Phil Simms: An Interview With The Former Super Bowl MVP

Phil Simms was a member of the New York Giants from 1979 to 1993. He is most known for quarterbacking two Super Bowl winning Giants teams and being the MVP of one Super Bowl in 1987.

Simms, whose numbers are of Hall of Fame caliber, was a first-round draft selection and a two-time Pro Bowler. The Giants legend did an interview with me at the Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation Dinner last Thursday.

Speaking of Thursday, Happy Thanksgiving! You will hear from me before and on Turkey Day, but I'll wish you a Happy Thanksgiving now in case you are unable to read the new interviews coming right away.

Here is my interview with Mr. Simms:

Brad Wolff: The second you reached the NFL, Giants fans didn't like the pick. How did you handle the boos at the start to become a star quarterback?

Phil Simms: Well, I don't know. I wasn't worried about what they thought on draft day. It means nothing. Once you start playing, and you win some games, then they'll always like you.

BW: Did you ever feel pressure in the NFL? When the most?

PS: No, I never felt pressure. You just don't. I don't know why. The good thing about football is that it is a reactionary sport, so you just react. There is not a lot of time to do things, so you are never going to feel the pressure. 

BW: Who was your idol and why?

PS: I don't know. My dad, my family, my brothers and sisters were who I looked up to.

BW: What is your take on head to head concussions in the NFL?

PS: I think the NFL is doing a great job stopping as much as they can for the health of the players. You have to make those rules because the players don't understand the consequences of it. You don't feel the consequences of it until 30 years later. So they are doing a good job with it.

BW: What advice did you give your kids (Chris of the Titans and Matt of the University of Tennessee) when they started playing quarterbacks?

PS: To play for only for one reason, because you like it. That's it.

BW: Which quarterbacks do you think are comparable to yourself?

PS: I never compared. It's too difficult.