Billy Sims 1983-84

[Bryan]

I was reading some old 1980's Detroit Lions literature, and came across a 1983 review that said Billy Sims played the first 8 games of 1983 with injury but was much better in the 2nd half of the season when he was healthy. I looked up his gamelogs and that indeed was true. Sims also got off to a very good start in 1984 before suffering a career ending injury in Week 8, dueling with Eric Dickerson for the rushing lead.

I thought it would be interesting to combine his last 8 games of 1983 and his 8 games of 1984 to form a full 16-game season for Sims. Here is what he did:

303 carries, 1537 yards, 5.1 YPC, 10 TDs...60 receptions for 559 yards, 9.3 average. Pretty impressive.

[sheajets]

Amazing indeed. Can't say I was ever a fan as an Oklahoma State grad but I loved watching him play. And do eat at his BBQ

if he did stay healthy, how much longer could he have lasted though? He absolutely showed no signs of slowing down. But he was also 29 in 1984. Even today 29 for a back is when they start to turn and decline

[BD Sullivan]

Sims had originally signed a five-year contract to play with the USFL's Houston Gamblers in July 1983--then signed a five-year contract with the Lions that December. Detroit sued, in part because of the huge conflict of interest in Argovitz being owner of the Gamblers, stating that he had deliberately not told Sims of the Lions' offer that summer.