Crowell Competing Is Nothing More Than Fantasy
May 11th, 2010
Angelo Crowell was last on the field two years ago, when he had a strong season for Buffalo.
Inexplicably determined to rouse excitement for the return of linebacker Angelo Crowell, St. Pete Times beat writer Stephen Holder tells his readers today that the Bucs want to “get something out of their investment in Crowell.”
Holder doesn’t quote anyone saying that at One Buc Palace. Hmmm. And Joe suspects that quote isn’t forthcoming because “money will never be an issue” when building the Buccaneers, Joel Glazer reminded us recently.
But assuming Holder is accurate, this “investment” line of thinking drives Joe a little bananas.
The guy hasn’t played or been healthy in two years, and the Bucs re-signed him for 2010, seemingly to a low-risk contract.
This is not trying to get something from an “investment.” It’s begging for a miracle and straying from “the plan.”
Crowell, the Bucs’ biggest free agent signing on defense in 2009, wasn’t heathy when the Bucs signed him and was coming off sitting out the entire 2008 season in Buffalo. Upon arriving in Tampa, he sat out many OTAs because his rare knee surgery wasn’t completely healed, and he looked slow in preseason and tore his bicep in an exhibition game. He landed on injured reserve and the Bucs were on the hook for his one-year, $2.5 million deal.
(From Holder) The Bucs would like to, finally, get something out of their investment in Crowell. And Crowell knows he is running out of time to get his career back on track. He’ll be 29 on opening day, so if he doesn’t make the team, it’s no sure thing that he’ll get a chance someplace else. To stick around, he needs to show that he has the quickness and agility to play in Tampa Bay defense. The biceps injury isn’t as much of a concern as the potential long-term effects of the knee issue and its impact on his mobility. One tip about his condition is the fact that the Bucs re-signed him in the first place. No team would know more about his health than Tampa Bay, which helped him through his rehab.
Anyhow, the Bucs have talked about increasing the level of competition at various positions. If Crowell can get it together, maybe he can do that — or more.
Crowell turns 29 during training camp. He hasn’t played in two years. Surely there was a healthy young body out there somewhere to push Quincy Black. And how can Joe have faith in the Bucs medical staff when they gave the green light to sign him last year?
Like every Buccaneers fan, Joe is pulling for Crowell. But Joe hopes the Bucs are still looking for another backup.
May 11th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
You know, there is this other guy who I thought looked really good in preseason named Rod Wilson but I think he ended up getting hurt. Guess they didn’t resign him but I thought he had real potential and showed some flashes at MLB
May 11th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Motivation at its best 😉
May 11th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Twenty nine year old FA’s are “fools gold”, unless they have a serious knee injury.
May 11th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
I am glad that money isnt an issue when it comes to the plan of letting costly defective vets, unless of course it requires an admission that the leadership made a bad eval and wasted money.
also jimbuc, isnt it interesting that when the org says sokething acknowledging that decisions are cost based, those comments are off the record.
which of course allows for jimbuc to say “show me where glazer or dom” said money isnt a factor with this plan
May 11th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
They do have a young person in mind, his name is Dakota Watson!
May 11th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
We do have a backup joe, atleast a young body to give black some competition, in dekoda watson.but I still don’t understand why do you re sign crowell it makes no sense if were going in the direction dominik claims were headed in.
May 11th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Crowell has been working hard this offseason and says he is in great shape. I’m sure if it turns out not to be true the Bucs have an out. But when this guy was healthy he was a stud linebacker and I for one am happy they resigned him.
May 11th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
I agree Dew, we can always use depth. If nothing moe, Crowder gives us good depth.
May 11th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Wow, Doug Williams is out of the scouting department, as part of a major overhaul.
May 11th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
I thought 29 y.o vets werent part of the plan. I have heard that repeatedly, and in this case I would agree with letting this one go because he is chronically injured and not a need position.
But if it means having to admit a mistake, these guys seem okay w/ deviating from this facade of a plan.
May 11th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
I think signing Crowell is more of a “we don’t have anybody else right now” mentality. We need depth, and hopefully he can provide that. I know Dekota Watson is a supposed steal, but he was drafted in the 7th round, which I am not too comfortable having a 7th round pick get a bunch of snaps in his rookie year. Besides, Crowell might not even make the team, but it doesn’t hurt to see if he can finally stay healthy and contribute. We are not even in training camp yet, so we really don’t have any way of knowing what will happen. I don’t see the harm in seeing what he can do.
May 11th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Why worry about depth at OLB when they don’t address depth problems at G, C and QB?
May 11th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
UH OH JOE !!!! Doug Williams has left the Bucs (Didn’t you have a little dust up over Doug Williams)
May 12th, 2010 at 12:08 am
Williams is gone. He was not signed to a new deal like JBF and other media reported.
One of the JBF reports taking a shot at Pewter Report and SR:
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=22655
Good job by SR and PR.
May 12th, 2010 at 12:57 am
Crowell was resigned to appease some fans. First, it was to show they do sign free agent players. Second, it was to give camp fodder so that a guy like Watson could beat out a veteran in camp which would show they aren’t just “giving” rookies the starting jobs. Kill two negative birds with one stone…. hmmm… lol
May 12th, 2010 at 6:45 am
Joe here,
UfoJoe – Glad you saw the details of Doug Williams’ deal on paper when the Bucs kept him on with the team right after the season and through the coveted draft, when others floating word that unnamed agents were calling him incompetent, etc. … …Think you might need to re-read your link and the story that led to it.
May 12th, 2010 at 7:07 am
You were wrong. Face it. PR was right.
Journalism 101.
Great insight by PR once again.
May 12th, 2010 at 7:17 am
From Stroud…
http://blogs.tampabay.com/bucs/2010/05/bucs-doug-williams-parting-ways-again.html
The parties agreed in February to extend Williams’ contract by a few months until they could meet again after free agency and the draft were completed
* * * * *
From an earlier JBF blog entry…
The Bucs have resigned Williams, their Director of Pro Personnel, to a new one-year contract for 2010.
* * * * *
One year? Or a few months? Looks like you got it wrong.
There are “whispers” that Scott Reynolds is enjoying the crow being shoved down your throat. Come on, Joe. Start spinning.
May 12th, 2010 at 7:25 am
Joe here,
UFOJoe – It’s pretty simple. Your reading comprehension is being clouded by your extreme hatred of me. …Doug Williams was asked to stay on in a critical role in a draft the GM claimed would basically make or break the team’s future. …There is no crow. But if it makes you feel good.
May 12th, 2010 at 7:42 am
lol…