BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Clyde Simmons
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Clyde Simmons has appeared in two Pro Bowls and seven playoff games. He also performed for two teams that lost 10 or more games -- including the Arizona Cardinals, one of the few outfits with a longer postseason drought than Cincinnati's. He has played with the league's most dynamic defense and on another unit that allowed 422 points one year.
So whatever happens to the Bengals this season, Simmons will be able to comprehend it, analyze it and help teammates cope with it. By dint of sheer experience, the 13th-year end, who signed as a free agent on May 13, appears qualified to serve as the defensive leader the Bengals have lacked.
Simmons' style of guidance is understated.
"I don't try to do anything special, or say, "I'm older, so listen to me,' " Simmons said a few days ago while visiting the Bengals' Spinney Field training complex.
"If somebody wants to talk to me about something, they can approach me. But I don't try to force myself on anyone. I don't try to be better than anybody else or more mature. I just try to be a person."
Indeed, Simmons' mere presence ought to hearten the Bengals' defenders, who never rallied around former captains Dan Wilkinson and James Francis.
"He's someone who's been there and done that, who's always going to be a warrior," defensive end Ramondo Stallings said of Simmons. "He's a role model, big brother, any of those things. When we might get a little too high, he'll say, "Calm down, take it day by day.' With the bad things -- "Hey, it'll get better.' '
Simmons has excelled at the underappreciated art of showing up for work, having never missed a game in his career. His professionalism might be the quality the Bengals can learn from most.
"Guys sometimes think you just walk out on the field and let it happen. It takes preparation to play," said Simmons, whose 109 sacks rank seventh among active players and 11th all-time. "They have to know it's more than just playing."
Simmons' growth as a leader was seeded when his career began with the Philadelphia Eagles. As a rookie in 1986, he played alongside future Hall of Famer Reggie White, who was in his third professional season. Simmons, White and the late Jerome Brown all started in the Pro Bowl after the 1991 season when they formed a dominant defensive line.
Other quality veterans such as Greg Brown, Ken Clarke, Byron Darby and Tom Strauthers surrounded the apprentice Simmons, who played every game as a rookie but started none of them.
"They kind of took me under their wings and showed me a few things that helped me in the business," Simmons said.
With the Jacksonville Jaguars the last two seasons, Simmons received credit for helping young defensive end Tony Brackens develop. Simmons did his job so well the Jaguars released him on March 6, partly to give Brackens more playing time.
The Bengals have several linemen -- Stallings, Kimo von Oelhoffen, Jevon Langford, Andre Purvis, fourth-round draft choice Glen Steele -- who can benefit from Simmons. Of course, the absence of sixth-year veteran John Copeland, who'll probably miss at least the first month of the season with a torn left Achilles tendon, enhances Simmons' chance to make an impact.
"Especially while John's out, someone's going to have to step up in our room," Stallings said. "Any way you look at it, it's a positive thing."
RAMPANT INFLATION:
Speculation the franchise fee for the second coming of the Cleveland Browns could reach $1 billion prompted healthy disbelief from two men who once had extensive ties to the team.
"I don't know of any rational person who thinks that number may be sensible," said Cincinnati President and General Manager Mike Brown, whose father, Paul, founded both the Browns and Bengals. Brown said spending such an exorbitant sum could tax ownership's ability to support the franchise.
"I don't know if I'd invest my last billion and hope to recoup," said Jim Brown, Cleveland's star running back from 1957-65.
But the Hall of Famer added he wouldn't be surprised to see the bidding escalate that far.
"I don't put anything out of reach," Jim Brown said. "You could pay a player $1 billion if you had the money. Wouldn't mean he's worth it."
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