A Tale of Two Quarterbacks
10 comments so far
June 2, 2008 by
One played in some of the best Husker times. The other played in some of the worst. In both cases, Eric Crouch and Sam Keller continue to pursue professional quarterbacking opportunities with mixed results.
News of the weekend is that former Husker quarterback Sam Keller has signed to play with the LA Avengers of the Arena Football League. Who could have guess that this much-discussed and talented player would end up in the Arena League?
Maybe I am biased toward Husker players. Or, I’m naive to the ways of the NFL. Or I’m possibly smitten by some of Keller’s games while at ASU and NU. Maybe it is all three. But, I’m just surprised that he couldn’t find his way on to an NFL roster spot or even in to the Canadian Football League. Though, I couldn’t tell you if the CFL is better or worse than the Arena League these days.
The Arena League isn’t exactly a terrible gig. After all, they are still being paid pretty well to do a job that most of us would probably do for free. And, the league’s arrangement with ESPN has created more exposure and better pay for the franchises and players. Maybe Keller saw this as his best option. (Hey, it worked for Kurt Warner, right?) Or maybe playing in LA is more suitable to Keller’s lifestyle. Who knows?
In any case, I would have to think that Keller sees his chance with arena ball as a chance to prove himself and find some opportunity with the NFL. It’s tough to get that opportunity. So, if he ever earns it, then by all means I hope he makes the most of it. That brings me to the topic of a different former Husker signal caller, Eric Crouch.
Opportunity Lost…or Given Up?
Apparently the spring football league that Crouch has signed up to play for has folded. So Crouch, the league’s poster boy, is left with few opportunities for his latest comeback as a quarterback.
It’s been tough to watch Crouch chase his chance to continue playing; especially considering he was given a perfectly good opportunity in 2002.Unlike Keller, Crouch was drafted in the 4th round of the NFL draft, though it was to play wide receiver. The St. Louis Rams gave him a seven-figure bonus just to sign his name. But, he preferred to be taking the snap. So he quit, and they made him give it all back. He’s been bouncing around ever since.
Don’t get me wrong. I respected and cheered for Crouch as much or more than anybody when he was at NU. He carried the teams he played for, and is a deserving Heisman Trophy winner. But, that has nothing to do with what can only be described as an unfortunate series of choices for his professional career.
Hindsight is sometimes tough to face in all of its perfection. If Crouch had know how it would shake out for him after quitting the NFL, or how playing wide receiver would work out for another option quarterback, like Antwan Randel-El, he might have stuck with it.
Instead, I suspect that if Crouch had one piece of advice to give to young Mr. Keller today, it would be… “Save some money, young man. It’s a short ride.”
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HuskerFan Jun 02 08
As much as I loved watching Eric play football, I never understood why he just couldn't have taken the money and played WR. It was pretty obvious he wasn't the "prototype" QB that teams in the NFL believe they must have. He could have had a great career and made some very decent money that he and his family could have lived the rest of their lives off of. Was playing QB really worth giving up a potentially lucrative NFL career?
doombob Jun 02 08
My friends and I used to joke with each other when they would "pull an Eric Crouch." It was synonymous for quitting something when you knew better. Like dropping a class so you can play more video games or quitting your $1000/week job because you don't like working all the overtime. Crouch kept trying to be a quarterback, but he's had to leave each football job he's ever had just to try and play the way he wants. He's the most persistent quitter I've ever heard of.
ze bop Jun 02 08
I think that's pretty cool for Keller, even though I've never watched more than 3 consecutive plays of arena FB. I really thinks that's a silly game, but if he can make some $$, rehab his arm, and get back up to speed, maybe he could take a run at the NFL.
Crouch is another story. A seven figure bonus just for signing on the dotted line??? Actually, I dont really know what to say, I'm almost speechless. He shoulda just played safety or receiver or whatever and ridden out the wave just to keep the $$$. I mean, be real puh-leeze!!!
So, I pretty much figured that X-college player league he was gonna do wouldn't pan out, so maybe it's finally about time he just settle in and get a real job. Wasn't he thinking about starting a sports store at one point? He's probably too broke to do that now.
Whatever, I'm a working man, I don't feel sorry for the guy.
James Moore Jun 02 08
Seems that Jamaal Lord and Scott Frost loved the game enough that they gladly accepted position changes to make the ultimate objective of a lifelong dream a reality. Very few of us ever got to play big-time Division 1 football, and of that large pool of athletes very few every get to seriously entertain the idea of playing in the NFL. Besides I recall one story that Crouch could hit as a safety in high school. He seemed to love playing the game then and was willing to play multiple positions in High School when he was quite probably the best cantidate for QB (sarcastic understatement). . .
Keller, I just don't know. Seems the guy had just about every stroke of bad luck that an athlete could have (injuries, the Arizona St. Carpenter saga, starter the worst Nebraska team in my lifetime), BUT he played and ALWAYS competed. That shows some character. He gave us his all and I wish him all the best. He's got the moxie to be an NFL QB and I hope that he's able to show the persistence and work ethic to get into the NFL. . .
darren Jun 02 08
To be fair, Crouch has battled some injuries during his attempts at pro ball. In the NFL, CFL and in NFL Europe, injuries created set backs for him both at QB and when he attempted other positions.
He was durable as a college player, especially considering the startling number of carries he got as a junior and senior. But eventually, everyone's body breaks down.
doombob Jun 02 08
I should add something positive to my previous post - Eric Crouch always will be my favorite Nebraska Cornhusker. In 2001, I had east stadium student section seats 6 rows up. A lot of wonderful plays happened in that corner of the field. It was just disappointing to tell people, "Hey, look, the best athlete I've ever personally seen take the college field has flopped out of another league again." It's like watching a distant cousin make the wrong choices, but you don't know him well enough to do anything about it.
mjm Jun 02 08
Don't get me started on Eric Crouch..that guy had it all but he cried and quit because he would never get his way. This isn't surprising...he quit when he was a freshman and Solich raced to Omaha to talk him out of transferring to Ohio State. I will say about the only good thing Callahan ever did was to stand up to players that pulled something like Crouch did.
James Moore Jun 02 08
doombob struck a chord with saying something positive about Crouch, and to be fair my post was a little too one-sided and he deserves some favorable compliments for some of the fantastic moments he left me. ..
God, I loved the guy and had so much respect for him because he took SUCH a pounding his Senior year. Coach Solich spent the whole year overusing him and basically trying to hide the fact that he was not very comfortable with Collins and Diedrick (I am firmly convinced that Coach Solich was traumatized by all the lost fumbles on the 1999 squad, i.e. Dan Alexander on option pitches, and this was the prime reason why he went away from showing triple-option on a consistent basis). The versatile, suttle in-game adjustments by Dr. Tom, gave way to an ice-age orthodoxy that made a unique talent like Crouch, suddendly scheme-prone. I always felt that Coach Solich didn't use Crouch to his greatest effect because it was rare that he attempted to CONSISTENTLY get him outside on the edge in space. QB Iso's, Power Options, but the failure to show TRIPLE-option with belly read and that MOMENT'S hesitation by the Mike read would be enough to get that guy outside, because we all know he could scoot*(hello Missouri). Unlike Frazier & Frost he was not capable of breaking arm tackles of DE's and LB's. Because of that he needed to show the triple more. . .
James Moore Jun 02 08
Last comment on Crouch. . .
Could you imagine what he would do today in a West Virginia or Florida like spread attack? With THAT kind of speed he would put up unreal numbers (he IS faster than West Virginia's Pat White). Tebow is fantastic and man he'd have been fantastic in our old system, but just imagine for a second Crouch out there in single-wing with a Harvin, Rainey, Demps & Moody-like talents? He would put up incredible numbers with fantastic highlight plays EVERY week and probably saved his body. Much, much harder to make throws from an under center, Option-I attack. . .
Greg Morrow Jun 03 08
Bottom line, bottom line, bottom line. If Eric wanted to play pro quarterback, he shouldn't have played for Nebraska. He should've went to some place like Stanford, where Coach Walsh said Scott Frost reminded him of Steve Young. Unfortunately, Coach Walsh didn't have a lot of plays for a "shot putter".
But, same deal for Crouch. He signed up to play for Osborne, too bad it was soon time for Tom to retire.
I've always thought it was a tough situation, for Crouch to play wideout in the League. I just thought he would've been a "marked man" with that Heisman, lining up against NFL DB's. (A whole lotta hurt goin' on) He did sustain a deep thigh bruise early in camp and I think he left right after that. That was his best shot though and he very well could have hung on for the life of his rookie contract, something not everybody accomplishes.
Actually, I'm surprised Keller settled for the AFL so quickly. A man like him though, he needs to start making even a little money, right now, to accommodate his lifestyle. I'll forget about him soom enough, (I've yet to watch a complete AFL game) but that's nothing against him, just that ridiculous season and the short time he was in town.