Phil Simms Q+A: Quarterbackin’
2012 was a rough season on the gridiron for both of New York’s teams. There was the mishandling of Tim Tebow (which may have him out of the league very soon) and the Mark Sanchez butt-fumble and to top it off. And with both the Jets and Giants knocking on the Wild Card door, neither team could secure a spot.
That’s weak sauce, New York. Weak sauce.
Earlier this week, we brought you insights from the set of The NFL on CBS from CBS’ Super Bowl XLIII Media Day and Bill Cowher’s thoughts on all things NFL, including a possible return to the sidelines. Now, hear from former Giants great, Phil Simms, on the playoffs, the injury to RGIII and more thoughts on the NFL.
TDdaily: Now, we know about Robert Griffin III‘s ligament tears, but there was no way of knowing going into the game. Who’s call is it to pull him? Is it Mike Shanahan’s? Is it on him to let the coach know he can’t play?
Phil Simms: It’s always about the coach, he’s the one who has final say when it comes to going on the field. Everybody now is a genius and can say, ‘oh, you knew’ and ‘he knew this.’ Now if he would’ve pulled him when they were winning 14-13, regardless of his injury, and they would’ve lost, what would be the story? ‘What a stupid decision by coach Shanahan.’ It’s always easy to say all these things when it’s over. You’re up 14-13 and your quarterback begs you to stay in, that’s hard to turn down.
TD: What do you think about the team Dr. Andrews speaking out about what happened during the Ravens game when RGIII first got hurt?
PS: Wasn’t crazy about it and I can’t understand why he did it. I don’t know the whole story, but I can’t remember the last time I heard a team doctor speak out.
TD: Would you have played if you were in RGIII’s situation?
PS: Players always play. I dont know if I’ve ever heard a coach go up to a player in a situation like that and he goes ‘I can’t go.’ When you’re a quarterback and you’re hurt, it affects your mind. You can’t think as cleary, you don’t make the right decisions on who to throw it to and it changes everything. I never played injured as bad as he is, but I’ve played hurt. There’s one thing that always happened when I played hurt: I played awful. It was too much to overcome and I’d be worried about how I plant my foot and things like that, so you perform differently; it distracts you. I saw all those things in Robert Griffin III.
TD: Of the three rookie quarterbacks, who’s your Rookie of the Year?
PS: If I had a vote, and I don’t have one because (pauses) I guess I don’t qualify to know enough about the NFL, so I don’t get a vote. I love griping about this (laughs). Guys that don’t even watch games get to vote, but I don’t. I would have to pick Andrew Luck, because there was more pressure put on him to perform. It was much more difficult, what he had to do, than the other two. The other two were helped and things were incorporated to kind of ease them into the game. Luck was thrown into the fire, it was all about him every single week. But they were all spectacular.
TD: This is going to be an interesting offseason for the Giants. What’s the biggest move you think they need to make?
PS: I couldn’t tell you what that is. You get to sit back and reflect and the fact that they didn’t make the playoffs this year makes them a more ambitious, hungrier, motivated team for next year. I know it does, because those thoughts will never change in sports.
TD: Which matchup are you most anticipating this weekend?
PS: Well the one I’m doing (laughs). I am such a fan, you can’t believe. So I can’t wait to watch them all. That’s what’s so good about there being four games last week. I taped them all, got home Sunday night and I watched all the games. Of course I got to bed at 4 a.m. like a dummy, but I’m excited about them all. The one, believe it or not, that I’m most intrigued about is Seattle against Atlanta because Atlanta hasn’t won the playoff game [with Matt Ryan at the helm]. Players get beat up so much with the same questions, the Atlanta Falcons must be ready to explode.
TD: Between Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson, who deserves the MVP?
PS: Adrian Peterson.
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Terrence Watson is a contributor to TDdaily and SLAMonline. Follow him on Twitter @LowerEastScribe.
