Da’Quan Bowers’ Knee Recovering (Allegedly)
May 18th, 2011
When someone is hiding, that generally means someone is hiding something.
Call Joe a cynic, but that’s pretty much been his experience as an award-winning journalist. People without something to hide generally don’t hide because they have no reason to hide.
The way Da’Quan Bowers has been kept under wraps by his agent Joe Flanagan, it raises all sorts of red flags with Joe.
Most of the new Bucs are out there to talk with the local pen and mic club. How does Joe know this? Because he’s dealt with many of them through Twitter if not spoken to them personally; cool guys all.
But Bowers is one of the few who — though he has several Twitter posts throughout the day — never responds. Maybe once a week he’ll do something as vapid as retweet a request from a Bucs fan.
(For Twitter newbies, a retweet is basically an acknowledgement that you read one’s Twitter post without responding.)
After numerous attempts, Bowers has not responded to any of Joe’s requests for an interview, not even a “yeah, sure.” Hey, that’s OK with Joe. If the guy doesn’t want to talk, he doesn’t want to talk. This, despite the fact Bowers sure is chatty on Twitter, informing people of his daily routine.
Joe’s not the only one who is getting the cold shoulder from Bowers. Joe knows a prominent local sports radio personality that has tried time and again not only to get Bowers to talk, but just to get Flanagan to talk on the air.
This gentleman in question has had as much luck as Joe.
So yesterday Joe read good guy Stephen Holder’s article about Bowers and his recovery from whatever ails his knee in the St. Petersburg Times. Curiously, Holder, a solid reporter, was unable to get Bowers to talk.
Naturally, Bowers’ agent said everything you’d expect an agent to say before reading one word of Holder’s article: that Bowers is ready to roll for training camp and all the kvetching over his knee is simply hogwash and paranoia.
Again, this is coming from Bowers’ agent. What do you expect an agent to say, that Bowers is a near-cripple and drags his leg like Ygor in Young Frankenstein?
Initially, Joe was ready to use Holder’s feature as an example of how dead it is during this asinine lockout, fronted by NFL hatchetman Roger Goodell and his devious, anti-football, fan-unfriendly tactics.
No, there is something much more afoot than reporters desperate for any morsel of real-football information. Bower’s agent is hiding him, it’s pretty clear. But why?
For example, there’s a reason troubled Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib isn’t talking, except to his lawyer and Texas police authorities for these many months. He could be on the verge of being jettisoned by the Bucs if not sentenced to prison.
Talib has a reason to hide. So just what is the reason Flanagan is hiding Bowers?
Surely it couldn’t be Bowers’ knee. Could it?
Sigh. Since Joe brought up Young Frankenstein, in an effort to start the morning in a little lighter mood, enjoy one of the great comedic scenes in film history from Young Frankenstein.
May 18th, 2011 at 8:34 am
“Flanagan offered input from renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, one of the physicians overseeing Bowers’ rehab.
“Dr. Andrews said if there were going to be problems (down the road), they’d show up pretty quick,” Flanagan said. “He hasn’t had any swelling, soreness or pain. He hasn’t had to back off at all. He didn’t have a good workout on the field (at his pro day) but the fact that he did the workout at all was impressive.”
THIS is what I took from the article! Great news! Made my day!!
May 18th, 2011 at 8:40 am
I think this is a temper tantrum, Joe, lol.
We really don’t know yet what sort of guy Bowers is going to be with the media in the future. Some guys jump at any interview they can get, others avoid all interviews.
There are a couple ways to view this:
1) There could be more wrong with that knee than is being said
2) Bowers may be in the midst of getting all his ducks in a row and too busy for an interview
3) Bowers could be the type of player that avoids interviews because he prefers to do his talking on the field. Personally, I’d be fine with that.
4) There could be a number of reasons to avoid interviews, and not all of them health-related.
I think promoting a rumor as a form of protest is not something I would do, but I guess not everyone would feel that way 😉
May 18th, 2011 at 8:41 am
On the injury…I think Bowers should go ahead and get the surgery now if there is a problem. Doing so would allow him to come back in time for the season, or close to it.
May 18th, 2011 at 8:50 am
@Pete — I don’t think Joe’s spreading a rumor. Everyone on planet earth knows Bowers’ knee is messed up, and I guess the guy doesn’t want to talk about it.
May 18th, 2011 at 8:51 am
Joe
Did you know, The Blind Man’s parting line “I was gonna make espresso” was not in the script, but was ad-libbed by Gene Hackman during shooting?
Great movie!
As for Bowers, I’ve heard/read his knee is problematic and stated before “Buyer beware”. Hopefully, lockout pending, we shall find out soon enough! BTW I hope I’m wrong and he turns out as a nice piece of the d-line.
May 18th, 2011 at 8:58 am
I didn’t say he was spreading it, I said he was “promoting” it. There is a difference. I’ve seen media-types use the same tactic in the hopes that a player would want to squelch the rumors and do an interview.
Maybe Joe is doing it or maybe he’s not. Only Joe knows his reasons. Maybe he genuinely is concerned over the injury.
May 18th, 2011 at 8:59 am
Hiding? I coulda sworn that last night I read he was training with Willie McGinnest
May 18th, 2011 at 9:03 am
Tweet Bowers and ask him if he’s ‘working his balls off’?
May 18th, 2011 at 9:14 am
I really don’t care if I hear from Bowers or Flannigan, Dr.Andrews is the interview I want to read! Now that would be informative! Damn Patient/Doctor confidentiality act! 🙁
May 18th, 2011 at 9:16 am
This is a stretch at best…
Here’s a doctors opinion… a good read.
http://thepewterplank.com/2011/05/16/sorting-out-reports-of-daquan-bowers-knee-injury/
May 18th, 2011 at 9:20 am
Maybe if we had a “leader” on defense…someone who would step up and takes in these guys and train with them….we would get a better feel for how they are progressing. At this point, I dont care if its a veteran or not; hell, Cody Grimm could step up…someone needs to though to get these guys together and get them trained up and evaluated.
May 18th, 2011 at 9:27 am
Barrett Ruud B+
Sabby Piscatellie D-
Jeff Faine C+
Aqub Talib A-
Dexter Jackson 1.0 C+, 2.0 F-
Michael Clayton C
Derrick Ward C
Jeremy Trueblood B
Stylez White C
May 18th, 2011 at 9:29 am
this IS inline with what the physical therapists I know have said about his injury, as I posted in previous articles
May 18th, 2011 at 9:39 am
Chris
Clayton a ‘C’? Isn’t that average? I’m average! Clayton needs to ‘drop’ to an F!
May 18th, 2011 at 10:04 am
OAR
Lol Was never a fan but he was a physical blocker and not often injured.
God, Gru sucked at drafting. Always reaching. Always trying to find that hidden ‘gem’ to make himself look good.
May 18th, 2011 at 10:12 am
There is no conspiracy here, just the beginning of a conspiracy theory. I personally think this is more the young man’s personality than anything else. Before this became an issue, I don’t recall this guy mugging for the camera. He’s probably a little miffed because of his fall in the draft and wants to avoid all the contentious questions while he’s still rehabbing. Then again, he’s a devout christain kid from the south and probably follows the old southern adage “Son, if you don’t have anything worthwhile to say, don’t say anything at all”! Something we all should think about from time to time.
May 18th, 2011 at 10:32 am
Joe here,
WeNeedDefense has been evicted. His offenses in one post:
1. Calling Joe a “loser”
2. Lying about Joe
3. Trashing Joe’s ethics
Combined, from a commenter that clearly knows the rules, this got WeNeedDefense the boot.
Joe encourages dissent and opinions. Here are the cardinal rules, if anyone needs a refresher. https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=47241
May 18th, 2011 at 10:38 am
Wahhh, I can’t get my interview, wahhh. Da’Quan is ignoring me, wahhh. Maybe he just doesn’t want to talk about the knee anymore, what’s wrong with that?
May 18th, 2011 at 10:52 am
Is that not the second time you banned him Joe, wasnt he BucYou or Rahdadomdom or something along those lines. He did know the rules, and Thomas will have to draft a new backup for the cup half empty crowd.
I think he is tired of the knee and knows most of the questions will be about the knee. Maybe offer him an interview about football and the Bucs, and tell him there is no need to rehash the knee unless he wants too…of course that would leave out the million dollar question.
May 18th, 2011 at 10:56 am
Joe here,
Joe’s painting a greater picture here about Bowers. Holder, an intelligent reporter, clearly would have asked Bowers’ agent to talk to Bowers. And it’s pretty clear he was denied considering Bowers isn’t quoted in his story.
Simply put, Bowers not talking to anyone is a red flag.
Joe can’t blame the guy’s agent. Maybe he’s afraid Bowers will say something about his knee that could affect contract negotiations. Joe will have more on that later, courtesy of a polarizing Tampa Bay talking head.
May 18th, 2011 at 11:00 am
Sweet admin Joe…I look forward to it.
May 18th, 2011 at 11:07 am
admin Says:
May 18th, 2011 at 10:56 am
Joe here,
“…Simply put, Bowers not talking to anyone is a red flag…”
Gotta disagree, Joe.
Simply put, Bowers not talking to anyone is a right that should be respected. He is not OBLIGATED to talk to ANYONE. Period.
May 18th, 2011 at 11:19 am
Piratic:
Sure it’s a right. As Joe has already pointed out, if Bowers doesn’t want to talk, cool. But how come Bowers isn’t even saying, “Nah, man, I’m good. I just want to concentrate on working out. Thanks for touching base?”
Bowers isn’t just declining interviews, he’s avoiding the fourth estate like an Ebola virus.
Whether Bowers ever talks to Joe is not the issue. Let Joe make that perfectly clear.
There’s a reason Flanagan is protecting him so badly. Almost makes Joe think that the Da’Quan Bowers on Twitter is actually Flanagan. Not like that has never happened before.
Something is fishy.
May 18th, 2011 at 11:22 am
Oar:
Joe did not know that about Hackman, good stuff.
Interesting that as great of an actor that Hackman is, perhaps the only time he has ever appeared in a comedy, it is this scene that he may be most famous for.
May 18th, 2011 at 11:24 am
Simply put, opinions are everyone’s RIGHT that should be respected. You are not OBLIGATED to agree with THEM, period!
May 18th, 2011 at 11:28 am
Joe
Gene was in another great comedy the Heartbreakers! His chain smoking cigarette tycoon character, in that, was hilarious! It came out in 2001 and I highly recommend it!
May 18th, 2011 at 11:35 am
Gotta agree with Oar on that one…..anything with Jennifer Love Hewitt is worth watching for “cinematic” purposes 😛
May 18th, 2011 at 11:45 am
Joe here
@Cam — Actually, McGinest worked out with Bowers and gave him the thumbs down. http://bostonherald.com/sports/football/other_nfl/view.bg?articleid=1338096&srvc=sports&position=4
May 18th, 2011 at 11:49 am
When I think about Bowers and his knee I keep thinking about Anthony Munoz and his knee problems.
Joe, I hope he does talk to you but if I was a player, right now with the lockout and injured or not, I’d be quite. I’d group up with core guys and work my butt off. If his knee is all good I’m sure he is testing it out and continuing/finishing the rehab.
May 18th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
Slightly biased read of the article, Joe… geez.
How about not taking a flyer on Clemson defensive end Da’ Quan Bowers? The Pats had a few chances to grab him before Tampa drafted him at No. 51.
At one time, the Tigers sack master was the consensus top-rated prospect, but Bowers wound up dropping due to concerns over a left knee injury. McGinest got to know Bowers as he worked out at the same gym with him while mentoring some draft prospects, helping them to train and prepare.
“I worked out with him, and he didn’t work out much while I was there,” McGinest said of Bowers. “It was probably too risky to (draft) him, especially after it came out he may have some future problems with that knee. Whatever they found, it’s hard to tell how long that knee was going to hold up. In sports, you’re knees are everything. If you have a bad wheel, especially as a defensive end, you’re (in trouble). You need to have two healthy knees, let alone one, trying to cut and pass rush, and work in the trenches.”
May 18th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
He didn’t drop from the first pick, to bottom of second round, because his knee was healthy. I suspect he has required another surgery, and has already had it. He would be lost for the season.
That said, if he now can return to the form he had two years ago, he will still be the steal of the draft. If missing this year is what it takes- then So be it! I just hope he will be fully recovered when camp starts next season!
You know, I’m surprised no one mentions Price’s injury. A cracked and fractured Pelvis can be a career ending injury! Probably harder to correct or rehab than a knee!
May 18th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
I read the comments different than Joe as well. He did not work out much while he was there, and he speculated the risk was not worth the reward. The Pats may have picked him up if they had the 51 or later pick, no one will ever know. Hopefully this kid proves everyone wrong. I do wish he would grant Joe an interview though. it would be way better than anyone one the news paper interviews.
May 18th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
I’m just not sure we need ANOTHER interview discussing Bower’s Knee.
If I’m the agent and bowers, I’ve put it out there – and there’s really nothing else left to talk about…
May 18th, 2011 at 12:43 pm
Joe,
Gotta disagree with your take. Obviously Dominik & the Bucs as a whole had all the face time, phone time, medical information, etc, that they required to make an informed decision. I’m sure every single request they made was granted and done so openly and willingly, without limitation.
If they felt anything whatsoever was being hidden from them, even the tiniest little bit, I’m sure they wouldn’t have even considered drafting him for a minute. Not only that, but I’m certain they will have full and complete access to all relevant medical updates as necessary when and if that time comes.
My point is that all the people who NEED to know, KNOW. And all the people who needed to know were given ALL the information that existed in the Da’Quan Bowers universe. Joe, Stephen Holder, et al, don’t have a need to know. Especially since he isn’t even a Buc yet. Nothing’s fishy here…just a guy wanting privacy and to quietly prepare for the next big step in his life. When the time comes for Joe, et al, to NEED to know then Joe, et all, WILL know.
Seems pretty straightforward to me.
May 18th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
From Twitter:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81fe4820/article/bucs-rookie-bowers-recovering-well-from-surgery-agent-says
May 18th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
Yeah whatever. I’m glad they took a chance on him. I don’t know what benefit their is to Bowers by his agent lying. The draft is over and not telling the truth about the rehab doesn’t make much sense to me. Not everyone heals at the same rate, and everybody is different. It is easy for the media to make mountains out of mole hills, but either way, I don’t care. When they do finally start practicing we’ll all know the real deal. So I think it’s best to sit back, relax, and wait for the season. Time is good thing in Bowers’ case, and if was as bad as everyone says I think he would get the second operation sooner rather than later as Petey D says. I see this as a case of “no news is good news”.
May 18th, 2011 at 7:44 pm
Jumped the gun there Joe. Bowers was interviewed by Steve Wyche of NFL Network (which will be shown on Thursday). In a small blirp from the interview, Bowers says he is able to cut and move like normal. He also reiterates what his agent has been saying (that his knee is ahead of schedule and that he will be ready for training camp). Is everything he’s saying BS? Who knows. But Bowers is no longer in hiding. I’m thinking he is dedicated to getting 100% healthy and not focused on a lot of distractions. I wish him the very best. If this knee issue is overblown, he will no doubt be the steal of the draft!
May 19th, 2011 at 8:28 am
MoB ucs, that is great news. Joe, I cannot wait to read your thoughts on the interview after it airs. Man, I hope he pays off in a big way.
May 19th, 2011 at 10:00 am
MOBucs wrote: “Jumped the gun there Joe. Bowers was interviewed by Steve Wyche of NFL Network (which will be shown on Thursday)”
Whoops! But how can that be if he’s in hiding? LOL.
May 19th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
swing! miss!