AFL NOTES: Rickie Simpkins has been a regular contributor on the offensive and defensive lines over the past three seasons with the Desperados. Simpkins was the club's starting defensive end through 2007 following the league's substition rule change. His experience on both sides of the ball gives Simpkins an edge as he continues his work as a defensive leader. He signed with Dallas on Dec. 12, 2004, after seeing action along the lines for the Grand Rapids Rampage the previous four seasons.

AFL 2007 (Dallas): Simpkins played in 14 games, totaling 17.5 tackles (13 solo), a half sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, three passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and forced a fumble. Simpkins had two tackles, a half sack and forced his first career fumble at New York (3/4). Against Tampa Bay (3/10) he recorded one tackle and a quarterback hurry. At Kansas City (3/16) he made one tackle. Simpkins posted three tackles, one tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry at Orlando (3/26). He had 1.5 tackles, one tackle for loss and a quarterback pressure against Austin (3/31). Simpkins logged three tackles and a quarterback hurry against Columbus (4/5). He suffered a right foot injury in the fourth quarter at Georgia (4/21) which forced him to miss the remainder of the game as well as the next two games against Nashville (4/27) and at Utah (5/4). Simpkins returned to the lineup against Chicago (5/14) to start at defensive end and contributed 2.5 tackles. He led the defensive line with two tackles and a quarterback hurry against New Orleans (6/9). Simpkins recovered a fumble against New York (6/16) and at Colorado (6/25). Simpkins led all defensive linemen with three tackles in the Divisional Playoff Game against Columbus (7/7).

AFL 2006 (Dallas): Simpkins finished the year with 11 tackles, one sack and two tackles for losses on defense, while recording a career-high seven catches for 51 yards and one score on offense. Simpkins was a staple along the offensive and defensive lines starting all 16 games. In the season opener against Kansas City (1/29) he did not allow a sack of quarterback Clint Dolezel in 35 pass attempts. At Utah (2/4) Simpkins recorded one tackle and caught two passes for 11 yards before assisting on a tackle at Columbus (2/11). Against Austin (2/17) he did not record any statistics but recorded one tackle against Las Vegas (2/25) the following week. At Chicago (3/5) Simpkins recorded his first sack of the season on defense and provided Dolezel with enough time to complete 78.1% of his passes - the fourth best single-game completion percentage in team history. At Tampa Bay (3/12) the offensive racked up a season-high 364 passing yards before setting team records for touchdown passes in a game (11) and total touchdowns in a game (12) at Orlando (3/19). Simpkins recorded one catch for seven yards against the Predators. Against Philadelphia (3/25) Simpkins posted one stop on defense before adding two tackles - one for a loss - against Columbus (4/1). At New York (4/9) Simpkins and the offensive line did not surrender a sack for the tenth time this season - seventh consecutive game. Against Grand Rapids (4/15) he posted a tackle on defense and caught a nine-yard pass on offense. At Georgia (4/22) Simpkins had two receptions for 19 yards and a touchdown and added a tackle on defense. Against Arizona (4/28) Simpkins and the offensive line did not allow a sack in 37 pass attempts. At Philadelphia (5/6) he posted 1.5 tackles on defense and the line did not allow a sack for the 14th time this season. Against New York (5/12) he had one catch for 10 yards and his pressure on defense helped force the Dragons into five turnovers. Against Georgia (5/27) in the Divsional Playoff Game, Simpkins recorded one reception for two yards and had two assisted tackles on defense. In the Conference Championship Game against Orlando (6/4) Simpkins and Co. did not allow a sack in 47 pass attempts.

AFL 2005 (Dallas): Simpkins set career-highs for total tackles (16.5), tackles for losses (two) and tied his career-best with three receptions. In his Dallas debut against Chicago (1/30), Simpkins posted 1.5 stops, then picked up his first catch as a Desperado - a 20-yarder - at New York (2/6). Against Columbus (2/13) he added his first sack with Dallas and a 10-yard catch to the goal line. Against Orlando (2/17) he picked up his second sack after forcing Chad Salisbury into an intentional grounding penalty. He posted 2.5 tackles at Philadelphia (2/27) before catching a pass for a career-high 27 yards at Austin (3/13). Simpkins was part of an offensive line that did not surrender a sack in 30 pass attempts at Los Angeles (3/18). He tallied a tackle and a pressure against Colorado (3/25) and a tackle at San Jose (4/15) before missing the game at Columbus (4/22) with a left elbow injury. He returned to the lineup against New York (4/29) and posted 1.5 stops, and then tied for the team lead with four tackles at Las Vegas (5/7). He added a tackle while not surrendering a sack in 32 pass attempts at Georgia (5/14) before closing out the season with a tackle against Philadelphia (5/22).

AFL 2004 (Grand Rapids): Simpkins played in five games for the Rampage and tallied 5.5 tackles, half a sack and half a tackle for a loss. He made his 2004 debut against Los Angeles (3/14) notching an assisted tackle on a sack. At Indiana (3/16) he recorded his only catch of the season, a nine-yard touchdown grab. He added a tackle against Arizona (4/4) before posting a career-high four stops at Detroit (4/10). He did not record any statistics against Indiana (4/17), then did not play the remainder of the season.

AFL 2003 (Grand Rapids): Simpkins saw time in five games for Grand Rapids and recorded three catches for 12 yards and five tackles, two pass breakups and an interception on defense. He made his 2003 debut at Indiana (4/5), registering one solo and two assisted tackles and two receptions for two yards. He did not play the next two weeks but returned to the lineup to post one stop at Chicago (4/27). He added another tackle at San Jose (5/3). He did not record any statistics against Indiana (5/11) then added a stop and a catch for 10 yards in the season finale against Dallas (5/18). In the playoff loss against Detroit (5/25), Simpkins notched 1.5 stops.

AFL 2002 (Grand Rapids): Simpkins played in eight games for Grand Rapids and recorded 4.5 tackles, two sacks, 1.5 tackles for a loss and two receptions for 20 yards and a touchdown. In the season opener against Detroit (4/20), Simpkins posted a tackle. He did not play the next two games, but returned to the field against Orlando (5/11) and registered a sack. At Indiana (6/29) Simpkins notched two more tackles before adding 1.5 tackles for losses and one sack at New York (7/13). In the season finale at Detroit (7/19), he registered his only two catches of the season for 20 yards and his first career touchdown. In the Rampage's lone playoff game against Carolina (7/28), Simpkins posted a tackle and an 18-yard touchdown reception.

AFL 2001 (Grand Rapids): Simpkins made his AFL debut with Grand Rapids in the season finale at Buffalo (7/20), but did not record any statistics. He was deactivated through the Rampage's playoff run.

COLLEGE: As a senior, Simpkins was named to the All-Big East team as he led the Orangemen with 22 quarterback hurries and led all Big East defensive linemen by averaging 7.7 tackles-per-game (69 total tackles). Simpkins was second on the team with 4.5 sacks while recording nine tackles for a loss among 53 total tackles as a junior. Simpkins started 11-of-12 contests as a sophomore, finishing with 35 tackles and one sack. Simpkins was one-of-four true freshman to play, finishing with four tackles.

PERSONAL: Simpkins, a sociology major, was a standout defensive lineman at Christ the King High School in Queens, N.Y. He was rated the 13th best player on the East Coast by SuperPrep magazine after being named all-state, all-league and all-borough as a senior. In 2005, Simpkins spent time working on homework, helping coach basketball and playing pool with some of the West Dallas Boys & Girls Club youth members as part of the Desperados Impact Player Program - an annual team initiative to make a difference in the lives of children in North Texas. Through the 2006 season, Simpkins was also an active participant in the Impact Player Program, making visits to the Maple Lawn Boys & Girls Club and the Oak Cliff Boys & Girls Club. He also visited Cottrell House, a juvenile detention center in Dallas with fellow teammates Jeff Chase and Devin Wyman.