58-4ever
09-11-2006, 10:05 PM
College tattoos keep Bucs QB, Texans assistant bonded for life
By JOHN MCCLAIN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
Chris Simms and Kyle Shanahan became such good friends at the University of Texas that they have their initials tattooed on each other's lower leg.
Simms, the Tampa Bay quarterback who will play briefly in tonight's preseason game against the Texans, enters the season as a starter for the first time since 2002, his last year with the Longhorns.
Shanahan, who was a quality control coach for the Buccaneers the last two years, is in his first season as the Texans' receivers coach.
"We're best friends, and we'll be best friends for life," Simms said about Shanahan this week. "We hit it off from day one. We had a common bond in that our fathers (former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms and Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan) have been such a big part of the NFL for a long time.
"We talk at least once a week. We're obsessed with the game. We have a great love for football, and we're constantly talking about it."
Both players remember when they went with three other close friends and UT teammates — tight end Bo Scaife, defensive back Rod Babers and receiver Montrell Flowers — to get their tattoos.
"Kyle was a real wimp about it," Simms said. "He got a small one on his ankle. He was afraid his mom and dad would see it, so he keeps it hidden underneath his socks."
Shanahan has a different version of the experience in which each player got the initials of the other four tattooed on his lower leg.
"Let me tell you what really happened," Shanahan said. "Chris was dying to get a tattoo. When we got to the (tattoo parlor), I was the only one who already didn't have one. It wasn't any big deal for the others.
"I had to be a man about it. I got one out of loyalty to my buddies. Now, Chris, he got one the size of his calf, but I didn't want one that big because I didn't want to show off."
Indelibly inked
Before the Texans' kickoff luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Downtown on Wednesday, Shanahan lifted his pants leg to display the tattoo that binds him with his four close friends and former teammates.
"I met Chris for the first time right after I transferred to Texas (from Duke) in January (of 2000)," Shanahan said. "I was the new wide receiver, and one day I was in the dressing room. Chris came up, introduced himself and asked if I'd run some routes for him. I said, 'Sure.'
"Later, he invited me out to dinner. We hit it off immediately, and we've been best friends ever since."
When Simms was heavily criticized as a Longhorns quarterback who never did measure up the way UT fans demanded, Shanahan suffered with him.
"I'm so proud of Chris," Shanahan said. "He's one of the most mentally tough guys I've ever met. He experienced a lot of negativism in college, and I think it made him stronger and more determined.
"No matter what happened, no matter what was said about him, Chris always managed to stay focused."
By JOHN MCCLAIN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
Chris Simms and Kyle Shanahan became such good friends at the University of Texas that they have their initials tattooed on each other's lower leg.
Simms, the Tampa Bay quarterback who will play briefly in tonight's preseason game against the Texans, enters the season as a starter for the first time since 2002, his last year with the Longhorns.
Shanahan, who was a quality control coach for the Buccaneers the last two years, is in his first season as the Texans' receivers coach.
"We're best friends, and we'll be best friends for life," Simms said about Shanahan this week. "We hit it off from day one. We had a common bond in that our fathers (former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms and Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan) have been such a big part of the NFL for a long time.
"We talk at least once a week. We're obsessed with the game. We have a great love for football, and we're constantly talking about it."
Both players remember when they went with three other close friends and UT teammates — tight end Bo Scaife, defensive back Rod Babers and receiver Montrell Flowers — to get their tattoos.
"Kyle was a real wimp about it," Simms said. "He got a small one on his ankle. He was afraid his mom and dad would see it, so he keeps it hidden underneath his socks."
Shanahan has a different version of the experience in which each player got the initials of the other four tattooed on his lower leg.
"Let me tell you what really happened," Shanahan said. "Chris was dying to get a tattoo. When we got to the (tattoo parlor), I was the only one who already didn't have one. It wasn't any big deal for the others.
"I had to be a man about it. I got one out of loyalty to my buddies. Now, Chris, he got one the size of his calf, but I didn't want one that big because I didn't want to show off."
Indelibly inked
Before the Texans' kickoff luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Downtown on Wednesday, Shanahan lifted his pants leg to display the tattoo that binds him with his four close friends and former teammates.
"I met Chris for the first time right after I transferred to Texas (from Duke) in January (of 2000)," Shanahan said. "I was the new wide receiver, and one day I was in the dressing room. Chris came up, introduced himself and asked if I'd run some routes for him. I said, 'Sure.'
"Later, he invited me out to dinner. We hit it off immediately, and we've been best friends ever since."
When Simms was heavily criticized as a Longhorns quarterback who never did measure up the way UT fans demanded, Shanahan suffered with him.
"I'm so proud of Chris," Shanahan said. "He's one of the most mentally tough guys I've ever met. He experienced a lot of negativism in college, and I think it made him stronger and more determined.
"No matter what happened, no matter what was said about him, Chris always managed to stay focused."