Kenneth Sims

This article is about the football player. For the basketball player, see Kenneth Simms. For the geologist, see Kenneth Sims (geologist).

Kenneth Wayne Sims (born October 31, 1959) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons during the 1980s. He played college football at Texas, where he was a two-time consensus All-American. Sims was the first overall pick in the 1982 NFL draft, and played professionally for the New England Patriots including the season they went to Super Bowl XX.

Kenneth Sims

No. 77
Position:	Defensive end
Personal information
Born:	(1959-10-31) October 31, 1959 (age 65) Kosse, Texas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:	271 lb (123 kg)
Career information
High school:	Groesbeck (TX)
College:	Texas
NFL draft:	1982 / round: 1 / pick: 1
Career history
New England Patriots (1982–1989) Buffalo Bills (1992)*
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
PFWA All-Rookie Team (1982) Lombardi Award (1981) UPI Lineman of the Year (1981) Unanimous All-American (1981) Consensus All-American (1980) 2× All-SWC First Team (1980, 1981) 2× Longhorn Football Team MVP (1980, 1981) Longhorn Hall of Honor inductee (1997)
Career NFL statistics
Sacks: 17.0 Fumble recoveries: 5 Stats at Pro Football Reference
College Football Hall of Fame

Early life

Sims was born in Kosse, Texas. In his junior year at Groesbeck High School, Sims quit football but then realized that football was indeed for him and went on to spend his senior year playing linebacker, fullback and tight end, rather than as a tackle.

College career

At Texas, Sims spent his freshman year learning the basics of the tackle position. He spent his sophomore year behind Steve McMichael and Bill Acker, then became a force his junior year. He made 131 tackles, and was named All-Conference and an All-American. As a senior in 1981, Sims became the first Longhorn to win the Lombardi Award, was named the 1981 UPI Lineman of the Year, was the top defensive vote-recipient for the Heisman Trophy and earned all-conference and All-American status once again. In 1981, he helped Texas to finish 10–1–1, win the 1982 Cotton Bowl Classic, and finish ranked second nationally, their best end-of-year ranking since 1970.

Professional career

Sims was the first overall pick in the 1982 NFL draft, only the third Longhorn to be selected with the first pick.^{[citation needed]} In his rookie year, he came in fifth in the voting for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. With the New England Patriots in the NFL, Sims played 74 career games and had 17 sacks over eight NFL seasons. His best year was 1985, when he managed 5.5 sacks despite only playing in 13 games after he broke his leg late in the regular season. He did not get to play in Super Bowl XX, which the Patriots lost.^[1] Sims suffered multiple injuries to his knees, legs and back throughout his career, limiting his play such that the only complete season he played was 1984. He had surgery in 1987 for his back.^[2] After that season he signed a one-year, incentives based contract with the Patriots but he ruptured his Achilles tendon in the opening game of the year and missed the remainder of the season.^[3][4] He was signed to another one-year contract in 1989.^[5] He played most of the 1989 season, but missed the last game with an injured knee.^[6]

Following the 1985 season, the Patriots instituted a voluntary drug testing program after six players, including Sims, admitted to struggling with drugs over the prior years. Sims supported the program and said that he'd gotten himself clean after going through a team-supported drug rehabilitation program.^[7] In 1990, Sims was arrested in Austin, Texas, and charged with possession of cocaine.^[8] He was released by the Patriots 16 days later for failing to stay in proper shape.^[9]

In 1992, after spending time in rehab, Sims signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills—by this time he was being described as a recovering alcoholic; he was waived before the start of the season.^[10][11]

See also

• List of Texas Longhorns football All-Americans
• List of New England Patriots first-round draft picks

References

1. "Injuries". Baltimore Sun. December 2, 1985.
2. "Buccaneers' Perkins will try to sign Bo Jackson". Baltimore Sun. January 15, 1987.
3. "Heirs ask autopsy on George Halas Jr". Baltimore Sun. August 5, 1987.
4. "Opening Day Hurts". Baltimore Sun. September 5, 1988.
5. "Pro Football Notes". Baltimore Sun. April 19, 1989.
6. "NFL Injury Report". The Baltimore Sun. December 24, 1989.
7. "Patriots' drug problem negligible, doctor says". Baltimore Sun. January 31, 1986.
8. "Cours". The Washington Post. June 5, 1990.
9. "For the Record". The Washington Post. June 20, 1990.
10. "Around the NFL". The Washington Post. March 27, 1992.
11. "Separated Shoulder Sidelines Eagles' Barnett for a Month". The Washington Post. August 7, 1992.