Chris Carter Votes Brian Simmons As Most Overrated

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Carter: "Most overrated: Brian Simmons

The Cincinnati Bengals' eight-year veteran sometimes disappears in games. He shouldn't, though. He has the ability to be a great player. The Bengals' defense needs to improve if Cincinnati is to finally finish above .500 after back-to-back 8-8 seasons."

Yahoo Exclusive Story

Simmons has never had the breakout season everyone thought might come along. His #'s have always been very acceptable/good, but never great.

The way Thurman looked Friday night (man was he impressive) maybe he and Pollack/LJ will free him up some, dunno.

But I just thought it was funny that Carter picked Simmons of all the LB's in the league.

[KiLBurn]

Who died and made "overrated" Cris Carter an authority on LB's? Wasn't he a WR? How long has he been out of the league?

I would rather have 3 Simmons' as my LB's than I would have 1 superstar and 2 average LB's. Any day.

[Spain]

I agree, this guy isnt anything but above average, however thats still better than most!

[BlainThePain]

I agree that Simmons is overrated, but I don't think he is the most overrated linebacker in the NFL. With his combination of size, speed, and tackling he should be shutting down the weak side, but he doesn't and a lot of fans treat him like he does. He just doesn't look aggressive and mean enough on the field. On a side note, Donnie Edwards is the most underrated LB in the NFL, not Farrior.

[DontPushMe]

I remember just a few months ago calling Simmons overrated, and saying that he will probly be bumped from the starting lineup by Landon Johnson in a year or 2, I said he never made enough plays and appears to be slowing down. So I do agree with what Carter said here to an extent. Simmons is overrated among bengal fans who think hes anything close to what Takeo Spikes was, or consider him a top linebacker. Around the league though hes just viewed as average, most fans probly dont even know who he is, because of that I think he could have found a better linebacker to call overrated, but still, not a bad choice.

[Kazkal]

Carter is a bengal h8er there are so many more choices for overrated,simmons isen't takeo or lewis but he is still a good LB who hopfully will serve us well as our young studs grow up

[skyline]

Most overrated? How many people outside of Cincinnati even know who he is? Now if he were being hyped by the national media, and had his own tv commercials, and endorsement deals, then yes...that's overrated. But how can you be overrated if you aren't even on the national radar screen?

Has he ever even made a pro bowl?

[semiotter]

Who died and made "overrated" Cris Carter an authority on LB's? Wasn't he a WR? How long has he been out of the league?

I would rather have 3 Simmons' as my LB's than I would have 1 superstar and 2 average LB's. Any day.

Darn I thought Chris Carter was pretty darn good

[andybren]

I too think Simmons will soon be replaced by Landon, but I'm surprised anybody outside of Cincinnati would be singling out Simmons. An odd choice considering LB isn't even a weakness on the team.

[KiLBurn]

How many LB'ers did he take on, man to man? I would give him the benefit of the doubt if he was talking DB's.

[Spain]

One thingI know is that Marvin loves this guy!

[CantStop85]

Nonsense.

Brian Simmons is only overrated in Madden games.

What fan would actually list him as one of the top 10-15 linebackers in the league?

[andybren]

I don't know that Marvin necessarily loves Simmons, he's just trying to give him more attention, to challenge him to step it up. Similar to what he did with Leon in Year 1 and with Justin Smith last year. Next year, he'll probably do the same with Madieu.

The writing is on the wall for Simmons and Marvin's the one holding the pen.

[bengalsLB]

first of all carter dosen't know jacks**t about linebackers he always refers to derrick brooks as a middle linebacker, he thinks the reason derrick johnson fell in the draft is because he was to small johnson is 6'3 242 pounds and hasn't had a full season of nfl conditioning.... simmons is not overrated he is good but no one hypes him up... i like LJ but i don't think he will ever take simmons job beacuse i don't think he could last a full season as a starter.

[bengalsLB]

oh and james farrior isn't underrated until last year he had basicly the same type

of career as simmons. last he had a great year but he should prove he can do it again before anyone calls him elite the most underrated linebacker in the league is london fletcher or donnie ewards they both play on a probowl level but get no recognition

[badassBENGAL]

Who died and made "overrated" Cris Carter an authority on LB's? Wasn't he a WR? How long has he been out of the league?

I would rather have 3 Simmons' as my LB's than I would have 1 superstar and 2 average LB's. Any day.

Darn I thought Chris Carter was pretty darn good

8 time probowler, but as a WR. How is Brian overrated when he gets NO press at all? This is stupid. f**k Carter

[badassBENGAL]

Nonsense.

Brian Simmons is only overrated in Madden games.

What fan would actually list him as one of the top 10-15 linebackers in the league?

Exactly. Maybe he just got done playing Madden. Probably where his dumbass gets the info to write all his articles. He should be more around 85-86, but they have him like a 91. Carter's a dumbass.

[Stripes]

NFL Linebackers more overrated than Brian Simmons:

1.) Ray Lewis (lost a step)

2.) Brian Urlacher (compiles more tackles 5 yards past the line than any linebacker I've ever seen)

3.) James Farrior (one big season last year, but only above agerage as a career)

If anything, Simmons is UNDERRATED. He's a perrennial 100 tackle players that is never mentioned as anywhere near the same league as the big name linebackers. How can a player that is never spoken of outside of fans of his team be overrated? More importantly, what makes Cris Carter a legitimate source for such an article?

[kingwilly]

Hey, what can ya say, we should be pleased we have someone even mention a Bengal on thier list. Carter is wrong only in so far as whoever (Madden) has Simmons rated so high must be on the sauce (Outback steak sauce).

Simmons is a very solid, steady and smart LB. He is netiher flashy nor over-hyped. I think Collinsworth must have planted this one on Carter, just to give him something to argue about on HBO.

[bengalboomer7]

I think he's overrated, but not the most overrated. I like the guy that said Urlacher. He nevers does s**t and gets hyped up like crazy

[HairOnFire]

For the record, I've felt Simmons has been slipping for several seasons now and I haven't been shy about saying it. He was always a speed guy but now he gets manhandled against physical teams like Pittsburgh and Baltimore....and I'm talking about getting whipped all game long. So if the young players turn out as planned I think his days are numbered. Specifically, that means he'll probably find himself on a bubble next year.

[CBin2k7]

Back on football, Brian Urlacher is very overrated. And I do hope Landon supplants B. Simmons on the weak side.

[schweinhart]

I respect B-Simmons ability on the field. He's the greatest weakside backer the Bengals got this year.

[Rimington over Marino]

national media does hate the Bengals, always has. For years Takeo and Brian were the focal point of the whole defense. He has better players around him now. He isn't as good as he was but maybe he doesn't have to be.

Could it be that they just go at Landon and Caleb now? They are piling up tackles because the play is ran to their side more.