Sims defends his size

You got to give Ernie Sims credit.

He didn't lie about his height.

The new Eagles linebacker was introduced at the NovaCare Complex today and when I went to shake his hand I noticed that at six-feet tall I had an inch or two on him. Sims is listed at 6-foot, 230 pounds.

"You're right, I'm not the biggest linebacker -- six-feet, maybe six feet and 225 [pounds] is my natural weight," Sims said. "But I feel very explosive and I feel very quick and fast."

How fast is Sims?

He said he ran a 4.50 40-yard dash at the Indianapolis combine four years ago. I'd imagine he still runs in that vicinity, which is very fast for a linebacker. He said his fastest time in the 40 is the 4.38 he ran as a junior at Florida State.

The Eagles are hoping they found the solution to their annual trouble of covering a linebacker.

"I feel like covering tight ends, that's where I use my speed," Sims said. "That's the name of my game -- speed. I definitely feel like there's not a lot of tight ends that can run away from me."

Sims met with the Eagles' coaches today.

"They want to put me in at the [weak-side linebacker] position," Sims said.

If that ends up being the case, Sims will compete with Akeem Jordan for the job. Eagles GM Howie Roseman also said that the Eagles think Sims can play strong-side linebacker in certain situations.

"It won't be all the time guaranteed, but ... when you get to the third down distance and other situations, where you know the tight end is going to get the ball, you want to put a good player on him," Sims said.