Why Bears Soured On Gabe Carimi
June 13th, 2013
It’s pretty sad, no matter the player, when said player is atop his game, winning an award given to the best at his position as a senior in college and only two years is given away by the team that drafted him in the first round.
That’s what happened with Bucs offensive lineman Gabe Carimi, who the Bears gave away, figuratively, for a sixth round pick this week.
Former Bears beat writer and current National Football Post columnist Dan Pompei detailed why the Bears washed their hands of Carimi. The reasons were mostly health-related.
•In his second NFL game, Sept. 18, 2011, Carimi suffered an unusual injury. He dislocated his right knee, which previously had been dislocated, and he suffered anterior cruciate damage. Treating it would not be routine.
•Carimi lost weight in an attempt to put less stress on his knee, and in the process he lost strength. He went from about 315 pounds to about 300 pounds last offseason. Even after he started to move well around halfway through the 2012 season, he still was missing the strength that had been one of his defining traits. Early last season, Carimi still wasn’t moving well, and he got off to a poor start.
•Carimi failed to take advantage of a chance to prove himself to a new coaching staff this spring. In his absence, they moved on.
Hopefully, the Bucs’ medical staff, which is believed to be among the best in the NFL, and Carimi’s old position coach at Wisconsin, Bucs’ offensive line coach Bob Bostad, can turn Carimi’s career around.
Carimi’s knee problems are why Joe shakes his head when fans are quick to dismiss knee injuries pointing to Adrian Peterson’s miracle recovery as the new norm.
It’s not. Knee injuries are not as simple as ingrown toenail procedures. They are complex and still tricky operations.
June 13th, 2013 at 2:13 pm
I agree about the knees and Carimi may not make it through camp. Either because of his on-going health problems or he just doesn’t cut the mustard. Time will tell. Hopefully, Dom doesn’t keep him just because it cost a sixth round pick. If a UDFA out performs him in camp, then say sayonara to Carimi.
June 13th, 2013 at 2:26 pm
I’ve never seen 15 pounds of weight affect strength. I lose ten pounds just fasting for a day!
June 13th, 2013 at 3:00 pm
The risk/reward ration here is about as good as it gets. Nobody gives away a young first rounder without concerns of health or character. Sometimes they’re wrong however. Sometimes it’s a matter of time to heal properly, and sometimes that’s on the medical staff and returning too soon. Sometimes it’s a need for a fresh start when relationships sour.
As has been stated ad nauseum, sixth rounders seldom amount to much. First rounders seldom completely fail. Carimi is likely to be highly motivated to get his career on track. Maybe his knee ends up being a complete bust and his career is over, but the Bucs medical staff apparently doesn’t think so.
Give this guy half a season to get back in shape. If the knee is good, it will have been one of the best trades to go down this season – then there’s that other trade involving some guy named Revis.
June 13th, 2013 at 4:40 pm
Nothing sucks werse than being kicked to the curb for health problems. Glad we are giving him an opportunity to come back.
June 13th, 2013 at 5:14 pm
Football is very hard work. Sometimes, once a player gets a lot of money, they get lazy.
Especially really big guys. I hope Carmini comes back to what he once was.
June 13th, 2013 at 6:24 pm
Vic66
That happens everyday in the NFL Vic. Watch the Rotoworld ticker, you’ll see guys get injured in practice then released with an injury settlement practically every day. You can’t keep them all.
June 13th, 2013 at 8:30 pm
Read the scouting reports on Carimi coming out of college. The book on him said marginal athleticism. Also, read a few places that said he was damaged goods coming out of Wisconsin… Dominik’s response that “he didn’t miss any games at Wisconsin” didn’t fully address the question. Not missing games is different than saying he’s healthy and his body is in good working order… and performing in college does not project to the pros if your body isn’t capable of the greater demands of playing against NFL competition. I think this guy is most likely a wasted pick. If his knee isn’t right and he can’t carry enough weight, which at his height needs to be 320+, then he’s going to be a human turnstile. I haven’t heard anything reassuring about him except Schiano likes his attitude. That and $4.00 will buy you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
June 13th, 2013 at 9:50 pm
4.00 for a cup of coffee, wont be going to Starbucks any time soon.
June 14th, 2013 at 6:35 am
Giving up a mere 6th round future draft pick is practically a freebee. There’s no hurry or necessity for the Bucs to get his knee right as there no doubt was pressure on him with the Bears. Maybe it will be best to let him start the year on the PUP List and focus on 2014.
June 14th, 2013 at 10:18 am
[…] Why did the Bears give the Bucs one of their recent first round picks so easily? [JoeBucsFan] […]
June 14th, 2013 at 11:19 am
Scubog- I agree 100%. Being a first round pick in Chicago, there was huge pressure to get on the field and perform. Here? He’s an afterthought with real potential. Let him recover both his mobility and his strength. – then we may see a first round talent.
There are different types of knee injuries.
A dislocated knee, or dislocated kneecap(ala Cadilac Williams) can be career ending- or take more than a full season to recover.
A torn ACL, like Revis? Nah, they have gotten those down to a very precise repair/treatment/ recovery.
Revis will play great this season, and next year( barring, god forbid, any other injuries) will again be the greatest CB since Deon Sanders!
June 16th, 2013 at 3:09 pm
REDSHIRT/REHAB YEAR!!!!
We are going to prepare him to take over for Donald Penn.
Bostad wants his BOY, he’s probably like a son to him.
So, we going to rehab him and give him a year to heal.