Bengals take DT Sims in third

The Bengals finally addressed a pressing need at defensive tackle and took Auburn's Pat Sims in the third round this morning with the 77th overall pick. He is 6 feet, 2 inches and 310 pounds.

By Mark Curnutte
mcurnutte@enquirer.com

In 2005, defensive tackle Pat Sims quit the Auburn football team to cope with the death of one of his four sisters, Vonda Nimmo, who had a heart attack at age 31.

“She was the first person I called mom,” said Sims, a defensive tackle taken this morning by the Bengals with the 77th overall pick in the NFL draft.

Sims, who fills a gaping need at defensive tackle for the Bengals, started all 13 games for Auburn last season and had 37 total tackles, including 4.5 sacks.

He left the team after two games of the 2005 season to cope with his half-sister’s death.

“I still think about her every day,” Sims, 23, said.

After staying on campus and in school, he asked coaches to return to the team in 2006. He played in all 13 games, though he did not start, and had three sacks.

“In my head, I missed football,” he said. “It was time to get back. (He missed) everything, hitting, the ability to tackle. It was not a good year. I needed time to get myself together.”

He appears to have an appreciation for the game that comes with time away from it.

Sims, at 6 feet, 2 inches, 310 pounds, was projected as a second-round pick.

“He’s a very, very strong man,” Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said this morning. “He had to grow up and come through some things. We’re happy with that selection.”

In 2007, Sims played seven games with a cast on his left hand after breaking a bone in his middle finger in practice.

“In the Mississippi State game, he made play after play after play with that cast on his hand,” said Bengals defensive line coach Jay Hayes, who came away impressed with Sims’ toughness.

Sims is the youngest of 10 children. In addition to the loss of his half-sister, he said he had a brother die, as well.

His father is a retired longshoreman who still holds jobs building houses and as a janitor.

“He’s always working,” Sims said of his father. “He can’t sit still.”

Movement describes Sims’ game, as well.

“I can bring penetration (as a pass rusher),” Sims said. “I can stop the run.”