Phil Simms lets 'Redskins' name slip during Thursday night's NFL broadcast (VIDEO)

Phil Simms reiterated this week that he would try avoid using the word "Redskins" on CBS' broadcast of the Washington-New York Giants game Thursday night.

But it seems old habits die hard after Simms almost made it through the game without using the R-Word, he slipped early in the fourth quarter, and then tried to backtrack.

“Can the Redskins . . . can the Washington offensive line hang in there and block?” Simms said.

Simms' partner in the booth, play-by-play man Jim Nantz, referred to the Redskins by name on multiple occasions while the former Giants quarterback awkwardly called them "the Washington team" early in the nationally televised game.

"Will I refer to their nickname? Look, I have already done it," Simms told The MMQB's Richard Deitsch , and he did mention the Redskins by name during last Thursday's Atlanta-Tampa Bay game. "It is a habit. I played for 15 years [for the Giants] and they were a bitter rival. There is a chance I could slip.

"I don’t want to be overwhelmed by it."

Before the game, Simms also also accidentally let the name "Redskins" slip. And the look on Nantz's slightly cringing face as Simms stutters through it is quite noticeable:

Phil Simms says Eli Manning isn't one of the NFL's elite

How bad are things for Eli Manning.  Bad enough that former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms would actually demote Manning from the ranks of the elite.

Simms didn't hold back anything when he was asked about the two-time Super Bowl MVP winner on "NFL Monday Quarterback" on CBS Sports Network.

"No, he's not one of the elites.  Because when I hear the word "elite," I'm thinking about guys that can make unbelievable plays on the field by themselves," said Simms — a Super Bowl MVP himself.

"There are very few quarterbacks in that category.  Yes, Eli has been a tremendous team player.  he has been MVP of the Super Bowl twice.  I know that. But the way I look at it, the answer is no."

The once beleaguered Manning got himself into tossed into the comparisons with the NFL's best quarterbacks after he said he saw himself as an elite quarterback when asked prior to the 2011 season.  He backed it up by leading  the Giants to a second Lombardi Trophy in five years.

Manning started this season where he left off in February — and was an early MVP candidate— but a three game slump, where he has failed to throw a touchdown pass, has sparked the debates about whether his skills or a couple of lucky catches made him a winner.

One Hall of Fame quarterback has come to Manning's defense.

"You can't spell elite without Eli.  The pressure situations that Eli has thrived in over his short career in my mind make him an elite quarterback," said former San Diego Charger Dan Fouts, who also appeared on the show. " All you have to do is look back at his two Super Bowl wins and the way he beat the Patriots."

While Manning takes a few days off from throwing during the Giants bye week, the debate will rage over whether or not his arm is tired.  Exhausted or not, he still has three fourth-quarter comebacks this season.

"I have to give him a nod and say Eli is elite," added Fouts.

Phil Simms' son Matt signs with rival Jets

To many New York Giants fans, Matt Simms — the son of Big Blue quarterback legend Phil Simms— has crossed over to the Dark Side after signing on with the New York Jets.  Yesterday, the undrafted Simms was signed by Rex Ryan and his Gang Green after giving Simms a tryout at their three-day rookie minicamp.

The younger Simms lives in New Jersey and was a star at the state and national high school powerhouse Don Bosco Prep before heading on to an unremarkable college career.

Simms played at Tennessee, where he lost the starting job in 2010 and made only two starts in 2011.

"With Simms, the thing that you're impressed with immediately is how he can throw throw the football," Ryan said.  "I mean, he definitely has a great arm.  he can really spin it.  The thing you don't see is obviously how he is against the rush and all that.

"I followed him.  I knew him at Tennessee.  [He] kind of had ups-and-downs when he was there.  But the kid has the arm talent.  Obviously, he's got the pedigree."

Simms' dad Phil played for the Giants from 1979-93 and was the MVP of Super Bowl XXI after having an almost flawless game against the Denver Broncos.

The Jets meanwhile continue to stockpile quarterbacks.  Simms will join Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow, Greg McElroy and G.J. Kinne on the QB roster.

"The game (is) going to take you for a loop every now and then," said Simms.  "I just want to keep playing football.  It's as simple as that.  I just want to keep playing the game that I've been playing since I was a child."

Simms' older brother Chris played in the NFL before a serious injury hindered his career.

Chris Simms Hands-Off Pot Bust Blame to Backseat Pal

Tennessee Titans quarterback Chris Simms is passing his smoking-and-driving pot bust to a friend who was in the back seat of the car when it was pulled over last summer.  Simms, the son of popular former-New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, smelled like marijuana and refused to take a blood test, according to the arresting officers.

Yesterday, Simms' lawyer said that the 30 year-old QB--who was driving a Mercedes SUV back from a party in a with his wife Danielle, friend Charlie Granitell and another man in the back seat--noticed Granitell starting to toke up.

"Get rid of that stuff!" Simm's lawyer told the jurors Simms screamed at Granitell right before they were pulled over at a Manhattan DWI checkpoint on July 1.

Police Officer Francisco Acosta said Simms was pulled over for speeding and driving erratically and testified that Simms admitted he had smoked marijuana.

Acosta said, " He [Simms] was out of it, like a zombie.  He was very, very unsteady on his feet."

The QB's defense attorney, Harvey Steinberg, said the officer got it wrong and that Simms said his friend, Granitell,  had been smoking the weed.

Granitell will take the stand today in Simms defense of the misdemeanor stoned-driving charge and admit he was the guilty party according to Steinberg.

Simms' wife, who was eight months pregnant at the time of the arrest, will also testify.

Acosta told jurors, "She [Danielle] was telling him, 'Don't say a word!  Don't tell them anything!  Don't take any tests!'" during the arrest.

Simms is facing one misdemeanor count of operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs.  He claims he was not stoned and would not jeopardize his wife and unborn baby by driving while impaired.

Simms faces a year in jail and a fine if convicted.  He is not expected to testify.

If he can pass the blame to his friend, it might be the biggest completion of his career.