Phil Simms took issue with Tom Brady’s recent analysis about young quarterbacks.
Speaking with Stephen A. Smith last week, Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion, who is set to join the top Fox NFL booth, called it a “tragedy” that young quarterbacks are starting too quickly in their professional careers.
On his Bleav podcast “Simms Complete” with his son Matt, the former Giants quarterback took the other side.
“I heard the Tom Brady comments. I disagree that you’re just throwing them into this,” Simms said.
“One, they’re going to play because they’re the most talented quarterback on the team. It’s not like they’ve got a backup, like ‘Well, we’re just playing him because we drafted him.’ No!”
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix are slated to be opening-day starters for the Bears, Commanders and Broncos, respectively.
Simms talked about how college football has changed to much more pass-focused offenses, and his belief that quarterbacks are coming into the league better-prepared because they’ve had more reps.
“These guys have the talent and the experience. It’s the number of throws that they are getting in college that I think’s making the transition easier,” Simms continued.
“The quarterback position just keeps elevating.”
By contrast, Brady, who backed up Drew Bledsoe for his first year in New England in 2000 before getting thrust into action when Bledsoe went down the following season against the Jets, was of the belief that the best way to bake a proverbial quarterback is with a slow cooker, not a microwave.
“I think it’s just a tragedy that we’re forcing these rookies to play early … But the reality is the only reason why they are is that we’ve dumbed the game down, which has allowed them to play,” Brady said.
“We used to spend hours and hours in the offseason, in training camp, trying to be a little bit better the next year … But I think what happens is it discourages the coaches from going to deep levels because they realize the players don’t have the opportunity to go to a deep level, so they’re just going to teach them where they’re at.”
