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Chris Simms had grown so frustrated, he turned off the NFL draft and watched some basketball games.
The University of Texas quarterback had expected to go midway through the first round, or at worst, in the second round. When the second round came and went and Simms lacked an NFL team, he turned to the NBA playoffs.
Two hours after turning his back on the draft, Simms received a telephone call from Bucs coach Jon Gruden.
Now he's prepared to prove the other 31 teams that passed on him wrong. The Bucs also have something to prove. Mainly, justifying the use of a high pick on a position that already was loaded.
``We have something to prove, Chris and I both,'' Gruden said. ``That we made the right pick and that Chris is the right man for the job.''
Simms, the son of former Giants quarterback Phil Simms, joins starter Brad Johnson, who is coming off a Pro Bowl season, and veteran backups Jim Miller, Shane Matthews and Shaun King. Gruden admitted it's rare for a team to keep more than three quarterbacks on the roster
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The University of Texas quarterback had expected to go midway through the first round, or at worst, in the second round. When the second round came and went and Simms lacked an NFL team, he turned to the NBA playoffs.
Two hours after turning his back on the draft, Simms received a telephone call from Bucs coach Jon Gruden.
Now he's prepared to prove the other 31 teams that passed on him wrong. The Bucs also have something to prove. Mainly, justifying the use of a high pick on a position that already was loaded.
``We have something to prove, Chris and I both,'' Gruden said. ``That we made the right pick and that Chris is the right man for the job.''
Simms, the son of former Giants quarterback Phil Simms, joins starter Brad Johnson, who is coming off a Pro Bowl season, and veteran backups Jim Miller, Shane Matthews and Shaun King. Gruden admitted it's rare for a team to keep more than three quarterbacks on the roster
MORE
