Kenneth Sims

Kenneth Sims

No. 77
Position:	Defensive end
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1959-10-31) October 31, 1959
Place of birth:	Kosse, Texas
Height:
Weight:
Career information
High school:	Groesbeck (TX)
College:	Texas
NFL draft:	1982 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1
Career history
New England Patriots (1982–1989)
Career highlights and awards
NCAA Top Five Award (1982) Lombardi Award (1981) UPI Lineman of the Year (1981)
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.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 at Texas, 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.

Early years

Sims was born in Kosse, Texas. In his junior year at Groesbeck High School, Sims quit football but then realized that football was indeed for him and went on to spend his senior year playing linebacker, fullback and tight end, rather than as a tackle.

College career

At Texas, Sims spent his freshman 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, Sims became the first Longhorn to win the Lombardi Trophy, was named the 1981 UPI Lineman of the Year and earned All-America status once again.

Professional career

With the Patriots in the NFL, Sims never lived up to the expectations of a first overall pick. 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 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 lack of interest 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 after the arrest, the Patriots released Sims, who was out of shape, and he eventually retired.

Sims now hosts Texas Football Roundup on ESPN Radio in Austin, Texas and is a season ticket holder for Texas basketball and football games.

Awards
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