Kenneth Sims
| Date of birth: | October 31, 1959 |
| Place of birth: | Kosse, Texas |
| Career information | |
|---|---|
| Position(s): | Defensive end |
| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Weight: | 272 lb (123 kg) |
| College: | Texas |
| NFL Draft: | 1982 / Round: 1 / Pick 1 |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1982-1989 | New England Patriots |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Awards: | 1982 NCAA Top Five Award 1981 Lombardi Award 1981 UPI Lineman of the Year |
| Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
Kenneth Wayne Sims (born October 31, 1959) is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League for eight seasons during the 1980s. He played college football for the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a two-time consensus All-American. Sims was the first overall pick in the 1982 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the New England Patriots of the NFL.
[edit] Early years
Sims was born in Kosse, Texas. He almost quit football before his college football career even began. In his junior year at Groesbeck High School, Sims quit football. That summer, he realized that football was indeed for him, spent his senior year playing linebacker, fullback and tight end, rather than a tackle.
[edit] College career
At the University of Texas, Sims spent his freshmen year learning the basics of the tackle position. He spent his sophomore year behind Steve McMichael and Bill Acker, then became a force his junior year. He made 131 tackles, and was named an All-American. As a senior, in 1981, he was awarded the Lombardi Trophy, becoming the first Longhorn to win it. He was also the 1981 UPI Lineman of the Year and was All-American once again.
[edit] Professional career
Sims never lived up to the expectations of being the first overall pick in 1982. He only played the full 16 game schedule once, and played 74 career games with only 17 sacks over eight NFL seasons. His best year was in 1985, when he managed 5.5 sacks and played in Super Bowl XX. Sims was tagged with the nickname "Game Day" when he explained his disinterest in practice by saying "I'll be there on game day." In June 1990, Sims was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine in Austin, Texas. Shortly afterwards the Patriots released an out of shape Sims, and he eventually retired.
Sims now hosts Texas Football Roundup on ESPN Radio in Austin, Texas and is a season ticket holder for University of Texas at Austin basketball and football games.
| Preceded by Darrell Griffith Mark D. Herrmann Donald J. Paige Ronald K. Perry Randy Lee Schleusener |
NCAA Top Five Award Class of 1982 Par J. Arvidsson Rowdy Gaines Oliver Luck Kenneth W. Sims Lynette Woodard |
Succeeded by Bruce Baumgartner John Elway Richard J. Giusto Charles F. Kiraly David R. Rimington |
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