Free Agent LB Ernie Sims still available

[BBass]

Still only 27, high draft pick with upside. Fills a need as a LB with versatility.

 

[Ring 6]

Still only 27, high draft pick with upside. Fills a need as a LB with versatility.

Aside from not being good, and being 20-40 lbs to light to fit our scheme as a LB, whats not to love.

 

[rookBoston]

LOL... i remember his draft year, so wanted to research. With only "Ernie Si" typed in, the Google key-ahead showed "Ernie Simms" and "Ernie Simms bust" as the most predictive keyword searches.

Here's what one of those sites had to say: "So far, he's been most noted in the NFL as a rangy but undisciplined player who tends to whiff mightily in space." As soon as I read "undisciplined", I was done.

link> Draft Busts of the 2000s: Where are they now? - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports

 

[mayoclinic]

Aside from not being good, and being 20-40 lbs to light to fit our scheme as a LB, whats not to love.

There were rumors that BB liked Sims prior to the 2006 draft, but he went way to high to the Lions at #9 and was rushed in too early as a full time starter. BB has definitely not let size be an absolute with LBs - he was open in his admiration for Jonathan Vilma prior to the 2004 draft, too.

Sims was a very athletic kid (4.50 speed, 41" vertical) with good coverage skills, and there was some talk of converting him to safety when he first came out, similar to the talk this year with guys like Zach Brown and Lavonte David. While I'm a bit dubious that he would be a fit, especially after bouncing around from the Lions to the Eagles to the Colts the past 3 years, it's remotely possible that he could play a hybrid LB/S role. He had 5 PD for the Eagles in 2010.

I'm not pushing for it by any means, but I wouldn't be aghast if the Pats took a look at whether he could play that kind of specific role.

 

[supafly]

Still only 27, high draft pick with upside. Fills a need as a LB with versatility.

I would agree with what some have said about Sims being lazy, undisciplined etc--but I'm all for giving someone another chance too, at least in a look-see setting/tryout.

One of the problems however, it that I don't see as much of a potential "need" at the position as you personally do. Last year, maybe--but this year seems to be a much different story with better talent and depth.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

Have we signed him? Link please. Or are we bringing him in for a look see?

 

[supafly]

Have we signed him? Link please. Or are we bringing him in for a look see?

Hell, no. That would be very unlikely in my opinion.

It's just another thread from someone who thinks that he could possibly be a fit here.

 

[Joey007]

Let's sign the beast!!

:bricks: :bricks: :bricks:

 

[Sciz]

He was really awesome in Madden 08, I think it was. Was 99 overall when you moved him to DE.

In reality, he sucks.

 

[rookBoston]

Plus, he was drafted by Matt Millen, which is the kiss of death.

 

[Joey007]

He was really awesome in Madden 08, I think it was. Was 99 overall when you moved him to DE.

In reality, he sucks.

Wasn't that the case with all of the LB's. You'd move them to DE, go up 20 ratings??

Yeah, he wasn't even that special then.

 

[Sciz]

Wasn't that the case with all of the LB's. You'd move them to DE, go up 20 ratings??

Yeah, he wasn't even that special then.

True. His 85 strength actually made him usable, though. I think he had 88 speed too, making him both the fastest and strongest LB in the game. He probably would have been like 130 overall at DE if it went that high. He was perfect

 

[Joey007]

True. His 85 strength actually made him usable, though. I think he had 88 speed too, making him both the fastest and strongest LB in the game. He probably would have been like 130 overall at DE if it went that high. He was perfect

Reality hit em'.

 

[Ring 6]

There were rumors that BB liked Sims prior to the 2006 draft, but he went way to high to the Lions at #9 and was rushed in too early as a full time starter. BB has definitely not let size be an absolute with LBs - he was open in his admiration for Jonathan Vilma prior to the 2004 draft, too.

Sims was a very athletic kid (4.50 speed, 41" vertical) with good coverage skills, and there was some talk of converting him to safety when he first came out, similar to the talk this year with guys like Zach Brown and Lavonte David. While I'm a bit dubious that he would be a fit, especially after bouncing around from the Lions to the Eagles to the Colts the past 3 years, it's remotely possible that he could play a hybrid LB/S role. He had 5 PD for the Eagles in 2010.

I'm not pushing for it by any means, but I wouldn't be aghast if the Pats took a look at whether he could play that kind of specific role.

Sims is 225 lbs. Yes, BB is absolute about that being too small for a LB in his system. This guy is not a safety either.

 

[BBass]

Sims is 225 lbs. Yes, BB is absolute about that being too small for a LB in his system. This guy is not a safety either.

My thinking was he would be a solid option as the nickel LB position. Jason Barrett type.

There was talk of him converting to safety when he was drafted

 

[Kontradiction]

My thinking was he would be a solid option as the nickel LB position. Jason Barrett type.

There was talk of him converting to safety when he was drafted

Yeah but Jason Barrett hasn't performed up to par for us to date. :bricks:

 

[Ring 6]

My thinking was he would be a solid option as the nickel LB position. Jason Barrett type.

There was talk of him converting to safety when he was drafted

I'd rather have a safety at safety that a 6 year veteran LB who someone talked about making a safety in 2006.

 

[BBass]

I'd rather have a safety at safety that a 6 year veteran LB who someone talked about making a safety in 2006.

We need a cover LB for that package. Sims has always been a good cover guy his problems have been block shedding. I think he could be used to maximize his skill set here.

Who would you bring in to fill Fletcher's spot? Not meaning to make the 53 man roster but compete with Rivera and Tarp?

 

[supafly]

We need a cover LB for that package. Sims has always been a good cover guy his problems have been block shedding. I think he could be used to maximize his skill set here.

Who would you bring in to fill Fletcher's spot? Not meaning to make the 53 man roster but compete with Rivera and Tarp?

Understanding that the question wasn't necessarily intended for me, I believe that we have the following for the 'coverage' LB that you are wanting to replace Fletcher (who was so good in coverage that Tracy White started the SB in February instead):

-Carpenter

-T.White

-Tarpinian

-Rivera

-possible competition/depth spot when rosters are trimmed in a couple/few wks

That gives us at least 4, if not 5 spots to compete right off the bat. I don't personally believe that we are in need of anyone else at the position at this time, but AndyJohnson or yourself may feel quite differently.

 

[BBass]

Understanding that the question wasn't necessarily intended for me, I believe that we have the following for the 'coverage' LB that you are wanting to replace Fletcher (who was so good in coverage that Tracy White started the SB in February instead):

-Carpenter

-T.White

-Tarpinian

-Rivera

-possible competition/depth spot when rosters are trimmed in a couple/few wks

That gives us at least 4, if not 5 spots to compete right off the bat. I don't personally believe that we are in need of anyone else at the position at this time, but AndyJohnson or yourself may feel quite differently.

I would agree that it isn't a huge need. I do think with 2 or 3 open roster spots it would be a decent idea to bring in a depth LB with some experience for a look.

I just not overly sold on White he hasn't practiced in a month and we got smoked over the middle a lot last year example the Steelers game. I think Fletcher held a very important role in our defense that isn't easy to overlook.