Tag Archives: Phil Simms

The LoudMouths debate whether Eli Manning is the greatest Giants quarterback ever.

Tagged Eli Manning, New York Giants History, Phil Simms |

Just to show you where Al Davis was at near the end of his life, he interviewed former Giants QB and current CBS analyst Phil Simms for the Raiders’ head coaching job.

Simms, although he is a font of football knowledge and a lively personality, has never coached a football team in his life.

Yet, Davis approached him and interviewed him “for hours” over the phone about coaching the Silver and Black

Simms, who did not reveal the timing of the courtship, wisely passed on the offer and has since built and maintained his status as the NFL’s premier TV analyst.

As per Nate Davis of USA Today:

“He did offer me to become a Raiders coach, and to be their head coach,” Simms revealed Wednesday night on Showtime’s Inside the NFL.

“And I got interviewed over the phone for many, many hours. I don’t know if it’s a compliment, maybe it says something about him that’s not good,” he added kiddingly, though he didn’t specify the time frame of the discussions.

“Of course I turned it down — I’m glad I did — because I would truly … how bitter would I be if I’d been hired and got fired a few times?” Simms laughed.

Tagged New York Giants, NFL, Phil Simms |

Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press spoke with Giants’ great Phil Simms. The discussion turned to second-year Lions’ QB Matthew Stafford and his similarities to a young Phil Simms.

Simms said Stafford has a bright future ahead. “I’d switch places with him,” Simms said. “I’d take it. Give me his body, give me his talent and I’ll take my chances. Send my butt to Detroit and we’ll go.”

more

Tagged Matthew Stafford, Phil Simms |

Plaxico Burress‘ agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is claiming his client will be on an NFL roster this coming season.

Rosenhaus appeared on Showtime’s Inside the NFL yesterday, telling both Cris Collinsworth and Phil Simms he believed Burress would be on an NFL roster come the 2011 season.

“I am not afraid to make the following prediction – Plaxico Burress will be playing in 2011. And he will play very well. And it will be a very happy ending to a very tough, tough story for him.” (Michael McCarthy USA Today)

Both Simms and Collinsworth agreed that Burress could play this year, but has some reservations.  Collinsworth brought up the rust issue, airing concerns of whether Burress would be able to re-acclimate to the NFL after missing nearly three years.

Simms believes Plaxico would be better suited to make his comeback with someone other than with the Giants.

“I don’t think he’ll come back to the Giants,” Simms said. “One, they are loaded at the receiver position. And, I think it might be best for him to move on and connect with the coach or the receiver coach that he can have a special relationship with and further his career along.” (Paul Schwartz, NY Post)

The 33-year-old Burress is scheduled to be released from prison this coming June.

Tagged Cris Collinsworth, Drew Rosenhaus, National Football League, New York Giants Blogs, NFL, Paul Schwartz, Phil Simms, Plaxico Burress, Sports |

24 years ago today, the Giants defeated the Denver Broncos, 39-20, in Super Bowl XXI in Pasadena….seems like yesterday….

Tagged Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Phil Simms, Super Bowl XXI |

In the final Divisional Playoff game of the weekend, the New York Jets (12-5) travel to New England seeking some revenge on their division rivals – the Patriots (14-2) – who smashed them 45-3 on December 6th.

The two AFC East rivals meet for 3rd time in postseason. The Patriots are 2-0 vs. the Jets in the playoffs.

Kickoff: 4:30PM ET
Site: Gillette Stadium
Surface: Grass
The Line: Patriots by 9; o/u 45

TV: CBS (4:30 PM ET): Jim Nantz, Phil Simms.
RADIO: Westwood One Radio: Kevin Harlan, Randy Cross, Kevin Kiley (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 124 (WW1), 125 (NYJ), 123 (NE). XM: 124 (WW1), 103 (NYJ), 102 (NE).

Tagged AFC East, Gillette Stadium, Jim Nantz, Kevin Harlan, New England, New York Giants Blogs, New York Jets, Phil Simms, Randy Cross |

Lots of people disagreed with me when I said that Aaron Rodgers would force Mr. Packer, Brett Favre, out of Green Bay.  They

also doubted when I claimed Matt Ryan would make Atlanta Falcons fans forget Michael Vick.

Not that I’m an oracle or something, but both predictions came home to roost.

This Saturday night, the two franchise savers meet head-to-head in the NFC Divisional Playoffs at the Georgia Dome.  Who will win?  I say, who cares?

Here are two of the best QB prospects to hit the NFL in years on the field at the same time.  Enjoy it.

Phil Simms compared the two this week in phone interview with reporters…..

“I tell you, I did not like him coming out of California,” Simms said, referring to Rodgers. “I thought, man I don’t know, this guy is not a number one pick. Then I saw him his third year in practice one day in Green Bay. I turned and I went, ‘Oh my gosh.’ I don’t know what he did. I don’t know how he fixed himself. But it’s incredible. His talent is undeniable. He’s like John Elway when John Elway took all those teams to the Super Bowl. I don’t know if they were always deserving of it, but he brought their level of play up enough to get it done. I think Aaron Rodgers is capable of that.

“Matt Ryan does a good job with the system,” Simms said. “(Mike) Mularkey does an excellent, excellent job putting him in position. Very smart. He’s a tall quarterback. I think he actually plays taller than his height at 6-foot-5. He’s throwing the ball better than I thought he would be as a pro. Very, very accurate. I don’t think he ever loses control of the football, which his a great thing.”

These two are made for stardom. Rodgers has thrown seven TD passes in his first two career playoff games, an NFL record.  Rodgers waited patiently behind Favre and has made the most of his opportunity when it came about in 2008.

In his 47 career starts, Rodgers has thrown for nearly 13,000 yards and has 87 TD strikes vs only 32 picks.  His career passer rating is 98.4, the best among active signal callers.

Ryan came out Boston College in 2008 as a turnkey solution for Arthur Blank’s beleaguered franchise. Not only did Vick leave the Falcons high and dry in 2007, the first-year head coach – Bobby Petrino – had abruptly abandoned ship with three games remaining .

In the 2008 NFL Draft, the Falcons made Ryan the third overall selection.  In his three seasons, Ryan has paid paid big dividends. Not only is he a fresh new face for the franchise, his record as a starter is 33-13.  The Falcons had never had back-to-back winning seasons in the 42-year history of the franchise.

Since Ryan’s arrival, they have put together three-straight.

Tagged aaron rodgers, ATLANTA FALCONS, Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers, John Elway, Matt Ryan, Michael Vick, NFL, Phil Simms |

Recently, we caught up with former Giants WR Stephen Baker for short interview at a charity event.

Baker, who played for the Giants from 1987-92, was known to many as “The Touchdown Maker” with his biggest TD coming in the Giants’ 2019 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV.

What are your impressions of the Giants new receiving corps?

Awesome, as usual. That’s always a position I have looked at intently. I have to say that Hixon is one of my favorites. He’s a great returner and he makes big plays; and the new guys that came in last year, they can only get better.

What are your thoughts on Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham?

Last year was a phenomenal year as far as I’m concerned, for rookies. I didn’t have a rookie season that great…they are only going to get better. Their confidence is flourishing now and the timing with Eli should be there so I’m looking for big things this year.

Tell us a little bit about the chemistry you and the other receivers had with Phil Simms

Phil McConkey was one of the best teachers I ever had. When I came to the team I gotta admit I didn’t like him at first. Who is this little guy running around with flags and all that ..but once I got to know him and saw how passionate he was about playing the position, he helped me and Odessa Turner out so much.

As far as the timing with Simms, we got that just from practicing all the time. I remember the first time I came here I was in the stadium catching passes I was dropping everyhting ..Parcells went and called him out of weights to come watch me run routes. He saw how fast I was, he knew he had to relese the ball a lot sooner than had in the past. Once we got that worked out, it was a beautiful marriage.

The nickname “Touchdown Maker” – how did that come about?

Actually, I didn’t give myself that nickname, cause that’s cocky. I was playing a game in junior college, I scored four touchdowns off of four passes. A reporter came up to me and asked me if I minded if he printed ‘Stephen Baker the touchdown maker goes wild’, and I just said, sure, go ahead. From then on I was scoring 3-4 touchdowns in junior college and when I got to Fresno it just kind of stuck. I didn’t score a lot in the pros, but whenever they called my number, I averaged over 28 yards and every five catches – a touchdown.

Your most famous TD was in Super Bowl XXV. Was that a called play, or did (Jeff) Hostetler check off and throw you the ball?

No, that was a called play. We used it earlier in the playoffs against the Bears and earlier in the season against the Cardinals. As soon as they called the play. I knew it was coming to me if I could beat my man off the line of scrimmage. Our line blocked well and it was a great pass.

How do you feel about Leonard (Marshall) getting the job at Hudson Catholic?

I saw him prior to him getting that job. I didn’t know that that was going to happen but I’m happy for him. They couldn’t have picked a better guy for the job.

Stephen Baker is currently working as a teacher at the James J. Flynn Elementary School in Perth Amboy, NJ.

Tagged 1990 Giants, New York Giants, New York Giants News, Phil Simms, Stephen Baker, Super Bowl XXV |