My dad might’ve thrown the first back-shoulder fade in NFL history.
Some backstory here: Last week, I checked out some of Phil’s old game tape from December 1988. My dad had tons of tight end talent back then—Mark Bavaro, of course, but also Brad Beckman and Zeke Mowatt. Each guy knew just the right amount of push to apply on a linebacker or safety to get space.
So pops threw Beckman a ball down the field that was deliberately underthrown. The announcers were dumbfounded; "I think Phil Simms did that on purpose, guys!" I had to call the old man to confirm.