gridironmike Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 What gives with this guy? So much talent but talk about no heart.... (from nfl.com) Sherman Comments On Crouch Departure by Jason Bellamy, Packers.com posted 07/22/2003 Eric Crouch Related Information : Sherman Audio : Crouch Leaves For Personal Reasons Following the Green Bay Packers' training camp practice Tuesday morning, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman confirmed that former Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch has left the team for personal reasons. Crouch had participated in the opening three practices of training camp, for rookies and first-year players, over the weekend, but was not in attendance Tuesday when the Packers returned to Clarke Hinkle Field. "I talked to him yesterday and we really didn't get into detail," Sherman said. "He just said for personal reasons he didn't want to continue. I said, okay, and we'll leave it at that." Claimed off reserve/retired waivers by the Packers in April, Crouch's self-imposed departure from an NFL team is his second in as many years. Last fall, Crouch retired from the St. Louis Rams -- less than five months after the team selected him in the third-round of the 2002 NFL Draft -- because they planned to use him at wide receiver and not quarterback, the position at which he shined in the University of Nebraska's option offense. When the Packers claimed Crouch off waivers April 18, the team was receptive to giving Crouch an opportunity to develop as a quarterback, and Crouch seemed open to learning other positions along the way. In two offseason mini-camps, Crouch took the vast majority of his reps at quarterback, getting limited looks as a punt returner. Crouch's quarterback reps were surely to decrease in training camp, however, due to the signing of Akili Smith and the return of Craig Nall from NFL Europe. "The whole premise was, he's so far behind," Sherman said, in reference to Crouch's background as an option quarterback. "When he came in here, it was pretty much going to be relegated to cleaning up a little bit and maybe some practice squad snaps and working into next season in the offseason. "That was really what we were shooting for, because he hadn't been a quarterback in the National Football League in this type of offense. So, the reality of it was he had quite a few steps to take before that would even happen." As recently as Saturday, Crouch spoke willingly of playing positions other than quarterback if it would help earn him a roster spot. "I would love to make this football team," Crouch said at a luncheon with members of the Wisconsin media. "It's been two years where I've been unsure about what I'm doing and it would be nice to be on a roster ... "I wouldn't say it's quarterback or nothing." At Nebraska, Crouch became just the third player in NCAA Division-I history to amass 3,000 rushing yards and 4,000 passing yards over a career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redman Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 It seems like he's either been shining people on and has outside interests that he wants to pursue, or he's got personal/emotional problems. I won't lose sleep over it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WallyG3 Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 Crouch was a great option QB, I don't think he was a bad Heisman choice. He just doesn't have what it takes to be an NFL QB, and he doesn't really want to play another position. I don't think he lacks heart, I think he's stupidly stubborn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canyonero! Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 I disagree that he was a waste of a Heisman. The Heisman is for the best COLLEGE player, not the best college player in terms of NFL skills. What I find sad is that he's given the opportunity to play a GAME and get paid well for doing so. Even if he was a practice squad guy for years and years, it's gotta be nice to get paid high-5 or low-6 digits for playing a game for about half a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdmiralWaugh Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 Rex Grossman was a far better player than he was, and therefore, it was a waste of a Heisman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sisko Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 Maybe it's a combination of him not being able to play the position he really wants and not really loving the game much. Either way, if I had even half a chance at the NFL, I'd kill to just be a practice squad player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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