Post by Banana Cat on Oct 15, 2010 10:50:53 GMT -5
www.rrstar.com/sports/x1722972299/Former-Raptors-standout-finally-gets-his-shot-at-NFL
Former Raptors standout finally gets his shot at NFL
By Jay Taft / RRSTAR.COM
Oct 12, 2010
A year ago, former Rock River Raptors linebacker Maurice Simpkins was working 9 to 5 as a computer programmer, trying to find his niche in life while keeping in shape “just in case” football was introduced back into his life.
In August, it was. And on Sunday, he became the first former Raptors player to suit up in the National Football League.
“It’s been a long journey, but I feel so blessed right now. I actually made it,” Simpkins said in a telephone interview. “I’ve been ready for this for a long time, I just wasn’t sure if it would ever happen. I can’t tell you how excited I was, especially to play in the game last weekend.”
Simpkins was recruited by the Raptors out of Coastal Carolina, where he led the team in tackles as a junior and senior and was a first-team all-conference linebacker. He was a standout defensive player for the indoor Raptors in 2007 and ’08, and he led the team in tackles with 78 in 2008.
Simpkins left after the ’08 season, and the Raptors suspended play after the 2009 season. Simpkins was out of football, working as a software programmer with the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. He later became an independent consultant while in Atlanta from the end of 2008 until February 2010.
That’s when football came calling again. His former Raptors coach, Rik Richards, brought him up to Green Bay to play with the Blizzard in the Indoor Football League. They played their games in the Resch Center, just across the street from Lambeau Field, and Simpkins and his agent peppered the Packers with game film, stats and highlights of Simpkins’ play in hopes of landing a tryout.
It worked.
After he was named the IFL’s Most Improved Player of the Year and made first-team All-IFL, the Packers brought him in for a workout.
“We just hassled the Packers, and stayed on them. They were interested, so I kept them informed on how I was doing,” Simpkins said. “I kept telling myself I could get my shot, and I did.”
The 6-foot, 236-pounder had a tryout 10 days into Green Bay’s training camp, and he stuck with the team through the rest of camp. In the preseason finale at Kansas City he led the defense with seven tackles, and added another one on special teams. He then earned himself a practice squad contract, and even traveled with the team in Week 1 when it went to Philadelphia.
Then when linebackers Nick Barnett and Brandon Chillar went down with early-season injuries, Simpkins got the call he was waiting for Thursday.
“I’ve played football my whole life,” he said, “and that was the call I had been waiting for for 20 years.”
Listed as the No. 3 left inside linebacker behind A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop, Simpkins played on the kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return teams in last week’s 16-13 overtime loss to Washington.
“I was calm. There were some butterflies and some jitters, but I’ve been playing football my whole life, and I’ve learned how to control the pregame nerves pretty well,” he said.
“From the moment I went out there for warmups, and then hit the field for the first play of the game, I just kept telling myself: ‘This is just another football game.’ ”
He had one unofficial assisted tackle and two knock-down blocks on returns. He also had one kickoff return for no yards.
“What a huge piece of news that was for the Raptors. He came here straight out of college, and I’m real excited that he worked so hard and finally got that opportunity,” said Dave Jones, on the Raptors coaching staff from 2005-09 and the head coach the last two seasons. “I was so glad I had the opportunity to coach him. He was a great teammate and an excellent leader. This position and opportunity couldn’t have come to a better guy.”
Simpkins is the only former Raptors player to suit up with an NFL team. Defensive lineman Anthony Harris also had a couple of NFL workouts, but never caught on with a team. He went to OTA’s with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008, but he never made the active roster.
Now Simpkins is hoping this was just the beginning.
“I hope this was the start of prosperous career with the Green Bay Packers. I rode out the storm and got to accomplish my ultimate goal, but I’m not done yet,” Simpkins added. “At first I had to pinch myself a few times, but now I’m all about doing what it takes to keep myself here. I’m going to take every week with the same mindset: Play Green Bay football, and stay focused.”
The Maurice Simpkins file
Age: 27
Hometown: Leesville, S.C.
Height, weight.: 6-foot, 236 pounds
College: Coastal Carolina
College highlights: Led the team in tackles and was a first team All-Big South Conference player in both 2003 and ’04.
Raptors highlights: Simpkins was the starting linebacker for the Rock River Raptors in 2007 and ’08, leading the team in tackles with 78 in 2008.
Packers highlights: An offseason workout earned him a spot in training camp. He was released and signed to the practice squad after the exhibition season, and was called up to the active roster Thursday. He then played on the kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return teams in last week’s 16-13 overtime loss to Washington. He had one unofficial assisted tackle and two knock-down blocks on returns.
By Jay Taft / RRSTAR.COM
Oct 12, 2010
A year ago, former Rock River Raptors linebacker Maurice Simpkins was working 9 to 5 as a computer programmer, trying to find his niche in life while keeping in shape “just in case” football was introduced back into his life.
In August, it was. And on Sunday, he became the first former Raptors player to suit up in the National Football League.
“It’s been a long journey, but I feel so blessed right now. I actually made it,” Simpkins said in a telephone interview. “I’ve been ready for this for a long time, I just wasn’t sure if it would ever happen. I can’t tell you how excited I was, especially to play in the game last weekend.”
Simpkins was recruited by the Raptors out of Coastal Carolina, where he led the team in tackles as a junior and senior and was a first-team all-conference linebacker. He was a standout defensive player for the indoor Raptors in 2007 and ’08, and he led the team in tackles with 78 in 2008.
Simpkins left after the ’08 season, and the Raptors suspended play after the 2009 season. Simpkins was out of football, working as a software programmer with the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. He later became an independent consultant while in Atlanta from the end of 2008 until February 2010.
That’s when football came calling again. His former Raptors coach, Rik Richards, brought him up to Green Bay to play with the Blizzard in the Indoor Football League. They played their games in the Resch Center, just across the street from Lambeau Field, and Simpkins and his agent peppered the Packers with game film, stats and highlights of Simpkins’ play in hopes of landing a tryout.
It worked.
After he was named the IFL’s Most Improved Player of the Year and made first-team All-IFL, the Packers brought him in for a workout.
“We just hassled the Packers, and stayed on them. They were interested, so I kept them informed on how I was doing,” Simpkins said. “I kept telling myself I could get my shot, and I did.”
The 6-foot, 236-pounder had a tryout 10 days into Green Bay’s training camp, and he stuck with the team through the rest of camp. In the preseason finale at Kansas City he led the defense with seven tackles, and added another one on special teams. He then earned himself a practice squad contract, and even traveled with the team in Week 1 when it went to Philadelphia.
Then when linebackers Nick Barnett and Brandon Chillar went down with early-season injuries, Simpkins got the call he was waiting for Thursday.
“I’ve played football my whole life,” he said, “and that was the call I had been waiting for for 20 years.”
Listed as the No. 3 left inside linebacker behind A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop, Simpkins played on the kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return teams in last week’s 16-13 overtime loss to Washington.
“I was calm. There were some butterflies and some jitters, but I’ve been playing football my whole life, and I’ve learned how to control the pregame nerves pretty well,” he said.
“From the moment I went out there for warmups, and then hit the field for the first play of the game, I just kept telling myself: ‘This is just another football game.’ ”
He had one unofficial assisted tackle and two knock-down blocks on returns. He also had one kickoff return for no yards.
“What a huge piece of news that was for the Raptors. He came here straight out of college, and I’m real excited that he worked so hard and finally got that opportunity,” said Dave Jones, on the Raptors coaching staff from 2005-09 and the head coach the last two seasons. “I was so glad I had the opportunity to coach him. He was a great teammate and an excellent leader. This position and opportunity couldn’t have come to a better guy.”
Simpkins is the only former Raptors player to suit up with an NFL team. Defensive lineman Anthony Harris also had a couple of NFL workouts, but never caught on with a team. He went to OTA’s with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008, but he never made the active roster.
Now Simpkins is hoping this was just the beginning.
“I hope this was the start of prosperous career with the Green Bay Packers. I rode out the storm and got to accomplish my ultimate goal, but I’m not done yet,” Simpkins added. “At first I had to pinch myself a few times, but now I’m all about doing what it takes to keep myself here. I’m going to take every week with the same mindset: Play Green Bay football, and stay focused.”
The Maurice Simpkins file
Age: 27
Hometown: Leesville, S.C.
Height, weight.: 6-foot, 236 pounds
College: Coastal Carolina
College highlights: Led the team in tackles and was a first team All-Big South Conference player in both 2003 and ’04.
Raptors highlights: Simpkins was the starting linebacker for the Rock River Raptors in 2007 and ’08, leading the team in tackles with 78 in 2008.
Packers highlights: An offseason workout earned him a spot in training camp. He was released and signed to the practice squad after the exhibition season, and was called up to the active roster Thursday. He then played on the kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return teams in last week’s 16-13 overtime loss to Washington. He had one unofficial assisted tackle and two knock-down blocks on returns.