The Cincinnati Enquirer/ Gary Landers Brian Simmons

Takeo Spikes on his first meeting with Brian Simmons, in February 1998 in Indianapolis, at the NFL's annual scouting combine for draft-eligible college players:

"I came out of college as a junior. They don't rate juniors, but I kept up with the ratings. (Simmons) was always the top senior.

"So when we got to the combine, it was like, 'He's kind of quiet.' He was real quiet, but he was focused, and that's how he should have been. Of the first five linebackers drafted, he was the only one that ran (sprints). He was zoned out, focused. Everybody thought he was kind of stuck up, but I knew he was quiet. That was my first impression.

"Compared to me, he's more laid back. He probably won't say too much unless something is really bothering him and he knows he has to address it.

"I learned this two years ago about B-Sims: Even at times when he doesn't say anything, stuff can still bother him.

"Sometimes, I can just see it in his eyes. ... He's going to do whatever it takes get his game higher."