The QB Blast: OTA Absences Overblown
June 2nd, 2009
By JEFF CARLSON
Former Bucs quarterback Jeff Carlson writes the weekly QB Blast column here at JoeBucsFan.com. Joe is ecstatic to have him firing away. Carlson has sports radio and TV gigs in the Bay area and trains quarterbacks of all ages via his company, America’s Best Quarterback.
I know Warren Sapp had very vocal opinions about Kellen Winslow’s absence from the early OTAs (Obligatory Team Activities) and some more harsh words for his best friend Keyshawn Johnson. But I have a some rhetorical questions for Warren and others that got worked up over players skipping off-season practice.
In the glow of the San Diego night as the Buccaneers passed their Lombardi Trophy from hand to hand, did the subject of Keyshawn’s absence from the off-season program come up?
Did Warren have harsh words for Derrick Brooks when he held out of training camp for more money? And can we all agree that training camp in August is a bit more important than voluntary practice in May, right?
Was Jon Gruden or the New York Jets worried about Brett Favre’s off-season practice compliance and team comraderie-building?
If memory serves, the lowly New York Jets got off to a pretty hot start with Favre at QB and little practice time. Are the Minnesota Vikings worried about the retired Favre being a part of their May practices?
If the Bucs decide to bring back Derrick Brooks during training camp or even during the season, will anyone be talking about how he couldn’t possibly be prepared because this is a new defense for him and he didn’t practice in May?
The Bucs have scheduled OTAs for a portion of each of the six weeks leading to a final mini-camp in mid-June before breaking until training camp. But unless OTA attendance becomes by the league, let’s not get overly worked up about a few missed workouts.
June 2nd, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Hey Jeff….watched as a rookie in PS…..off topic bu t whatever happened to the other JC of your era..John Cannon DE….did he move out of the area…..he was active in the Bay Area after he retired and was featured in the media for various activities both professional and otherwise…then nothing..or maybe I have just missed to stories…..and while you are at …Criag Erickson…..who was proving himself before TD was drafted…
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:57 pm
John Cannon is still very much in Tampa. He is a firefighter at Station #1 in downtown Tampa. I think he still actively competes in triathalons. Haven’t seen him since Tom McHale’s funeral, but he seemed to be doing quite well.
I liked Craig Erickson. It was tough here in Tampa before Tony Dungy’s era. Not many guys have sat out a season and gone back into the draft a second time. I think he is living down in south Florida.
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:56 am
Carlson, you look pretty good in the videos on your site. When are you making a comeback?
June 6th, 2009 at 8:07 am
No delusions of grandeur here, but I do love teaching the “real” fundamentals of throwing, something I’ve learned far more about after playing than while I was active. It’s one reason I get worked up about guys like Chris Simms, whose techniques never improved in 5 years with Gruden. Or Bruce Gradkowski, who wasn’t going to be a great player regardless, but his delivery could have been improved to allow him to make a deep throw catchable. Thanks for the kind words.