Steelers “Sour 16” Bracket Round 2: Daryl Sims vs John Rienstra

The second round of the Steelers “Sour 16” continues with another Noll Region matchup. Last time around, Huey Richardson had 341 tallies, which was 72% of the vote over Tom Ricketts and advances to the third round.

Reluctantly competing to join him in the finals of the Noll bracket will be Daryl Sims and John Rienstra. Two picks from 1985 and 1986 respectively. It was a two-year stretch of less than stellar picks. Thankfully, they were sandwiched by Louis Lipps and Rod Woodson

Sims lasted two seasons in Pittsburgh and never replicated his success as a Defensive Tackle at the University of Wisconsin. The Badger was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 1981, 1982 and 1984. Sims had 24 tackles for a loss in 1982, one of the best in school history. He is in the top 10 with 11 collegiate sacks. With the Steelers, the current Chancellor and Athletic Director at Wisconsin Oshkosh had three sacks and zero career starts.

Rienstra, like Sims, spent two years after his Steeler career with Cleveland. The 6’5” and 273 lb Guard from Temple started 48 games in five years with the Steelers, but never had the career expected from the ninth pick of the 1986 draft. Rienstra was described by Tunch Ilkin in a Steeler Sports Report from 1998 as being one of the most committed players to staying in shape that he ever played with, however stress, vomiting and ulcers hampered “Rhino”, as well as a 24-day rookie holdout, a broken foot on the first day of rookie camp and the ire of Chuck Noll.

Who is moving on? You decide. And as always, keep checking in to BTSC for the “Sour 16” and everything Steelers.