Ernie Sims Ernie Sims III ( born December 23 , 1984 ) is an American football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft . After a heralded high school career , he played college football at Florida State . Sims has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Indianapolis Colts . Early years . A native of Tallahassee , Florida , Sims attended North Florida Christian High School , where he began his high school football career by earning a varsity letter while only in the eighth grade , a feat not often heard of . A two - way player at running back and linebacker , Sims earned a total of five varsity letters . Playing in Class A , Florida ' s smallest classification , Sims led the Eagles to four state championships from 1998 to 2001 . In his senior year , however , North Florida was eliminated in the region semifinals of the Class A playoffs , losing to Jay 19 – 14 . As a junior , totaled 180 tackles , 41 tackles for loss , 12 sacks and forced seven fumbles on defense and rushed for over 600 yards and 17 touchdowns as a tailback . During his senior year , Sims registerd 133 tackles ( 73 solo stops ) , 15 tackles for lost yardage , six forced fumbles , seven fumble recoveries and one blocked field goal attempt from his linebacker position and ran for 1 , 081 yards on 115 carries for 23 touchdowns as a running back . Sims earned All - American honors by " Parade " and " USA Today " . Regarded as a five - star recruit by " Rivals . com " , Sims was ranked as the No . 1 inside linebacker in his class . In fact , he was also listed as the No . 1 prospect overall , ahead of Reggie Bush and Whitney Lewis . , Sims remains the only linebacker ranked atop of the " Rivals " annual rankings . Recruited by virtually every school in the nation , Sims took official visits to Georgia , Florida , Auburn , Miami ( FL ) , and Florida State . On National Signing Day , Sims chose the Seminoles over the Gators . College career . At Florida State , Sims wore # 34 , a number that was retired in honor of former Seminole football player , Ron Sellers . Sellers gave Sims and the university permission for Sims to wear the jersey number . In 2003 , as a true freshman at Florida State , Sims played in all 13 games of the season , including the Orange Bowl against Miami ( FL ) , as a back - up outside linebacker . He finished ninth on the team with 42 tackles , and added two tackles for lost yardage , two pass break - ups , three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble . Sims was also one of the Seminoles ' top special teams performers . He earned ACC Rookie of the Week for his efforts against Wake Forest , which included a season - high 10 tackles . As a sophomore , Sims played in all 12 games , and made the starting lineup by the second week . For his exceptional play on the field in 2004 , Sims was named to the second All - ACC team and ESPN named Sims to their first team All - American team . He finished second on the team with a single - season career - high 86 tackles , behind only A . J . Nicholson ( 88 ) . Sims also recorded a singe - season career - high nine tackles for lost yardage , 4 . 5 quarterback sacks , nine quarterback hurries , five pass break - ups , two forced fumbles and a blocked kick . In three games ( North Carolina , Duke , and Florida ) , Sims recorded double - digit tackles , including a career - high 12 tackles against the Gators . In the Seminoles ' 36 – 3 victory over Virginia , he had nine tackles , a career - high two sacks and a blocked punt . Sims followed that performance with eight tackles , one tackle for lost yardage , a sack and a pass break - up against Wake Forest . Each of those weeks , Sims earned ACC Defensive Back of the Week , as the only player in the ACC to earn the ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors multiple times during the season . In July 2005 , Sims was arrested on charges of battery and resisting an officer , allegedly shoving his then - girlfriend “ repeatedly to the ground ” during an argument in the parking lot of a FSU residence hall . Expectations for his junior year were high , as " The Sporting News " and other publications named him to their pre - season All - American teams . Sims had a productive , but not spectacular junior season , starting all 13 games , including the Orange Bowl . Sims majored in Environmental Studies at Florida State . In January 2006 , Sims announced that he would forgo his senior season to enter the draft . Professional career . 2006 NFL Draft . Described as a “ three - down linebacker who plays bigger than his listed size , ” Sims was selected as ninth overall in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions . He was the highest selected Seminoles defender since Corey Simon in 2000 . Detroit Lions . Sims was targeted by Lions general manager Matt Millen to bolster the Lions ' defense at weakside linebacker . On July 30 , 2006 , he signed a 5 - year , $ 15 . 735 million contract with $ 12 . 1 million guaranteed . Sims started all 16 games his rookie season at outside linebacker , collecting 124 tackles ( 81 solo tackles ) and was credited with a half sack and one pass deflection . On December 3 , against the New England Patriots , Sims had a career high 13 total tackles . On December 31 , Sims made a key tackle on fourth down to give the Lions a big win against the Dallas Cowboys . On September 3 , 2007 , Sims was named one of five captains for the 2007 Detroit Lions . The Lions former head coach , Rod Marinelli , said that Sims ' resembled that of Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks in his early years , being described as a fast , punishing , sure - tackler . Philadelphia Eagles . Sims was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles on April 19 , 2010 in a three - team trade . The Denver Broncos sent tight end Tony Scheffler and a seventh - round draft pick in 2010 to the Detroit Lions , the Lions sent Sims to the Eagles , and the Eagles sent a fifth - round draft pick in 2010 to the Broncos . Indianapolis Colts . On August 2 , 2011 , Sims signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an unrestricted free agent . Dallas Cowboys . After the loss of Sean Lee to injury , on October 24 , 2012 , the Dallas Cowboys signed him as an unrestricted free agent to provide depth at linebacker . Sims quickly became a starter by his second game ( against the Atlanta Falcons ) and eventually the unit ' s defensive play caller , after injuries decimated the position further . He recorded 10 tackles in the Cowboys ’ emotional week 14 , win against the Cincinnati Bengals , a day after the team received news of the death of Jerry Brown and the arrest of Josh Brent . On March 18 , 2013 , Sims was signed to a one - year contract with the Cowboys for the 2013 season at the league minimum salary . Personal . On May 29 , 2009 , Sims married Brooke McGriff , who is pursuing a degree in Education at Tallahassee Community College . Sims ' mother , Alice Sims , formerly Alice Bennett , was an All - America n sprinter on the Florida State track and field team from 1980 through 1983 . His younger brother , Marcus Sims , a highly regarded high school running back , announced in February 2006 that he will also play his college football at Florida State before transferring to the University of North Alabama . His father Ernie , Sr . was also a running back at Florida State . Sims owns an extremely large collection of animals : 20 dogs , 28 different types of reptiles , several horses , and a monkey . Fox produced a segment for the Lions ' game against the Minnesota Vikings in Detroit in 2007 which showcased his pets .