1st & Goal: Phil Simms, Super Bowl Champion

The NFL season is inching closer and closer.

Who are the contenders and who are the pretenders? We have four downs to figure out your team's future. It's time now for First and Goal on the Zach Gelb Show. Zach Gelb here with you. Let's talk some Giants football right now. We'll do so with the Super Bowl MVP, the legendary Giants quarterback and still superstar in the studio show for the NFL on CBS.

That, of course, is Phil Simms. Phil, appreciate the time as always. How you been? Doing well. Can't complain.

I will be honest. No preseason games this week, but at least we've got all the college games starting tomorrow to watch. Really excited about the season as always. I think everybody is. Tired of hearing about the draft, the combine, all that other stuff.

Preseason was awesome, but it's over. Can't wait. I'm sure you're excited too. Gives you a lot to talk about.

No doubt about it. Labor Day weekend right around the corner. You've got football coming back and then also it helps when Bruce Springsteen is making a return to MetLife Stadium in the Swamps of Jersey.

It just got me wondering. Phil Simms, when he goes to a concert, who does he like to go to see? And do you bring along Boomer Esiason with you? No, I don't want to ruin the night by bringing Boomer along.

It'll be about him instead of who's performing. But you know, listen, I don't go to many concerts anymore or anything. I like to go to little small places and listen to people when I do. And quite honestly, the 70s, 80s and 90s are, you know, that's what I like. That's all the music I heard. I think a lot of it, and I don't know if you're different, but we kind of fall back into all the music that we listened to in college. And you know, no matter what, I'll never listen to as much music in my life now in a year that I used to. In college, it seemed like we played music constantly.

That's not the way it is now. So you weren't linking up with Aaron Rodgers this summer to go see Taylor Swift is what you're telling me? Well, listen, if he'd have called me, man, I definitely would have gone with him because the first time Taylor Swift is awesome.

But no, I did not go and I'm not a Swifty or anything like that. I do admire her work. And I tell you what, I love the way she treats her fans. The concerts are forever. Everybody that I know around here where I live has gone to a Taylor Swift concert.

And I have not heard one person ever complain about the performance of how long it was or anything like that. So good for her. So let's get to the Giants. Last year, Brian Daybell and Joe Shane brought a lot of excitement in year one back to this organization. You being one of the legendary Giants, what did you kind of take away from seeing what Daybell and Shane were able to do in year one? Well, year one, listen, that was an unbelievable year last year. It was orchestrated and managed by Brian Daybell just almost perfectly the whole season long. I think they outcoats many other guys or any other teams of the coaches.

Yeah, I've coached them and they did. It was almost like smoke and mirrors, but they got it done to go what? Nine, seven and one tremendous year. And you know, the problem with the Giants right now, a lot of improvements.

We'll talk about that. But it's the fact that it's just the Cowboys, the Eagles. And then, you know, I watched the games and then watching Washington this preseason and I just go, they got a lot of difference makers, too. So it's going to be it's going to be a tough year. But I think the coaches and all that, I think they're they're ready to go and try to show everybody they can not only do what they did last year, but maybe do it better. And I always wonder how year two works, because when you make such a big impression in year one, teams catch up, teams adapt to what you're doing. And I just wonder how they're going to handle maybe some regression this year if there is going to be any. Listen, it's a better team. I think it's it's easily a better roster to look at.

They have wide receivers now. Wow. I mean, last year I I'd watch every John game. I just it was amazing skill.

Gosh, who who's out there? Not only that, you know, besides the receiving group, I went down to practice Jalen Hyatt's impressive Paris Campbell's got a chance. Layton and Sterling Shepherd. Then they they bring back Wandell Robinson. He's back on practice and everything.

So that that is awesome. I think the offensive lines actually, well, is better, too, than it was last year. And Saquon Barkley, all I can say is I was at practice. I don't get like wild that easily because I've played and I've just followed the game so close. When Saquon Barkley ran by me a few times, he looked like he was totally on a different level of anybody chasing over, trying to get to him.

And he was it. He doesn't run. It's just a series of jumps. It's really impressive. So I take one with a better offensive line, better receivers. Daniel Jones, bigger, stronger, throwing the ball. Awesome.

I mean, really, truly awesome. But all this is going to help Saquon and help the football team a lot. And of course, you know, the defense, I would just have one question and they consistently pressure the quarterback. And I think to me, that's the biggest worry the Giants have.

Let's get to the next down. Phil Simms here with us. So we talk about all those offensive pieces. A big guy that they got this offseason was Darren Waller. We've seen the tight end role just continue to evolve in this league. Like you look at Kansas City, their number one pass catching weapon is Travis Kelce. We saw how Brady and Gronk worked for all those years. If Waller could stay healthy, I can't wait to see that connection with Daniel Jones. Well, either can I, because I know this, what little we saw in the preseason from Daniel Jones and of course Darren Waller is that you could see they can put the tight end or any of their players in position where they gain an advantage because of the formation, the movement, whatever it is. And, uh, Darren Waller, I'd never seen him in person until I went down to watch practice and he's a giant.

I couldn't get over. I don't know what it, what's his official height, six, seven. I, it looked, it looked like he was six, 10.

Of course I'm shrinking as I get older, but I don't care. He, he was really impressive looking and physically he looks great running well and he can catch it. So everywhere, anybody that's ever coached Darren Waller, the one thing they've all said with right away, never seen this kind of talent with a tight end with his size. And so that says a lot and I think he's going to have a huge impact on this giant football team. And of course the offense, especially circling back to what you said about Saquon, we all know this is a big year for him. We know what he means to this football team, but then you get into the contract situation as well. How did you react to how that played out this summer? And do you feel like when you were watching Saquon, that's another reason why you think you're going to get the best version of him because he's trying to show the giants this year.

All right, you got to go pay me for the future. Well, yeah, there's no doubt that that's part of it, you know, but look, the thing is he's a pro, he, he's a star and he's still the biggest name on the giant. And when I went to practice, it was Saquon, every Jersey you looked at was Saquon. My grandson went with me.

Who do you think he was? Saquon. The giant fans love him.

They should. I think he's going to have a terrific year, of course, with running backs. It's always about, can they stay healthy? But uh, again, my eyes didn't lie to me and I know he'll be motivated, but he's going to run.

It's not going to change. He's not going to be better because he's more motivated. You can't be in the shape that like he's in and perform the way he has without being motivated just for the fact that he wants to be great. And, uh, I'm excited for him. I hope it starts out well for him, all that. And I hope he puts the giants in the position where they do too.

We want to pay you more money, have a great year and all this stuff. So, uh, it's going to be interesting, but I think as we've already talked, the line, the receivers, the tight end, the quarterback's better, all that is all going to go into helping Saquon. Which son do I have to yell out of yours where your grandson is not wearing a Phil Simms jersey? Well, I didn't want him to.

Is that right? It's my daughter's oldest, so he's seven years old, so he doesn't know much. He's enamored with Saquon and you know, whatever the giants and whoever's the hot guy that we all look at. And I'm sure the next jersey he'll probably wear around here, be Aaron Rogers. Cause we've heard a lot about him too. So, uh, he's a young kid. I enjoy his enthusiasm. In fact, he's out in the driveway right now playing basketball, pick up basketball. He's seven.

There's about 10 kids out in the driveway all around his age playing pickup basketball outside. Oh my gosh. I don't know if you're allowed to do this, but I've pulled up and fall wall out there and I just went, this is awesome. And I stood out there for about 15 minutes just watching them and it was great.

It's good to see kids having fun like that. Let's get to the next down. Phil Sims here with us. So you talked about how this team is better. The quarterback took a big step last year, got paid like he is a franchise guy. But when you view Daniel Jones, where's Phil Simms his confidence that he is the next franchise quarterback for the giants?

It's very high and it was high last year, but of course now it's really high. And I think I'm pretty smart in this way is the fact that he has tremendous size. I mean he is one big dude. He's in, you can tell he changed his body through hard work during the off season, but he didn't change it just because, Oh, I want to look better.

No, he did it because it's making him a better player. And what I followed in kind of dirty off season where he throws with a guy down south, QB country, something like that, but he's a guy that does a really good job. But just watching throw, you know, as practice was going on, when they were doing drills and everything like that, to me, it was so noticeable that he was throwing the ball with more power, controls it great. You know, it just doesn't get away from him and it didn't last year.

And the ball, the rotation of the ball is, it was incredible. I mean, I'm telling you physically, Daniel Jones is up there when you talk about NFL quarterbacks and just think about him last year. I listened to the radio, which I sometimes shouldn't do, but there they are. And I'm not going to say who they were commentating.

Well, you know, Daniel Jones, only through 15 touchdowns. Shut up. That's what I want. I want to yell at the radio.

It probably did. Shut up. Oh, we're going to judge it all on touch. Well, you only do five interceptions.

How was that? Oh, he ran for over 700 yards. Oh, he maybe had the worst receiving group in the NFL. And he still did what he did.

The giants went nine, seven and one. But you know, when you're a hater, which many people were, and I understand they can't turn it off. They cannot it's well, we'll just see if he can duplicate.

I don't know if he's going to duplicate it. I just think I'm just telling you they're a better team. They're better roster. And he is a better talent now than he was last year also. And here's the last thing that I of course have to talk about danger Jones a lot. He doesn't miss when you watch him play. I always say to tell me what game he really didn't that he didn't play well or really well in last year. Well, I don't know.

I'm sure there's some, well, tell me you're such an expert. And of course the answer is always nothing, but I thought he played really well last year for the giants. Obviously one of his worst games was a playoff game or the two Philly games they played in. That was probably the toughest ones, but that might be because Philadelphia is pretty good too. Let's get to the final down. I love it.

I fired up Phil Sims here with does. So I heard Peter Schrager the other day on good morning football say the giants are his dark horse Superbowl contender. Did you come to see this team being a Superbowl contender this year or not ready yet? I'm not ready. I mean, look, it's possible.

They're going to start what two rookie corners. So that's, that's pretty tough and everything. But like I said, I think if I, it's funny, I don't have any issues now with the offense.

It's amazing what they've done with it. But the big thing is, like I said, right off the top and they get to the quarterback. And if you can't pressure the quarterback enough in this league, even bad quarterbacks will tear you apart. You know, corners need help and you put them out there in the island every once in a while, but if they're not good enough, you can't do it as much as you want and be aggressive.

So I look at this. If you, when you talk about the giant, they really need Kayvon Thibodeaux and be a star second year NFL stuff for past rushers early because there's so much to learn and the tackles are good and they're huge and we'll see. But watching him, just what I did in practice and a little bit that he didn't play much of preseason, but the speed and the quickness and all that is there. Now he's just got to apply it, make it work during games. But I think he's a huge key for the giant success this year and he has to have a breakout season. I couldn't agree more already. Phil sins before we let you run Rogers in the summer.

It's by Steve Young said it to me the other week. It's a summer of Aaron Rogers and he's kind of jealous of it. He's been handling New York the right way. Any advice to Aaron Rodgers and how to deal with the Big Apple? Oh, look, Aaron Rodgers can deal with about anything and you know, so I don't, I don't know.

I will just say this about him. You know, he is of course a special talent and it's not going to be what everybody expects. I think they're going to control the game that they're playing. He is, he knows how to do that.

He knows how to look and feel the game and how he should play accordingly. In other words, Hey, our defense is really struggling. I gotta be more aggressive on the offensive side to get some more points or things are going well.

You've got a small lead. Now it's protect, do all the things that he is really great at. And I mean this as a compliment.

You gotta be careful with words sometimes. He is a terrific, terrific game manager and he might be one of the best throwers I've ever seen in history throwing the plays that we can't miss the 10 and 12 yards and under. If the guy's got a little window that he's open, you can't miss it. He makes all the ordinary plays. And of course every once in a while he's going to make a special play, but I think he's going to be, it's not, he's not going to throw for 5,000 yards. I don't even know if he'll throw it for 4,000 yards. The numbers might not be tremendous.

That doesn't matter to me. It's about managing what he's doing on the offensive side and how it fits in with the team and what's the strength of the jets. You know, tell me defense. Oh, and the pass rush.

Oh my gosh. It's just line them up and run as hard as you can and go into the quarterback and after two downs come out, we'll give you a little break and we'll send another wave of pass rushers. It might be overall one of the best, if not the best defensive lines rushing the passer and the depth that I've ever seen. I mean, I've never seen anything like it, but it holds true during the season. With all that being said, they're in a loaded conference. They're in a loaded division, right? You got Miami, you got the bills. I don't think the Patriots are intended to win the AFC East, but do you feel like the jets win the AFC East this year? Well, I think they got a great chance. And you know, I, I, listen, I don't think anybody in the AFC East is going to go 15 and two or 14 and three.

I don't know if they'll go 12 and five. It's, it's going to be tough. The whole conference is loaded with talent. The quarterbacks are insane. So, you know, you just, it's, you know, even Kansas city being all the, everybody talks about them, Hey, it's going to be rough for them too. It's, it's going to be rough for everybody because there's just so much competition in the AFC and so many quarterbacks that even if their team's not with them, they still have a chance to beat you.

Team's playing bad, but the quarterback can disguise a lot of that, especially when we talk about the quality of the guys in the AFC. Well, we can't wait to see you next weekend, NFL on CBS for the first NFL Sunday. In the meantime, I hear you're big in the podcasting world now with you with your son.

Is that right? Well, we're going to do it. Yeah, we're going to do it.

In fact, I just saw him a few minutes ago. They get a chance. I said, I'm a, we're going to throw one out there next week. I've got some things that are bothering me that I just might have to air air them out. Some hot takes coming from Phil Sims. You gotta love it. You know, that's what's great. Hey, listen, that's, that's why I love doing radio interviews too, because it's a little more free and I'm, you know, I'm not, come on, we got to go to commercial right away, you know?

So, but I can say things that I'll never get a chance to probably say on TV. So it was great. I really appreciate you having me on.

Yeah. Phil, always great to catch up with you. Thanks so much for doing this. Have a good day. Thanks again.