Bowers Is “Full-Go” Yet Concerned About Rehab?
July 2nd, 2011
As Joe wrote earlier, Bucs second-round pick Da’Quan Bowers, the guy who dropped in the draft because of a suspect knee, had a candid interview with Justin “The Commish” Pawlowski of WDAE-AM 620 yesterday. It was his first extensive local interview.
Of course, The Commish hit Bowers with the question of why he didn’t attend the Bucs’ minicamp this week. Bowers was clear with his answer.
“I didn’t want to miss rehab and training. I thought that this was a crucial point coming that the lockout may end in the next couple of weeks. I didn’t want to put myself behind for my great rehab program that I have going for myself,” Bowers said. “So I decided to skip the [rookie] symposium and the minicamp they had.”
Bowers went on to say he understood that getting hurt at minicamp would render him or any player without a contract worthless, and he didn’t want to run that risk. Bowers explained he was in regular touch with Gerald McCoy and said his future teammates understand his absence and just want him to show up healthy when the lockout is over.
Joe gets Bowers’ explanation. However, previously in the interview Bowers said his knee is in “playing shape.”
“I’m running, cutting, jumping. Everthing is full-go,” Bowers said.
If this is the case, then why is he so concerned about missing a couple of days of “rehab?”
Something smells fishy to Joe. Surely Bowers wouldn’t have hurt himself by attending the symposium for a day and merely shaking hands with his soon-to-be teammates.
Joe doesn’t fault any NFL player who is worried about injury before signing a contract. For most players, signing that rookie contract is the equivalent of winning the lottery, and Joe understands any guy who wants to protect his health.
But to say you’re 100 percent and concerned about missing rehab time in the same breath just doesn’t fit. Joe’s raising a cold beer hoping Bowers is healthy and just extremely cautious.
July 2nd, 2011 at 10:11 am
Joe, this guy’s body is his career, as an unsigned draftee I would be the same way, why risk my future financial wellbeing, he’s correct, if he gets hurt he has no recourse, he’d be screwed.
July 2nd, 2011 at 10:22 am
I really don’t blame Bowers. Until Tampa signs him to a contract, he could be screwed if he got hurt.
July 2nd, 2011 at 10:31 am
People are reading into this way too far. Last summer I had back surgery and the rehab took a few months. I was completely healed in December or “full go” but since I had just finished healing I was still susceptable to injury. I wasnt careful and re-injured it in late January playing soccer and needed to have the surgery all over again. Im just about finished right now, but the point is, you may be healed and game ready, but you still have to be careful. I dont care as long as he comes to TC whenever that is.
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:03 am
maybe hes running and cutting, but just not as well as he was. so call that 95% maybe?
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:05 am
He didn’t have to work out in Bradenton. Just show your face. That’s all.
But we can’t expect much from a Clemson DE.
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:11 am
Constantly scraping the bottom of the bait well for stories, huh? Of course it smells fishy.
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:15 am
He has one shot at a NFL contract and he is very competitive so if he had gone, he would have not been able to just do what he could, he would have gone all out and he may not be ready yet or he may want to make sure he has his contract. Remember, he slipped to second round and will not get the larger contract of the first round.
I sure hope that the lockout is over next week and we can see them in action, after contract signings of course.
By the way Joe, what is your take on a contract extention on Mike Williams this year?
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:19 am
Just another case of Joe trying to stir the pot…nothing to see here
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:21 am
Joe here,
@David — No, Joe’s not scraping the bottom of the bait well.” Just quoting the Bucs pick in his first big local interivew. More to come.
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:25 am
Bowers is saying and doing exactly what he should say and do until his contract is signed. His knee is probably better than most of us think and probably not as good as he says. Brian Price showed up and stood on the sidelines and when interviewed seemed sincere. But he made every newspaper and every Bucs website that provoked lots of unflattering commentary. Brian already has his money and can take his time to get better. Bowers cannot afford to raise questions or appear any way other than 100% until his contract is signed.
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:33 am
@joe, not to go off topic, but is there a mobile optimized version of the site?
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:52 am
No, Joe doesn’t have a mobile app. But if you use Opera as your mobile web browser it works just fine. Blackberry recently “upgraded” its web browser, removing column views and rendered the web browser pretty much useless.
Opera is a pretty solid web browser and Joe uses it exclusively.
July 2nd, 2011 at 12:04 pm
Bowers saying he’s in playing shape and being 100% are two totally different things. Players can and often do play at 75%… Bowers wants to be 100% and what he is doing now is helping ensure that he will be closer to 100%… and that’s what I want… I don’t want Bowers simply in playing shape… I want him at or as close to 100% as possible. And the closer he is to 100% the less likely he is to suffer another injury or have a setback.
July 2nd, 2011 at 12:05 pm
@Joe A mobile version is definitely something you should look into. I’m much more likely to visit joeraysfan.com because of their great mobile version. Just an FYI.
July 2nd, 2011 at 1:11 pm
120+ rookies didn’t attend the symposium, so I’m not too concerned about that, but would have really liked to see him out there with the team. Not to take anything away from Joe’s site (my favorite Bucs site), but Pewter Report had a great interview with McCoy after the mini-camp. GMC expressed a lot of frustration with how few D-linemen showed up for the three day event. He praised the O-line for having such a great bond with eachother. He wants the D-line to have that same closeness. I don’t see how standing on the sidelines and just getting to know his teammates would have set his recovery back! Hopefully he just has a jackass of an agent giving him poor advise. At least Clayborn has the same mindset as McCoy! Love his attitude and work ethic!
July 2nd, 2011 at 1:51 pm
Could be the injury is 100%, but he’s still got to rehab the muscles that he couldn’t work on while he was hurt.
July 2nd, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Another non-story on JBF.
July 2nd, 2011 at 2:51 pm
I wouldn’t make more this than what it is just yet. Players can be a little gun shy at first coming off and injury and surgery. We’ll should find out the truth very soon.
July 2nd, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Joe here,
@bucswin — Glad you consider a “non-story” to be a the Bucs second round pick giving his first local interview and offering confusing statements as to his health. … You have a career ahead of you in mainstream media.
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Again for the umpteenth time Joe is wrong about Bowers. Not sure why you have it out for the guy but you seem to be unable to let go of whatever it is. He’s never going to be the type of player who goes out of his way to please the media so you may as well get used to it to avoid torturing yourself.
I agree with Bowers 100%. Get the knee as far advanced in recovery, strength and endurance as humanly possible before camp begins. The relationships with teammates and the media will fall into place in time. Don’t worry about that and don’t let media types hound you into something you don’t think is in your best interest.
He needs to keep sticking to his guns. He has tremendous focus right now and there’s absolutely no need to give away his momentum to appease some arbitrary media folks.
July 2nd, 2011 at 6:16 pm
FLBoyInDallas:
Feel free to explain how Bowers was not able to attend the rookie symposium at IMG in Bradenton or slap skin with his new teammates because he was rehabbing (never mind that IMG has world class training and rehab facilities) yet three days later his knee had advanced enough that he can be in Tampa for the weekend? Of is there something in the water in Bradenton that the public is unaware of that curtails knees from healing?
The only thing Joe has out for anyone is when there’s a con job involved.
(Joe has zero issue with him not going to Freeman’s minicamp.)
July 2nd, 2011 at 7:01 pm
Joe,
The simplest explanation is probably the right one in this case: he doesn’t rehab on weekends and since this is the 4th he has a three-day weekend and therefore enough time to travel and take a little break. I don’t see a con job…I see a pretty straightforward explanation.
July 2nd, 2011 at 10:20 pm
Now that’s how you do an interview.. I give props to the Commish for asking the right questions and not beating around the bush. I vote for the Commish doing all interviews from here on out. He doesn’t dance around like everyone else. That interview got me fired up. Sure I wish Bowers was here with his mates but I thought his answer made sense. Now let’s get Justin to interview Price to see what’s really going on with his injury. Great job Justin!!
July 3rd, 2011 at 5:32 am
Friends don’t let friends go to Bradenton.
July 3rd, 2011 at 7:06 am
This is Pro Football Joe. And Bowers answer was exactly what it should be.
Why risk an injury when he doesn’t even have a contract. I think that Clayborn is going to be a pleasant suprise when the season starts.
July 3rd, 2011 at 5:38 pm
My Knee is 100% give me a big contract. My knee feels better than any time in my life give me a big contract. I just did 100 jumping jacks in private and I swear to you my knee is great give me the contract. Ohh thanks for the contract now lets go see how my knee really is.
This may be the only time in his whole life he gets a big check. Why risk even takeing the dog for a walk until the check is in the bank Joe?