Could Preston Parker Make The Squad?
May 4th, 2010
One of the smartest moves in Joe’s eyes that Bucs general manager Mark Dominik made after the draft was to sign former Florida State/North Alabama wide receiver/running back/return specialist Preston Parker.
Joe had previously described him as a poor man’s Dexter McCluster. Had Parker not done stupid stuff — he got tossed off Florida State’s squad for, among other silly things, not putting the one-hitter down — perhaps Parker would have been spoken in the same conversations as McCluster.
Parker was a star on Florida State’s emerging offense under Jimbo Fisher, and at the time he was really the only offensive weapon that Seminoles opponents were really concerned about.
Then Parker got tossed off the team by iconic coach Bobby Bowden and Parker was mired at North Alabama, hardly the same level of competition of, say, the Crimson Tide.
It seems the Bucs were impressed enough with Parker during rookie minicamp that he caught Raheem the Dream’s eye, per the TBO.com Bucs report blog (hey Aaron Knox, Joe didn’t give anyone credit because you didn’t publish the name of whoever uploaded the story).
“He showed some good things, made a nice grab today, ran a couple of really good routes,’’ Morris said of Parker. “He’s been a professional since he’s been in our building and he’s one of those guys that you want to get a little more of an in-depth look at.’’
Signing Parker was a very smart, very, very low risk and potentially high-reward move by Dominik. Right now, even though he just finished playing Division II football, Joe isn’t so sure Parker doesn’t offer as much as some receivers already on the roster.
May 4th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
I’ll take him over stone-hands Clayton! CUT CLAYTON NOW!
May 4th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Speaking of WR’s. Why is there Antonio Bryant Wallpaper available on Buccaneers.com?
May 4th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
I would like Dominck go get T.O.
May 4th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
MARC: the answer there is NO. He hasn’t done anything in 2 years. He is in his LATE 30’s (I think 37 this year). He is a miserable person who is never, never, never truly happy: just look at SF and Philly. they were winning and he was among the leaders in catches and TDs and he STILL was miserable and was dividing the locker room.
He is not a prescense to have on a young team.
The WRs are set whether anyone likes it or not:
Brown
Benn
Williams
Stroughter
Stovall
I think Clayton gets cut, even though they will hold out for a long time to see if they can make a trade. Parker could make it as a /returner/WR/RB. the biggest problem there is they have several guys who can return.
May 4th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Dave You are right on so many levels, but I will take some of that media coverage. He may be able to show some of this young talent how to be elite. Iknow he a head case but man he may be able to make us shine.
May 4th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Glad to hear they are going to give him another look. Kid is definitely a playmaker when he puts the bong down.
May 4th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Dave,
Apparently you haven’t heard of a thing called “Training Camp”…
May 4th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
If he is off the weed [allegedly], Preston Pretty-Hair can’t be any worse than Clayton…..
May 4th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Brandon Marshall and Holmes sure would have looked good on that list.
May 4th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
I agree with the “poor-man’s McCluster” assesment .
I can definitely see him making the team , and for sure the practice squad.
May 4th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Isn’t this the guy they found passed out behind the wheel in a McDonalds drive thru with weed and guns in the car?
Pass.
May 4th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
“Isn’t this the guy they found passed out behind the wheel in a McDonalds drive thru with weed and guns in the car?
Pass.”
How’s that make him different from any other FSU player?? LOL
May 4th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Absolutely he could make the team.
Young, inexperienced, inexpensive, and questionable character! Perfect fit – put hid locker next to Talib, Mike Williams, Tanard J., and Jeremy Stevens.
May 5th, 2010 at 6:03 am
Joe, it was reported by other media that he was kicked off the FSU squad after his 3rd arrest. You don’t have any reservations about that? I know that you had to have read that in the TBO article.
August 11th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Parker is a very explosive WR/PR! I hope he makes the cut