Eric LeGrand’s Big Day
May 3rd, 2012
Yesterday, the Bucs and Eric LeGrand owned the national headlines… for a few hours.
Before NFL news turned gruesome with the release of penalties for players involved in the ugly Saints bounty scandal and news of Junior Seau’s suicide (Joe finds it grossly irresponsible that far too many alleged media elites immediately fingered football for his demise — how exactly do they know what troubled the man?), the Bucs’ signing of LeGrand, Greg Schiano’s former player at Rutgers who was paralyzed in a game two years ago, was front and center in sports and news headlines.
LeGrand couldn’t make it to One Buc Palace on such short notice for the press conference — traveling for him is not simple — but LeGrand did hold court for the fourth estate at Rutgers.
Below is a transcript of LeGrand’s press conference, courtesy of the Bucs media relations department.
(On his reaction to being signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and head coach Greg Schiano)
“I was in shock. All my friends asked me if I was going to be drafted. I told them I think they all need to be worried about their other picks. He called me Monday and he just said ‘We’re picking you.’ At first we had just started talking. I want to draft you and pick you up as a free agent. I was just like ‘Really? You’re just going to waste a pick? You have a 90-man roster. You’re going to pick me as that?’ And he said yes, this is something they want to do. He’d talked to the GM, he’d talked to everybody. This is a dream come true for me to go to the NFL. The circumstances, yeah, but I’m there.”
(On what it will mean to be on an NFL roster)
“It’s always been a dream to go to the NFL. I never thought I’d be picked up in the draft. Coach said this was my draft. I’m not going to lie, I was watching the draft and it was hard seeing those kids and I’m thinking this could have been my turn. When he did this for me, it was a dream come true. I was like ‘Thank you, Coach. This means a lot to me.’ They are sending me a jersey by Friday so I can tweet that out. There are so many things right now that haven’t sunk in. He picked me as a guy for his roster.”
(On his relationship with Coach Schiano)
“It means a lot. It shows the person he is, still keeping in touch with me. He still calls me every week, once a week. I talked to him a week before the draft, then right after the draft. He just calls me up. He’s been thinking about me and my family since day one. He’s been getting me the best doctors, the best care. He even got me cable in my Kessler room. You know he’s down in Tampa right now, but he’s making sure we know that he’s not forgetting about my family and I up here. He’s like a father figure to me.”
(On how he feels about going to a team and being unable to play)
“Not being able to play kind of stinks, just because you can’t. Just being able to get picked like this, in the situation that I’m in. Getting a call that they really want to pick me up, not being able to play but be a part of the team and something like that. I’m just thanking them for the opportunity. Hopefully I’ll be able to meet some of my new teammates and some of my Rutgers teammates too. They picked up Desmond Wynn, and I just played with him.”
(On how he will contribute to the team)
“That’s what we have to talk about. I’ll meet with (Coach Schiano) soon, meet with Kevin MacConnell soon and see what we’re going to do up here in Jersey. People have been asking me all day if I’m moving to Tampa. I’m not going anywhere. I’m still here in New Jersey. So I’ve got to talk to them and see what we can do and work some things out. I’m sure (Coach Schiano) has something planned.”
(On what is in the future entails)
“I’ve got to get this degree. I signed with IMG. I’m working with my agent. He’s been working with me, trying to figure out where we’re going to go in the future. We just got my book deal. That’s going to come out in the August or September area, so I’m really excited about that. Once I get this degree, I’m hoping to be working with ESPN, CBS or NBC, or somebody by next fall in the whole broadcasting gig. I’ve just got to finish up with school. I still have therapy every day. I’m still working hard at that. I’m just getting better and better and hopefully starting my career off next fall.
(On how he misses football)
“That was when I was watching the draft. When I was watching that draft, everything just came down on me. This was the year. This was what I’ve dreamed about since I was five years old. This was the day. And you saw those kids going across the stage, I thought about what I could have done and where I could have had my name called. And said ‘Damn, I miss football.’ It’s the game I love. It’s the game that taught me the game of life, basically. Seeing that draft hit on a lot of stuff.”
May 3rd, 2012 at 8:13 am
Every so often you get to see how great humans can truely be to each other. To bad it does not happen more often…
May 3rd, 2012 at 8:17 am
Good stuff.
May 3rd, 2012 at 8:45 am
The Bucs have more success without playing a game than they have had in 10 years playing 160. I got a round of shots betting game 1 is sold out and the Bucs will have great successes in the future or even near future.
Schiano is similar to Lombardi that to him Life is bigger than football, so when the big game comes you are never overwhelmed because of how we face life on a daily basis.
May 3rd, 2012 at 8:46 am
Love this story.
Did anyone watch Total Access last night and notice they went the whole hour without mentioning anything about this?
All they talked about for 60 minutes was Seau and the Saints.
Seems like the NFL would want a positive story out there.
May 3rd, 2012 at 8:46 am
VERY good stuff Joe. I have been choking up since yesterday everytime I have read a story or seen a national newscast on this.
THIS should have been the main story on sportstalk radio yesterday afternoon and this morning…not the friggin Saints players’ suspensions and certainly NOT the untimely death of Junior Seau.
The sports world started off with SUCH promise yesterday morning with this feel good story then quickly went RIGHT in to the crapper. At least the San Antonio Spurs won last night.
May 3rd, 2012 at 8:46 am
The fact that Schiano made sure he had cable in his room is one of those little things that shows a lot.
May 3rd, 2012 at 8:57 am
Scotty:
First, thanks for the compliments. More LeGrand stuff to come. Happy you appreciate the effort.
Joe will, sadly, have to disagree with you on the newsworthiness of the stories yesterday.
Seau committing suicide may be the biggest NFL story of the year, maybe bigger than the Super Bowl itself. It’s not just the act, but all the ramifications on the sport itself, and the shock that one of the NFL’s greatest linebackers was in such a state of grief he put a bullet in his own chest.
The Saints story is major because it could very well Pearl Harbor the season of one of the NFL’s best teams. This has tentacles as well.
While both subjects are ugly and sad, Joe can’t disagree that both trumped LeGrand’s gallant, feel good story.
May 3rd, 2012 at 8:58 am
Snook:
Understandable.
May 3rd, 2012 at 9:02 am
“Joe finds it grossly irresponsible that far too many alleged media elites immediately fingered football for his demise ”
“Grossly irresponsible” is putting it mildly.
Ugh, Lagrand must have been dying inside during the draft. Makes me feel horrible but I can’t even imagine the torment and suffering he goes through on a daily basis. Kid had his dreams and independence stolen from him. So utterly sad.
May 3rd, 2012 at 9:08 am
Don’t try and tell him its sad. He is focused on the future and has a great attitude. Who knows what he can accomplish??
May 3rd, 2012 at 9:09 am
If anyone was not onboard with the new regime at One Buc I really hope this shows everyone this is a new day. The Bucs are going to be the classy organization they were under Dungy and I am excited as to how all this will translate to wins on and off the field.
May 3rd, 2012 at 9:09 am
It also still sounds like he has dreams to accomplish to me
May 3rd, 2012 at 9:20 am
@jvato “I’m not going to lie, I was watching the draft and it was hard seeing those kids and I’m thinking this could have been my turn.”
“That was when I was watching the draft. When I was watching that draft, everything just came down on me. This was the year. This was what I’ve dreamed about since I was five years old”
That doesn’t sound like he accomplished his dreams. One thing he will never accomplish is playing for an NFL team, which he said was his dream since he was 5. I’d say that is pretty damn sad.
May 3rd, 2012 at 9:25 am
If you would buy a #52 jersey for charity, please tell the Bucs that by filling out the contact form on their webpage:
http://web2.buccaneers.com/contact-us
Hopefully if enough people contact them, they can make this work.
May 3rd, 2012 at 9:26 am
@Joe:
Its understandable that they didn’t talk about it? Or my point is understandable?
I wasn’t expecting a 15 minute segment on it but it seems like out of 40 minutes of air time, they could’ve used maybe 1 minute to at least report it.
Lost some respect for my favorite network last night.
May 3rd, 2012 at 9:37 am
Snook:
Sadly, yes. Two massively big stories broke yesterday that Total Access could have spent two hours on if they had the time.
May 3rd, 2012 at 9:39 am
Getting on blogs such a yahoo and PFT yesterday, I was humbled from the outpouring of kudos for the Bucs and the potential for “new” Bucs fans nation wide from what they did yesterday. Alot of people on these blogs want to buy a LeGrande jersey. GREAT story on NBC Nightly News at the end of their telecast last night on this.
May 3rd, 2012 at 10:11 am
Bucs nation has two huge additions in Mr. Schiano and Mr. LeGrand. Eric is a true inspiration and believe me, he doesn’t feel sorry for himself.
Haven’t felt this proud to wear the pewter in a LONG time. Hats off to our organization.
May 3rd, 2012 at 10:14 am
Im tired of hearing about the Saints … These suspensions barely hurt them. Vilma was all but replaced by the 2 top FA LBers. Will Smith gets 4 games and the other guys play for other teams.
The Bucs have already helped equalize the Karma when Mason Foster destroyed Sean Paytons knee. Think Karma isnt real ???
The best thing is that the SAINts wont be the NFLs Golden Child anymore.
May 3rd, 2012 at 10:30 am
Have A Nice day, I agree with you and understand what your saying. Just that the kid isnt sulking or pittying himself and is amazingly positive. I would think if he does manage to walk again it may be even bigger than even being drafted by a football team.
Some good info from CBS Sports article:
For now, he’s going to therapy a couple times a week and arm-pedaling on a specially-made bike to continue his strength training. He’s also been practicing sitting up without assistance, and he’s up to 15 minutes by himself.
“That’s a miracle,” he said. “I’m not supposed to be doing any of this kind of stuff.”
I asked LeGrand what his long-term goals are. Is walking a possibility?
“My goal is to walk,” he said. “I know it’s going to happen. I believe this happened for a reason. My goal is to get back on my feet. I’m going to keep on fighting. I don’t know when it will happen, but down the road, it will happen. If you believe in the man upstairs, anything is legit to happen.”
May 3rd, 2012 at 10:38 am
javato24
I think it was TRUE karma cause it was Peyton’s own player Graham (being tackled by Foster) that caused the injury. Karma is a bitch!
May 3rd, 2012 at 12:55 pm
“Sadly, yes. Two massively big stories broke yesterday that Total Access could have spent two hours on if they had the time.”
———————–
@ Joe:
Ok. I’ll respectfully disagree. I watched the entire hour and they definitely could’ve used some of the time they used beating the dead Saints horse to report the feel good story of LeGrand.