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Phil Simms prides himself on not rushing through life, no matter how crowded his schedule gets. But by 6:20 p.m. Monday, he clearly was getting antsy.
This was at CBS Sports Network's Chelsea Piers studio, where he had spent nearly three hours on set for his latest analyst gig, on "NFL Monday QB," and he was due for a haircut in northern New Jersey at 7.
Then he had a thought. Doesn't CBS' roster feature another blond, 50-something former New York quarterback who might be available as a stand-in?
"Tell Boomer [Esiason] to get in here and just suck in his gut," Simms said.
Moral of today's opening anecdote: Nearly two decades after retiring as a player, Phil Simms is as busy as ever and seems to be having as much fun as ever, including as the chatty Needler-in-Chief as he makes his weekly rounds.
"I grew up kibitzing," he said, using a word he presumably did not use when he was growing up in Kentucky. He said it is a skill he picked up in a house with eight children, and later in football locker rooms.
"It keeps the energy going. I like energy."
He needs it.
Sunday, Oct. 14
East Rutherford, N.J.
After 15 seasons traversing the nation for CBS, an occasional "home" game at the Meadowlands is a treat.
Simms got to spend a quiet Saturday night with his wife, Diana, watching a very long Yankees playoff game while he prepared for Colts vs. Jets. By the time Derek Jeter had been helped off the field and the Tigers had won in 12 innings, the clock already had struck game day.
"I pulled in at 9:30, which was late - very late," he said in the broadcast booth at MetLife Stadium. "But I figured getting rest was more important because I hate being tired or grumpy."
Simms' pregame routine includes appearing on Mike Francesa's radio show but not appearing on the field to speak to coaches and players, as many analysts do.
"I've already talked to everybody ," he said. "I don't need to say I went down and saw the assistant third-string strength coach."
The one exception to Simms' no-rushing policy comes after games, when getting out of parking lots and...