Should Phil Simms be in the Hall of Fame?

[brownelvis54]

I know.... One of our beloved players, crazy question to ask on a NY Giant message board. Unbiased? Probably not, but still a fair question. Why isnt Phil Simms in the Hall of Fame? Should he be?

Think about this question as an outsider a non-Giant fan. He is still relevant to the young generation in the fact that he was on several TV programs and on social media platforms.


Here is a list from an article that asks the question " Top 10 Quarterbacks Not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame"



Here are the 10: with the vote percentage next to each guy. As you can see Anderson got the most votes, followed by Simms


3%  Dave Krieg

4%  Don Meredith

2%  Jim Hart

5%  Bernie Kosar

4%  Roman Gabriel

1%  John Hadl

23%  Phil Simms

9%  Boomer Esiason

17%  Randall Cunningham

27%  Ken Anderson


https://discover.hubpages.com/sports/Top-10-Quarterbacks-Not-in-the-Pro-Football-Hall-of-Fame#:~:text=Why%20Is%20Phil%20Simms%20Not,the%20best%20for%20his%20era.

[brownelvis54]

According to the article:

4. Phil Simms
NFL Draft: 7th pick in the 1st round of the 1979 Draft
NFL Career: 1979-1993
Accolades: Two-time Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl MVP, and two-time Pro Bowl selection



Phil Simms gained a lot of early criticism despite playing with inferior talent for the New York Giants. By 1985, Simms grew into a Pro Bowl talent, and in the next season, he led the Giants to their first Super Bowl victory. In Super Bowl XXI, he set a game record for the highest completion percentage by going 22 of 25 for 268 yards and 3 touchdowns. Two of his three incompletions were dropped passes.

Simms became famous for being the first to use the phrase, "I'm going to Disney World!" following a championship victory. He retired after the 1993 season as a two-time Pro Bowler, one-time All-Pro, and two-time Super Bowl champion.


Why Is Phil Simms Not in the Hall of Fame?


As more people remember the Giants' defense and running game, many people don't see Simms as a Hall of Fame player. His touchdown to interception ratio wasn't the best for his era. He also had the misfortune of playing in the same conference as some of the greatest dynasties in history, such as the 49ers and Redskins.




https://discover.hubpages.com/sports/Top-10-Quarterbacks-Not-in-the-Pro-Football-Hall-of-Fame#:~:text=Why%20Is%20Phil%20Simms%20Not,the%20best%20for%20his%20era

[Giant Jim]

He's still the best QB the Giants ever drafted.

[kartanoman]

According to the article:

4. Phil Simms
NFL Draft: 7th pick in the 1st round of the 1979 Draft
NFL Career: 1979-1993
Accolades: Two-time Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl MVP, and two-time Pro Bowl selection



Phil Simms gained a lot of early criticism despite playing with inferior talent for the New York Giants. By 1985, Simms grew into a Pro Bowl talent, and in the next season, he led the Giants to their first Super Bowl victory. In Super Bowl XXI, he set a game record for the highest completion percentage by going 22 of 25 for 268 yards and 3 touchdowns. Two of his three incompletions were dropped passes.

Simms became famous for being the first to use the phrase, "I'm going to Disney World!" following a championship victory. He retired after the 1993 season as a two-time Pro Bowler, one-time All-Pro, and two-time Super Bowl champion.


Why Is Phil Simms Not in the Hall of Fame?


As more people remember the Giants' defense and running game, many people don't see Simms as a Hall of Fame player. His touchdown to interception ratio wasn't the best for his era. He also had the misfortune of playing in the same conference as some of the greatest dynasties in history, such as the 49ers and Redskins.




https://discover.hubpages.com/sports/Top-10-Quarterbacks-Not-in-the-Pro-Football-Hall-of-Fame#:~:text=Why%20Is%20Phil%20Simms%20Not,the%20best%20for%20his%20era

The article conveniently forgets that Simms often outplayed his Redskins counterpart, going 11-3 against the Skins from 1984-1990 which includes the 1986 NFC Championship Game.

Although his record against the 49ers during that same time frame wasn't as dominating, going 3-5, Simms made his mark on all three of those big wins between 1985 and 1986. Even in the close defeats from 1988-90, Phil was a fighter who kept those games close up to the end.

Quite the contrary, it was the misfortune of Bill Walsh and Joe Gibbs of having to play Bill Parcells' Giants, their dominating defense, an offensive attack with a strong running game, but led by a tough, hard-nosed leader by the name of Phil Simms.

I still have and wear my Phil Simms jerseys on a frequent basis during the season. He is a Giant great for all eternity. But is he a Hall of Fame worthy candidate? His previous attempts fell short and his name hasn't really been mentioned since.

First thing's first. Let's get Eli Manning in the Hall of Fame this coming election. Once that's put to bed, we can figure out how we can get Phil in there.

But here's something else to consider. Phil has had an illustrious career in the media as a broadcast analyst, game commentator, author, radio show and podcast analyst since 1994. His media career is nearly as Hall of Fame worthy as his football career with the Giants.

So, I see Phil getting inducted into the HoF one day via one of two ways: first, many years down the road as a senior selection and, second, as a contributor through his three and a half decade media career covering the NFL.

At the end of the day, though, his #11 Giants jersey is retired and he is in the Giants' Ring of Honor. Those are not small tokens of recognition, by any means!

Peace!

[DaveBrown74]

I voted no, and I did so as a Giants fan who has plenty of respect for and fondness of Simms.

Had he not gotten hurt in the 1990 season and won a second Super Bowl, then maybe it starts to become a discussion. But he didn't.

Not sure about the broadcasting stuff. Do they put you in the HOF for broadcasting? If so, how come Pat Summerall isn't in there?

If Simms had been on a team with more offensive firepower like the 9ers or Cowboys, then I think it's totally plausible that he'd maybe be in. But with his career as it played out, I don't see it myself.

[BluesCruz]

Absolutely 22-26 in the Super Bowl

[kartanoman]

Not sure about the broadcasting stuff. Do they put you in the HOF for broadcasting? If so, how come Pat Summerall isn't in there?

Well, yes, but in a different group apart from the players. It's called the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award and, yes, Pat Summerall was recognized as it's winner in 1994.

The legendary John Facenda, who narrated all the early NFL Films programs for Ed and Steve Sabol, received the award on 2021. Below is the link to his announcement:

John Facenda Named 2021 Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award Winner

This Award is sanctioned by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Peace!

[Painter]

It would be fine with me, but obviously not with the voters, like it or not. Yes, he was Super Bowl MVP in 1986 which surprised a lot of Giants fans who were used to booing him for being streaky and inconsistent. In his 15 years, he only had 2 Pro Bowl seasons, and was never All-Pro. And it probably didn't help his case, that Jeff Hostetler won their 2nd Lombardi, 4 years later subbing for him. C'est la vie.

Cheers!

[BluesCruz]

It would be fine with me, but obviously not with the voters, like it or not. Yes, he was Super Bowl MVP in 1986 which surprised a lot of Giants fans who were used to booing him for being streaky and inconsistent. In his 15 years, he only had 2 Pro Bowl seasons, and was never All-Pro. And it probably didn't help his case, that Jeff Hostetler won their 2nd Lombardi, 4 years later subbing for him. C'est la vie.

Cheers!

You can be cruel

[kingm56]

It would be fine with me, but obviously not with the voters, like it or not. Yes, he was Super Bowl MVP in 1986 which surprised a lot of Giants fans who were used to booing him for being streaky and inconsistent. In his 15 years, he only had 2 Pro Bowl seasons, and was never All-Pro. And it probably didn't help his case, that Jeff Hostetler won their 2nd Lombardi, 4 years later subbing for him. C'est la vie.

Cheers!

As a player, it's not close, Larry. He simply doesn't have the credentials to be a HoF player.  He's not close to his contemporaries; the real HoF QBs from that era are  Marino, Elway, Montana, Kelly and Moon; Simms is top 10, but that doesn't get you into the Hall.  Again, it's not close. 

[TDToomer]

My opinions have been stated and some see it as an attack but here it goes.

There is no way that Phil should not be in the HOF but Eli waltz in on his first ballot. Phil had a better back 9 of his career post age 30 while Eli suffered a rapid decline as a turnover machine. Phil cut down in his mistakes and played some of his best ball in his final season. I personally don't think Eli should get in for several years and Giants fans have loyalty bias. I am more interested in the views of all NFL fans on this matter.

[Giant Jim]

If I was building a team and had to choose between Simms and Manning, I would pick Simms in a heartbeat. But I feel neither should be in the Hall.

[kartanoman]

My opinions have been stated and some see it as an attack but here it goes.

There is no way that Phil should not be in the HOF but Eli waltz in on his first ballot. Phil had a better back 9 of his career post age 30 while Eli suffered a rapid decline as a turnover machine. Phil cut down in his mistakes and played some of his best ball in his final season. I personally don't think Eli should get in for several years and Giants fans have loyalty bias. I am more interested in the views of all NFL fans on this matter.

That's a reasonable thought process and I would say, when I talk football in general with people from the geographic regions of this country I've lived in, would offer a mixed bag on both. When I lived in the deep south (GA, AL), they all knew who Phil Simms was and I don't have to even mention the Manning family who are the #1 football family of the south. Both QBs are highly respected and, for all intent and purpose, would be welcomed into the HoF.

But once you start heading west, it becomes more diluted. Having lived in the Southwestern "block" (TX three times, NM, AZ twice, CA), unless you run into a patch of transplant NYers and NJans, Eli gets in because of the Super Bowl MVPs, Simms was too long ago and the defense was the real reason for their success. So, you can certainly make a case for and against either one; however, the royalty of the Manning name, and the two Super Bowl MVP performances, against a team with a QB named Brady, should be close enough to tip the scales in his favor.

I completely agree with you that Phil's back end of his career was clearly his best as far as performing the role of QB. I think he thrived more in Dan Reeves' system, as well as Parcells' and Ehrhardt' 1990 offense than any other seasons. His efficiency and accuracy was clearly the best in those two seasons. He carried the 1993 team on his back and nearly willed them in that season final against Dallas which was lost in overtime. Had they won that game, Simms would have been recognized as the MVP of the entire league and talk of his name in the HoF would have garnered far greater consideration. But one thing he had, that Eli did not, at the end of his career, was an excellent offensive line. That power line Parcells rebuilt in the late 80s was still formidable after Simms was let go after the 1993 season.  Unfortunately, Eli Manning did not have such luxury in his final years.

We will find out, this coming season, whether Eli gets in as a first-ballot selection. As for Phil, he may get in one day, but I only see it as a senior selection.

[Philosophers]

Phil's OL was not good in the early part of his career.  Phil played better with a bad OL than Eli did.

[Topshelf21]

If I was building a team and had to choose between Simms and Manning, I would pick Simms in a heartbeat. But I feel neither should be in the Hall.

I'm the opposite. Eli everyday and twice on Sunday!

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