NFL: 49ers finally sign former Indianapolis colts tight end Erik swoope for $180 Million’s… See more…
INDIANAPOLIS – Since Ryan Grigson became the Colts general manager in January of 2012, his mantra of “no stone unturned” has taken his personnel department all over the world.
Professional football leagues at every level have been dissected and some even more unique measures have the Colts as one of the more interesting teams in how they go about building the monster.
Whether it’s finding a prospect fresh out of the Army, or a rugby player on another continent, it’s clear that if you can play, the Colts will try and find you.
The next step in that path has taken the Colts to the hardwood, fitting enough for the state’s history in basketball.
On Sunday, the Colts agreed to terms with Erik Swoope, a 6-5 and 220-pound prospect who has spent the past four years playing for the University of Miami basketball team.
Swoope begins his journey as an NFL player this week, having never played organized football at any point in his life.
“Erik Swoope is another example of our scouting department digging out capable and intriguing athletes with enough overall traits to make this difficult transition,” Colts GM Ryan Grigson said on Monday.
“He was a physical and athletic presence on the hardwood so like (Daniel) Adongo we saw a player playing a completely different sport but saw enough from a movement and competitive standpoint to think he would be a worthwhile project.”
The tight end position is where the former power forward will get his initial crack in the NFL.
Around the league, All-Pro tight ends Jimmy Graham (who also went to Miami) and Antonio Gates have paved the way for college basketball players trying to transition to the gridiron.
Even the Colts have had their own such product.
Joe Reitz finished his four years at Western Michigan as one of the program’s leading scorers and rebounders before adding nearly 60 pounds to his frame and becoming an NFL offensive lineman.
However, Reitz played football in high school and turned down scholarship chances to pursue his college basketball career.
A basketball career overseas wasn’t the path that Reitz wanted to choose after his days at WMU and Swoope is trying to follow suit.
