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Phil Simms Lands On CBS Pregame Show After Losing Top Game Analyst Spot

Phil Simms has agreed to be part of CBS Sports’ “The NFL Today” pregame show this season. Simms, who was replaced by Tony Romo as CBS’ top NFL game analyst, will take over the studio role vacated by Tony Gonzalez last month. “I was under contract, so I knew I was going to be at CBS,” Simms said yesterday. “If I’m not going to be on the No. 1 game, this is a pretty good place to land. ... When this opportunity came up, I didn't have to think long.” CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus said the move makes sense for CBS Sports, given Simms’ performance on Showtime’s NFL studio show, “Inside the NFL.” “Phil is very opinionated and doesn’t mind mixing it up in a respectful way,” McManus said. “He is going to elevate our entire show.” Simms said he enjoys doing “Inside the NFL” and is looking forward to the opportunity of talking about the whole league, instead of just about two teams. While he would have liked to remain CBS’ top game analyst, he said he’s looking forward to the move into the studio. “Sean and I have talked about this for years,” Simms said. “I’m really happy about it” (John Ourand, Staff Writer). McManus said, "When the news hit that Tony Gonzalez would not be back on the show, this seemed logical. We had a number of discussions about it, and I was excited about it, and he was excited" (AP, 4/19). In N.Y., Bob Raissman noted McManus sees Simms "as a voice who will shake up" the pregame show. McManus: "He's going to add a new spark to the show. I think Phil is going to rejuvenate the show." Simms indicated that the "load he carried doing Sunday and Thursday games ... did not affect his preparation or performance" in the booth the last couple years. Simms: "I never went into one game feeling I was not 100% prepared, ready" (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 4/19).

LEAVING NOT AN OPTION
: On Long Island, Neil Best noted there was "rampant speculation inside and outside the media business about potential new roles for Simms." Simms said that going to "another CBS game booth never came up." He added that his "comfort level" with "The NFL Today" host James Brown and analysts Boomer Esiason and Bill Cowher "will ease the transition." Simms said that there was "never a chance he would bolt for another network." McManus said, "He was going to be a long-term part of the plan at CBS for the NFL. If he had wanted to talk to somebody else, I would have said no" (NEWSDAY.com, 4/19).

PERFECT LANDING SPOT
: In New Jersey, Tara Sullivan writes moving Simms to the studio "was always the move that made the most sense." With a "strong football voice and a great TV personality, Simms thankfully remains a part of our football conversation" (Bergen RECORD, 4/20). SNY’s Jonas Schwartz said Simms’ “personality, which is fun but he will go at people, is a really good match for a studio show.” SNY’s Marc Malusis said Simms will “acclimate himself very, very well” to the studio (“Daily News Live,” SNY, 4/19). ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser said the ‘studio is nice, but I thought maybe he would do some of those Thursday Night games” (“PTI,” ESPN, 4/19).

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