Retired Giants QB Phil Simms once considered a comeback with Bill Belichick
Phil Simms was unceremoniously released by the New York Giants in June of 1994 after a 15-year career that had its ups and downs. His release came as a surprise to many because Simms was coming off a Pro Bowl season in ’93, one which saw him play all 16 games for only the fourth time in his career.
The decision to let Simms go was one of “overwhelming sadness,” according to co-owner Wellington Mara. But the Giants had Dave Brown, a first round supplemental draft pick, in the wings and the 38-year-old Simms had just undergone offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.
Although Simms’ surgery was successful and he was ready to lead the Giants to the playoffs again, general manager George Young made one of his many dubious decisions that perplexed Giant fans.
Many believe that Simms then rode quietly into the sunset. Not true. There was plenty of interest in him around the league that summer but nothing materialized.
The Arizona Cardinals, coached by Buddy Ryan at the time, wanted Simms but simply could not fit him in under the salary cap. It was also reported that Simms did not want to split time or displace current starter Steve Beuerlein, so the deal fell through.
Then, of course, there was the dalliance the next season with Bill Belichick and the Cleveland Browns. Simms had taken a analyst job with ESPN, the beginning of what would become a long and lucrative television career, and his interest in playing again was starting to wane. He thought about coaching but the opportunity never came about.
In recent interview in the Boston Globe, Simms recalled the decision to stay retired rather than play in Cleveland.
After the Giants cut him, he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to go into coaching then or try to play again. So he took the opportunity to spend the ’94 season as an analyst at ESPN. “Had a lot of fun there, liked it a lot,” he said. “But when it was over, I still thought about playing, and then venturing into coaching. That [opportunity to play again] was actually with the Cleveland Browns, with Bill Belichick. It didn’t work out, so I said that was it. That’s when I said I’d stick with this TV thing.”
Good choice. The Belichick Browns were coming off an 11-5 season and a playoff appearance in 1994 but they were about to head south again, which would lead to Belichick’s dismissal after finishing 5-11 in 1995. The Browns moved to Baltimore the next season and became the Ravens.
Simms, at 39, might not have made much of a difference for that team and would have come out of retirement only to end his career in disgrace. The Browns/Ravens were better off sticking with Vinny Testeverde.
