Editing Billy Sims (section)

==National Football League==
[[File:Bob Gregor.jpg|thumb|Sims ''(with ball)'' against the [[San Diego Chargers]] in 1981]]
As was widely expected,<ref name="martz19791128">{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OaBIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fHwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4823%2C3685846 |title=BIG RED: When OU fans go to games, it's like going to church |last=Martz |first=Ron |date=November 28, 1979 |work=St. Petersburg Times |access-date=January 5, 2019 |pages=1C,5C}}</ref> Sims was the first overall pick in the [[1980 NFL draft]]. He spent his career with the [[Detroit Lions]], making the [[Pro Bowl]] in 1980, 1981, and 1982. Sims led Detroit to the playoffs in 1982 and 1983, but they lost in their first game in both appearances. In the 1983 NFC divisional playoff game at [[Candlestick Park]] against the [[San Francisco 49ers]], Sims ran for 114 yards on 20 carries, but [[Joe Montana]] led the 49ers to a comeback victory, as Detroit kicker [[Eddie Murray (American football)|Eddie Murray]] missed a potential game-winning field goal in the waning moments.

In 1983, Sims' agent, Jerry Argovitz, took control of a [[USFL]] expansion franchise, the [[Houston Gamblers]]. On July 1, 1983, while seeking a new pact from the Lions, Sims secretly signed a five-year, $3.5 million contract with the Gamblers; in December, he also signed a new, five-year, $4.5 million contract extension with Detroit. The matter wound up in court, and on February 10, 1984, a federal judge voided the Houston pact, sending Sims back to Detroit.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/99100344/ Lions win Sims, ''Detroit Free Press'', 19 February 1984, p. 1A</ref>

Sims' career ultimately ended midway through the 1984 season when he suffered a catastrophic right knee injury in a game against the [[Minnesota Vikings]] on October 21; in that game, Sims set the all-time Lions rushing record (now held by [[Barry Sanders]]) with 5,106 yards on 1,131 carries, or 4.5 yards per carry.<ref>The '84 Lions won that game to up their record to 3-5, but without Sims won only one game in the second half of the season to finish a 4-11-1. (Despite missing half the season, Sims still led the Lions with 687 rushing yards.)</ref> Sims also caught 186 passes for 2,072 yards (11.1 yards per catch). He spent two years attempting to rehabilitate his knee before finally retiring in 1986.<ref name=rehab>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19881220&id=sqhdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=S10NAAAAIBAJ&pg=5917,6596767 "A Billy Sims Comeback?"] [[Observer-Reporter]], December 20, 1988. ''Google Books.'' Retrieved November 16, 2014.</ref>

Sims remains a beloved sports figure in Detroit.<ref name=beloved>[http://www.detroitlions.com/team/history/gridiron-heroes/billysims.html "Detroit Lions Gridiron Heroes: Billy Sims."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113181618/http://www.detroitlions.com/team/history/gridiron-heroes/billysims.html |date=November 13, 2014 }} ''www.detroitlions.com.'' Retrieved November 16, 2014.</ref> His team uniform number 20 was worn five years after his retirement by [[Barry Sanders]], and is currently retired as an unofficial "[[triumvirate]]" of the greatest Lions in the modern era to ever wear the number, which also includes [[NFL Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] [[defensive back]] [[Lem Barney]].

===Comeback attempt===
In 1988, four years after the knee injury that forced his retirement, Sims announced he was attempting a comeback with the Lions for the [[1989 Detroit Lions season|1989 season]], which would be Sanders' rookie year. He told ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' columnist [[Mitch Albom]], that he was "as fit as he was in 1983."  He offered to play the season with a [[blank check]], allowing Lions management to assess his value and fill in the salary amount accordingly. Sims hoped to meet with Lions general manager [[Russ Thomas]] and owner [[William Clay Ford Sr.]] to discuss a spot on the team's roster.<ref name=comeback>[[Associated Press]]. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-12-19-mn-525-story.html "IN BRIEF : Sims Hoping for Detroit Comeback."] [[Los Angeles Times]], December 19, 1988. Retrieved November 16, 2014.</ref> Despite some interest from Lions head coach [[Wayne Fontes]],<ref name=wayne>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19881220&id=sqhdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=S10NAAAAIBAJ&pg=5917,6596767 "A Billy Sims Comeback?"] [[Observer-Reporter]], December 20, 1988. [[Google News Archive]]. Retrieved November 201, 2014.</ref> Sims never returned to the NFL.