For those of you who don’t know about the career of Tommy Maddox, prior to his (second) retirement following the 2005 season, let me bring you up to speed: Maddox was drafted in the first round by the Denver Broncos in 1992. Unfortunately, he came out of college too early and he wasn’t ready for the NFL.
After four forgettable seasons, Maddox returned after a layoff of six years, stronger and better than ever with the hopes of ending things on his own terms and retiring without regrets this time around. His new home? Pittsburgh, as the team’s backup. And in 2002 Maddox threw for 2836 yards and 18 touchdowns while starter Kordell Stuart lost the starting spot.
It was Maddox’s comeback. And the next season he returned, this time as the team’s starter, throwing for 3414 yards and 18 touchdowns.
The following season Maddox was replaced by a rookie quarterback named Ben Roethlisberger. But it didn’t matter. Maddox had returned from the NFL’s graveyard of bust quarterbacks and had gone out on his own terms, earning a comeback player of the year award to boot.
Flash forward to 2007. A 30 year old Tim Couch is restless. He’s ready to “pull a Maddox” this year. In a recent interview with 27 WKYT, a local news station in Kentucky, Couch said that he’s ready to try out one more time.
“I know it’s cliché, but I’m doing it for the love of the game. It’s what I love to do, it’s who I am,†Couch told 27 SportsFirst.
He also said that he’s in the best shape of his life: 6′4, 245 pounds (about 20 lbs over his playing weight in Cleveland) with a 5% body fat (was 13 percent last time he stepped on a field). And his arm is also feeling much better — one of the reasons he wasn’t able to make a comeback in 2005 — after a year of working it out.
His hopeful return couldn’t come at a better time, either, with shaky quarterback situations around the NFL, especially in Atlanta where Michael Vick may take a paid leave of absence. If so, the Falcons could use Couch as a backup on the depth chart while Joey Harrington starts.
The downside is almost nil. The upside is unknown.
But if what Couch says about his body is true, that he’s in the best shape of his life, you have to believe he’s committed to this return. The parallels (between Maddox and Couch) are there (a few, at least); all he needs is the chance.
“I want to walk away on my terms,†said Couch in the interview.
Maybe he will.
2 comments ↓
There is no way Couch does anything in this league. When he came back for the Packers, we said the same thing. It just comes down to his poor decision making and inaccurate passing.
I made my pick
http://mwcfootball.wordpress.com/2007/07/22/the-mock-draft-curves-back-around-to-me/
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