THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 30, 1994 TAG: 9407300402
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CARLISLE, PA. LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
Ed Simmons is pulling tirelessly at the tape that encases his beefy left wrist. As each new shred comes loose, Simmons adds it to the tiny gauze ball he has started, then tosses it in the air and, as often as not, drops it.
Since 1987, Simmons has played right tackle for the Washington Redskins. When healthy, he has been a starter on the most famous offensive line in football history. Now 31, he has gone hand-to-hand with Reggie White, toe-to-toe with Charles Haley and held his own.
But at this moment, he's involved in something totally foreign to him. He's nervous. Maybe scared.
And so he tugs at the white and tan adhesive while a small circle of men and women wielding pens and notebooks ask questions. Like why he never has agreed to give an interview before.
He drops the ball, then bends to pick it up.
``I've had a few problems, some things I don't want to talk about,'' he says. ``There have been problems inside my head that I needed to get straightened out. I have done that, and now I just want to come out and have fun, enjoy football.''
He drops the ball. Somebody else stoops to retrieve it.
``I'm comfortable with myself now,'' Simmons continues. ``I haven't gotten any recognition around the NFL, except around Washington. I think I deserve some.''
He's right. Simmons has long been one of the game's most overlooked offensive linemen.
One reason is his past unresponsiveness to the media. You can't write about someone you don't know, particularly when his abilities are swallowed in the blur of combat at the line of scrimmage.
``I never thought it was important to cooperate,'' he says. ``I thought it should be enough to work hard. My rookie year, when the NFL showed that film with Ahmad Rashad on cooperating with the media, I told myself, `This is butt-kissing, I'm not doing that.' I got a negative feeling from that.''
But there also is an explanation in the uphill battle that has been his career.
Hog-sized at 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, Simmons had manhandled opponents while playing tackle at Eastern Washington, a Division I-AA power.
But he wasn't selected until the sixth round of the 1987 draft, much later than he was told he would go. When he later inquired why, scouts from other teams told him he was perceived as being so unknown, they figured he'd be available at any time. They told him they were stunned the Redskins had used a No. 6 on him.
``I was a little upset,'' he said. ``There were players taken before me that I was better than.''
Offensive line coach Jim Hanifan reviewed Simmons' file when he came to Washington to replace Joe Bugel five years ago.
``He developed pretty quickly,'' Hanifan said. ``He had some of the troubles guys from small colleges have when they hit the NFL, but they were delighted with his progress.''
Not so his health.
Simmons tore up a knee blocking for a game-winning field goal against the Bears in 1990. When he returned, Joe Jacoby had made the transition to right tackle, and there was no room on the line.
In '91 and '92, Simmons' knee continued to give him problems. He couldn't, or didn't, work out as diligently as he should have, and his weight ballooned. Last year, he missed five weeks with a minor knee injury. ``He's so much better conditioned this year than I ever recall,'' Hanifan said. ``He's running well, he's healthy. It's obvious his body feels good.''
But the knee injuries have taken a toll. Simmons is a step slower than in his youth, and he compensates with experience and better pass-protection techniques.
``He can dominate the game when he's on,'' Hanifan said. ``He's a pretty darn good player overall, but a great run blocker.''
With the arrival of second-round pick Tre' Johnson, a 320-pounder who moves like a ballerina, Hanifan hopes to hatch a new plan for the line. As soon as he's ready, which may or may not be this season, Johnson will move in at right tackle. Simmons will shift to guard. Sometime soon, Hanifan said, he will work Simmons at guard for a full week, so that when the change comes, he at least will have some experience to draw from at that position.
``This is something Ed asked about a couple of years ago,'' Hanifan said. ``I think it'll prolong his career and make him a more effective pass-blocker.
``When I had Jacoby at guard, I was enthralled. A man that size at that position could have been the greatest thing the league had ever seen. Ed at that spot would give me the same feelings.''
Simmons joked that he opposes the move because he knows all the plays at tackle. Guard play would take more study. But he agreed that it's probably what's best for him, and he's ready to take it on.
``I'm up for trying new things this season,'' Simmons said.
On and off the field. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by Bill Abourjilie
Redskins right tackle Ed Simmons
by CNB