Craig Swoope
Encyclopedia
Craig Swoope 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. 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. Swoope was to have been featured on the cover of the Illini 1984 media guide, but was removed due to the charges. The charges were based largely on the testimony of a drug dealer of whose activities Swoope was unaware, according to Swoope's defense. He was acquitted by a District Court jury after 13½ hours of deliberation.
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. 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. 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. He was cut by the Colts at the end of the 1989
preseason. His number 20 jersey was retired together with Ryan McNeil's
number 6 jersey by Fort Pierce Westwood High School in a 2008 ceremony.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who played collegiately for the University of Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The University offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports....
, and in 3 NFL seasons from 1986 to 1988 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
and Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
. 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. 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. Swoope was to have been featured on the cover of the Illini 1984 media guide, but was removed due to the charges. The charges were based largely on the testimony of a drug dealer of whose activities Swoope was unaware, according to Swoope's defense. He was acquitted by a District Court jury after 13½ hours of deliberation.
Swoope was rated as the best safety entering the 1986 NFL Draft
1986 NFL Draft
The 1986 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 29–30, 1986...
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. Swoope began his rookie season as the Buccaneers' starter at strong safety, and was named to the Football Digest
Football Digest
Football Digest was a sports magazine for fans interested in professional American football, with in-depth coverage of the National Football League...
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. Signed by the Colts, he earned the starting job in the 1988
1988 Indianapolis Colts season
The 1988 Indianapolis Colts season was the 36th season for the team in the National Football League and 5th in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis Colts finished the National Football League's 1988 season with a record of 9 wins and 7 losses, and finished tied for second in the AFC East division with...
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. He was cut by the Colts at the end of the 1989
1989 NFL season
The 1989 NFL season was the 70th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced his retirement...
preseason. His number 20 jersey was retired together with Ryan McNeil's
Ryan McNeil (American football)
Ryan Darrell McNeil is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Miami....
number 6 jersey by Fort Pierce Westwood High School in a 2008 ceremony.
External links
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwjQ3gExL2A YouTube video of Swoope against MichiganMichigan WolverinesThe Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18RTzkK864A YouTube video with big hit of Swoope on Al ToonAl ToonAlbert Lee Toon, Jr. is a former professional American football player. He was selected by the New York Jets in the 1st round of the 1985 NFL Draft...