DALLAS — Phil Simms came close to pitching the perfect game in Super Bowl XXI. Twenty-four years later, Desmond Howard is accusing him of pitching the perfect fit.
In a confrontation between two former Super Bowl MVPs, the former Giants quarterback allegedly threatened to hit Howard, the former Packers receiver/returner said, though Simms contends there was no chance the altercation would get physical.
The two analysts — Simms the lead NFL analyst for CBS and Howard an ESPN college analyst — crossed paths at the NFL Experience yesterday.
Howard, whose 99-yard kickoff return in the second half of Super Bowl XXXI paved the way for Brett Favre’s Packers to beat Bill Parcells’ Patriots, tweeted that his criticism during the college season of Simms’ son Matt, a quarterback at Tennessee, led to Simms threatening him yesterday.
In chronological order, here are Howard’s tweets:
* At NFL-Xperience and Phil Simms just threatened 2 hit me b/c I said his son was 1 of the worse QBs in the SEC. I told him ‘LET’S GO!’
* I am DEAD serious about the Phil Simms thing. We all thought he was joking, but he kept going and said he wanted 2 take a swing at me!!
* During the season we talked about the Tenn v LSU game and I said “u will see 3 of the worse QBs in the SEC” That’s what Phil did not like.
* It ended w/police stepping in between so I could continue my appearance w/fans.
Simms, in a statement released through CBS, said there was no chance of their argument turning physical.
“Desmond and I were having a private conversation that became heated,” said Simms, who will be a spectator today when Fox broadcasts the game. “But at no time was there ever a chance of any physical confrontation or that I felt the police officer assigned to me by the event planners for my appearance needed to separate the two of us.”
Howard released a statement through ESPN.
“I was at a public signing for a sponsor when Phil approached me to express anger over on-air analysis I made months ago about his son, Tennessee quarterback Matt Simms. During the conversation, Phil made a reference to hitting me and security and sponsor representatives soon stepped in. It was an unfortunate incident and I’m moving on.”
Matt Simms lost his starting job last season to freshman Tyler Bray.
Howard’s wife Rebkah, who was at the Miami-Virginia basketball game, tweeted: “So apparently while I’ve been at this bball game, Phil Simms tried to assault my husband at the NFL Experience? Oh, Ok. #wheretheydothatat?”
This is not the first time Simms has reacted strongly to criticism of one of his sons.
Simms was angered five years ago when ESPN’s Steve Young questioned the toughness of former Bucs quarterback Chris Simms.