Chris Simms Talks About Denver QBs and Spleen Injuries and Jay Cutler
April 9, 2009 – 9:30 am by Will BrinsonChris Simms got ruptured (literally) by Julius Peppers a while back in a life-threatening injury that cost him a spleen. He’s got a pretty incredible story, just because he was literally “30 minutes from death” after playing an entire game with a ruptured spleen.
And now he’s back, competing with Kyle Orton (and possibly someone else from the draft I suppose) for the starting quarterback job in Denver. Which is why he got on the horn with the guys from 104.3 The Fan to talk about his new gig with the Broncos, the game in which his spleen burst and how he’s feeling after having not played for quite some time. OH YEAH. And that Jay Cutler guy who used to be in Denver and whose trade-me-now-temper-tantrum somehow managed to give Simms a decent shot at a starting NFL gig.
On inactivity and being held back by not playing:
“Well, you know, as far as from a health standpoint, I feel really good. It’s been a long time since I played in some live game action. I got to play a little bit in the last game of this year when I was with Tennessee against the Indianapolis Colts, but other than that, yeah, it’s been a while. So, you know, I’m just excited to get practicing again and get my feet underneath me and getting after it from that standpoint.”
On the spleen injury and how close to dying he was:
“Well, it happened to me early in the game and I think that’s what started it off – from what I’ve been told, they believe I injured my spleen, a hematoma form, which basically stops the bleeding. I went on to play the rest of the game and took some big hits. They believe the hematoma broke and therefore the blood was just free flowing. I was miserable all game – you don’t ever think you’re bleeding internally, but, as the game went on and it got closer and closer to the end, I actually blacked out at one point and went in and got an IV. It was a really hot day in Tampa, Florida, but as the game went on, I honestly started to think that maybe there was something really wrong with me, because I was just beyond a bruise or a bang here or there. It was like I couldn’t even stand up, I could barely walk into the locker room. Luckily, I didn’t listen to Coach Gruden’s postgame speech, I walked right back onto the training table and laid down and one of the doctor’s pressed on me … and I was in emergency surgery 30 minutes later.”
Chris Simms on the possibility of starting, Jay Cutler, and the full interview after the jump.
On the possibility of being the starting quarterback in Denver:
“I think I’ve been in more pressure packed situations before. I’m just excited to be here, the, uh, situation has of course changed since I signed here. But my approach hasn’t changed, despite whether Jay Cutler was here or not.”
On watching the Cutler situation:
“It was pretty crazy. And honestly, as it went along, I didn’t think he would be traded. But who knows what happens behind closed doors – we’re players, though. You guys probably know more than we do. We just listen to the rumors as far as what you guys say and what the sports stations say.”
Listen to Chris Simms on 104.3 the Fan in Denver
Tags: Chris Simms, Denver Broncos, Football, Jay Cutler, Josh McDaniels, New England Patriots, NFL
One Response to “Chris Simms Talks About Denver QBs and Spleen Injuries and Jay Cutler”
I initially was against the Broncos signing Chris Simms even as a back-up. However; I truly believe there is potential there for him to succeed and maybe be the starting QB in Denver. I know his health will plan a huge factor in this but I actually believe if he is healthy and can learn the system as well as execute he will give Kyle a run at the starting QB position.
By Tim byrnes on Apr 10, 2009