It’s not fun for the average football parent to hear criticism of a child, I’m sure. But for one Super Bowl MVP to threaten another with fisticuffs is a bit beyond the pale, which is why Desmond Howard alleging Phil Simms did exactly that at the Super Bowl Experience today is a shock. From Howard’s Twitter:
Phil Simms Threatens To Fight Desmond Howard At Super Bowl Experience Over Criticism Of Son
At NFL-Xperience and Phil Simms just threatened 2 hit me b/c I said his son was 1 of the worse QBs in the SEC. I told him “LET’S GO!“There’s more after the jump.
I am DEAD serious about the Phil Simms thing. We all thought he was joking, but he kept going and said he wanted 2 take a swing at me!!
During the season we talked about the Tenn v LSU game and I said “u will see 3 of the worse QBs in the SEC” That’s what Phil did not like.
It ended w/police stepping in between so I could continue my appearance w/fans.
First, let’s be fair to Simms: it’s got to be hard to hear your son — Matt Simms, a University of Tennessee quarterback — labeled one of the worst at anything. And criticism is sometimes harsh; it’s possible Howard was meaner than he says he was. But, well, shouldn’t a guy employed as CBS’ lead NFL analyst know that all too well?
If Howard’s remembering his words correctly, he was a bit hyperbolic in his criticism — Matt Simms was decent as a Vol in 2010, though he was replaced by freshman Tyler Bray at year’s end. But that criticism didn’t and doesn’t seem especially withering or beyond the pale. Even if it had been, Simms had dozens of other means of recourse more palatable than threatening Howard; doing that in public makes Simms look even worse.
If Simms thinks he can bully analysts into liking his son as a quarterback, he’s sadly mistaken. If Simms thinks he threatening other people for what they say is a good idea, he’s sadly mistaken. But if Simms wants to make himself a target for threats for every negative criticism he offers, he should, by all means, continue this course of action.
At the very least, Simms owes Howard an apology. At most, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear about CBS disciplining one of its most visible analysts for his embarrassing conduct.
And if Simms can’t wrap his head around being able to give honest analysis of what he sees, he should find a new line of work.
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