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| Tuesday, November 30, 2004 | (No comments posted.)
al hamnik
times columnist
Jeff George swears he's grown up. No more sideline shouting matches with coaches. No more selfish contract demands. No more hissy fits with media. No more teammates wanting to kick his butt.
At age 36, George is acting like a responsible adult. The Indianapolis native and Warren Central grad has no other choice. Monday's signing with the downtrodden Bears is likely his last port on the NFL's stormy sea of unemployment.
George can't afford to blow this one. Not after short, controversial stays with Indianapolis, Atlanta, Oakland, Minnesota, Washington and Seattle -- the latter in 2002 -- the last time he wore anyone's uniform.
"If people are going to harp on what I did when I was 26, that's one thing, but I can just say this: I am a blessed man," George said. "I have wonderful family, and to get another opportunity to play football in whatever role I have, I'm definitely going to take advantage of that."
George's playing career has been as checkered as a gypsy quilt. After leading his high school to state championships against Hobart (1984) and Valparaiso (1985), George accepted a scholarship to Purdue. His image there soon took a beating following several run-ins with coach Leon Burtnett, including one home game in which the QB was being carted off the field -- and his tearful mother raced down from the stands, jumped aboard, and put her arms around him.
Little Jeffy was a bit dazed, that's all.
But from that moment on, Jeff George's toughness, his actual manhood, was questioned throughout West Lafayette. He soon transferred to Illinois and finished his playing career there on the way to becoming the overall No. 1 pick in the 1990 NFL draft.
"Football is all I know," he said Monday. "Unfortunately, what's happened to me in the past has continued to follow me. I know there are people that will always doubt me, but that's the business.
"All I want is just an opportunity, a fair shake like any other guy."
Because Rex Grossman is on the shelf and Jonathan Quinn and Craig Krenzel are both pathetic, George has been given a chance to salvage a once-promising career.
George got the call from the Bears on Saturday night while in downtown Indianapolis for the city's customary tree "lighting," a good omen perhaps.
Tom Kerr was the legendary defensive coordinator at Hobart during its amazing run of four state titles and seven runner-up finishes. He and Valpo's Mark Hoffman still remember the number Jeff George did on their respective teams as if the games were played yesterday.
"Let's face it. The Bears need help," Kerr said. "He's gonna find out that with the Bears' offensive line, he's gonna get killed. I'm sure he's not any more mobile than he was before, but the guy can throw the football. His arm strength was unbelievable. I just pray he doesn't get hurt.
"(Andrean's) Tommy Finn is obviously a lot more mobile than Jeff George, but I'd say Tommy's the best quarterback I've seen around here since Jeff George."
And though a 12th-grader, still worlds apart from Dumb and Dumber, Quinn and Krenzel.
This column solely represents the writer's opinion. Reach him at ahamnik@nwitimes.com.
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