Phil Simms has been in the national television spotlight for three decades.
Since being cut by the Giants after being a Pro Bowler in 1993, he has been an analyst for ESPN, NBC and CBS.
Now, at 68 and with his engine still full, Simms is in something of a bind as his contract expires after signing “The NFL Today” during the Super Bowl in Las Vegas in February.
“I’ll never get out of this,” Simms told the Post. “I don’t know what I’ll do if I don’t go back to CBS. But I will definitely continue to work with or in the NFL – somewhere, somehow, whatever it takes. I'm just not going to say, “OK, I'm done.” ” I am retired.'”
To be clear, no decision has been made by CBS. Network executives are focused on the final game of the regular season, the playoffs and the Super Bowl.
Simms isn't alone with an expiring contract, as host James Brown, Boomer Esiason and Bill Cowher are out of contract.
CBS could pick it up next year, but the future definitely centers around Nate Burleson, who could eventually host the show, and part-time JJ Watt, who could take on a bigger role if he wants.
Simms said he's not focused on what's next. He thought about it during the offseason, wondering if this would be his last season at CBS.
Since then, he says it hasn't crossed his mind.
No matter what happens, Simms still plans to do his half-hour spots with Chris (Mad Dog) Russo on SiriusXM and his podcast with his son Matt.
Although he became a network staple, Simms never really thought he would end up in broadcasting. After the Giants cut him, he went to Bristol and tried out at ESPN with a young broadcaster named Mike Tirico.
While he was getting that job, then-Browns coach Bill Belichick asked Simms to see if he wanted to be Cleveland's quarterback.
“It didn’t work,” Simms said. “And then, yes, I had a few other offers. The coaches called me and said, “Listen, you can come whenever you’re ready, you can start.” I was telling my wife, “Hey, they're going to pay me more money than I've ever made.” » And she replies: “That's great. We will come to visit you on the weekend.
He remained retired.
Simms always thought he would go into coaching after he finished playing.
“I had two opportunities to coach and I thought about it,” Simms said.
Simms didn't want to go into too much detail about them, even though it was reported more than a decade ago that Raiders owner Al Davis once offered Simms a head coaching job.
Simms didn't say what the other offer was because he didn't want to make headlines.
“I never really told anyone about it,” Simms said. “Maybe a few people, I just say, 'Hey, they offered me the job.' I could have had it. I chickened out.
He was right to stay on television, where he served as one of the NFL's most important analysts.
While John Madden is widely considered the greatest of all time, Simms had a run where he went toe-to-toe with him. In the end, with Jim Nantz, things fell through, leading to CBS hiring Tony Romo.
At that point, CBS could have said goodbye. But Simms is a pro, doing more homework than most analysts. It served him well. Maybe CBS will pick it up next year.
But if the next six weeks are anything to go by for Simms on the national television stage, it's going to be one heck of a ride.
FAN dominates ESPN NY
WFAN dominated ESPN New York for the fall book.
After Craig Carton, in the afternoon, Evan Roberts and Tiki Barber held their own, beating “The Michael Kay Show” hands down.
From 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., among men 25 to 54, as stations are traditionally rated, Roberts and Barber were third (6.7), compared to 11th for Kay (3.6).
In the morning, FAN's “Boomer and Gio” dominated, finishing first with a 12.1 share.
However, it was mornings for ESPN NY that their best story was delivered as “DiPietro & Rothenberg” was sixth with a 4.1 share.
From 10-2, FAN's Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata were third (7.6) to ESPN New York's 11th (3.1) for Mike Greenberg and then Bart Scott and Alan Hahn.