Q&A with Matt Simms. The link has Rex Ryan's Q&A too but that's a bunch of crap. http://bills.buffalonews.com/2015/06/04/what-they-said-transcripts-of-ryan-mccoy-watkins-simms/
QB Matt Simms
Q: It looks like you kind of went to the Jets, and said, “Look, it doesn’t look like its going to work here, can you let me go spread my wings a little bit?” Is this right?
A: Yeah, that was basically the gist of the conversation, but yeah I went to them early in the morning on Thursday and just talked about the situation with them, about how I was feeling and I thought it would be best if I just asked for my release. Obviously they didn’t have to, but they granted my wish and here I am, a Buffalo Bill.
Q: Being here with a coaching staff that you know so well, how important is that to you, and what are some of the benefits of that?
A: Really it’s being in a place where I feel welcomed, and a place where I feel the coaches want to see me grow and continue to do well, those were the main things. So even though I’m playing for a different New York team, it still feels like home to me.
Q: Did your agent make the call? Or did the Bills call you as soon as your name hit the wire?
A: One of the first phone calls I got was from Rex Ryan so to get a call from your ex-head coach was pretty uplifting just knowing that he thought that highly of me to call me personally.
Q: Walk us through your Jets experience. Did you ever sense that you would have an opportunity come your way, or did you give up hope?
A: Well, I never gave up hope. Just like in life, there is always going to be obstacles that you have to continue to fight through, and this is a game that’s obviously somewhat of a family business for me, so I’m just going to do whatever it takes to continue to work and to get on the field. Obviously the career with the Jets didn’t exactly go as planned, but at the same time, I’m just looking forward to the next opportunity. The people that I met there and the experiences I had truly just helped me become more of a man, and molded me into the person I am today and I’m extremely thankful for all those moments.
Q: How do you feel your crash course went, in terms of turning it into your head and then trying to execute some plays out on the field today?
A: I’m trying to absorb as much information as possible right now, but the coaching staff has done a great job of teaching me and giving me a little bit of a grace period so that I can catch up and lean, so I feel like I’m moving along pretty confidently.
Q: You said that you’re very comfortable with the coaching staff here, but does it feel like deja vu? There was a three way battle for quarterback over there, and there’s the same thing over here, Rex has been very clear about it. You’re kind of in the same situation over here in the sense of the depth chart, can you talk about that?
A: Really, the mindset doesn’t change. How I felt with the situation with the Jets is different than the situation here with the Bills. I feel like here I have more opportunity to get more experience to get more reps on the field and to give myself a fair shot to actually succeed, whereas I feel like I didn’t quite get that same respect there with the Jets.
Q: You got your first career touchdown here in Buffalo in 2013, what do you remember about that?
A: I was just extremely happy to go into the game and the score was what it was, but when you’re just dying to get out there and get experience, I play every down like it’s the Super Bowl. As the backup quarterback with the Jets I prepared as if I was a starter every week, and my teammates from the Jets know that about me. They know I’m ready to play at a moments notice and I felt like I held my own.
Q: Your dad is obviously a huge influence with you and your brother in your careers, explain how that’s still working with you and what kind of advise does he give you?
A: They are a great support system. Since my father is a Super Bowl MVP quarterback, at the same time he is my father, and he still gives me that fatherly wisdom that I need and my brother obviously gives me that older brother, teasing type of role, but yeah, two great quarterbacks in my family that have plenty of experience in the business and the supported me with my decision and were proud of me and the way I handled it the past few weeks.
Q: David Lee and your experience with him just how does that translate here knowing what he brings, what is your perspective of his coaching?
A: He is one of the few coaches that has seen the potential in me, and every time that I was given an opportunity with the Jets I took it and ran with it and continued to grow and show people that I do have more of a ceiling to offer. He really did push for me to get on the field and I’ll never forget that. For that, he’ll always have my respect.
Q: Was there any concern that you might not get picked up? Wasn’t it a bit of a risky move?
A: Yeah, absolutely. You never want to quit a job when you don’t really know whether there is a job waiting for you, but at the same time, I wasn’t happy, and you have to do what makes you happy, so I was willing to take that chance to be happy, and I felt like I wasn’t getting my fair share of the reps and work, you know, today even though it was my first day I got more work today than I did my last week with the Jets. Yeah, it was risky, but in the end it paid off and I’m happy to be here now.
QB Matt Simms
Q: It looks like you kind of went to the Jets, and said, “Look, it doesn’t look like its going to work here, can you let me go spread my wings a little bit?” Is this right?
A: Yeah, that was basically the gist of the conversation, but yeah I went to them early in the morning on Thursday and just talked about the situation with them, about how I was feeling and I thought it would be best if I just asked for my release. Obviously they didn’t have to, but they granted my wish and here I am, a Buffalo Bill.
Q: Being here with a coaching staff that you know so well, how important is that to you, and what are some of the benefits of that?
A: Really it’s being in a place where I feel welcomed, and a place where I feel the coaches want to see me grow and continue to do well, those were the main things. So even though I’m playing for a different New York team, it still feels like home to me.
Q: Did your agent make the call? Or did the Bills call you as soon as your name hit the wire?
A: One of the first phone calls I got was from Rex Ryan so to get a call from your ex-head coach was pretty uplifting just knowing that he thought that highly of me to call me personally.
Q: Walk us through your Jets experience. Did you ever sense that you would have an opportunity come your way, or did you give up hope?
A: Well, I never gave up hope. Just like in life, there is always going to be obstacles that you have to continue to fight through, and this is a game that’s obviously somewhat of a family business for me, so I’m just going to do whatever it takes to continue to work and to get on the field. Obviously the career with the Jets didn’t exactly go as planned, but at the same time, I’m just looking forward to the next opportunity. The people that I met there and the experiences I had truly just helped me become more of a man, and molded me into the person I am today and I’m extremely thankful for all those moments.
Q: How do you feel your crash course went, in terms of turning it into your head and then trying to execute some plays out on the field today?
A: I’m trying to absorb as much information as possible right now, but the coaching staff has done a great job of teaching me and giving me a little bit of a grace period so that I can catch up and lean, so I feel like I’m moving along pretty confidently.
Q: You said that you’re very comfortable with the coaching staff here, but does it feel like deja vu? There was a three way battle for quarterback over there, and there’s the same thing over here, Rex has been very clear about it. You’re kind of in the same situation over here in the sense of the depth chart, can you talk about that?
A: Really, the mindset doesn’t change. How I felt with the situation with the Jets is different than the situation here with the Bills. I feel like here I have more opportunity to get more experience to get more reps on the field and to give myself a fair shot to actually succeed, whereas I feel like I didn’t quite get that same respect there with the Jets.
Q: You got your first career touchdown here in Buffalo in 2013, what do you remember about that?
A: I was just extremely happy to go into the game and the score was what it was, but when you’re just dying to get out there and get experience, I play every down like it’s the Super Bowl. As the backup quarterback with the Jets I prepared as if I was a starter every week, and my teammates from the Jets know that about me. They know I’m ready to play at a moments notice and I felt like I held my own.
Q: Your dad is obviously a huge influence with you and your brother in your careers, explain how that’s still working with you and what kind of advise does he give you?
A: They are a great support system. Since my father is a Super Bowl MVP quarterback, at the same time he is my father, and he still gives me that fatherly wisdom that I need and my brother obviously gives me that older brother, teasing type of role, but yeah, two great quarterbacks in my family that have plenty of experience in the business and the supported me with my decision and were proud of me and the way I handled it the past few weeks.
Q: David Lee and your experience with him just how does that translate here knowing what he brings, what is your perspective of his coaching?
A: He is one of the few coaches that has seen the potential in me, and every time that I was given an opportunity with the Jets I took it and ran with it and continued to grow and show people that I do have more of a ceiling to offer. He really did push for me to get on the field and I’ll never forget that. For that, he’ll always have my respect.
Q: Was there any concern that you might not get picked up? Wasn’t it a bit of a risky move?
A: Yeah, absolutely. You never want to quit a job when you don’t really know whether there is a job waiting for you, but at the same time, I wasn’t happy, and you have to do what makes you happy, so I was willing to take that chance to be happy, and I felt like I wasn’t getting my fair share of the reps and work, you know, today even though it was my first day I got more work today than I did my last week with the Jets. Yeah, it was risky, but in the end it paid off and I’m happy to be here now.
