did in leading a second franchise to a championship.

Simms believes Brady just might be able to pull that feat off.

“Tampa Bay was a really good choice,” Simms said. “He went to a team that lost a lot close games last year, that has some receivers. The coaching staff is going to be an entirely different thing for him, how they deal with players and treat [them]. It just stimulates you, I think, as a person and as an athlete.

“I think they can do really well. It’s got the makings of a team that can turn it around this year. Tom Brady is going to get rid of the ball quicker than Jameis Winston did. Brady will check it down and wait for the [deep] shot, where Jameis would just wait for the shot too many times. That’s the facts.”

Brady’s decision to keep on playing has stimulated other veterans as well. Drew Brees has inked a two-year extension with the Saints. Philip Rivers owns every career Chargers passing record imaginable, but he’s not ready to cash in his chips, either. He took the Colts’ money and will try to get to a Super Bowl for the first time in his illustrious career.

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Most amazing, least likely breakable Super Bowl records

Well, as you no doubt imagine, we must start with the Patriots. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are going to dominate these first few slides, and that’s because it seems unlikely any coach or player will top these two in certain categories. Other ones, …

Well, as you no doubt imagine, we must start with the Patriots. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are going to dominate these first few slides, and that’s because it seems unlikely any coach or player will top these two in certain categories.

Other ones, who knows—but we’ve picked the records that you shouldn’t get you into too many debates at the bar (over too many beers).

These seem like iron-clad locks to remain records:

Most Super Bowl games played, 9, Tom Brady

(Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)

Does anyone really think there’s ever gonna be another QB who starts nine times—nine times, Mrs. Bueller—in Super Bowls? This seems highly unlikely.

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