- Craig Swoope
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Craig Swoope Date of birth: February 3, 1964 Place of birth: Fort Pierce, Florida Career information Position(s): Safety Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Weight: 205 lb (93 kg) College: Illinois NFL Draft: 1986 / Round: 4 / Pick: 83 Organizations As player: 1986–1987
1987–1988Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Indianapolis ColtsPlaying stats at NFL.com Craig Swoope (born February 3, 1964 in Fort Pierce, Florida), is a former professional American football player who played collegiately for the University of Illinois, and in 3 NFL seasons from 1986 to 1988 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts. He was a second-team All-American and four-time All-Big Ten selection for the Illini, and as of 2009 is third all-time on Illinois' career interceptions list.[1] His career was marred by a federal indictment in which he was alleged to have conspired to bring cocaine from Florida to be sold in Illinois.[2] Swoope was to have been featured on the cover of the Illini 1984 media guide, but was removed due to the charges.[3] The charges were based largely on the testimony of a drug dealer of whose activities Swoope was unaware, according to Swoope's defense.[4] He was acquitted by a District Court jury after 13½ hours of deliberation.[5]
Swoope was rated as the best safety entering the 1986 NFL Draft by two major scouting services, but was not selected until the fifth round, after 11 other defensive backs. It is believed that the federal charges scared teams away, although Swoope passed all drug tests.[6] Swoope began his rookie season as the Buccaneers' starter at strong safety, and was named to the Football Digest all-rookie team. Injuries limited his playing time late in the season, and he was moved to free safety the next year. He was placed on the injured reserve list without playing a game the next season, and was later waived from the injured reserve list.[7] Signed by the Colts, he earned the starting job in the 1988 preseason, but dislocated an elbow in the season opener and missed four weeks of play. He lost his starting job on returning to the roster, but regained it after an injury to Freddie Robinson. Swoope recorded a career-high 11 tackles in the game in which Robinson was injured. Swoope's reckless, aggressive playing style is considered to have been responsible for the injuries that shortened his playing career.[8] He was cut by the Colts at the end of the 1989 preseason.[9][10] His number 20 jersey was retired together with Ryan McNeil's number 6 jersey by Fort Pierce Westwood High School in a 2008 ceremony.[11]
References
- ^ [1] Fightingillini.com. Accessed May 24, 2009.
- ^ Strong, William C. "Illinois football player denies role in alleged drug conspiracy". Penn State Daily Collegian. 6 Sep 1984
- ^ Wire services. "Sports People". The New York Times. 8 Jul 1984
- ^ Wire services. "Drug Charges Fought". The New York Times. 8 Sep 1984
- ^ Wire services. "Illini Player Acquitted". The New York Times. 9 Sep 1984
- ^ Steele, David. "Bucs don't think they're taking a chance with Swoope". St. Petersburg Evening Independent. 1 May 1986
- ^ Steele, David. "Bucs cut Swoope, four others to get to 50". St. Petersburg Times. 4 Nov 1986
- ^ Dolch, Craig. "Swoope's career back on upswing". The Palm Beach Post. 3 Dec 1988
- ^ Wire services. "Transactions". 7 Sep 1988
- ^ Wire services. "Transactions". The New York Times. 5 Sep 1989
- ^ [2] "Westwood retires McNeil and Swoope's jerseys". Accessed May 23, 2008
External links
Categories:- 1964 births
- Living people
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers players
- Indianapolis Colts players
- American football safeties
- Illinois Fighting Illini football players
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