Colts give Crosby a chance
July 15th, 2005
According to the great Rolling Stones lyric, you can’t always get what you want ... but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need.
On Thursday, Roscoe Crosby did not get what he wanted from the NFL supplemental draft.
But later in the day, he got what he needed from the Indianapolis Colts.
The former Union High and Clemson wide receiver agreed to a multiple-year deal with the Colts after not being selected in the draft.
“He gets a chance to play with Peyton Manning and learn under Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne,” said Kevin Parker, Crosby’s adviser. “They put the ball up every now and then.”
Crosby will be in Indianapolis today to complete a physical and sign the contract. He then will return to Columbia to continue his conditioning program. He will join the Colts in training camp on July 27.
Parker said Crosby chose the Colts over Carolina and Kansas City.
The Kansas City Royals launched Crosby on a four-year odyssey when they made him a second-round pick in the 2001 baseball draft. The Royals broke ties with Crosby via arbitration after Crosby battled injuries and mourned the deaths of three friends and a younger brother in separate incidents.
Following the decision against him in arbitration, Crosby turned his attention to football. With the help of Parker, fellow adviser Larry Geiger and former Union High football coach Mike Anthony, Crosby moved to Columbia and began a rigorous training regimen with Ewell Gordon at Total Fitness 4 You.
In an informal workout on June 10, Crosby opened eyes with his 40-yard dash and route running while catching passes from NFL free-agent quarterback Shaun King. Three weeks later, Crosby posted an impressive weight-room workout in front of 17 pro scouts before leg cramps cut the day short.
“All Roscoe ever wanted was to be wanted,” Parker said. “The Royals rejected him. Just being wanted by a (football) team, that made him ecstatic. (The Colts) don’t know what they’re getting. He’s really excited.”
The Colts were not among the 17 teams that attended Crosby’s July 1 pro day.
“We said there were some teams just hiding in the bushes,” Parker said. “(The Colts) were one of them.”
Indianapolis officials called Crosby prior to the start of Thursday’s draft to inform him of their intention to pursue him should he go undrafted.
“All we wanted to do is get him in a position to blossom, to bloom,” Parker said. “He’s had a tough road, and to be drafted would have been great. But realistically, we just wanted him to have an opportunity.
“He got what he needed.”
Reach Obley at (803) 771-8473 or pobley@thestate.com